Chapter 10 - The Man Eleanor Feared
Adrian Voss did not carry a gun.
That made him more frightening.
He moved through the shattered mansion as if he owned it.
Gray hair.
Tailored charcoal suit.
Polished shoes stepping calmly over broken glass.
Eleanor stared at the screen.
“He never comes himself.”
“Apparently today is special.”
Daniel called Ben.
“Vale is in the house.”
“Do not leave the safe room.”
“I wasn’t planning to.”
Ben swore softly.
“We have federal agents three minutes out.”
Voss stopped directly outside the library.
He looked toward the hidden bookshelf.
Then smiled.
Daniel’s skin prickled.
“He knows.”
Eleanor whispered, “He helped install it.”
A knock sounded.
Three gentle taps.
“Eleanor.”
His voice carried clearly.
“Open the door.”
Daniel looked at his mother.
She shook her head.
Voss continued.
“You know how this ends.”
Daniel stepped toward the intercom.
Eleanor grabbed him.
“No.”
He pressed the button.
“Does it?”
Silence.
Then Voss laughed softly.
“Daniel.”
“You sound disappointed.”
“I’m impressed.”
“Someone cut my brakes.”
“A regrettable excess.”
“So you admit it.”
“I admit nothing.”
Daniel smiled grimly.
“Good. The wire will love that.”
Voss paused.
Then said, “Your friend Benjamin Mercer should know better than to involve federal authorities.”
Daniel looked sharply at the phone.
Ben went silent.
Voss knew Ben.
“Do you know everyone?”
“Everyone who matters.”
Daniel looked at Eleanor.
She seemed smaller now.
“What do you want?”
“The key.”
Daniel touched his pocket.
“How do you know I have it?”
“Your father was predictable when frightened.”
“You killed him.”
“I did not.”
Daniel froze.
Eleanor looked at the speaker.
Voss continued.
“Samuel killed himself by confusing courage with leverage.”
“What happened on that boat?”
“Open the door.”
“No.”
“I can tell you.”
“Tell me now.”
Voss sighed.
“Your father brought the ledger aboard because he intended to trade it for your safety.”
Daniel’s stomach tightened.
“My safety?”
“You had just announced your engagement to Rachel.”
Daniel remembered.
Samuel had opposed the marriage.
Not because of Rachel.
Because Daniel was building a life beyond Eleanor’s reach.
Voss continued.
“Samuel believed if he surrendered evidence, I would allow you to disappear.”
“And?”
“He changed his mind.”
“What did you do?”
“He attacked my associate.”
“Who?”
“Leonard Pike.”
Daniel stared.
The supposedly private investigator.
Voss said, “There was a struggle. Samuel fell overboard.”
Eleanor covered her mouth.
“You told me the storm took him.”
“I told you what you needed to hear.”
Daniel’s rage surged.
“So Pike killed him.”
“Pike defended himself.”
“And you covered it up.”
“Of course.”
The simplicity chilled him.
Voss continued.
“Give me the key, Daniel.”
“No.”
“Then Emily becomes part of this.”
Daniel moved toward the door so quickly Eleanor grabbed him.
Voss laughed.
“There he is.”
“You go near my daughter—”
“I have been near your daughter for years.”
Daniel stopped.
The surveillance photos.
The school.
The playground.
Rachel’s grave.
Voss continued.
“Your mother’s people were not the only ones watching.”
Daniel turned toward Eleanor.
She looked devastated.
Voss said, “You think Eleanor was your enemy because she kept you poor.”
Daniel said nothing.
“She was inefficient. Cruel. Sentimental. But she did prevent you from becoming interesting.”
Daniel clenched his fists.
“You tried to kill me anyway.”
“Because you became interesting.”
Sirens approached.
Voss heard them.
“So the window closes.”
Daniel watched the monitor.
Voss stepped backward.
“Last chance.”
“No.”
Voss smiled directly toward the hidden camera.
“Then ask Sophia why she never told you she met Rachel the night before Rachel entered hospice.”
Daniel stopped breathing.
“What?”
Eleanor stared at him.
Voss walked away.
Federal agents entered moments later.
Voss did not run.
He simply raised his hands.
He was arrested in the foyer of the Carter mansion beneath the broken chandelier.
Daniel should have felt victory.
Instead he had one thought.
Sophia met Rachel.
May you like
And never told him.
Again.
