Chapter 9 - The BasementMason found Thomas's car abandoned three blocks from the mansion.
No body.
No blood.
Just an open briefcase.
Inside was a single sheet of paper.
A location.
An abandoned warehouse.
Emma wanted to go immediately.
Detective Collins refused.
“You don't know who we're dealing with.”
Emma looked at her.
“My sister has been missing for six years.”
“I understand.”
“No, you don't.”
Her voice cracked.
“I buried her.”
Mason stepped between them.
“We go with police.”
They reached the warehouse just before dawn.
The building was empty.
Except for one chair.
A light hung above it.
And taped to the chair was a photograph of Grace.
Emma ran toward it.
Detective Collins grabbed her arm.
“Wait.”
A speaker crackled.
Adrian's voice.
“You're very persistent, Emma.”
Emma stared into the darkness.
“Where is my sister?”
“Alive.”
“Prove it.”
A video screen flickered on.
Grace appeared.
Older.
Thinner.
But alive.
Emma began crying.
Grace looked into the camera.
“Emma, don't trust—”
The screen went black.
Emma screamed.
“Where is she?”
Adrian stepped out of the shadows.
He had a gun.
Two armed men stood behind him.
Mason moved in front of Emma.
Adrian smiled.
“You look exactly like your father.”
Mason's expression hardened.
“You knew him.”
“I worked for him.”
“My father?”
“Your father built the machine. I merely learned how to operate it.”
Mason looked confused.
“What machine?”
“The money.”
Adrian smiled.
“Your family's fortune didn't come from real estate.”
“It came from laundering.”
“Partly.”
Adrian tossed a folder onto the table.
Mason opened it.
Inside were old contracts.
Weapons deals.
Political payments.
Offshore accounts.
His family had built its wealth decades ago through illegal networks.
“My father was a criminal.”
“Your father was brilliant.”
Emma looked at Adrian.
“Where is Grace?”
“You'll get her.”
“When?”
“When you bring me the original ledger.”
Mason stared.
“So this was all about the ledger.”
“No.”
Adrian smiled.
“It was about controlling the ledger.”
“What's the difference?”
“The person holding it controls the truth.”
Adrian looked at Emma.
“Grace discovered the truth.”
“What truth?”
“That Mason's father planned to eliminate everyone who knew about the Whitmore fortune.”
Emma's stomach turned.
“Everyone?”
Adrian nodded.
“Your sister. Me. Vanessa. Thomas.”
Mason whispered:
“Was my father responsible for Bellmont?”
Adrian didn't answer.
That silence was enough.
Emma lunged forward.
A gunshot struck the ceiling.
“Don't test me.”
Adrian picked up the folder.
“I'll give you twenty-four hours.”
Then the lights went out.
When they returned, Adrian was gone.
But Grace's photograph remained.
On the back was a message.
SHE IS INSIDE THE MANSION.
Emma turned toward Mason.
Neither spoke.
They both understood.
May you like
Someone had brought Grace back.
And she might be hidden somewhere beneath their feet.
