Chapter 7 - THE MONTGOMERY ESTATE
The estate stood beyond the city, hidden behind ancient oaks and iron gates.
Nora had not been there since she was sixteen.
Her father had told her the property was unsafe.
Now she understood why.
The house wasn't a home.
It was a fortress.
Two security vehicles waited near the gate.
Lights were on inside.
David stopped the SUV.
"Too quiet."
Richard looked through the windshield.
"He's expecting us."
Julian turned to Nora.
"You stay here."
She shook her head.
"No."
"Nora."
"My mother is inside."
"I know."
"And this ends tonight."
Julian nodded.
"Then we stay together."
They entered through the front door.
The foyer was empty.
Nora remembered a staircase.
A piano.
A portrait of her grandmother.
But the portrait was gone.
In its place hung a painting of Charles.
She stared at it.
"Of course."
Richard looked at her.
"What?"
"He replaced her."
"Your father always wanted to erase the women who challenged him."
A voice came from upstairs.
"Still dramatic, Richard."
Charles appeared at the top of the staircase.
He wore a dark suit.
No tie.
A pistol rested in his hand.
Beside him stood Eleanor.
Her hands were tied.
"Mom!"
Charles pressed the gun against her shoulder.
"Don't."
Nora stopped.
Charles smiled.
"That's better."
Julian stepped forward.
"You wanted me."
"I did."
"Let her go."
Charles laughed.
"You still think you're negotiating."
David raised his weapon.
Charles's security team appeared from the hallway.
At least eight men.
David lowered his gun.
Charles smiled.
"Now we're civilized."
Nora stared at her father.
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why did you do all this?"
Charles looked genuinely confused.
"Do what?"
"Steal."
"Survive."
"Kill."
His expression hardened.
"I never killed anyone."
Richard shouted.
"Rebecca!"
Charles's face changed.
"I didn't kill her."
"Then why did you hide her records?"
"Because she was going to destroy everything."
"Everything you built."
"Everything I built kept this family alive."
Nora shook her head.
"No."
Charles looked at her.
"You have no idea what it costs to protect people."
"You threatened your own daughter."
"I protected you."
"From what?"
"From the truth."
He gestured toward Julian.
"This man has filled your head with lies."
Julian stepped forward.
"You don't get to call the truth a lie."
Charles raised the gun.
"One more word."
Nora moved between them.
"No."
Charles stared at her.
"What?"
"You don't get to threaten him anymore."
Charles looked almost hurt.
"You would choose him over your father?"
Nora's voice was quiet.
"Yes."
The word destroyed something in his face.
Charles looked toward Eleanor.
"See what you've done?"
Eleanor cried.
"I didn't do this."
"You always hated me."
"I loved you."
"You loved Rebecca."
"I loved both of you."
Charles laughed bitterly.
"That's why she won."
Richard stepped forward.
"She never wanted to beat you."
Charles looked at him.
"She wanted to expose me."
"Because you were guilty."
Charles suddenly raised his gun.
A shot rang out.
Everyone ducked.
The bullet struck the wall.
David shouted.
"Down!"
The security team scattered.
Julian pulled Nora behind a pillar.
Richard tackled Charles.
Eleanor fell sideways.
Nora crawled toward her mother.
"Mom!"
"I'm okay."
"Where is the key?"
Her mother stared at her.
"What key?"
"The one Rebecca left."
Eleanor's face changed.
"You found it."
"Where is the vault?"
Eleanor looked toward the portrait hall.
"Behind your grandmother's bedroom."
Nora ran.
She entered the old room.
The furniture was covered in sheets.
A childhood photograph sat on the dresser.
Nora lifted it.
Behind it was a small metal panel.
She opened it.
Inside was a key.
And a letter.
She unfolded it.
My dearest Nora,
If you're reading this, your father failed to erase me.
Nora began crying.
There is something you must know.
I did not die because I was weak.
I died because I refused to let them use you.
Nora covered her mouth.
Your father will tell you he did everything for the family.
He will tell you he protected you.
Do not believe him.
The truth is much worse.
Nora read the final line.
The person who ordered my death was not Charles.
Her heart stopped.
Below it was a name.
Nora whispered it.
"Daniel Price."
A noise came from behind her.
She turned.
Her mother stood in the doorway.
"Nora."
"What happened?"
Eleanor's eyes filled with tears.
"I remembered."
"What?"
"Your father didn't order your mother's death."
"Then who did?"
Eleanor looked terrified.
"Charles did something worse."
"What?"
"He didn't order it."
"He allowed it."
Nora stared.
Eleanor whispered:
"Because the person who ordered it was your grandfather."
Nora stepped backward.
"Grandpa?"
Eleanor nodded.
"He was the one who built everything."
A gunshot sounded downstairs.
Then another.
Charles screamed.
May you like
And a man's voice shouted:
"Nobody leaves this house alive."
