Chapter 5 - The Man in the Hall
Claire reached for the emergency flashlight.
Evelyn moved in front of her.
Howard backed toward the vault wall.
A slow footstep echoed above them.
Then another.
Claire whispered, "Who is up there?"
No answer.
She took the flashlight.
"Stay here."
Evelyn grabbed her arm.
"Absolutely not."
Claire looked at her.
"I am not hiding in my grandfather's vault."
They climbed the stairs together.
At the top, the library was empty.
A window stood open.
Rain had begun falling outside.
Claire approached the window.
A black sedan was parked across the road.
Its headlights were on.
Evelyn looked at it.
"That's not one of your family's cars."
Claire noticed something else.
A small envelope had been placed on the library desk.
She picked it up.
Her name was written on it.
Inside was a photograph.
Daniel Parker.
Alive.
Standing outside a courthouse.
The date on the photograph was six months earlier.
Claire stared.
"He is alive."
Evelyn nodded.
"Yes."
Claire turned the photograph over.
A message was written on the back.
He will contact you when the fifth lawyer is ready.
Claire looked at Evelyn.
"You're not the fifth lawyer."
"No."
"Then who is?"
Evelyn hesitated.
Before she could answer, the mansion alarm sounded.
Tyler ran into the library.
"Claire!"
"What happened?"
"Someone breached the security gate."
Ray appeared behind him.
"Get everyone into the dining room."
Claire refused.
"Who breached it?"
Ray looked at her.
"We don't know."
Patricia arrived moments later.
She looked terrified.
Claire noticed something strange.
Patricia wasn't afraid of an intruder.
She was afraid of being recognized.
Claire stepped closer.
"Mom."
Patricia stopped.
"When did you last see Daniel?"
Patricia's lips trembled.
"I told you."
"I know what you told me."
Claire raised the photograph.
"I am asking what actually happened."
Patricia stared at the image.
Then she whispered.
"Yesterday."
Everyone froze.
Tyler stared at her.
"What?"
Patricia closed her eyes.
"I saw him yesterday."
Ray stepped toward her.
"Patricia."
She looked at him.
"I couldn't keep lying."
Claire's voice became quiet.
"Where?"
"At the cemetery."
Claire frowned.
"Whose cemetery?"
Patricia looked at her.
"Your grandfather's."
Claire felt the room tilt.
"Why would Daniel be there?"
Patricia whispered.
"He wasn't visiting your grandfather."
"Then who?"
Patricia looked toward Claire.
"He was waiting for me."
Ray grabbed Patricia's arm.
Claire immediately stepped between them.
"Let go."
Ray released her.
Claire turned to Patricia.
"What did he want?"
Patricia's eyes filled with tears.
"He told me the truth."
"What truth?"
Patricia looked at the five lawyers.
Then at Claire.
"He said your grandfather never trusted any of us."
Claire waited.
Patricia continued.
"He said there was a sixth person."
Evelyn's expression changed.
"Who?"
Patricia whispered.
"I don't know."
Then the lights returned.
Every television in the mansion switched on at once.
A man's face appeared.
Daniel Parker.
He looked directly into the camera.
"Claire."
Her heart stopped.
Daniel spoke calmly.
"If you're watching this, you have already opened the vault."
Claire moved toward the screen.
Daniel continued.
"And now they know you know."
The screen went black.
A message appeared.
Come alone.
Midnight.
Old Parker Estate.
May you like
Claire looked at the clock.
11:37 PM.
