Chapter 4 - Camille’s Dead Grandfather Returned to Room 317

Adrian returned to the ballroom.

Camille stood near the entrance.

Still in the dark red gown.

Her mother was gone.

So was Victor Morel.

Adrian stopped.

“My uncle too.”

Camille stared.

“What?”

Robert checked the security desk.

Two cars had left within minutes.

One registered to Victor.

One unknown.

Adrian looked at Camille.

“When did your mother leave?”

“Ten minutes after you.”

“With anyone?”

“She said she needed air.”

Adrian showed her the photograph.

Judge Lawrence Russo.

Her grandfather.

Camille went white.

“No.”

“You recognize him.”

“Yes.”

“You knew he might be alive?”

“No.”

Adrian watched her carefully.

She met his eyes.

No hesitation.

For once.

He believed her.

Camille looked at Robert.

“Where would he take my mother?”

Robert said:

“Back to where this began.”

Adrian turned.

“Room 317.”

They ran.

The hotel corridor was empty.

Door 317 was open.

Inside.

Helena Russo stood near the window.

Victor Morel stood by the bed.

And an old man sat in the chair.

Ninety.

Thin.

White hair.

But unmistakable.

Lawrence Russo.

Camille stopped breathing.

“Grandfather.”

The old man looked at her.

“You look like your mother.”

Helena’s face was wet with tears.

Camille stared.

“You died.”

Lawrence nodded.

“Officially.”

Adrian looked at Victor.

“You knew.”

His uncle smiled faintly.

“For years.”

Adrian’s hand tightened.

“Why?”

Lawrence answered.

“Because death is useful when people are looking for someone.”

Adrian stepped into the room.

“Did you send photographs to my mother?”

Lawrence looked at Evelyn behind him.

“Yes.”

Silence.

Evelyn’s face changed.

“You.”

“For eighteen years.”

“Yes.”

Adrian’s voice hardened.

“Why?”

“To keep her away.”

“From me?”

“From the evidence.”

Adrian stared.

Lawrence continued.

“She knew too much.”

Camille looked at her mother.

“You knew he was alive?”

Helena whispered:

“Since last month.”

Camille closed her eyes.

“Of course.”

Lawrence smiled.

“No one in this room has been honest for very long.”

Adrian looked at Victor.

“Why help him?”

Victor answered:

“Because your father left me the business.”

“No.”

Adrian shook his head.

“He died.”

Victor smiled.

“And I survived.”

Evelyn stepped forward.

“You helped threaten me.”

Victor looked at her.

“I helped protect Adrian.”

Adrian laughed once.

“Do not use my name for that.”

Victor’s expression changed.

Adrian continued.

“You raised me after Father died.”

“Yes.”

“You knew Mother was alive.”

“Yes.”

“For how long?”

Victor said nothing.

Adrian stepped closer.

“How long?”

“Since the beginning.”

Silence.

Evelyn covered her mouth.

Adrian’s face emptied.

“You knew for eighteen years.”

“Yes.”

“And you never told me.”

“No.”

“Why?”

Victor looked toward Lawrence.

Adrian understood.

“You were working together.”

Lawrence nodded.

“Victor needed the Morel businesses.”

“I needed the Russo network.”

Camille stared at her grandfather.

“So you used our families.”

“Yes.”

Helena whispered:

“Father.”

Lawrence looked at her.

“You benefited.”

“I spent eighteen years terrified.”

“You spent eighteen years wealthy.”

Helena flinched.

Camille stepped between them.

“You threatened me as a child.”

Lawrence smiled sadly.

“I threatened your mother with the possibility.”

Camille stared.

“That is not better.”

“No.”

Adrian looked at the old man.

“What do you want now?”

Lawrence looked at the metal case.

“The ledger.”

Adrian said:

“No.”

Victor moved toward him.

Adrian’s security appeared in the doorway.

Victor stopped.

Lawrence did not.

He remained calm.

“There is another ledger.”

Adrian frowned.

“Where?”

Lawrence looked at Helena.

She went pale.

Camille turned.

“Mom?”

Helena closed her eyes.

Adrian’s expression hardened.

“What did you hide?”

Helena whispered:

“The names of the people who ordered the murders.”

Silence.

Adrian stared.

“What murders?”

Helena looked at him.

“Your father’s.”

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Then at Camille.

“And your father’s.”