Chapter 8: ## Chapter 8: The Man Beneath the Grave
The Man Beneath the Grave
Julian arrived at my apartment twelve minutes after I calledJulian arrived at my apartment twelve minutes after I called him.
He didn't come alone.
Margaret was beside him, followed by Robert's security team and two detectives him.
He didn't come alone.
Margaret was beside him, followed by Robert's security team and two detectives who had been assigned to the Ashford investigation.
Julian stepped out of the car before it had fully stopped.
who had been assigned to the Ashford investigation.
Julian stepped out of the car before it had fully stopped.
"Where's Lily?""
I showed him the photograph.
He stared at it.
His jaw tightened.
"How long ago?""
"Seven minutes.""
"Did they call"Where's Lily?""
I showed him the photograph.
He stared at it.
His jaw tightened.
"How long ago?""
"Seven minutes.""
"Did they call?""
"No. Just the message.""
Margaret examined the screen.
"The old chapel. That's a trap.""
"I don't care.""
"Clara, they specifically asked you to come alone. They?""
"No. Just the message.""
Margaret examined the screen.
"The old chapel. That's a trap.""
"I don't care.""
"Clara, they specifically asked you to come alone. They want you frightened enough to make a mistake.""
"My daughter is eight years old.""
"I understand.""
"No, you don't.""
My voice broke.
"You want you frightened enough to make a mistake.""
"My daughter is eight years old.""
"I understand.""
"No, you don't.""
My voice broke.
"You don't understand what it's like to know your child is somewhere crying for you.""
Margaret lowered her eyes.
Julian stepped don't understand what it's like to know your child is somewhere crying for you.""
Margaret lowered her eyes.
Julian stepped between us.
"Clara, look at me.""
I didn't want to.
But I did.
"We're bringing her home.""
"How?""
He looked toward Robert.
"Find the vehicle.""
Robert between us.
"Clara, look at me.""
I didn't want to.
But I did.
"We're bringing her home.""
"How?""
He looked toward Robert.
"Find the vehicle.""
Robert already had his phone out.
"We're checking traffic cameras around the estate and the main roads. The registration plate isn't visible in the photograph, but we can already had his phone out.
"We're checking traffic cameras around the estate and the main roads. The registration plate isn't visible in the photograph, but we can identify the model.""
Julian turned toward Margaret.
"Call the police commissioner.""
"Julian—"
"Now.""
identify the model.""
Julian turned toward Margaret.
"Call the police commissioner.""
"Julian—"
"Now.""
She walked away to make the call.
I looked at Julian.
"Why does your family keep doing this?""
She walked away to make the call.
I looked at Julian.
"Why does your family keep doing this?""
He didn't answer.
"Why does everyone connected to you seem to have a secret? YourHe didn't answer.
"Why does everyone connected to you seem to have a secret? Your wife. Your first wife.
Your brother. My mother.""
He looked exhausted.
"Because I spent too many wife. Your first wife. Your brother. My mother.""
He looked exhausted.
"Because I spent too many years believing that protecting my family's reputation was the same as protecting my family.""
"And now?""
"Now I don't care about years believing that protecting my family's reputation was the same as protecting my family.""
"And now?""
"Now I don't care about the reputation.""
He reached into his jacket and removed a small photograph.
It showed a little boy standing beside a younger Julian.
The boy was holding a wooden the reputation.""
He reached into his jacket and removed a small photograph.
It showed a little boy standing beside a younger Julian.
The boy was holding a wooden airplane.
"That's Adrian," he said.
I studied the photograph.
"He looks like you.""
"He airplane.
"That's Adrian," he said.
I studied the photograph.
"He looks like you.""
"He was five years younger than me. He was always getting into trouble.""
Julian smiled faintly.
"He once convinced the head was five years younger than me. He was always getting into trouble.""
Julian smiled faintly.
"He once convinced the headmaster that I had stolen his bicycle. I spent an entire afternoon in detention while he rodemaster that I had stolen his bicycle. I spent an entire afternoon in detention while he rode it around the school grounds.""
"What happened to him?""
"Twenty years ago, he disappeared after a boating accident. The authorities recovered it around the school grounds.""
"What happened to him?""
"Twenty years ago, he disappeared after a boating accident. The authorities recovered a body. My father identified it a body. My father identified it.""
"But Eleanor says he's alive.""
Julian nodded.
"I don't know what to believe anymore.""
A detective approached.
"Mr. Ashford, we've identified the vehicle.""
Julian turned.
.""
"But Eleanor says he's alive.""
Julian nodded.
"I don't know what to believe anymore.""
A detective approached.
"Mr. Ashford, we've identified the vehicle.""
Julian turned.
"Where?""
"Heading north toward the abandoned estate. A camera picked it up approximately four minutes ago.""
Robert showed me the map.
The abandoned property was forty minutes away.
I"Where?""
"Heading north toward the abandoned estate. A camera picked it up approximately four minutes ago.""
Robert showed me the map.
The abandoned property was forty minutes away.
I grabbed my coat.
"We're going.""
Julian nodded.
"Yes.""
The convoy left immediately.
During grabbed my coat.
"We're going.""
Julian nodded.
"Yes.""
The convoy left immediately.
During the drive, I sat beside Julian in the back seat.
He kept looking at Lily's photograph.
"She likes horses," I said suddenly the drive, I sat beside Julian in the back seat.
He kept looking at Lily's photograph.
"She likes horses," I said suddenly.
He looked at me.
"What?""
"Lily. She loves horses. She asks for riding lessons every birthday.
He looked at me.
"What?""
"Lily. She loves horses. She asks for riding lessons every birthday.""
He nodded slowly.
"Does she know about me?""
"No.""
"Will she?""
I looked out the window.
"That depends on whether you bring her home.""
He nodded slowly.
"Does she know about me?""
"No.""
"Will she?""
I looked out the window.
"That depends on whether you bring her home.""
He didn't argue.
After a few minutes, he spoke again.
"I missed your childhood.""
I stared at the passing fields.
".""
He didn't argue.
After a few minutes, he spoke again.
"I missed your childhood.""
I stared at the passing fields.
"Yes.""
"Your first steps. Your first words. Your birthdays.""
I said nothing.
"I can't get those years back.""
"NoYes.""
"Your first steps. Your first words. Your birthdays.""
I said nothing.
"I can't get those years back.""
"No.""
"But I would like the chance to be there for the ones that remain.""
I turned toward him.
"Don't.""
"But I would like the chance to be there for the ones that remain.""
I turned toward him.
"Don't ask me to forgive you while my daughter is missing.""
He nodded.
"I won't.""
The abandoned Ashford estate appeared beyond a line of bare trees.
It had once been a magnificent ask me to forgive you while my daughter is missing.""
He nodded.
"I won't.""
The abandoned Ashford estate appeared beyond a line of bare trees.
It had once been a magnificent country property.
Now the gardens were overgrown, the windows were boarded, and the stone walls were stained with years of rain country property.
Now the gardens were overgrown, the windows were boarded, and the stone walls were stained with years of rain.
The chapel stood at the far end of the grounds.
A narrow bell tower rose above the roof.
Julian stared at it.
"That's where they buried Adrian.""
The detective beside Robert raised.
The chapel stood at the far end of the grounds.
A narrow bell tower rose above the roof.
Julian stared at it.
"That's where they buried Adrian.""
The detective beside Robert raised a hand.
"Everyone stay behind the perimeter.""
I looked toward the chapel.
The main doors were open.
A single light glowed inside.
And there, on the stone a hand.
"Everyone stay behind the perimeter.""
I looked toward the chapel.
The main doors were open.
A single light glowed inside.
And there, on the stone steps, was Lily's pink backpack.
I ran.
Robert caught my arm.
"Clara, wait.""
"That's my daughter's bag!""
He released me only when the steps, was Lily's pink backpack.
I ran.
Robert caught my arm.
"Clara, wait.""
"That's my daughter's bag!""
He released me only when the detectives confirmed the entrance was clear.
We moved inside.
The chapel smelled of damp stone and candle wax.
Rows detectives confirmed the entrance was clear.
We moved inside.
The chapel smelled of damp stone and candle wax.
Rows of wooden benches faced a small altar.
At the front stood a man in a dark coat.
He was tall.
Gray-haired.
And he had a familiar scar beneath his chin.
Victor Hale.
The man from the gala.
He held Lily's hand.
She was crying.
"Mommy!""
I rushed toward her of wooden benches faced a small altar.
At the front stood a man in a dark coat.
He was tall.
Gray-haired.
And he had a familiar scar beneath his chin.
Victor Hale.
The man from the gala.
He held Lily's hand.
She was crying.
"Mommy!""
I rushed toward her.
Victor released her.
I dropped to my knees and wrapped both arms around my daughter.
"Oh, sweetheart.""
Lily buried.
Victor released her.
I dropped to my knees and wrapped both arms around my daughter.
"Oh, sweetheart.""
Lily buried her face in my neck.
"I want to go home.""
"We're going home.""
I kissed her hair repeatedly.
" her face in my neck.
"I want to go home.""
"We're going home.""
I kissed her hair repeatedly.
"You're safe. Mommy's here.""
Victor didn't move.
The detectives approached him.
"Mr. Hale, step away from the child.""
Victor raised both hands.
"She's unharmed.""
JulYou're safe. Mommy's here.""
Victor didn't move.
The detectives approached him.
"Mr. Hale, step away from the child.""
Victor raised both hands.
"She's unharmed.""
Julian stepped forward.
"Why did you take her?""
Victor looked at him.
"Because nobody in your family listens unless something they love is in danger.""
Julian's face hardened.
"You used my granddaughterian stepped forward.
"Why did you take her?""
Victor looked at him.
"Because nobody in your family listens unless something they love is in danger.""
Julian's face hardened.
"You used my granddaughter.""
"I didn't touch her.""
"You frightened her.""
Victor glanced at Lily.
For the first time, his expression showed something.""
"I didn't touch her.""
"You frightened her.""
Victor glanced at Lily.
For the first time, his expression showed something resembling shame.
"I know.""
A voice came from the rear of the chapel.
"That's enough, Victor.""
Every head turned.
A man emerged from behind the altar.
He wore a charcoal resembling shame.
"I know.""
A voice came from the rear of the chapel.
"That's enough, Victor.""
Every head turned.
A man emerged from behind the altar.
He wore a charcoal overcoat and carried a walking stick.
His hair was almost completely white.
But his eyes were overcoat and carried a walking stick.
His hair was almost completely white.
But his eyes were unmistakable.
Julian stopped breathing.
"Adrian?""
The man smiled.
"Hello, brother.""
Julian took one step forward.
Then stopped.
"You unmistakable.
Julian stopped breathing.
"Adrian?""
The man smiled.
"Hello, brother.""
Julian took one step forward.
Then stopped.
"You bastard.""
Adrian laughed softly.
"Twenty years. That's all you have to say?""
"You let me bury you.""
"Father made that decision.""
"You were bastard.""
Adrian laughed softly.
"Twenty years. That's all you have to say?""
"You let me bury you.""
"Father made that decision.""
"You were my brother!""
Adrian's smile disappeared.
"And you were always Father's favorite.""
Julian shook his head.
" my brother!""
Adrian's smile disappeared.
"And you were always Father's favorite.""
Julian shook his head.
"Is that why you disappeared?""
Adrian tapped his walking stick against the stone floor.
"No. I disappeared because I discovered what he was doing.""
"What?""
Adrian looked at Victor.
Then toward me.
Is that why you disappeared?""
Adrian tapped his walking stick against the stone floor.
"No. I disappeared because I discovered what he was doing.""
"What?""
Adrian looked at Victor.
Then toward me.
"Your mother knows the answer, Clara.""
I stood, holding Lily against my side.
"Where"Your mother knows the answer, Clara.""
I stood, holding Lily against my side.
"Where is she?""
Adrian smiled.
"Alive, apparently.""
I felt anger rise in my chest.
"You know where she is?""
"Of course.""
"Then tell me.""
"Not until is she?""
Adrian smiled.
"Alive, apparently.""
I felt anger rise in my chest.
"You know where she is?""
"Of course.""
"Then tell me.""
"Not until we finish what your mother started.""
Julian moved closer.
"What did she start?""
Adrian turned toward him.
"The Ash we finish what your mother started.""
Julian moved closer.
"What did she start?""
Adrian turned toward him.
"The Ashford inheritance was never supposed to belong to you.""
Julian laughed bitterly.
"Here we go.""
Adrian ignoredford inheritance was never supposed to belong to you.""
Julian laughed bitterly.
"Here we go.""
Adrian ignored him.
"Our father created a private trust before he died. It contained the controlling shares of Ashford Industries, several him.
"Our father created a private trust before he died. It contained the controlling shares of Ashford Industries, several properties, and a substantial investment portfolio.""
Margaret, who had arrived with the second police vehicle, stepped properties, and a substantial investment portfolio.""
Margaret, who had arrived with the second police vehicle, stepped forward.
"That trust was dissolved.""
"That's what Victoria wanted everyone to believe.""
Adrian removed a forward.
"That trust was dissolved.""
"That's what Victoria wanted everyone to believe.""
Adrian removed a folded document from his coat.
"She forged the dissolution papers. Then she used Julian's medical condition to take control of the voting folded document from his coat.
"She forged the dissolution papers. Then she used Julian's medical condition to take control of the voting rights.""
Julian looked at the document.
"Why?""
"Because she wanted the entire estate.""
"And rights.""
Julian looked at the document.
"Why?""
"Because she wanted the entire estate.""
"And you helped her?""
Adrian nodded.
"Initially.""
The admission stunned everyone.
Victor looked away you helped her?""
Adrian nodded.
"Initially.""
The admission stunned everyone.
Victor looked away.
Adrian continued.
"Victoria promised me half the company if I helped her establish that Julian was permanently incapacitated. I arranged.
Adrian continued.
"Victoria promised me half the company if I helped her establish that Julian was permanently incapacitated. I arranged the medical cover-up. I helped manufacture the accident report.""
Julian's face turned white.
"You tried to kill me.""
Adrian looked down.
"I didn't know she had arranged for the brakes the medical cover-up. I helped manufacture the accident report.""
Julian's face turned white.
"You tried to kill me.""
Adrian looked down.
"I didn't know she had arranged for the brakes to fail.""
"That's your defense?""
"No.""
Adrian lifted his eyes.
"I came back because she to fail.""
"That's your defense?""
"No.""
Adrian lifted his eyes.
"I came back because she betrayed me too.""
Margaret stepped forward.
"Where is the original trust?""
Adrian pointed toward the altar.
"Underneath the floor.""
One of the detectives moved forward.
" betrayed me too.""
Margaret stepped forward.
"Where is the original trust?""
Adrian pointed toward the altar.
"Underneath the floor.""
One of the detectives moved forward.
"Don't touch anything.""
Adrian smiled.
"There's a stone with my name on it. LiftDon't touch anything.""
Adrian smiled.
"There's a stone with my name on it. Lift it.""
Julian looked at his brother.
"You buried the trust beneath your own grave?""
Adrian shrugged.
"Nobody searches it.""
Julian looked at his brother.
"You buried the trust beneath your own grave?""
Adrian shrugged.
"Nobody searches a grave for documents.""
The detectives began examining the floor.
Meanwhile, I held Lily tightly.
She had a grave for documents.""
The detectives began examining the floor.
Meanwhile, I held Lily tightly.
She had stopped crying, but her little fingers remained wrapped around my coat.
"Mommy?""
"Yes, sweetheart?""
"That man said he knew Grandma Susan stopped crying, but her little fingers remained wrapped around my coat.
"Mommy?""
"Yes, sweetheart?""
"That man said he knew Grandma Susan.""
I looked at Adrian.
"What did you tell her?""
Adrian smiled.
"Only the truth.""
I stepped forward.
"What truth?""
He looked at me.
"Your mother wasn't simply.""
I looked at Adrian.
"What did you tell her?""
Adrian smiled.
"Only the truth.""
I stepped forward.
"What truth?""
He looked at me.
"Your mother wasn't simply an employee of the Ashford family. She was the legal beneficiary of the original trust.""
Margaret froze.
"That's impossible.""
Adrian shook an employee of the Ashford family. She was the legal beneficiary of the original trust.""
Margaret froze.
"That's impossible.""
Adrian shook his head.
"Your father signed it before his death. He discovered that Julian's first marriage had been manipulated by Victoria and wanted his head.
"Your father signed it before his death. He discovered that Julian's first marriage had been manipulated by Victoria and wanted to protect the child Susan was carrying.""
Julian stared at him.
"Why didn't I know to protect the child Susan was carrying.""
Julian stared at him.
"Why didn't I know?""
"Because you were never meant to.""
Adrian turned toward me.
"Clara, you aren't just Julian?""
"Because you were never meant to.""
Adrian turned toward me.
"Clara, you aren't just Julian's daughter.""
He pointed toward the floor.
"You're the only person who can legally authorize the release of the original trust.""
A's daughter.""
He pointed toward the floor.
"You're the only person who can legally authorize the release of the original trust.""
A detective lifted a heavy stone.
Beneath it was a metal box.
Inside lay a stack of documents, a sealed envelope, and a small black recording device.
Margaret carefully examined detective lifted a heavy stone.
Beneath it was a metal box.
Inside lay a stack of documents, a sealed envelope, and a small black recording device.
Margaret carefully examined the documents.
Then she looked up.
"Julian, this is real.""
He stared at the papers.
"What does it say?""
Margaret swallowed.
"It says the documents.
Then she looked up.
"Julian, this is real.""
He stared at the papers.
"What does it say?""
Margaret swallowed.
"It says Clara Bennett is the sole beneficiary of the Ashford family estate, subject to verification of identity and the original witness Clara Bennett is the sole beneficiary of the Ashford family estate, subject to verification of identity and the original witness statement.""
I looked at her.
"What does that mean?""
"It means the controlling shares, the private property portfolio, and the family trust were statement.""
I looked at her.
"What does that mean?""
"It means the controlling shares, the private property portfolio, and the family trust were left to you.""
Julian stared at his brother.
"Why?""
Adrian answered quietly.
"Because your father knew that one day, someone would left to you.""
Julian stared at his brother.
"Why?""
Adrian answered quietly.
"Because your father knew that one day, someone would try to destroy this family from the inside.""
Then he looked at Lily.
"And he wanted the next generation to have a chance at something try to destroy this family from the inside.""
Then he looked at Lily.
"And he wanted the next generation to have a chance at something better.""
I didn't know what to say.
Twelve million pounds in a trust.
An entire family estate better.""
I didn't know what to say.
Twelve million pounds in a trust.
An entire family estate.
A company.
All supposedly mine.
But before I could process any of it, the black recording device began playing automatically.
A company.
All supposedly mine.
But before I could process any of it, the black recording device began playing automatically.
A woman's voice filled the chapel.
My mother's voice.
And then another voice answered.
Victoria.
"Once Julian is declared permanently incapacitated, the trust becomes ours.""
.
A woman's voice filled the chapel.
My mother's voice.
And then another voice answered.
Victoria.
"Once Julian is declared permanently incapacitated, the trust becomes ours.""
A second voice interrupted.
Male.
Cold.
Familiar.
"Not ours, Victoria.""
A pause.
Then the man spoke again.
"Mine.""
Adrian's face went whiteA second voice interrupted.
Male.
Cold.
Familiar.
"Not ours, Victoria.""
A pause.
Then the man spoke again.
"Mine.""
Adrian's face went white.
Julian slowly turned toward him.
"Whose voice is that?""
Adrian didn't answer.
Because everyone in the chapel recognized it.
It was their father.
The man who had supposedly been dead for twenty years.
And.
Julian slowly turned toward him.
"Whose voice is that?""
Adrian didn't answer.
Because everyone in the chapel recognized it.
It was their father.
The man who had supposedly been dead for twenty years.
And he was speaking about a plan that had begun long before any of us understood what was happening.
The recording continued.
"If he was speaking about a plan that had begun long before any of us understood what was happening.
The recording continued.
"If Clara survives, the entire arrangement fails.""
I looked down at my daughter.
Then at the recording device.
And suddenly, the inheritance didn't feel Clara survives, the entire arrangement fails.""
I looked down at my daughter.
Then at the recording device.
And suddenly, the inheritance didn't feel like a gift.
It felt like a death sentence.
May you like
like a gift.
It felt like a death sentence.
