Chapter 6 - What Really Happened to Adrian’s Father

Adrian flew to Porto that morning.

Lucia came.

Helen refused to stay behind.

Thomas and Evelyn came under instruction from investigators.

No one was allowed near the vault without law enforcement.

Elena waited at Hotel Miramar.

Adrian saw her in the lobby.

Fifty-nine.

Dark hair streaked with gray.

Same eyes.

Same posture.

He stopped.

She stood.

For eighteen years, he had imagined a dramatic reunion.

Instead, he said:

“You’re shorter than I remember.”

Elena laughed through tears.

“You got taller.”

Then he hugged her.

No speech.

No forgiveness.

Not yet.

Just a hug.

When they separated, Lucia stayed several steps away.

Elena looked at the red gown box Helen carried.

“You brought it.”

Helen nodded.

“You always overcomplicated hems.”

Elena smiled.

Then looked at Lucia.

Lucia swallowed.

“I failed your test.”

“Yes.”

“I’m sorry.”

Elena studied her.

“So am I.”

Lucia looked surprised.

“For what?”

“For testing you instead of speaking to you.”

Silence.

Adrian looked at his mother.

That mattered.

Elena continued.

“Fear made me manipulative too.”

Lucia nodded.

Then Adrian asked:

“What did Keller mean about Dad?”

Elena’s expression changed.

“Sit down.”

They did.

Elena placed a sealed envelope on the table.

“Your father died three years ago.”

“Yes.”

“But not naturally.”

Adrian stared.

“How?”

“He was killed.”

Lucia went still.

Helen closed her eyes.

Adrian’s voice became cold.

“By whom?”

Elena looked toward Thomas.

Thomas lowered his head.

Adrian noticed.

“Thomas.”

“I did not kill him.”

“Then what do you know?”

Thomas answered:

“I was there.”

Silence.

Lucia stared at her father.

“Where?”

“A warehouse outside Vigo.”

“When?”

“Three years ago.”

Adrian’s breathing changed.

“Why were you with my father?”

“He asked me to meet him.”

“For what?”

“To trade.”

“What?”

“He had one copy of the ledger.”

“And you had?”

“Information on Samuel.”

Adrian frowned.

“Lucia’s grandfather.”

“Yes.”

“What happened?”

Thomas looked sick.

“Robert Keller arrived.”

“With Samuel?”

“No.”

“Who?”

Thomas looked at Elena.

She answered:

“Your grandfather.”

Adrian stared.

“My grandfather died four years ago.”

“Yes.”

“And Dad died three years ago.”

“Yes.”

“So Grandfather was alive.”

“Yes.”

“For another year.”

Adrian leaned back.

The dead had been moving around Europe while he held memorials.

“What happened at the warehouse?”

Thomas continued.

“Your father wanted immunity.”

“From investigators?”

“Yes.”

“He planned to turn over evidence.”

“Yes.”

“Grandfather refused.”

Thomas looked at Adrian.

“They argued.”

“Then?”

“Keller drew a gun.”

Adrian’s face hardened.

“Shot Dad?”

Thomas shook his head.

“Your grandfather did.”

Silence.

Lucia covered her mouth.

Adrian did not move.

“My grandfather killed my father.”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because your father said he would testify.”

Adrian looked toward Elena.

“You knew.”

“Only after.”

“Who told you?”

“Thomas.”

Adrian turned back.

“You told my mother.”

“Yes.”

“But not me.”

Thomas closed his eyes.

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because Elena begged me not to.”

Adrian stared at her.

Elena looked devastated.

“I thought knowing would make you go after him.”

“He was my father.”

“Yes.”

“And you decided I couldn’t know.”

“Yes.”

Adrian stood.

He walked toward the window.

No one followed.

After a minute, he turned.

“What happened to Grandfather?”

Thomas answered:

“He died one year later.”

“Actually died?”

“Yes.”

“Who confirmed it?”

“Keller.”

Adrian laughed bitterly.

“That means nothing.”

Elena took out another document.

“DNA.”

Adrian looked.

Independent confirmation.

Samuel Cross had arranged it.

For reasons nobody understood yet.

Adrian sat again.

“Keller buried Dad.”

“Yes.”

“Used another body for the funeral.”

“Yes.”

“Then hid his death.”

“Yes.”

“Why preserve the vault?”

Elena answered:

“Because Keller wanted leverage.”

“Against Samuel?”

“Against everyone.”

Lucia looked at Thomas.

“And Grandpa?”

Thomas sighed.

“Samuel wants the vault gone because the ledgers prove he created the Cross accounts before I ever joined.”

Lucia’s face changed.

“So you weren’t the beginning.”

“No.”

“You inherited it.”

“Yes.”

“And stayed.”

Thomas looked at her.

“Yes.”

Lucia wiped her eyes.

At least no excuse.

Elena pushed the sealed envelope toward Adrian.

“What is this?”

“Your father’s last letter.”

Adrian stared.

“Written when?”

“Two days before he died.”

He opened it.

ADRIAN,

IF THIS REACHES YOU, I FAILED TO FIX WHAT I HELPED BUILD.

He kept reading.

I TOLD YOU YOUR MOTHER LEFT BECAUSE I WAS ASHAMED TO ADMIT I CHOSE MY FATHER’S BUSINESS OVER HER.

Adrian stopped.

Elena looked away.

He continued.

DO NOT TURN ME INTO A BETTER MAN AFTER I DIE.

I WAS AFRAID.

I WAS GREEDY.

I LOVED YOU.

ALL THREE THINGS ARE TRUE.

Adrian closed his eyes.

That was the first honest thing his father had ever given him.

At the bottom:

THE PORTO VAULT CONTAINS ONE RECORD NOBODY ELSE KNOWS EXISTS.

ASK ELENA FOR DRAWER FOUR.

Adrian looked at his mother.

“Drawer four?”

Elena frowned.

“There are only three drawers.”

Everyone went silent.

Helen whispered:

“Not in the vault.”

Adrian looked at her.

“Where?”

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Helen touched the red gown box.

“In the dress.”