Victor returned to the mansion before sunrise.

Dominic was waiting in the basement.

The vault stood open.

Victor descended the stone staircase slowly.

He remembered coming there as a child.

His father had once told him:

“Everything important should have two locks. One people can see and one they can't.”

Victor had thought it was advice about money.

Now he understood it differently.

Dominic pointed inside.

“Someone searched the back wall.”

Victor entered.

Cash.

Documents.

Property deeds.

Old ledgers.

Everything appeared untouched.

But one shelf was empty.

Victor ran his hand over the dust.

A clean rectangle remained.

“Something was here.”

Dominic nodded.

“What?”

Victor remembered.

“A metal box.”

“When?”

“Before my father died.”

“What was inside?”

“I never knew.”

Victor called the hospital.

Emily was awake.

Thirty minutes later, he returned to her room.

She looked stronger.

Not strong.

Stronger.

Victor sat beside her.

“What was in the metal box?”

Emily stared at him.

“So it's gone.”

“Yes.”

“Then Marcus has it.”

“What was inside?”

“Evidence.”

“Against my father?”

“Against everyone.”

Victor waited.

Emily took a slow breath.

“Your father had partners. Judges. contractors. businessmen. People who helped him hide money and bury investigations. Your mother discovered records of payments and secret accounts.”

“And you know this because?”

“My father worked for your mother.”

Victor's eyes narrowed.

“Who was he?”

“Daniel Parker.”

Victor recognized the name.

An accountant who had disappeared twelve years ago.

“The police said Daniel Parker stole from us.”

“He didn't.”

“What happened?”

“Alexander found out he was helping your mother.”

Victor went still.

Emily continued.

“My father disappeared three days before the warehouse fire.”

“You think Alexander killed him.”

“I know he did.”

“How?”

“Because Marcus told me.”

Victor stared at her.

“When?”

“Yesterday.”

Emily's voice weakened.

“He caught me leaving the vault.”

“You opened it?”

She nodded.

“Why?”

“I knew the bomb meant Alexander was moving again. I needed the evidence before Marcus found it.”

“Where is the box?”

“I moved it months ago.”

Victor leaned closer.

“To where?”

Emily looked at him.

“You still don't understand.”

“Then explain it.”

“The bomb wasn't designed primarily to kill you.”

“You already said that.”

“It was designed to expose Marcus.”

Victor frowned.

“What?”

“Alexander knew I was watching Marcus. He knew I'd warn you. Once the bomb was discovered, Marcus would be forced to run.”

“Why would my father sacrifice his own man?”

“To make you hunt Marcus instead of looking for him.”

Victor sat back.

“A distraction.”

“Yes.”

“And you?”

“Marcus was supposed to find me before I could tell you anything.”

“What happened near the river?”

Emily's fingers tightened around the blanket.

“He found me.”

Victor's jaw hardened.

“Did he hurt you?”

“He wanted the box.”

“Did you give it to him?”

“No.”

“Then where is it?”

Emily looked toward the rain-covered window.

“My apartment.”

Dominic, standing near the door, spoke.

“We searched it.”

Emily shook her head.

“Not inside.”

“Where?”

“Across the street.”

Victor understood first.

“The bus stop.”

Emily nodded.

“There's a locker behind the old newspaper kiosk. Number seventeen.”

Dominic left immediately.

Victor remained.

Emily studied him.

“You should go with him.”

“No.”

“Victor.”

“Someone has tried to kill you.”

“That's exactly why you shouldn't be sitting here.”

Victor's expression softened.

“For three years, you protected me without asking permission.”

“That was different.”

“How?”

“You didn't know.”

A faint smile touched Victor's mouth.

“Exactly.”

Emily looked away.

“You don't owe me anything.”

“That's not true.”

“I didn't do it so you'd owe me.”

“Then why?”

She was silent.

Victor waited.

Finally she said, “Your mother saved my life.”

Victor stared at her.

Emily continued.

“I was sixteen when my father disappeared. Alexander's men came looking for anything Daniel might have left behind. Your mother got me out of Chicago.”

Victor barely breathed.

“She knew you?”

“She knew my father.”

“And she asked you to protect me?”

“Not exactly.”

“What did she say?”

Emily looked at him.

“She said, ‘If Victor becomes his father, walk away. But if he doesn't, don't let Alexander destroy him.’”

Victor lowered his eyes.

For years, he had wondered what his mother would think of the man he became.

Now he finally had part of an answer.

Dominic called.

Victor answered.

“Tell me.”

“We found the locker.”

“And?”

A pause.

“The box is here.”

Victor stood.

“Bring it.”

“Victor…”

“What?”

“There's something else inside.”

“What?”

“A photograph.”

Victor waited.

Dominic's voice changed.

“It was taken three months ago.”

Victor's stomach tightened.

“Of who?”

“Alexander Callaway.”

Silence.

“And Marcus is standing beside him.”

Victor looked at Emily.

Dominic continued.

“Your father isn't hiding overseas.”

“Where is he?”

“He's in Chicago.”

---