Chapter 12 - The Midnight Factory
Daniel refused to bring Elena.
She refused to remain behind.
The argument lasted until Rose placed Nathan’s letters between them.
“Both of you are repeating the mistakes that destroyed your parents,” she said. “One person decides what is safe. The other is denied the truth.”
Daniel looked at Elena.
She was exhausted, frightened and eight months pregnant.
But she was also the legal owner of what had been stolen.
“You stay in the car,” he said.
“I decide where I stay.”
Despite the danger, Daniel almost smiled.
“Then stay beside me.”
Richard contacted a private security team.
Lucas insisted on coming.
Daniel did not trust him, but Adrian had used Lucas from the beginning. Leaving him behind might create another weakness.
At eleven forty-five, they reached the abandoned Morrison factory.
The building had been closed for twenty years.
Broken windows reflected the moonlight.
The company logo remained above the entrance, faded and cracked.
Inside, old machines stood beneath layers of dust.
A single lamp illuminated the center of the main floor.
Adrian waited beneath it.
He was in his early forties, tall and broad-shouldered, with Nathan’s dark eyes.
Elena stopped.
The resemblance to the photographs was unmistakable.
Adrian looked at her baby bump and then at her face.
“My sister.”
Elena did not move closer.
“You stole my trust.”
“I moved it before Margaret could.”
“With Daniel’s key.”
“With a copy of Charles’s master key.”
Daniel stepped forward.
“You framed me.”
“No. Margaret framed you. I used the opportunity she created.”
“You could have contacted us directly.”
“I contacted Lucas.”
Daniel glanced at his brother.
Adrian continued.
“I needed to know whether any Morrison could act without Margaret’s permission.”
Lucas laughed bitterly.
“Apparently I failed the test.”
“You brought Elena to Rose. That was enough.”
Elena faced Adrian.
“Where is the money?”
“Safe.”
“That is not an answer.”
“It is the only answer until I know who controls Charles’s key.”
Daniel held up the ring.
“This is not the master key.”
Adrian’s eyes narrowed.
“Then Margaret lied.”
“She told you I had it?”
“She said Charles gave it to his favorite son before he died.”
Daniel shook his head.
“He gave me nothing.”
A metallic sound came from the upper walkway.
Security lights suddenly turned on.
Margaret stood above them with several police officers.
“Daniel Morrison,” one officer called. “Step away from Adrian Ashcroft.”
Daniel looked at Richard.
“I did not contact them.”
Margaret smiled.
“Adrian is wanted for financial fraud, extortion and the theft of Morrison assets.”
Adrian raised his hands.
“The trust belongs to Elena.”
Margaret called down,
“Tell them where Nathan is.”
Adrian looked up.
For the first time, fear crossed his face.
Elena stared at him.
“You know where my father is?”
Adrian said nothing.
Margaret descended the stairs.
She held a small black device.
Charles’s master key.
Adrian’s expression changed.
“You had it.”
“I always had it.”
“Then why did you send me after Daniel’s?”
“Because I needed you to expose yourself.”
Police surrounded Adrian.
Elena stepped between them.
“He may know where my father is.”
Margaret looked at her.
“Nathan is dead.”
Adrian laughed.
“No, Margaret.”
Every officer froze.
Adrian stared at her.
“Nathan Ashcroft is alive.”
Margaret’s face became completely still.
Adrian continued.
“And he remembers what you did the night he disappeared.”
May you like
The factory went dark.
A gunshot echoed through the building.
