Chapter 5 - THE EMPTY SECURITY ROOM
Lucas reached the first floor in seconds.
“Emma!”
No answer.
“EMMA!”
Harold was lying unconscious beside the security door.
Lucas dropped to his knees.
“Harold!”
The older man's eyes fluttered.
“Sir…”
“Where is she?”
Harold tried to speak.
“Basement…”
Lucas stood.
His face became something terrifying.
He ran toward the basement.
The steel door was open.
The lights flickered.
Lucas descended the stairs two at a time.
At the bottom, he found three guards unconscious.
Then he heard crying.
“Mr. Blackwood!”
Lucas followed the sound.
He opened the storage room.
Emma was inside.
Her wrists weren't tied.
Her face was wet with tears.
And beside her stood a man Lucas had never seen before.
The man held a knife against Emma's shoulder.
“Stop.”
Lucas raised his gun.
The stranger smiled.
“You came.”
“Let her go.”
“Drop the weapon.”
Lucas didn't move.
The man pressed the knife closer.
Emma whimpered.
Lucas slowly lowered his gun.
“Okay.”
He placed it on the floor.
The stranger smiled.
“You really would do anything for her.”
“Yes.”
“Interesting.”
The stranger stepped backward.
Then he said:
“Your father said the same thing.”
Lucas's eyes narrowed.
“What?”
The stranger smiled.
“That's why they killed him.”
Lucas's expression changed.
“You knew my father?”
“I knew Richard Blackwood very well.”
“Who are you?”
The stranger removed his mask.
Lucas stared.
He recognized the face.
It belonged to Daniel Carter.
Sarah's brother.
Emily's supposed dead brother.
Lucas had seen his obituary seven years earlier.
“You're dead.”
Daniel smiled.
“Apparently not.”
Emma stared at him.
“Uncle Daniel?”
Daniel's face softened.
“Yes, sweetheart.”
Lucas looked at Emma.
“You know him?”
Emma nodded.
“He came to our apartment before.”
Lucas's stomach dropped.
“How long have you known him?”
Emma looked confused.
“Mommy said Uncle Daniel was helping us.”
Lucas looked at Daniel.
“You've been protecting them?”
Daniel shook his head.
“Trying to.”
“From Vincent?”
“Yes.”
Lucas stepped forward.
“Then why kidnap Emma?”
“I didn't.”
A gunshot came from the hallway.
Daniel pulled Emma down.
Lucas turned.
Two armed men appeared.
Lucas grabbed the weapon from the floor.
The basement exploded into gunfire.
He fired twice.
One attacker fell.
Daniel returned fire.
The second man disappeared around the corner.
Lucas looked at Emma.
“Are you hurt?”
She shook her head.
Daniel lowered his weapon.
“She's the key.”
Lucas stared at him.
“To what?”
“The Blackwood inheritance.”
Lucas frowned.
“My father left no secret inheritance.”
Daniel laughed.
“That's what Vincent wanted you to believe.”
He reached into his jacket and pulled out a small black envelope.
Lucas recognized the seal.
His father's.
“Your father left this for you.”
Lucas took it.
There was only one sentence written on the front.
OPEN ONLY WHEN EMMA IS SAFE.
Lucas looked at the child.
Then at Daniel.
“You've had this for seven years?”
Daniel nodded.
“Why give it to me now?”
“Because Vincent knows where it is.”
Lucas opened the envelope.
Inside was a photograph.
Richard Blackwood stood beside a young woman.
Sarah.
And in her arms was a newborn baby.
Emma.
On the back was a message.
Lucas read it.
His hands began to shake.
Lucas, if you're reading this, I failed to protect my granddaughter.
Lucas stopped breathing.
He read the next line.
Your brother is alive.
His eyes lifted.
Daniel whispered:
“You're not the only Blackwood son.”
Lucas looked at Emma.
Then the photograph.
Then Daniel.
“Where is he?”
Daniel's face became grim.
“He's been living under another name.”
“Where?”
“Boston.”
Lucas's heart pounded.
“Who?”
Daniel hesitated.
Then whispered:
“Your most trusted man.”
Lucas stared at him.
“No.”
Daniel nodded.
“Yes.”
“Who?”
Daniel looked toward the stairs.
“Harold.”
Lucas's blood ran cold.
He turned.
The hallway was empty.
But from upstairs came the sound of a door slamming.
Lucas suddenly realized something.
Harold had been in his house for thirty years.
Harold had access to everything.
Security.
Keys.
Records.
Family secrets.
And tonight, Harold had been the one who first told Lucas about Emma.
Lucas looked at Daniel.
“You're saying Harold is my brother?”
Daniel shook his head.
“No.”
He pointed toward the ceiling.
“I'm saying Harold knows where your brother is.”
Lucas ran upstairs.
But Harold was gone.
And on the security monitor, one final image remained.
A black car leaving the estate.
Inside it sat Vincent.
May you like
And beside him—
Harold.
