Chapter 9 - The West Tunnel
Julian had never used the west tunnel.
He had barely known it existed.
But Amelia had.
Leo led them.
“Left here,” he said, limping slightly. “Then down.”
Maya stared. “Your mom taught you all of this?”
“She called it the pirate route.”
Behind them, alarms screamed through the mansion.
Julian’s security team engaged the intruders near the east wing.
He kept one hand on Leo’s shoulder and the other around Amelia’s flash drive in his pocket.
The tunnel ended beneath the greenhouse.
A black town car waited outside.
Julian stopped.
“That isn’t ours.”
The driver’s door opened.
Nolan stepped out with both hands raised.
“Don’t shoot.”
Julian had no gun.
He almost wished he did.
“You led them here?”
“No. They tracked Eleanor’s phone before police took it.”
“Who are they?”
Nolan looked at Leo.
“The family of Adrian Cross.”
Leo frowned. “Who’s that?”
Nolan’s face tightened.
Julian already knew.
“Your biological father.”
Leo looked at Julian.
Nobody moved.
Nolan continued, “Adrian died when Leo was three months old. His father created the trust. Charles stole from it after Adrian’s death.”
Julian’s voice was ice. “And you helped him.”
“Yes.”
Maya stepped forward. “Why should we trust you now?”
“You shouldn’t. But the Cross family believes Leo is the key to recovering everything Charles took. They don’t care what happens to him emotionally.”
Leo’s voice was small. “Do they want me?”
“They want your signature when you turn twelve.”
Julian’s anger sharpened. “He is a child, not a bank password.”
Nolan nodded. “Then get in the car.”
A gunshot cracked from the mansion grounds.
Maya flinched.
Julian looked at Nolan. “Where are we going?”
“To the one person Amelia trusted after she stopped trusting me.”
“Who?”
Nolan opened the back door.
“Her sister.”
Julian stared.
“Amelia didn’t have a sister.”
May you like
Nolan looked toward the burning lights of Mercer House.
“That’s another thing she lied to you about.”
