Chapter 12 - THE WAREHOUSE
Nobody spoke.
The sound came again.
Click.
Mark grabbed Lily.
"Upstairs."
"No," I said.
"Take her."
I nodded.
Michael moved toward the hallway.
Vanessa grabbed his arm.
"Don't."
"Someone is inside."
"I know."
"Then let me handle it."
"You'll get yourself killed."
Michael looked at her.
"Maybe I deserve it."
She slapped him.
"Don't you dare."
The sound stopped.
Then a door slammed.
Michael ran.
We followed.
The hallway was empty.
The back door was open.
Whoever had been inside was gone.
But on the floor was another envelope.
Mark picked it up.
Inside was a single key.
And a note.
MIDNIGHT. WAREHOUSE 17. COME ALONE.
Michael read it.
"It's a trap."
Mark nodded.
"Obviously."
"We don't go."
Mark looked at Lily.
"We have no choice."
I stepped forward.
"We're going."
Michael looked at me.
"Thomas..."
"My granddaughter is involved."
"So am I."
Vanessa shook her head.
"No."
We all looked at her.
"I'm going."
Mark said:
"Why?"
"Because I know where Warehouse 17 is."
The warehouse stood on the edge of an abandoned industrial district.
It had been closed for years.
The sign above the entrance was almost unreadable.
Bennett Holdings.
My stomach turned.
"My father's company."
Vanessa nodded.
"Yes."
We entered through a side door.
The place smelled like dust and oil.
Michael carried a flashlight.
Mark stayed beside Lily.
I followed.
We reached a large office.
On the desk was a single envelope.
My name.
Again.
I opened it.
Inside was a photograph of my father.
But this photograph was different.
He was younger.
Standing beside Edward.
And between them was Sarah.
She looked about twelve.
I turned the photograph over.
THE FIRST SECRET WAS YOUR FAMILY.
THE SECOND WAS YOUR DAUGHTER.
THE THIRD IS LILY.
Then the lights came on.
A projector illuminated the wall.
A video began.
Sarah appeared.
"Thomas."
I stepped closer.
"If you're watching this, I failed."
Mark whispered:
"Mom..."
Sarah continued.
"I need you to understand something."
She looked directly into the camera.
"Lily is not the reason they are after us."
She paused.
"She's the reason they can't let us live."
The video changed.
Documents appeared.
Bank transfers.
Insurance policies.
Names.
Dates.
Then one account.
The balance made Mark gasp.
"That's impossible."
I stared at the number.
$42,000,000.
Forty-two million dollars.
Sarah's voice continued.
"Everything is held in a trust."
The screen showed a legal document.
Beneficiary:
LILY BENNETT.
Mark whispered:
"Forty-two million?"
Sarah nodded on the recording.
"The money belonged to Robert Bennett."
My father's estate.
The money had been hidden for decades.
Then Sarah appeared again.
"Edward knows."
The screen went black.
A man's voice spoke from the darkness.
"You finally understand."
Daniel stepped into the light.
He was holding a gun.
Michael moved forward.
Daniel raised it.
"Don't."
Mark pulled Lily behind him.
Daniel looked at me.
"You should have stayed retired, Thomas."
"Where is Sarah?"
Daniel smiled.
"Alive."
My heart stopped.
"Where?"
"That's the question."
"What do you want?"
"The trust."
"How?"
"Lily signs."
I laughed bitterly.
"She's nine."
"Not today."
Daniel smiled.
"She will be eighteen eventually."
"And until then?"
"Someone has to die."
Mark stepped forward.
"Me?"
Daniel shook his head.
"No."
He looked at me.
"Thomas."
Before I could answer, Vanessa stepped in front of me.
"Take me."
Daniel looked at her.
"You always were loyal to Sarah."
He raised the gun.
May you like
Then a shot rang out.
Vanessa fell.
