Chapter 10 - THE GREENHOUSE
The west greenhouse had once belonged to Ella’s grandmother.
Rose grew orchids there and refused to allow Charles inside while she was alive.
After her death, he converted it into a glass reception room overlooking the lake.
At eight thirty, the room was empty except for Charles, Mark, Rourke, and Ella.
Music from the ballroom sounded faint through the walls.
Charles stood beside a table containing one chair and one glass of water.
“Sit,” he said.
Ella remained standing.
“You asked for the recording.”
“First, remove your bracelet.”
She did not react.
Mark stepped behind her and tore the bracelet from her wrist.
He dropped it into the water.
The transmitter light went dark.
Rourke moved a scanner along Ella’s dress.
It detected the recorder in the lining.
He cut it free with a small knife.
Charles placed it beside the bracelet.
“Anything else?” he asked.
Ella smiled.
“Search me.”
Mark reached toward her pendant.
Charles stopped him.
“Leave the necklace.”
Mark frowned.
“It could contain something.”
“It belonged to my mother.”
For the first time that evening, Charles showed hesitation.
Even he feared Rose’s memory.
Ella took a flash drive from her handbag.
“The recording.”
Rourke checked it on a laptop.
The video from Daniel’s camera appeared.
Charles watched himself discussing Paul Mercer.
His face revealed no emotion.
“How many copies?” he asked.
“One.”
“Do not insult me.”
“Three.”
“Where?”
“One with a lawyer. One with a reporter. One somewhere you’ll never find.”
Mark struck the table.
“You were told to bring all of them.”
Ella looked at him.
“You were told not to murder your brother. We all disappoint the family.”
Mark lunged forward.
Charles raised one hand.
He stopped.
“Where is Sophie?” Ella asked.
Charles gestured to the laptop.
The image changed to a live video.
Sophie sat in a dark room, still bound.
A masked man stood behind her.
“She remains alive while you cooperate,” Charles said.
“Release her.”
“After my announcement.”
“What announcement?”
“My candidacy.”
“You think you can become governor after tonight?”
“I know I can.”
“Federal agents are outside.”
Charles smiled.
“I invited them.”
Ella remembered Michael Cole’s warning.
“Why?”
“To arrest the person responsible for Daniel’s death.”
Mark looked toward his father.
Something passed between them.
Ella saw it.
“You’re going to blame Rourke,” she said.
Rourke’s expression did not change.
Charles continued smiling.
“Thomas has committed many crimes without my knowledge.”
Rourke slowly turned toward him.
“Charles.”
“You were compensated generously.”
“I was promised protection.”
“You will receive excellent legal representation.”
Rourke reached inside his jacket.
Mark drew a gun first.
“Don’t.”
Ella stepped away from the table.
Rourke looked from Mark to Charles.
“You planned this.”
Charles’s voice remained calm.
“I planned to preserve my family.”
“You ordered everything.”
“And you carried it out.”
Rourke laughed once.
It was a hard, empty sound.
“Daniel was right about you.”
Mark tightened his grip on the gun.
“What did Daniel say?”
“That your father would sacrifice you before he sacrificed himself.”
Mark’s eyes flickered.
Charles spoke sharply.
“Thomas, consider your next decision carefully.”
Rourke looked at Ella.
“You want Sophie?”
“Yes.”
“She isn’t in the quarry.”
“Where is she?”
“Ask Mark.”
Mark aimed the gun at Rourke’s chest.
“Shut up.”
Rourke moved faster.
He knocked the weapon aside.
The shot shattered a glass panel.
Guests screamed in the distance.
Rourke struck Mark and grabbed him by the throat.
Charles backed toward the exit.
Ella seized the laptop.
The live video showed the masked guard turning toward the sound of an alarm.
Behind Sophie was a narrow window.
Through it, Ella saw the Donovan boathouse.
“Sophie is on the estate.”
Rourke released Mark and looked at the screen.
Charles opened the greenhouse door.
Police sirens sounded beyond the gate.
Rourke grabbed Ella’s arm.
“Your father is triggering the arrests now. He’ll blame everything on me.”
“Then help me expose him.”
“You think evidence matters?”
“It will tonight.”
Mark recovered the gun.
He aimed at Ella.
“You destroyed this family the day you were born.”
Before he could fire, Vivian entered the greenhouse and struck his arm with a silver serving tray.
The gun discharged into the ceiling.
Mark fell.
Vivian stood between him and Ella.
“Run,” she said.
Charles appeared behind her.
His face transformed with rage.
He seized Vivian by the shoulders.
“You chose her?”
Vivian looked at him.
“For once.”
She drove her knee into his stomach.
Ella ran.
The gala guests surged through the hallways as alarms sounded. Officers entered through the front gates.
In the confusion, Ella reached the old library.
She locked the door.
Behind the fireplace, the carved wooden rose waited.
She inserted Daniel’s key.
A hidden mechanism clicked.
May you like
The bookshelf moved.
Darkness opened behind it.
