Chapter 13 - Behind the Portrait
Adrian’s security team sealed the estate.
Every room was searched twice.
Grant was not found.
The active credential continued moving through the building.
Library.
East corridor.
Nursery.
Drawing room.
“It is impossible,” Caleb said. “The signal is crossing walls too quickly.”
Emma studied the map.
“It is not a person.”
Adrian understood.
“A device inside the house system.”
Grant had connected his credential to the estate’s internal network, making it appear as if he were moving between rooms.
The signal was a distraction.
Emma remembered the portrait above the central staircase.
It showed Adrian’s grandfather standing beside Thomas Hart and Richard Vale when they were young.
Earlier that day, the frame had been slightly crooked.
Now it was straight.
She crossed the entrance hall and pulled it away from the wall.
Behind it was a keypad.
The brass key from her father fit a slot beneath the numbers.
A hidden door opened.
Cold air rushed from a narrow passage.
Adrian went first.
The passage led down to an old service tunnel connecting the estate to a carriage house beyond the property wall.
Halfway through, they found Grant’s abandoned coat and laptop.
At the end of the tunnel, police lights flashed through the trees.
Grant stood beside a black car.
He held no weapon.
Thomas stood several feet away, leaning against the vehicle.
Emma stopped.
For years, she had imagined what she would say if her father returned.
She had imagined running to him.
She had imagined shouting.
Instead, she could not move.
Thomas looked at her.
“Emma.”
Her name broke whatever remained between them.
She crossed the distance and struck him once across the chest with both hands.
“You left me.”
“I know.”
“You watched your own funeral.”
“I know.”
“You knew I was getting married.”
“Yes.”
“You knew I had Lily.”
Thomas’s face collapsed.
“Yes.”
Emma stepped away.
Adrian remained beside her, silent but steady.
Grant glanced toward the approaching officers.
“You should ask Thomas why he never came home.”
Thomas looked at Grant.
“Do not.”
Grant smiled.
“He wants you to believe he stayed hidden to protect you. That is only part of the truth.”
Jonah ordered Grant to place his hands behind his head.
Grant obeyed.
He no longer appeared afraid.
“Thomas could have exposed me years ago,” he said. “He had copies of everything.”
Emma looked at her father.
“Is that true?”
Thomas did not answer.
“Why did you not come back?”
“I was trying to protect the trust.”
“Not me?”
“You were part of what I was protecting.”
“That is not the same thing.”
Grant laughed quietly.
“Tell her about the account, Thomas.”
Thomas’s face became pale.
“What account?”
“The one in my name,” Emma said.
Thomas looked at her.
“I did not open it.”
“But your signature is on the application.”
“It was copied from the original succession agreement.”
Grant nodded approvingly.
“Very good.”
Emma turned toward Grant.
“Then who opened it?”
Grant looked past her toward Richard and Vivian, who had arrived with the officers.
“Ask the person who benefited most from making Emma appear guilty.”
Everyone looked toward Richard.
Richard’s face revealed confusion.
Then Vivian stepped backward.
Adrian noticed.
“Mother?”
May you like
Vivian’s eyes moved toward the open car door.
She ran.
