Chapter 4 - The Vault
The vault was hidden beneath the library.
Claire had walked through the library hundreds of times without noticing the unusual section of wall behind the fireplace.
Evelyn inserted the key.
A metallic click echoed.
The wall moved.
Behind it was a narrow staircase.
Claire looked at the five lawyers.
"Who knew this existed?"
Nobody answered.
She descended first.
Evelyn followed.
Howard came behind them.
Ray tried to follow.
Claire stopped him.
"No."
"This is family property."
"So am I."
Ray stared at her.
For the first time, he looked less intimidating than old.
Claire continued downward.
At the bottom was a steel door.
Evelyn entered a code.
The door opened.
Inside were hundreds of files.
Bank records.
Photographs.
Contracts.
Letters.
Hard drives.
Claire stared.
"This isn't a vault."
Evelyn answered.
"It's an archive."
She picked up a file.
"Your grandfather spent the final years of his life documenting everything."
Claire opened the nearest folder.
She found records of company transfers.
Then offshore accounts.
Then payments.
Then signatures.
One signature appeared again and again.
Ray Parker.
Claire's hands trembled.
"How much?"
Evelyn looked at the documents.
"Enough to destroy the company."
Howard entered quietly.
"Not enough."
Claire turned.
Howard pointed toward another cabinet.
"That was what your grandfather wanted them to believe."
Claire opened it.
Inside was a single black box.
A note sat on top.
For Claire.
Only Claire.
She opened it.
The recording began automatically.
Her grandfather appeared on a small screen.
He looked older than she remembered.
But his eyes were clear.
"My dear Claire."
She stopped breathing.
"If you are watching this, then they failed to silence you."
Claire's eyes filled with tears.
Her grandfather continued.
"Do not trust the first person who claims to be protecting you."
Claire glanced at Evelyn.
"Do not trust the person who claims to hate Daniel."
She glanced toward the stairs.
"Most importantly, do not believe that Daniel disappeared because he wanted to."
The recording paused.
Then her grandfather said something that changed everything.
"Daniel did not betray this family."
Claire covered her mouth.
"He tried to save it."
The screen went black.
A second recording began.
This one was audio only.
A man's voice.
Daniel.
"If Claire finds this, tell her I never blamed her."
Claire closed her eyes.
Daniel continued.
"I blamed the people who made her believe I was dead."
The recording stopped.
A final file appeared.
Encrypted.
Evelyn looked at it.
"This is the file I was instructed never to open."
Claire asked, "Why?"
"Because Daniel said you had to choose."
"Choose what?"
Evelyn looked at her.
"Whether you want the truth more than you want peace."
Claire stared at the screen.
"I choose the truth."
Evelyn entered a password.
The file opened.
A list appeared.
Five names.
The same five lawyers.
Beside each name was a date.
And beside each date was a payment.
Claire felt sick.
"They were all paid."
Howard whispered, "No."
Claire looked at him.
"Your name is here."
Howard stared at the screen.
"I never took money."
"Then someone used your name."
Howard shook his head.
"No."
He pointed to the bottom of the list.
"There is another name."
Claire looked.
A sixth name appeared.
Patricia Parker.
But beside her name was no payment.
There was only one word.
Controller.
Evelyn suddenly looked toward the doorway.
"Claire."
"What?"
"We're not alone."
May you like
A shadow moved across the stairs.
Then the lights went out again.
