Chapter 6: Elias Vance
Emergency lights flickered on.
A tall man entered the vault corridor.
Gray suit.
Silver hair.
No weapon visible.
That somehow made him more frightening.
He looked directly at me.
“So.””
His voice was calm.
“You're Arthur's grandson.””
I swallowed.
“Who are you?””
“Someone your father owes a considerable amount of money.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“Elias, walk away.””
Elias smiled.
“You always were loyal to Arthur.””
He looked at the notebooks I'd left inside my house through sheer instinct.
“Where are they?””
I said nothing.
Elias nodded.
“Good.””
He turned toward my parents.
“You failed.””
Mom's face collapsed.
“Elias, please.””
He slapped her.
Claire screamed.
I moved forward.
Daniel grabbed my arm.
“Don't.””
Elias looked at me.
“Your grandfather knew what your parents were capable of.””
“What did they do?””
“Ask them.””
I looked at Dad.
“Tell me.””
He stared at the floor.
Elias answered for him.
“They stole.””
Mom whispered, “We were desperate.””
“You were greedy,” Elias said.
Dad finally spoke.
“We didn't know Arthur had copies.””
Elias laughed.
“Arthur had copies of everything.””
I felt the brass key in my pocket.
“What is in Locker 317?””
Elias smiled.
“Ask your grandfather.””
I realized then.
The locker wasn't the secret.
It was the invitation.
Arthur had known these people would come.
He had known they would threaten me.
He had known I'd need to see them all standing together.
I reached for my phone.
Elias noticed.
“Don't.””
I pressed the button anyway.
The screen showed a livestream.
The entire conversation had been broadcast to a private link.
Mom stared at me.
“You recorded us?””
“No.””
I looked at Daniel.
“Arthur did.””
Daniel smiled.
Before dying, Arthur had arranged cameras through the study.
The evidence was already backed up remotely.
Elias's expression hardened.
“You stupid boy.””
“No.””
I stepped closer.
“I've been stupid for twenty-five years.””
My voice stayed calm.
“Not anymore.””
Sirens approached outside.
Elias looked toward the entrance.
The men he brought began running.
Dad tried to follow.
Claire caught his arm.
“Dad, stop.””
He shoved her away.
I grabbed him.
“You're not leaving.””
He stared at me.
“You don't understand.””
“Then explain.””
He looked toward my mother.
She whispered,
“Jonathan.””
He broke.
“I left you because Elias threatened us.””
I stared.
“You could have told Grandpa.””
“He would have killed us.””
“He raised me.””
“He was going to expose everything.””
Dad's eyes filled with tears.
“For twenty-five years, I thought Elias would find us.””
I looked at my mother.
“And you?””
She wiped her cheek.
“I called Arthur five times.””
“You asked about the house.””
She looked down.
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because I needed to know what you'd inherit.””
I nodded slowly.
“Not whether I was alive.””
She said nothing.
The sirens grew louder.
Elias stepped toward the side exit.
Daniel blocked him.
“You're finished.””
Elias smiled.
“No.””
He looked at me.
“Your grandfather left something behind that even you haven't found.””
“What?””
Elias's eyes were cold.
“A second deed.””
He slipped through the doorway before the police entered.
I turned to Daniel.
“What did he mean?””
Daniel looked genuinely frightened.
“He wasn't lying.””
“Where is it?””
Daniel stared at the floor.
“There's one place Arthur never let me enter.””
My blood ran cold.
May you like
“Where?””
“The old diesel shop.””
