Chapter 12 - The Service Tunnel
Police wanted to breach from both sides.
I knew the tunnel better than their plans did.
It had been built during Prohibition, sealed by my grandfather, reopened during a renovation, then forgotten again. Evelyn used to joke that every rich Chicago house had one room nobody should ask about.
June refused to remain outside.
"They're my children."
"And that is exactly why you stay behind the officers."
She stared at me.
"I stayed behind people my entire life, Mr. Blackwell. Employers. Agencies. Investigators. Men in suits telling me they knew better. Not tonight."
I didn't argue again.
We entered through the carriage house with two officers.
Halfway down, we heard Micah crying.
Then Stephen shouted, "Stop!"
He stood twenty yards ahead with one arm around Lila and a pistol pointed toward the floor beside her.
Micah sat against the wall.
June stepped forward.
"Let them go."
"Give me the notebook."
"It's gone."
Stephen's face twisted. "Then you're useless."
Lila suddenly stomped hard on his foot.
Stephen jerked.
Micah ran.
June sprinted forward as the gun fired.
The shot hit the ceiling.
An officer tackled Stephen. I grabbed Lila and pulled her behind the wall. June caught Micah and covered him with her body.
Within seconds, Stephen was handcuffed.
He started laughing.
"You think this ends with me?"
I crouched in front of him.
"No. It ends with Victor."
Stephen's laugh faded.
"Victor?"
"Yes."
"You still don't understand."
He looked at June.
"Victor didn't start the wage theft."
June's face tightened.
"Who did?"
Stephen looked at me.
"Your father."
I felt the tunnel tilt.
My father had been dead seven years.
Stephen continued.
"Victor inherited the system. He expanded it, sure. But the shell vendors, the payroll skims, the intimidation? Those were Blackwell before Victor ever had a corner office."
I stared at him.
"You're lying."
"Ask the one person who kept the old ledgers."
"Who?"
May you like
Stephen smiled through blood on his lip.
"Your mother."
