Chapter 9 - the paper in mia's hand
The events unfolded exactly as Mia had feared.
Vincent saw the new brass padlock.
Adrian tried to stop him.
Vincent broke the door.
Mia was found.
But one thing had changed since Lily last saw her mother.
Mia had a folded note.
She had written it during the night using a pencil Adrian had accidentally left in the room after reviewing documents.
Most of the note contained three names.
Isabella.
Adrian.
Eleanor.
Mia had heard enough through the cellar walls to understand the basic conspiracy.
Adrian had manufactured evidence against Isabella.
Eleanor Moretti was involved.
And the plan would activate on Vincent's fortieth birthday.
The final line was the most frightening.
There is one more person.
Mia did not know the identity.
Only that Adrian had said somebody else would arrive before midnight.
When Vincent opened the note after rescuing Mia, he read quickly.
Isabella was framed.
Adrian changed the records.
Eleanor planned it.
There is one more person.
Then he looked at Adrian.
"You were the one who framed Isabella."
Adrian smiled.
"You still don't get it."
Footsteps sounded on the staircase.
Vincent turned.
A woman descended.
Lily clung to Mia.
Isabella, who had just entered the hall from the front entrance, stopped near the doorway.
The woman reached the bottom of the staircase.
Eleanor Moretti.
Vincent's mother.
She wore a dark navy travel suit beneath a long black coat.
Her silver-blonde hair was perfectly arranged.
She looked nothing like a woman who had just arrived unexpectedly from another continent.
She looked prepared.
"Mother."
Eleanor glanced toward the broken cellar door.
Then toward Mia.
Disappointment crossed her face.
Not shock.
Not confusion.
Disappointment.
Vincent saw it.
Everything inside him became cold.
"You knew."
Eleanor removed her gloves.
"I know many things."
Adrian walked toward her.
Vincent looked from one to the other.
"How long?"
Eleanor sighed.
"Can we not do this in the hallway?"
Mia stared at her.
"You locked me down there."
Eleanor barely looked at her.
"I never instructed anyone to hurt you."
"You instructed him to keep me quiet."
"That is not the same thing."
Vincent's voice cut through the hall.
"It is to me."
Eleanor turned toward him.
"My son."
"Don't."
Something in his tone stopped her.
Isabella moved beside Mia.
"Police are on the property."
Adrian laughed.
"Local police."
Vincent looked at him.
"What does that mean?"
"It means this isn't about one housekeeper or one forged transfer."
Eleanor's expression tightened.
"Adrian."
"No. He's going to learn eventually."
"Learn what?" Vincent demanded.
Adrian reached inside his jacket.
Vincent moved instinctively.
But Adrian produced no weapon.
He held a folder.
He tossed it onto a console table.
"Your father destroyed my family."
Vincent didn't look at the folder.
"You kidnapped Mia."
"Your father framed my father for embezzlement."
"So you framed Isabella?"
"Symmetry."
Mia whispered, "You're insane."
Adrian looked at her.
"No. I'm patient."
Eleanor stepped toward Vincent.
"Carlo stole from David Cole. I discovered it after David died."
"And your answer was this?"
"My answer was to protect you."
Vincent stared.
"From what?"
"From becoming your father."
"You forged evidence against the woman I'm going to marry."
"Because you were giving her influence over the trust."
"You imprisoned my employee."
Eleanor's face hardened.
"Because she refused to understand that some matters are larger than her."
Mia looked at Vincent.
He saw something in her face.
Not fear now.
Warning.
Then the lights went out.
The mansion dropped into darkness.
Someone screamed.
A door slammed upstairs.
Adrian moved.
Vincent grabbed for him but caught only fabric.
Emergency lights flickered on.
Adrian was running toward the east wing.
Vincent went after him.
Eleanor shouted, "Vincent, stop!"
He ignored her.
Adrian disappeared through the library.
Vincent followed.
The garden doors were open.
Cold air filled the room.
Outside, an engine started.
Vincent reached the terrace in time to see a black SUV race toward the rear service road.
Detectives ran after it.
Too late.
Adrian was gone.
Vincent turned back toward the mansion.
Eleanor stood inside the library doorway.
He looked at her.
May you like
"Who is the one more person?"
For the first time that night, Eleanor Moretti looked afraid.
