Chapter 13 - The Man Behind the Roses.
The old chapel stood at the far edge of the Vale estate, beyond a line of cypress trees and an abandoned family cemetery.
No services had been held there for years.
At eleven fifty-eight, rain ran down the stained-glass windows while Celeste waited inside with a copied ledger page in her hand.
A small transmitter was taped beneath her sweater.
Adrian listened from a service building fifty yards away with Martin and two investigators.
Nora remained at the mansion with Lily and police protection.
Adrian had wanted to go inside the chapel himself.
The investigators refused.
"Julian asked for Celeste," one of them said.
"He also asked for my daughter's rabbit."
"Which is why we gave her a duplicate."
The replica looked convincing from a distance.
At midnight, the chapel door opened.
A tall man in a dark coat entered without an umbrella.
Alexander Voss.
Julian Vale.
Celeste's breathing became audible through the transmitter.
"You came."
Julian removed his gloves.
"You sound surprised."
"Gideon disappeared."
"Gideon panics when consequences arrive."
Adrian gripped the edge of the listening table.
Julian's voice carried the same dry contempt their father once used.
Celeste held up the copied page.
"I want my money."
"You were paid."
"I was paid to watch them, not to be arrested for you."
Julian smiled faintly.
"You locked a child in a cellar all by yourself."
Celeste flinched.
"You told me to recover the page."
"I did not tell you to be stupid."
The words mattered.
The investigators exchanged looks.
Celeste set the stuffed rabbit on a pew.
"Why do you want this?"
Julian approached it.
"Because Evelyn was sentimental."
"There was a memory card inside."
Julian stopped.
The room became perfectly still.
Celeste had deviated from the script.
Adrian whispered a curse.
Julian looked at her slowly.
"Was?"
Celeste's voice shook.
"Adrian found it."
Julian's expression changed for the first time.
Not fear.
Rage.
"Then why are you here?"
Celeste backed away.
"Because I can still help you."
"No."
Julian reached into his coat.
The investigators moved immediately.
Before they reached the chapel, a shot rang out.
Adrian ran despite every order to stay behind.
The chapel door burst open from inside.
Celeste stumbled out, clutching her arm.
"He has another exit!"
Martin entered from the side.
They found the rear vestry door open and muddy footprints disappearing toward the cypress trees.
Julian had escaped through the cemetery.
Celeste's wound was only a graze.
As paramedics treated her, Adrian stood over her.
"Why did you tell him about the memory card?"
Celeste laughed through tears.
"Because you still think I am on your side."
Adrian stared at her.
She reached into her pocket and produced a second phone.
A message glowed on the screen.
COME HOME, ADRIAN.
Adrian's blood froze.
He called Nora.
No answer.
He called the police officer stationed at the mansion.
No answer.
Then his own home security application opened by itself.
A live camera feed appeared.
The grand hall was empty except for red roses scattered across the marble floor.
At the bottom of the staircase stood Lily.
She was holding her white rabbit.
Behind her, a man stepped out of the shadows.
May you like
Julian had never intended to escape the estate.
The chapel had only been a distraction.
