Chapter 5 - The Key in Sophie's Pocket.
The garage door had been locked for less than seven minutes when Celeste's sedan hit it.
The impact bent the inner frame but did not break through.
Adrian watched the live feed as the car reversed.
"How did she get to the garage?"
Jonah answered immediately.
"Service elevator."
"That elevator should be disabled during lockdown."
"It was."
Cole looked at the tablet.
"Someone reactivated it from a local panel."
Claire stood behind them.
"Nolan?"
Cole shook his head.
"Could be."
Adrian did not move.
On-screen, Nolan stepped out of the passenger side with both hands visible.
He walked around to Celeste's door and spoke to her through the window.
The microphone feed was dead.
Celeste suddenly accelerated again.
Nolan jumped aside.
The sedan struck the damaged door a second time.
This time, the frame opened several inches.
Jonah touched his radio.
"Garage team, hold position."
Adrian looked at him.
"Nobody gets reckless."
"Understood."
"Block the outer driveway instead."
Cole gave a brief nod of approval.
Adrian was angry, but anger was not going to make decisions for him.
That mattered.
Claire touched Sophie's shoulder.
"We need somewhere safer."
Adrian looked around the office.
"This room is reinforced."
"It's also exactly where they expected me to bring the documents."
That stopped him.
Sophie reached into the pocket of her pink dress.
"Mom."
Claire looked down.
The little girl held out another key.
This one was smaller than the brass desk key.
It was silver and attached to a folded strip of blue paper.
Claire stared at it.
"Where did you get that?"
"The man gave it to me."
Every adult in the room became still.
Adrian crouched.
"What man?"
Sophie thought carefully.
"The one who told me to hide."
Claire looked frightened now.
"Sophie, when?"
"Yesterday."
"Before they took me downstairs?"
Sophie nodded.
"He said not to let Aunt Pretty see me."
Adrian held out his hand.
"Can I see the paper?"
Sophie gave it to him.
The blue strip was not paper.
It was part of a security access badge cut into a narrow rectangle.
A handwritten number appeared on the back.
314.
Cole looked over Adrian's shoulder.
"Locker number."
"Where?"
"Old security wing."
The old security wing had been closed after the villa's renovation three years earlier.
Adrian looked at Sophie.
"Do you remember what the man looked like?"
She nodded slowly.
"He had gray hair."
"Anything else?"
"He was nice."
That description matched half a dozen staff members.
Claire knelt beside her daughter.
"Did he tell you his name?"
Sophie shook her head.
"He said names weren't safe."
Adrian stood.
"Cole, with me."
Claire immediately objected.
"You're walking into another part of the house based on a key from an unknown man."
"Which is why Jonah stays with you."
"Adrian."
It was the first time she had used his name without formality.
He looked at her.
"If this is a trap, you may be the target."
"I already am."
"That's not a reason to help them."
Adrian considered that.
Then he handed the sealed envelope from his father's desk to Jonah.
"If I'm not back in ten minutes, get Claire and Sophie off the property through the north garden route."
Jonah frowned.
"You just ordered the property sealed."
"I'm changing the order if necessary."
Claire watched him.
"And Celeste?"
"She stays."
The old security wing smelled like dust and cold stone.
Adrian and Cole reached locker 314 without seeing anyone.
The silver key turned easily.
Inside was an old handheld video camera, a battery pack, and a small envelope.
Adrian opened the envelope.
There was only one line inside.
DO NOT TRUST THE LIVE FEED.
Cole looked at the camera unit.
"This is analog."
"Meaning?"
"Meaning nobody can alter it from the network."
He connected the battery.
The screen flickered on.
A recording began automatically.
The date stamp showed the previous afternoon.
The camera faced the west drawing room.
Claire appeared on-screen entering with a folder under her arm.
Celeste followed.
Then Nolan entered.
Adrian leaned closer.
On the recording, Nolan looked at Celeste and said something the digital security system had never captured.
"You said we were bringing her here to talk."
Celeste answered.
"Plans changed."
Nolan stepped back.
"Then I'm out."
A fourth person entered the frame.
Adrian could not see the face.
Only a dark sleeve and a gold watch appeared at the edge of the image.
Claire turned toward the newcomer.
Her expression changed immediately.
The person spoke.
Adrian recognized the voice before Cole did.
May you like
It belonged to Victor Lang.
The Vale family's attorney for more than twenty years.
