Chapter 14 - The Trap Under the Chandelier.
Adrian drove back to the mansion faster than he had ever driven in his life.
Police vehicles followed close behind.
He called Nora again and again.
On the fourth attempt, she answered in a whisper.
"We're in the east corridor."
Adrian nearly lost his breath from relief.
"Is Lily with you?"
"Yes."
"The camera showed her in the hall."
"Recorded footage."
Nora understood before he did.
Julian had looped an earlier image through the security system.
"Where are the officers?"
"One is injured, and the others are searching the west wing."
"Lock yourself in Evelyn's hidden office."
"Julian knows about it."
Adrian looked at the road ahead.
"Then go to the cellar passage."
Nora went silent.
Lily could not be forced back into the place where she had been trapped.
Adrian hated himself for suggesting it.
"No," he said immediately.
"Take her to my bedroom and barricade the door."
When Adrian reached the mansion, every exterior light was on.
The house looked beautiful and completely unsafe.
He entered through the grand hall.
The roses from the gala were still scattered across the marble.
A voice came from the staircase.
"You always did arrive late."
Julian stepped into view.
He held no gun now.
In one hand was the original black metal case from the cellar.
Adrian stopped.
"How did you get that?"
"Your police are very good at watching people and terrible at watching objects."
"Where is Gideon?"
Julian smiled.
"Running."
"From you?"
"From the truth."
Adrian took one step closer.
"You knew what he did to Evelyn."
Julian's smile vanished.
"I knew what our father made all of us."
"Do not blame Arthur for choices you made after he died."
Julian's eyes sharpened.
"You inherited everything."
"You came back for Lily's trust."
"I came back for what was stolen from me."
"By stealing from a child."
That sentence hit its target.
Julian's face tightened.
Adrian saw it and kept going.
"You hated our father because he used people as tools, and then you turned Celeste into a tool, Gideon into a tool, and Lily into a target."
"You know nothing about what I survived."
"I know Lily had nothing to do with it."
Footsteps sounded faintly above.
Adrian did not look up.
Julian did.
That was the mistake.
Martin emerged from the side corridor and closed the distance.
Julian swung the metal case at him.
Martin ducked.
The case struck the railing and burst open.
Documents scattered over the staircase like white leaves.
Julian ran toward the cellar corridor.
Adrian followed.
They reached Evelyn's portrait at the bottom of the stairs.
Julian pulled at the hidden panel.
It did not open.
Adrian held up the brass key.
"Looking for this?"
Julian turned.
For one second, the brothers simply stared at each other beneath the dim cellar lights.
"Give it to me," Julian said.
"No."
"That room contains proof our father destroyed my life."
"It also contains proof you helped destroy mine."
Julian lunged.
Adrian stepped back.
Before either man reached the key, Celeste appeared at the top of the stairs with two detectives behind her.
She held up her private phone.
"I recorded everything in the hall."
Julian stared at her with disbelief.
Celeste's mouth trembled.
"You said I was stupid."
"You are."
"Maybe."
She looked toward Adrian.
"But not stupid enough to protect you twice."
Julian ran for the service passage and collided with Martin coming from the other side.
The detectives moved in.
Seconds later, Julian was on the stone floor in handcuffs.
Adrian felt no victory.
He only felt tired.
Then Nora screamed from upstairs.
"Adrian!"
He ran toward the sound.
Lily stood in the grand hall beside the broken black case.
She was holding one document that had fallen from it.
"Daddy," she whispered.
"This has Mommy's name on it."
Adrian took the page.
It was not a bank record.
May you like
It was Evelyn's final will.
And one section had been hidden from him for four years.
