Chapter 5 - Michael Grant Goes to the Archive

The Laurent Archive looked like a townhouse.

No sign.

No guards outside.

Just black windows.

Charles had given federal contacts the address.

But Damian did not wait.

He entered first.

Victor followed.

Dressed differently.

Glasses.

Gray coat.

Michael Grant again.

Theodore stayed near the rear entrance.

I stayed with him.

Charles and Samuel waited outside with investigators.

Inside, one light burned.

Bianca sat at a long table.

Hands free.

No visible injuries.

Adrian Vale stood behind her.

Sixty-three.

Tall.

Gray suit.

Same Vale eyes.

He smiled when Damian entered.

“Nephew.”

Damian looked at Bianca.

“Are you hurt?”

She shook her head.

“No.”

Adrian laughed.

“Always direct.”

Damian looked at him.

“Let her go.”

“When Victor arrives.”

Damian glanced behind him.

Michael Grant stepped forward.

Adrian stared.

Then smiled.

“There you are.”

Victor removed the glasses.

Bianca’s eyes filled.

Adrian continued.

“You made everyone work very hard.”

Victor looked at Bianca.

“Let her leave.”

Adrian shook his head.

“Records first.”

Damian said:

“You already have access.”

“No.”

Adrian looked at the wall.

“Charles changed the code.”

Damian smiled faintly.

“So you need him too.”

“I need his daughter to motivate him.”

Bianca looked at Damian.

“I’m sorry.”

He looked at her.

“For what?”

“For the gala.”

“This is not the time.”

“I know.”

Adrian laughed softly.

“Romance survives everything except honesty.”

Damian turned.

“You would know?”

Adrian’s smile faded.

Victor stepped forward.

“Where are the letters?”

Adrian looked at him.

“What letters?”

“The ones I sent Damian.”

Adrian smiled again.

“Burned.”

Damian’s jaw tightened.

Victor continued.

“And the calls?”

“Samuel handled those.”

Samuel’s voice came from the entrance.

“Not all of them.”

Everyone turned.

Samuel entered.

Charles behind him.

Adrian frowned.

Charles held a small drive.

“The archive is already copied.”

Adrian’s face changed.

Charles continued.

“Federal investigators have it.”

Adrian looked at Bianca.

Then Damian.

Then Victor.

“You think that ends anything?”

Victor said:

“It ends you controlling the records.”

Adrian laughed.

“You still think this was about money.”

Damian stared.

“What was it about?”

Adrian looked at Victor.

“Ask him why your mother really died.”

Victor froze.

Damian’s face hardened.

“Say it.”

Adrian smiled.

“She found evidence.”

“We know.”

“Not just financial.”

Victor whispered:

“Adrian.”

Adrian ignored him.

“She found proof Victor planned to kill me.”

Silence.

Damian looked at his father.

Victor’s face went pale.

Bianca stared.

Charles closed his eyes.

Damian said:

“Is that true?”

Victor did not answer.

Adrian laughed.

“Ask him.”

Damian stepped toward his father.

“Did you plan to kill your brother?”

Victor looked at him.

“Yes.”

Silence.

Damian stopped.

Victor continued.

“I never did it.”

“But you planned it.”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

Victor looked at Adrian.

“Because he ordered two men killed.”

Adrian smiled.

“They were thieves.”

“They were witnesses.”

Damian stared.

Victor continued.

“I thought the only way to stop him was to remove him.”

Damian looked away.

Adrian said:

“Your mother found the plan.”

Victor’s voice broke.

“She confronted me.”

“What did she say?”

“That if I became him, she would testify against both of us.”

Damian swallowed.

“And the next day she died.”

Victor closed his eyes.

“Yes.”

Damian stared.

“You thought Adrian killed her.”

“Yes.”

Adrian laughed.

“And he thought Victor did.”

Damian turned.

“What?”

Adrian looked at him.

“For sixteen years, your father believed I poisoned her.”

Victor stared.

Adrian continued.

“For sixteen years, I believed he did.”

Charles whispered:

“Then who?”

A sound came from the archive hallway.

Slow footsteps.

Theodore appeared.

But he was not alone.

An elderly man walked beside him.

White hair.

Cane.

Damian frowned.

Theodore looked shaken.

“He was in the basement records room.”

The man smiled.

“Good evening.”

Victor stopped breathing.

Samuel went pale.

Charles whispered:

“Dr. Warren.”

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The dead physician smiled.

“Apparently everyone in this family has trouble staying buried.”