Chapter 6 - The Grave Thomas Never Marked

Victor survived.

The bullet entered below his shoulder.

Missed the artery.

He was taken to a hospital under federal guard.

Daniel Holt was arrested.

So were three of his men.

But Richard Holt was still missing.

And my father?

That was the question Thomas refused to answer.

Until Adrian locked the library doors.

No guests.

No lawyers.

No agents.

Just us.

Thomas sat across from me.

Seventy-seven years old.

Hands that had planted roses for forty-five years.

Hands that had buried a safe.

Maybe more.

I asked:

“Where is my father?”

He looked at the floor.

“Thomas.”

Nothing.

Adrian said quietly:

“She deserves the truth.”

Thomas nodded.

Then looked at me.

“Your father did not die when you were six.”

I stopped breathing.

“He entered witness protection.”

“What?”

“After he copied Catherine’s evidence.”

Catherine nodded.

“He was supposed to testify.”

“Then why didn’t he?”

Thomas’s eyes filled.

“Because your mother refused to go with him.”

I stared.

“She told me he died in an accident.”

“She was afraid.”

“Of who?”

“Bellinis.

Holts.

Everyone.”

Adrian looked down.

Thomas continued.

“Your father left because staying meant putting you both at risk.”

I could barely speak.

“Is he alive?”

Thomas hesitated.

That answer was enough.

“Is he?”

“I don’t know.”

Adrian frowned.

“Daniel said buried.”

Thomas shook his head.

“Daniel likes wounds more than facts.”

He pulled a small key from his pocket.

“Your father contacted me five years ago.”

I stared.

“What?”

“He sent this.”

A brass key.

Stamped:

HARBOR 19.

Adrian’s expression changed.

“Bellini Harbor.”

Thomas nodded.

“Locker nineteen.”

Serena whispered:

“My father is there.”

Maybe.

Or evidence.

Or both.

Agent Mara Kane entered after Adrian called her.

She listened.

Then said:

“We cannot raid the harbor blind.”

Adrian looked at her.

“It is my property.”

“That makes this worse, not easier.”

“Then I go in.”

“No.”

“I know the tunnels.”

Victor’s voice came from the doorway.

Everyone turned.

He should have been in the hospital.

Instead, he stood there with his arm in a sling.

Catherine stared.

“You left?”

“Yes.”

“You were shot.”

“Yes.”

“You are impossible.”

“Yes.”

Adrian almost smiled.

Victor looked at Mara.

“Old maintenance tunnel runs from warehouse seven to nineteen.”

Mara frowned.

“Still open?”

“Daniel never knew about it.”

Thomas stood.

“I did.”

We went after midnight.

Mara’s team surrounded the harbor.

Adrian, Victor, Thomas, Serena, and I entered through the tunnel.

Catherine stayed with the agents.

Warehouse nineteen was dark.

One overhead light.

Rows of storage cages.

Locker nineteen stood at the far end.

The brass key opened it.

Inside:

A recorder.

A photograph.

A passport.

Daniel Quinn.

My father.

New identity.

And a note.

LAURA,

IF THOMAS GIVES YOU THIS KEY, THEN THE OLD LIES HAVE FAILED.

My hands shook.

The letter continued.

I AM ALIVE.

I sat down.

Thomas covered his face.

I kept reading.

I COULD NOT COME BACK WHILE DANIEL HOLT CONTROLLED THE PORTS.

I TRIED TWICE.

BOTH TIMES MEN FOLLOWED ME TO YOUR MOTHER.

SHE BEGGED ME TO STAY AWAY.

Tears blurred the page.

There was an address.

Chicago.

Dated two weeks ago.

Adrian looked at me.

“He’s alive.”

I nodded.

Could not speak.

Then Serena found another cage.

Locked from outside.

She heard breathing.

“Dad?”

Silence.

Then:

“Serena?”

She screamed.

Richard Holt was inside.

Alive.

Weak.

Bruised.

But alive.

She unlocked the cage.

He fell into her arms.

Adrian turned away.

Maybe because it looked too much like something he still wanted from his own family.

Richard whispered:

“Daniel moved everything.”

Adrian looked back.

“What?”

“The accounts.

The ledgers.

The money.”

“Where?”

Richard looked at Victor.

Victor already knew.

“No.”

Adrian stared at him.

“What?”

Victor closed his eyes.

Richard said:

“Your engagement trust.”

Serena went still.

Adrian’s engagement trust.

A financial structure created when he proposed to Serena.

Victor whispered:

“Daniel moved the stolen money into it.”

Adrian looked at Serena.

If the marriage had happened, both names would control it.

Serena started crying.

“I didn’t know.”

Richard shook his head.

“She didn’t.”

Adrian looked at him.

“How do you know?”

“Because Daniel planned to frame her too.”

Silence.

Richard continued.

“Once you married, he would transfer the money, expose the account, and let both families fall.”

Adrian stared at Serena.

“And then?”

Richard whispered:

“Daniel would disappear with the clean assets.”

Mara’s voice came from behind us.

“He won’t.”

We turned.

Federal agents filled the warehouse.

She held up a phone.

“Daniel just tried to negotiate.”

Adrian’s expression hardened.

“With what?”

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Mara looked at me.

“Your father.”