Chapter 9 - The Man in the Dark Hallway
The blackout lasted four seconds.
Adrian counted them.
One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
The emergency lights activated.
A dim red glow filled the hallway.
Celeste grabbed Adrian's arm.
"Get Evelyn downstairs."
"Why?"
"Because whoever cut the power doesn't want the ledger."
"What do they want?"
"You."
A gunshot shattered the window behind them.
Glass exploded across the carpet.
Adrian pulled Evelyn to the floor.
Celeste dropped behind the sofa.
Another shot struck the wall.
"Stay down."
Adrian crawled toward the side corridor.
His father's old gun cabinet was ten yards away.
Celeste shouted.
"Don't."
He ignored her.
"Adrian, that's where they'll expect you to go."
A third shot hit the cabinet before he reached it.
Adrian stopped.
Celeste was right.
Someone outside could see them.
Mara emerged from the kitchen.
Evelyn screamed.
"Get down."
Mara dropped.
Adrian pointed toward the basement corridor.
"Everyone move."
They crawled.
Another window shattered.
Then the shooting stopped.
Too suddenly.
Adrian knew why.
The shooter was moving.
They reached the basement stairs.
Celeste grabbed his shoulder.
"There's a tunnel."
Adrian stared.
"What tunnel?"
"Thomas built an emergency passage."
"You know more about this house than I do."
"He showed me."
"When?"
"Before he died."
Evelyn looked furious.
"Thomas never mentioned a tunnel."
Celeste ignored her.
She led them into the wine cellar.
Behind a rack of Bordeaux bottles was a steel door.
A keypad.
Celeste entered six digits.
The lock opened.
Adrian caught her wrist.
"What code?"
"Thomas's wedding anniversary."
Evelyn stared at the keypad.
"That isn't our anniversary."
Celeste stopped.
Adrian looked between them.
"Whose?"
Celeste's eyes moved to Evelyn.
"Oh."
A strange expression crossed her face.
"You don't know."
Evelyn went pale.
"Know what?"
Celeste slowly turned toward Adrian.
"Thomas was married before Evelyn."
Adrian felt his patience break.
"Can we survive the person shooting at us before destroying another family secret?"
A sound came from the cellar stairs.
Footsteps.
Adrian pushed everyone into the tunnel.
Celeste closed the door.
Darkness.
They moved using phone lights.
The tunnel descended beneath the property.
"Where does it go?"
"Old carriage house."
"How far?"
"Three hundred yards."
Halfway through, Evelyn stopped.
"I can't."
Adrian put her arm around his shoulders.
"You can."
"I'm tired."
"I've got you."
They continued.
Behind them came a metallic sound.
The cellar door opening.
Someone knew the code.
Celeste whispered.
"Move."
They reached the carriage house.
Adrian pushed open a floor hatch.
Daylight spilled in.
He climbed first.
Empty.
Mara followed.
Then Evelyn.
Celeste came last.
A vehicle waited outside.
Black SUV.
Keys inside.
"Convenient," Adrian said.
Celeste looked at him.
"Thomas planned for emergencies."
"Apparently he planned everything except telling his family."
Adrian helped Evelyn into the car.
Then a voice came from behind them.
"Adrian."
He turned.
Detective Reed stood near the carriage house entrance.
Gun raised.
Adrian slowly lifted his hands.
"How did you find us?"
Reed looked at Celeste.
"Step away from her."
Adrian frowned.
"From Celeste?"
"Now."
Celeste whispered.
"Don't."
Reed's weapon shifted toward her.
"Celeste Rowan, you're under arrest for the murder of Thomas Vale."
Celeste laughed quietly.
"Roman owns you too?"
Reed's jaw tightened.
"I said step away."
Adrian studied him.
Something was wrong.
"You came alone."
Reed did not answer.
"No backup."
"Adrian."
"No police vehicles."
Reed's finger tightened near the trigger.
Celeste whispered.
"He isn't here to arrest me."
Adrian understood.
"He's here for the ledger."
Reed's eyes changed.
That was enough.
Adrian lunged behind the SUV as Reed fired.
The bullet hit metal.
Celeste grabbed Evelyn.
Mara screamed.
Another shot.
Adrian crawled along the vehicle and slammed the driver's door outward as Reed approached.
The door hit Reed's arm.
His weapon fell.
Celeste kicked it away.
Adrian tackled him.
They crashed onto the gravel.
Reed fought desperately.
Not like a detective trying to restrain someone.
Like a man terrified of failure.
Adrian hit him once.
Reed stopped resisting.
Then he began laughing.
Adrian pinned him.
"What's funny?"
"You think this is about your father."
Adrian grabbed his collar.
"Who sent you?"
Reed smiled.
"The same person who sent Celeste."
Celeste shouted.
"He's lying."
Reed looked at her.
"Tell him about Geneva."
Celeste froze.
Adrian looked at her.
"What happened in Geneva?"
Reed laughed again.
"Ask your fiancée who was really supposed to die seven months ago."
Adrian tightened his grip.
"Who?"
May you like
Reed looked directly at him.
"You."
