Chapter 3 - The Man Charles Was Afraid Of
The rear doors flew open.
A veteran rushed inside.
Everyone stay down.
Nora instinctively ducked.
Julian moved toward her.
Nora pushed him away.
Don't touch me.
He stopped.
She could see the hurt in his eyes.
But she was too angry to care.
David raised a hand.
Nobody panic.
The chapel lights returned.
The rear entrance was empty.
No attacker.
No intruder.
Only a shattered window.
David walked toward it.
He examined the broken glass.
Someone wanted us to think they entered here.
Julian approached.
Then where did they go?
David looked at Charles.
They never came inside.
Charles's face tightened.
David pointed toward the envelope.
They already have what they wanted.
Nora looked down.
The envelope was still in her hand.
Then what did they take?
David's expression darkened.
Your attention.
Nora frowned.
What?
David reached for the document.
Nora hesitated.
He lowered his hand.
You need to understand something.
I don't trust you.
You shouldn't.
That answer surprised her.
David continued.
Trust isn't what you need right now.
You need evidence.
He pointed toward the document.
That is only part of it.
Where is the rest?
David looked at Julian.
Julian knows.
Nora turned.
Julian?
He closed his eyes.
There is a storage facility outside Charleston.
My father rented it under another name.
What's inside?
Everything.
Nora stared at him.
Everything about my mother?
Everything about your grandfather.
Everything about Charles.
Then why didn't you tell me?
Because I was afraid.
Nora's expression softened for only a second.
Afraid of what?
Julian looked at Charles.
That the moment you knew, they would come for you.
Charles stood.
You don't understand the people you're dealing with.
Nora turned sharply.
Then tell me.
Charles looked at her.
The man behind this isn't dead.
Who?
Charles's lips trembled.
Silas Montgomery.
Nora frowned.
Who is that?
Evelyn answered.
Your grandfather's younger brother.
Nora felt a chill.
I thought he died before I was born.
He didn't.
Charles looked toward the chapel doors.
He disappeared.
Then why does everyone think he's dead?
Because that is how he survived.
David nodded.
Silas Montgomery built an entire network around the belief that he no longer existed.
Nora stared at the envelope.
And now he knows I'm alive.
David corrected her.
No.
He has always known.
That sentence frightened her more than anything else.
Nora turned toward Julian.
Then why did he wait twenty-five years?
Julian's face went pale.
Because he wasn't waiting for you.
He was waiting for something you inherited.
Nora's voice became quiet.
What did I inherit?
Nobody answered.
Evelyn slowly looked at Nora's necklace.
Nora touched it.
This?
Evelyn nodded.
Your grandfather gave it to you the night before he died.
Nora's fingers closed around the pendant.
There was a tiny symbol engraved on its back.
She had never known what it meant.
David looked at it.
Then his expression changed.
We need to leave.
Why?
May you like
Because that symbol isn't a family crest.
It's a key.
