Chapter 7 - Box 614)
Dominion Heritage required biometric identification.
Daniel couldn't send Marcus.
He had to go himself.
They chose the company's Charlottesville facility because the receipt listed that branch.
Federal agents accompanied Daniel discreetly.
Maya remained at the safe house.
At 10:18 a.m., Daniel entered Dominion Heritage.
The manager verified his military identification.
Then the brass key.
The old key fit.
Eleven years of mystery disappeared with one metallic click.
The manager escorted Daniel underground.
Box 614 was larger than expected.
Daniel inserted the key.
Inside sat a black metal case.
Nothing else.
He carried it into a private viewing room.
His hands shook as he opened it.
A letter rested on top.
DANIEL.
His father's handwriting.
Daniel sat down.
Son,
If you are reading this, I failed to finish something I should never have involved our family in.
Daniel stopped.
He swallowed.
Then continued.
The Continuity Group is not one organization. It is a method.
They enter families through weakness.
Debt.
Pride.
Affairs.
Addiction.
Fear.
They do not need everyone corrupt. They only need one person willing to betray the others.
Daniel thought of Julian.
Then Victoria.
Samuel's letter continued.
I discovered them through military procurement irregularities. Companies that refused certain contracts changed ownership within months. Marriages collapsed. Founders were declared incompetent. Heirs disappeared. Records were altered.
I made the mistake of telling someone I trusted.
Daniel's fingers tightened.
The next sentence had been underlined.
Your mother.
Daniel stopped reading.
For several seconds, he could hear only his own breathing.
Then he forced himself onward.
Victoria believes I am paranoid.
I hope she is right.
But if she isn't, you must understand something painful: love does not make someone immune to manipulation.
Daniel closed his eyes.
Samuel hadn't known whether Victoria was complicit.
Not yet.
Beneath the letter were three encrypted drives.
A ledger.
Photographs.
And a cassette recorder.
Daniel pressed play.
Samuel's voice filled the room.
"March fourteen."
Daniel nearly broke.
He hadn't heard his father's voice in eleven years.
Samuel continued.
"Victoria met with Sloan again tonight."
Daniel leaned closer.
"I followed them to Richmond. She doesn't know."
Pause.
"She believes she's protecting Julian."
Daniel's expression changed.
Julian.
Eleven years ago, Julian had been twenty-two.
Samuel continued.
"Julian owes approximately four hundred thousand dollars to people connected to Continuity."
Daniel whispered, "Jesus."
"I confronted him. He denied it. Victoria begged me to pay."
Daniel remembered.
Around that time, his mother had claimed Julian was studying abroad.
Apparently he had been hiding.
Samuel's voice became tired.
"I refused."
A pause.
"Victoria told me she'd handle it herself."
Another recording.
"March nineteen."
"Sloan offered to eliminate Julian's debt if I transferred voting rights in Hayes Freight."
Hayes Freight had been Samuel's company.
The predecessor to Daniel's logistics firm.
"I refused."
Another recording.
"March twenty-two."
"Victoria signed something."
Daniel stopped breathing.
"I don't know what."
Another.
"March twenty-five."
"Someone followed me."
Another.
"March twenty-seven."
"The brake line on my truck was cut."
Daniel stared at the recorder.
Another.
"April first."
"If something happens, Daniel must know Victoria made a deal."
The recording stopped.
Daniel sat completely still.
His phone vibrated.
Marcus.
"Daniel."
"I found it."
"You need to leave."
"Why?"
"We've got movement."
"What movement?"
"Victoria."
Daniel stood.
"Where?"
"Your house."
"What is she doing?"
"Burning documents."
Daniel grabbed the case.
"I'm coming."
"No. There's more."
"What?"
"Julian isn't with her."
"Where is he?"
"Safe house."
Daniel's blood went cold.
"What?"
Marcus spoke rapidly.
"Someone compromised the location. Julian's car is two miles away."
Daniel called Maya.
No answer.
Again.
No answer.
Marcus's security cameras appeared on Daniel's phone.
Front gate.
Empty.
Driveway.
Empty.
Kitchen.
Empty.
Bedroom hallway.
Then the feed froze.
Daniel shouted:
"Maya!"
Thirty miles away, Maya heard glass break downstairs.
She woke instantly.
Marcus had left Elena with her.
Maya stepped into the hallway.
"Elena?"
No answer.
Another crash.
Then footsteps.
Maya locked the bedroom door.
She grabbed her phone.
No signal.
The handle moved.
Once.
Twice.
Then Julian's voice came from the other side.
"Maya."
She backed away.
"Maya, open the door."
She said nothing.
Julian struck the door.
"Maya!"
Another impact.
The frame cracked.
Maya grabbed the lamp.
The door burst inward.
Julian entered.
His shirt was torn.
Blood ran from his forehead.
He looked terrified.
Not angry.
Terrified.
Maya raised the lamp.
"Stay away from me."
Julian shut the door behind him.
"They're coming."
"What?"
"You have to help me."
Maya stared at him.
After everything he had done, he was asking her for help.
"Get out."
"Maya, listen."
"No."
"Architect knows Daniel found the box."
Maya froze.
Julian's voice shook.
"They're cleaning everything."
"What does that mean?"
"It means Caldwell was only the beginning."
Maya tightened her grip on the lamp.
"Why are you here?"
Julian looked toward the window.
"Because I'm next."
A vehicle stopped outside.
Julian went pale.
"No."
Maya heard multiple car doors close.
Julian whispered:
"They found me."
Then someone downstairs screamed.
Elena.
Maya looked at Julian.
He looked back at her.
For the first time, there was no arrogance left in his face.
Only fear.
May you like
He whispered:
"If they take me, Daniel will never learn what his mother did the night his father died."
