Chapter 8: The Expedition
The rain had stopped over New York.
A pale morning sun broke through the clouds, bathing the Vance Estate in a quiet glow.
Richard Vance stood in his study, staring at William's faded map.
For forty years, he had honored his brother's final wish.
He had never searched.
Never hired investigators.
Never followed rumors.
He had forced himself to believe that William had chosen a different life.
But everything had changed.
The map.
The cassette.
The thermal images.
Someone was alive in those mountains.
And William's voice had spoken Ethan's name decades before the boy was even born.
Richard could no longer ignore the truth.
He pressed the intercom.
"James."
The head of security entered almost instantly.
"You wanted to see me, sir?"
Richard slid the map across the desk.
"Prepare an expedition."
James remained perfectly still.
"Destination?"
"Peru."
James looked at the coordinates.
"I'll have a team ready within twenty-four hours."
Richard shook his head.
"No."
James frowned.
"Sir?"
"The fewer people who know, the better."
"Only those I personally approve."
James nodded.
"I understand."
Richard looked toward the family portrait hanging above the fireplace.
"We're not searching for treasure."
"We're searching for family."
Across Manhattan...
Victor Ashford received a phone call from Lima, Peru.
He answered immediately.
"This is Victor."
A calm voice spoke in accented English.
"My name is Dr. Sofia Alvarez."
"You contacted me about the restricted mountain zone."
Victor leaned forward.
"Yes."
There was a pause.
"I shouldn't be speaking to you."
"But..."
"I owe your father a debt."
Victor's heartbeat quickened.
"You knew Charles?"
"I knew Charles."
"And William Vance."
Victor stood.
"Tell me everything."
"I won't discuss this over the phone."
"When?"
"I'm flying to New York tonight."
"Come alone."
The line went dead.
Victor slowly lowered the phone.
Charles had never spoken of Peru.
Never mentioned William.
Yet someone there still remembered them.
That afternoon...
Ethan was helping Mrs. Delgado at the diner again.
He had finished his homework and insisted on washing dishes after lunch.
Mrs. Delgado laughed as he struggled to reach the sink.
"You know you're the only billionaire's grandson I've ever seen arguing over dirty plates."
Ethan grinned.
"They're not arguing."
"They're winning."
She smiled warmly.
"You sound just like your grandfather."
"I hope so."
"No."
She gently handed him another plate.
"You sound happier."
Outside the diner...
A man wearing a baseball cap photographed the scene through the window.
Click.
Click.
Click.
James, sitting at a nearby table with a newspaper, noticed immediately.
He quietly folded the newspaper and stood.
The photographer realized he had been seen.
He hurried toward a waiting motorcycle.
James sprinted after him.
The motorcycle roared to life.
Traffic separated them within seconds.
James stopped running.
He wasn't disappointed.
He had attached a miniature GPS tracker to the motorcycle's rear fender as it sped past.
He smiled slightly.
"Let's see where you go."
That evening...
The GPS signal led to an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of Brooklyn.
James and two trusted agents watched from across the street.
The photographer entered through a side door.
Minutes later...
Another person arrived.
A woman in an expensive cream-colored coat.
James raised his binoculars.
His expression darkened.
"Beatrice."
She disappeared inside.
James immediately called Richard.
"We've confirmed contact."
"Between whom?"
"Beatrice Harrington..."
"...and an unidentified surveillance operative."
Richard remained silent.
"What are they discussing?"
"We don't know."
"They're being careful."
Richard looked at William's map lying beside him.
"They're looking for something."
James answered quietly.
"So are we."
Inside the warehouse...
Beatrice threw several photographs onto a wooden table.
Most showed Ethan.
Helping classmates.
Reading books.
Carrying groceries for strangers.
Victor studied each one carefully.
"There has to be a weakness."
Beatrice crossed her arms.
"Maybe there isn't."
Victor looked up.
"Everyone has one."
"What if kindness is genuine?"
Victor smiled faintly.
"Then we'll use kindness against him."
She frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Victor pointed to a photograph of Ethan sharing his lunch.
"A child who wants to help everyone..."
"...can be lured by someone pretending to need help."
Beatrice's eyes widened.
"You want to use Ethan?"
Victor's expression hardened.
"No."
"I want to use his choices."
He paused.
"I will not harm a child."
Beatrice looked surprised.
Victor noticed.
"Don't mistake me for a monster."
"I have lines I won't cross."
He gathered the photographs into a neat stack.
"But I will discover why William disappeared."
"And Richard will eventually lead me there."
Late that night...
Richard entered Ethan's bedroom.
The boy was already asleep.
A half-finished book rested on his blanket.
Richard quietly picked it up.
Inside the cover, Ethan had written in careful handwriting:
If you can help someone today, don't wait until tomorrow.
Richard smiled.
Those had once been Eleanor's words.
He gently placed the book back on the bedside table.
Then he whispered,
"I'm sorry."
"I may have to leave for a little while."
The next morning...
A sleek private jet waited on a secluded runway.
No Vance logo.
No identifying marks.
James loaded several weatherproof cases.
Medical supplies.
Satellite equipment.
Climbing gear.
Richard arrived carrying only one leather bag.
James looked puzzled.
"That's all?"
Richard nodded.
"I'm not visiting a board meeting."
"I'm visiting my brother."
Just as they prepared to board...
A voice called from behind.
"Grandpa!"
Richard turned.
Ethan had run all the way across the tarmac, still wearing his school backpack.
He was out of breath.
"You were leaving without saying goodbye."
Richard knelt beside him.
"I didn't want to wake you."
Ethan reached into his backpack and pulled out a small object wrapped in cloth.
"I made this."
Richard carefully unfolded it.
Inside was a simple wooden compass.
Hand-carved in school woodworking class.
The tiny words burned into the back read:
No matter where you go...
Family is home.
Richard's eyes became misty.
He embraced his grandson tightly.
"I'll bring your great-uncle home."
Ethan smiled.
"You don't have to."
Richard looked confused.
"What do you mean?"
The boy glanced toward the sky.
"If he's still alive..."
"...maybe he's been trying to find his way home too."
Richard said nothing.
He simply squeezed Ethan's shoulder one last time before boarding the aircraft.
As the jet lifted into the morning sky...
Neither Richard nor James noticed a second aircraft taking off from another private runway less than ten miles away.
Inside sat Victor Ashford.
Across from him sat Dr. Sofia Alvarez.
Resting on her lap...
Was an old journal with a cracked leather cover.
Stamped in faded gold letters across the front were five words:
The Aurelius Expedition. 1985.
Two planes.
One destination.
One forgotten secret.
And somewhere in the Andes...
An old man looked up as two distant contrails slowly crossed above the mountains.
He whispered to himself,
"So..."
May you like
"They're both coming."
End of Chapter 8
