Chapter 3 - The Second Key

Christian returned to the estate in twelve minutes.

Samuel drove.

Charles stayed hidden in the back seat.

No lights.

No conversation.

The engagement dinner had collapsed.

Guests were leaving through the front doors.

Security had sealed the west wing.

Amelia stood near the staircase.

Still in the dark red gown.

Still crying.

Christian walked toward her.

“Where is your father?”

She looked at Charles behind him.

Her face went white.

For the first time that night, she forgot how to speak.

Charles looked at her.

“You have Victor’s eyes.”

Amelia whispered:

“You’re really alive.”

“Yes.”

Christian stepped between them.

“My father asked a question.”

Amelia looked toward the study.

“Richard took him in there.”

Christian moved.

Two security men followed.

The study door was locked.

Christian kicked it once.

Nothing.

Again.

The frame cracked.

On the third hit, the door opened.

Victor Voss sat behind the desk.

Alone.

His champagne glass was gone.

His tie had been loosened.

Christian looked around.

“Where is Richard?”

Victor answered:

“Gone.”

“Why was the door locked?”

“He wanted privacy.”

Christian stared.

“Did he touch you?”

“No.”

“What did he want?”

Victor looked at Charles.

Then closed his eyes.

“The key.”

Charles stepped forward.

“Did you give it to him?”

Victor reached into his jacket.

Placed a small silver key on the desk.

“No.”

Christian picked it up.

Two keys.

One brass.

One silver.

He looked at Charles.

“Where is the box?”

Victor answered this time.

“First National Bank.”

Christian looked at him.

“Under whose name?”

“Amelia’s.”

She froze.

“What?”

Victor looked at his daughter.

“I opened the account fourteen years ago.”

“You used my name?”

“Yes.”

Amelia stared at him.

“For what?”

“To hide something from Richard.”

Christian laughed without humor.

“Your families really love hiding things from children.”

Victor accepted that.

Charles walked closer.

“Why didn’t you tell me you still had the key?”

“Because you told me to remain quiet.”

“Fourteen years ago.”

“I thought quiet kept everyone alive.”

Charles stared at him.

“And did it?”

Victor looked toward Christian.

“No.”

Christian placed both keys on the desk.

“Tomorrow morning we open the box.”

Charles shook his head.

“Tonight.”

“The bank is closed.”

Samuel entered behind them.

“No.”

Everyone turned.

The retired valet held up a phone.

“Private banking manager owes Charles a favor.”

Christian looked at his father.

“You planned this?”

Charles answered:

“I planned for the possibility that I would finally stop being afraid.”

Amelia looked at Christian.

“I didn’t know about the box.”

He studied her.

“You knew my father was alive.”

“Yes.”

“You knew your father had seen him.”

“Yes.”

“You tried to pay Samuel to stay away.”

Her eyes lowered.

“Yes.”

Christian’s voice stayed calm.

“So what exactly didn’t you know?”

Amelia swallowed.

“I didn’t know Richard was the one who made Charles disappear.”

Victor interrupted.

“Neither did I until last winter.”

Charles looked at him.

“You suspected.”

“I suspected my brother was involved.”

Christian frowned.

“Richard isn’t your brother.”

“No.”

Victor looked at Amelia.

“Anthony Voss was.”

The room became still.

Christian stared.

“Anthony?”

Amelia whispered:

“My uncle.”

Victor nodded.

“Richard used Anthony’s import company to move DeLuca schedules overseas.”

Charles added:

“Then blamed Victor when I discovered the leak.”

Christian looked at Amelia.

“Your family knew Richard was using them?”

Victor answered.

“Anthony did.”

“What happened to him?”

Victor’s face changed.

“He vanished the same week Charles did.”

Christian looked at his father.

“You knew?”

Charles nodded slowly.

“I thought Anthony had betrayed me too.”

“Was he at the airport?”

“No.”

Victor looked toward the window.

“He was supposed to meet me that night.”

“Did he?”

“No.”

Samuel spoke from the doorway.

“Yes.”

Everyone turned.

Victor frowned.

“What?”

Samuel looked at Charles.

“I never told you because I thought he had gone willingly.”

Charles stared.

“Samuel.”

“I saw Anthony at the airport.”

Victor stood.

“When?”

“Ten minutes before Charles arrived.”

Samuel’s voice became quieter.

“He was getting into Richard’s car.”

Christian felt the room change.

“Alive?”

“Yes.”

Samuel nodded.

“And carrying a black leather case.”

Charles looked at Victor.

Victor went pale.

Christian asked:

“What was in the case?”

Victor whispered:

“The original contracts.”

Charles stared.

“What contracts?”

Victor looked at him.

“The contracts that show Richard wasn’t only selling shipping information.”

Christian’s eyes narrowed.

“What else was he selling?”

Victor looked at Amelia.

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Then at Charles.

“Ownership.”