Chapter 14 - The Tunnel
Thomas's basement contained an old service tunnel built during Prohibition.
It opened half a mile away near the river road.
"He planned an exit," Adrian said.
Ortiz shook her head.
"Or someone planned it for him."
By noon, Thomas's face was everywhere.
Police checkpoints.
Airport alerts.
Financial holds.
But he had vanished.
Sophie stayed with Rachel under guard.
Adrian returned to the mansion for clothes.
The place felt different now.
Too quiet.
Claire's portrait in the upstairs hall seemed to watch him.
He entered Sophie's room.
Teddy sat on the bed, freshly dried and restitched by Maria.
Adrian picked it up.
"I'm sorry," he whispered.
"For what?"
He turned.
Sophie stood in the doorway.
"For not listening to your mom."
Sophie climbed onto the bed.
"You didn't know."
"I should have."
She considered that.
"Mommy used to say grown-ups can be wrong and still love you."
He smiled sadly.
"That sounds like her."
Sophie reached into her desk and pulled out a child's drawing.
Three stick figures.
Mommy.
Sophie.
Daddy.
Behind them, in blue crayon, was a square.
"What's that?"
"Mommy's secret room."
Adrian frowned.
"What secret room?"
"The one behind your books."
His heart kicked.
He went to the study.
The shelves behind the desk looked ordinary.
But one lower panel had scratches near the base.
He pushed.
Nothing.
Sophie walked over and pressed a wooden rosette.
Click.
The bookcase swung open.
A narrow room waited behind it.
Adrian stared.
Claire had built a private archive in their own home.
Inside were file boxes, an old laptop, and a small recorder.
He pressed play.
Claire's voice filled the room.
"Adrian, if you found this, Sophie remembered."
He sat down.
"I'm sorry I hid so much from you. I stopped knowing who in your family I could trust."
Sophie held his hand.
Claire continued.
"Thomas is not the leader. He is afraid of the person who is."
Adrian looked at Daniel.
"Who?"
The recording crackled.
"Follow the foundation board votes. Start with the person who approved every vendor Graham created."
Daniel opened the archived board files.
One name appeared again and again.
May you like
Chairwoman Evelyn Cole.
Adrian's mother.
