Chapter 6 - The Hidden Room
The lights returned.
No one was in the hallway.
Javier rushed toward the corridor.
“Who's there?”
Nothing.
The manager checked the security system.
“All cameras are offline.”
Elena didn't move.
She simply watched Teresa.
“You have a hidden room.”
Teresa froze.
“What?”
“Under the west wing.”
Javier stared at his mother.
“Is that true?”
Teresa said nothing.
Elena turned to the manager.
“Take me there.”
They crossed the estate.
Behind a painting was a concealed keypad.
The manager entered a code.
The wall opened.
Inside was a narrow room filled with files.
Javier looked around.
“These are family records.”
Elena pulled a drawer open.
Inside were photographs.
Sofia as a teenager.
Sofia at university.
Sofia standing beside Javier.
Sofia beside Teresa.
And Sofia beside a man Javier had never seen.
He picked up the photograph.
“Who is this?”
Teresa went pale.
Elena looked at the picture.
“My father.”
Javier stared.
“Your father?”
“Yes.”
“But Sofia…”
“Was his favorite.”
Javier looked confused.
“Why?”
Elena took the photograph.
“Because he knew she was the only one who wouldn't become obsessed with the family name.”
A second drawer contained letters.
Javier opened one.
The handwriting was old.
If Sofia ever returns, do not tell her about the vault until she asks.
Javier looked at Teresa.
“What vault?”
Teresa's silence was immediate.
Elena turned.
“You knew.”
“I knew there was something.”
“What?”
“I never found it.”
Elena looked at the floor.
“There is a vault beneath The Pines.”
Javier whispered,
“What is inside?”
Elena answered,
“The original ownership records.”
Mariana stared.
“If Sofia gets those…”
Elena nodded.
“She won't need lawyers.”
A sound came from the far end of the room.
Everyone turned.
A small red light blinked on.
Then a recorded message began playing.
Sofia's voice filled the room.
“If you're hearing this, it means you found the room.”
Teresa stepped backward.
Sofia continued.
“I wanted to give you one last chance.”
The recording paused.
May you like
Then came the final sentence.
“But now I need to know which one of you opened the vault.”
