Chapter 5 - mia disappears
Vincent tore the first crate away himself.
Then another.
He called two maintenance workers.
They arrived with tools.
Before they could begin breaking through the masonry, Adrian entered the cellar.
"What are you doing?"
Vincent turned.
"There used to be a room here."
Adrian looked at the wall.
"Used to be."
"When was it sealed?"
"During restoration."
"What restoration?"
"Last year."
"I didn't approve cellar reconstruction."
"You approved a general maintenance budget."
Vincent's eyes narrowed.
"Who ordered this specific work?"
"I did."
"Why?"
"Mold."
"Open it."
Adrian remained still.
"There's nothing back there."
"Then opening it won't matter."
The workers exchanged nervous glances.
Adrian looked at them.
"Leave us."
Vincent said, "Stay."
Nobody moved.
Adrian's jaw tightened.
"We're doing this now?"
"We're opening the wall."
"Because Isabella sent you running back here with another theory?"
Vincent stepped toward him.
"How do you know Isabella sent me anything?"
Adrian realized his mistake.
Vincent saw it.
Adrian recovered quickly.
"Because you were ready to throw her out this morning and now you're tearing apart your basement."
Vincent stared at him.
"Open the wall."
Adrian exhaled.
"Fine."
He moved aside.
The workers broke through.
Behind the first layer of masonry was not a room.
It was a narrow passage.
Old brick.
Dust.
Electrical cables had been installed recently along the ceiling.
Vincent entered first.
The passage extended twenty feet and ended at an iron door.
On the door was a brass plate.
27.
Vincent felt something cold move through him.
Mia's note.
Room 27.
He tried the handle.
Locked.
"Key," he said.
Adrian shook his head.
"I don't have one."
Vincent turned.
"You're responsible for maintenance."
"Not antique keys."
Vincent grabbed a crowbar from one worker.
The iron door resisted.
Then the lock snapped.
Inside was an old records room.
Shelves lined the walls.
Most were empty.
A desk stood near the back.
On it sat a portable document scanner.
Vincent approached slowly.
Beside the scanner were copies of his signature.
Copies of Isabella's signature.
Copies of bank authorization forms.
Adrian stared.
For the first time, he looked genuinely surprised.
Or he performed surprise perfectly.
Vincent lifted one page.
It showed a transfer request bearing Isabella's forged signature.
He turned toward Adrian.
"Explain this."
"I can't."
"It's inside a room you had sealed."
"I never knew this was here."
"You just told me you ordered the wall built."
"Because of mold."
Vincent laughed without humor.
"That's becoming a very expensive mold problem."
Adrian stepped closer.
"Vincent, think."
"I am."
"If I were doing this, why would I leave everything inside your house?"
"Because you thought no one would find it."
Adrian looked toward the workers.
"Send them out."
Vincent did.
When they were alone, Adrian lowered his voice.
"I've protected you for fourteen years."
"That doesn't answer the question."
"I stood beside you when your father died. I helped save Moretti Holdings during the debt crisis. I found the employee who tried to blackmail your family. I prevented your uncle from selling confidential information."
"And?"
"And now one note from Isabella turns me into a criminal?"
"Mia wrote the note."
Adrian became very still.
Vincent saw it.
"You knew."
"Knew what?"
"That Mia gave Isabella something."
Adrian said nothing.
Vincent stepped closer.
"Where is Mia?"
"I told you. She went home."
"I checked."
Another pause.
Vincent continued.
"Her car is still here."
Adrian's expression barely changed.
"Lily?"
"I don't know."
"You expect me to believe that?"
"I expect you to decide whether fourteen years means anything."
Vincent looked at the forged documents.
Then back at Adrian.
"It means I know exactly how dangerous you would be if you betrayed me."
Adrian smiled faintly.
"There he is."
Vincent grabbed his phone.
"I want security searching every room."
"Go ahead."
"And you're leaving the property."
Adrian's smile vanished.
"Until this is resolved."
Vincent called security.
No answer.
He tried again.
Nothing.
Adrian looked at the phone.
"Problem?"
Vincent's eyes lifted.
"You changed the security team."
"I updated the weekend rotation."
"Without telling me."
"It's my job."
Vincent moved toward the door.
Adrian blocked him.
Not physically.
Just enough.
"You should be careful."
Vincent stopped.
"Is that a threat?"
"It's advice."
"From my employee?"
"From your friend."
Vincent's voice dropped.
"You stopped being my friend the moment you made Mia afraid to talk to me."
Adrian stepped aside.
Vincent walked past him.
When Vincent reached the main floor, the mansion felt different.
Same chandelier.
Same marble.
Same paintings.
But now every closed door seemed capable of hiding something.
He searched the guest rooms.
No Mia.
No Lily.
Then he checked Lily's room.
Her bag lay open.
Clothes inside.
Stuffed rabbit on the bed.
She had not gone home willingly.
On the floor beside the nightstand Vincent found a torn piece of paper.
Only four words remained.
Give this to Isabella.
The rest had been ripped away.
Behind him, the bedroom door slowly closed.
May you like
Vincent turned.
Adrian was gone.
