Chapter 8 - The Greenhouse Safe

Daniel Holt had escaped federal custody.

Not by force.

By paperwork.

A false transfer order.

Signed by a federal supervisor.

The network was still alive.

Mara was furious.

Adrian was silent.

That was worse.

We flew back.

By the time we reached the estate, rain had started.

The engagement decorations were still half standing.

White flowers.

Wet chairs.

Broken lanterns.

The old greenhouse sat beyond the rose garden.

Thomas led us there.

One glass panel was shattered.

Inside, the soil had been disturbed.

Adrian stared.

“He already dug.”

Thomas knelt.

Then smiled.

“No.”

Adrian looked at him.

Thomas moved three empty planter boxes.

Beneath them:

Stone.

He lifted one.

Another steel safe.

Adrian almost laughed.

“My mother really liked safes.”

Thomas said:

“She liked staying alive.”

The combination worked.

Inside:

A package wrapped in oilcloth.

Emily Cross’s name.

Mara froze.

She opened it.

Documents.

Photographs.

A flash drive.

And a letter.

MARA,

IF YOU EVER SEE THIS, I WAS RIGHT.

Mara stopped reading.

My father put a hand on her shoulder.

She continued.

Emily had discovered Daniel Holt was not only moving money.

He was buying identities.

Dead people.

Missing people.

Shell officers.

Fake heirs.

Enough to take over companies without anyone noticing.

Adrian looked at Victor.

“That was the real business.”

Victor nodded.

“I learned too late.”

Adrian stared.

“Everyone learns too late.”

Then Mara opened the flash drive.

Encrypted.

My father knew the password.

One word:

ROSES.

Files opened.

Names.

Hundreds.

Then one video.

Security footage.

Fourteen years old.

Catherine standing inside Bellini headquarters.

Victor beside her.

Mr. Holt.

Daniel.

And Adrian’s grandfather.

Audio.

Grandfather Bellini:

“If Catherine leaves, Adrian becomes leverage.”

Adrian stopped.

Victor on video said:

“He is fourteen.”

Grandfather answered:

“Then he is old enough to be useful.”

Catherine whispered:

“My father-in-law wanted to use me against my own son.”

Thomas nodded.

The video continued.

Daniel Holt spoke.

“If Victor protects her, I take the boy.”

Adrian turned slowly toward Victor.

Victor’s face collapsed.

“I never heard that part.”

Adrian stared.

“You were standing there.”

“I left before he said it.”

The footage proved it.

Victor walked out.

Then Daniel said:

“I can make the mother disappear.

I can make the son hate her.

And one day, when he inherits everything, he will sign whatever we put in front of him.”

Adrian closed his eyes.

His entire life.

Planned in one room.

Mara stopped the video.

Then Adrian’s phone rang.

Serena.

He answered immediately.

“Where are you?”

Her voice shook.

“With Daniel.”

“Are you hurt?”

“No.”

“Where?”

Daniel took the phone.

“Greenhouse?”

Adrian looked around.

Daniel laughed.

“You always did like dramatic family spaces.”

“What do you want?”

“The Emily drive.”

“No.”

“Then Serena dies.”

Adrian’s jaw tightened.

Daniel continued.

“And Richard.”

Adrian looked at Mara.

She mouthed:

Keep him talking.

Adrian said:

“You already had Richard.”

“I still do.”

Serena cried in the background.

Adrian’s expression changed.

Daniel continued.

“Bring the drive to the old Bellini chapel.”

Victor whispered:

“Family cemetery.”

Daniel said:

“Midnight.”

The call ended.

Mara looked at Adrian.

“We track it.”

“No.”

“Adrian—”

“He’ll know.”

“Yes.”

“And Serena?”

Mara said nothing.

Thomas looked at the safe.

“There is one more thing.”

Adrian stared.

“What now?”

Thomas lifted the oilcloth package.

Under it was a small revolver.

Catherine recognized it.

Her face changed.

“That is mine.”

Victor stared.

“The night you disappeared.”

Catherine nodded.

Mara examined it.

Serial number filed off.

Adrian frowned.

“Why is it here?”

My father looked at Thomas.

Thomas looked away.

Adrian caught it.

“Thomas.”

The old gardener closed his eyes.

Then said:

“Because Catherine did not leave the estate willingly.”

Silence.

Catherine looked at him.

Thomas whispered:

“I lied.”

Adrian stared.

“About what?”

Thomas looked at Catherine.

“About who took you that night.”

Catherine’s face went white.

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Thomas turned to Adrian.

“It was your father.”