Chapter 3 - The Note Written After His Father Died

Adrian read the date again.

Five years ago.

Lucia stood in the doorway wearing a black dress now.

Helen sat silently.

I remained near the bookshelf.

Adrian looked at the phone.

“Mom.”

Elena was still there.

“You dated this five years ago.”

“Yes.”

“Dad died six years ago.”

Silence.

Adrian’s face changed.

“Mom.”

Elena whispered:

“Your father did not die six years ago.”

Lucia covered her mouth.

Helen closed her eyes.

Adrian stared.

“What?”

“He died three years ago.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“I buried him.”

“I know.”

“Whose body was in the casket?”

Elena answered:

“There was no viewing.”

Adrian remembered.

Closed casket.

Private funeral.

His grandfather’s old lawyer had handled everything.

Adrian’s voice became colder.

“Whose body?”

“I don’t know.”

“Where was Dad?”

“Portugal.”

Adrian stood completely still.

“With you?”

“No.”

“Then where?”

“Near Porto.”

“Why?”

“He was trying to get the vault.”

Adrian laughed once.

“So he faked his death.”

“Yes.”

“To get the evidence.”

“Yes.”

“Against himself.”

“Against everyone.”

Adrian looked at Lucia.

She looked terrified.

He asked:

“Did the Cross family know?”

Elena answered:

“Lucia’s father did.”

Lucia whispered:

“No.”

Adrian turned toward her.

She shook her head.

“I swear I did not.”

He looked back at the phone.

“Who else?”

“Your grandfather’s lawyer.”

“Mr. Keller?”

“Yes.”

Adrian knew that name.

Robert Keller.

Seventy-three.

Still the family attorney.

Still sitting in the ballroom.

Adrian’s jaw tightened.

“He arranged the funeral.”

“Yes.”

“He knew Dad was alive.”

“Yes.”

“For three years.”

“Yes.”

Adrian looked toward the ballroom again.

Another person.

Another lie.

“What happened to Dad?”

Elena’s voice became quieter.

“He found me.”

“Where?”

“In Coimbra.”

“When?”

“Five years ago.”

“What did he want?”

“The key.”

Adrian stared at the brass key.

“You had it.”

“Yes.”

“Did you give it to him?”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because he had already lied to you for thirteen years.”

Adrian’s expression hardened.

“And he wanted the originals.”

“Yes.”

“What did he say?”

“That if the vault opened, the Marino empire would collapse.”

“Would it?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because some of the assets still belong to the Cross family.”

Lucia looked up.

Adrian noticed.

“How much?”

Elena answered:

“Almost one third.”

Lucia stared.

“My family?”

Adrian put the call on speaker.

Elena heard her.

“Lucia?”

“Yes.”

Elena paused.

“Your mother told me you were there.”

Lucia’s eyes filled.

“I’m sorry.”

“I know.”

“I should have told him.”

“Yes.”

Lucia swallowed.

“I was afraid my father would lose everything.”

Elena answered softly.

“So was I.”

Lucia looked surprised.

Elena continued.

“But that is why you tell the truth before fear makes the choice for you.”

Lucia nodded, crying.

Adrian looked at the note again.

“Mom. What happened when Dad couldn’t get the key?”

“He tried another way.”

“What way?”

“He went to Lucia’s father.”

Lucia froze.

“My father?”

“Yes.”

“What did he want?”

“Help opening the vault.”

Lucia looked toward the hallway.

Her father was still downstairs.

Adrian asked:

“Did he help?”

“At first, no.”

Adrian almost laughed.

Elena continued.

“Then your father offered him something.”

“What?”

“Twenty percent of Marino Shipping.”

Silence.

Lucia stared.

“That was never in our family holdings.”

Elena answered:

“Because the transfer never happened.”

“Why?”

“Your father disappeared again.”

Adrian frowned.

“After faking his death.”

“Yes.”

“Where did he go?”

“Spain.”

“For what?”

“To meet someone.”

“Who?”

Elena paused.

Then:

“Your grandfather.”

Adrian stopped.

“My grandfather died seven years ago.”

“No.”

The room became silent.

Adrian looked at Helen.

Helen’s face had gone white.

Elena continued.

“Your grandfather died four years ago.”

Adrian laughed.

A short, broken sound.

“Was anyone actually dead when I buried them?”

Nobody answered.

Adrian looked at the floor.

His grandfather had raised him after Elena vanished.

He had taught him business.

Family.

Loyalty.

He had died in a hospital.

At least Adrian thought he had.

“Why fake his death?”

Elena answered:

“Because investigators were closing in.”

“Investigators for what?”

“The same accounts.”

“So Dad and Grandfather both disappeared.”

“Yes.”

“Together?”

“No.”

“They hated each other by then.”

“Why?”

“Because your father wanted out.”

Adrian looked up.

“That is why he went after the vault.”

“Yes.”

“He wanted to turn evidence over.”

“At first.”

Adrian’s face hardened.

Elena corrected herself immediately.

“Then he realized the evidence could also give him control.”

Adrian closed his eyes.

“Of course.”

Lucia asked:

“What happened in Spain?”

Elena answered:

“Your grandfather offered Adrian’s father a deal.”

“What deal?”

“Destroy the vault.”

“And?”

“He agreed.”

Adrian looked at the key.

“But it still exists.”

“Yes.”

“So Dad changed his mind.”

“No.”

Elena’s voice became strange.

“He tried.”

Silence.

“What happened?”

“The vault requires two keys.”

Adrian stared at the brass one.

“And the other?”

Elena said:

“Your grandfather had it.”

“Where is it now?”

“I don’t know.”

Adrian looked at Helen.

The seamstress stared at the dress.

Then slowly reached toward the beaded waist.

She touched one decorative button.

Twisted it.

A second brass key fell onto the table.

Nobody spoke.

Helen whispered:

“Elena never told me.”

Adrian picked it up.

Two keys.

Same size.

Different teeth.

Lucia’s face went pale.

Adrian looked at the phone.

“We have both.”

Elena went silent.

Then:

“Then your father failed to destroy the vault.”

“Yes.”

“And your grandfather failed too.”

“Yes.”

Elena took a breath.

“Then someone else wanted it preserved.”

Adrian frowned.

“Who?”

Helen looked at the old stitching.

Then at Lucia.

“I think I know.”

Everyone turned.

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Helen whispered:

“Lucia’s mother.”