Chapter 3 - The Letter from a Dead Man
Samuel broke the wax seal with his thumb.
The letter inside was written in his father's narrow, disciplined hand.
My son, if you are reading this, then I failed to stop your mother before she acted.
Samuel read the line twice.
Catherine stood beside him with Penelope in her arms.
Arthur remained near the door, listening for movement in the corridor.
The letter described hidden transfers from Kincaid Enterprises into shell corporations controlled by Daria and Dr. Weston.
It described a private facility known as Blackthorn House.
It described threats made against Catherine after Samuel's father discovered that she had independently reviewed the trust documents.
The final paragraph was shorter.
Daria believes possession is the same as victory.
She is wrong.
The original will is not in the family vault.
It is hidden where she buried the only thing she ever loved.
Samuel lowered the page.
"What does that mean?"
Arthur's face tightened.
"Your mother loved very few things."
"She loved power."
"Before power, there was a child."
Samuel stared at him.
Arthur explained that Daria had given birth to a daughter before marrying Samuel's father.
The baby died after six weeks.
No one in the family ever spoke of it.
Daria had chosen the grave herself and visited it every year alone.
"Where?"
"Saint Orison Cemetery."
Catherine shifted Penelope higher against her shoulder.
"Your father hid the will in a grave?"
"Not in the grave," Arthur said.
"In the angel monument beside it."
A heavy impact shook the nursery door.
Daria's men had found the east wing.
Arthur turned the lock and pushed an armoire across the entrance.
"There is a dumbwaiter behind the tapestry."
Samuel moved the faded wall hanging and found a narrow wooden door.
"That shaft has not worked in fifty years."
"It does not need to work," Arthur said.
"It only needs to lead down."
The armoire scraped across the floor as someone forced the outer door.
Samuel wrapped Penelope in a second blanket and entered the shaft first.
A ladder descended into darkness.
Catherine followed with one hand on his shoulder.
Arthur remained above.
"Come with us," Samuel said.
The old man shook his head.
"Someone must make them believe you went toward the roof."
"They will hurt you."
"Your father gave me a home when I had none."
Arthur smiled faintly.
"Allow me to repay the debt."
The door splintered behind him.
Samuel wanted to argue, but Catherine pulled the shaft door closed.
They descended as shouting filled the nursery.
Samuel heard Arthur demand that the intruders leave the child alone.
Then came a blow.
Then silence.
The shaft opened into a basement pantry.
Catherine stumbled when her feet touched the floor.
Samuel steadied her.
"We are going back for him."
"Not yet."
"He saved us."
"Then make it matter."
Her words cut through his panic.
They crossed the wine cellar and reached a tunnel built during Prohibition.
Samuel's grandfather had used it to bring liquor beneath the estate.
Arthur had shown it to Samuel when he was a boy.
At the far end, an iron hatch opened beyond the north wall.
They emerged among snow-covered pines as police lights appeared at the front gate.
Samuel's phone vibrated.
His mother was calling.
He answered.
"Where are you?" Daria asked.
"Inside your lie."
Her silence lasted less than a second.
"That woman is not Catherine."
"She knew about Blackthorn House."
"A name anyone could invent."
"She knew Father changed the trust."
Daria's voice hardened.
"Your father was confused before he died."
"Was he confused, or was he poisoned?"
The line went still.
Samuel heard the faint sound of Daria breathing.
It was the closest thing to fear he had ever drawn from her.
"Bring the infant to me," she said.
"Why?"
"Because the child is in danger."
"From whom?"
"From the woman holding her."
Catherine's expression changed.
She motioned for the phone.
Samuel put it on speaker.
"Hello, Daria."
The quiet confidence in Catherine's voice surprised him.
Daria inhaled sharply.
"You should have stayed where I put you."
"You should have killed me when you had the chance."
Samuel looked at Catherine.
She met his gaze without blinking.
Daria's control broke for one instant.
"You ungrateful little parasite."
"Thank you," Catherine said.
"That is exactly what the investigators needed."
She ended the call.
Samuel stared at her.
"Investigators?"
Catherine reached beneath Penelope's blanket and removed a small black device taped to the inner lining.
A green light blinked on its surface.
"I did not escape Blackthorn alone."
A vehicle approached through the trees.
Samuel raised the revolver.
Catherine put a hand on his arm.
"Do not shoot."
A dark sedan stopped beside them.
The driver lowered the window.
Federal agent Lena Ortiz looked at Samuel and then at the baby.
May you like
"Get in," she said.
"We have less than an hour before your mother realizes the police she called do not all belong to her."
