At 11:58 p.m., Victor stood alone in the main hall of Callaway House.

Or appeared to be alone.

Dominic was in the security room.

Police investigators connected to a trusted federal task force were waiting outside the property. Victor had given them copies of everything from the metal box.

He wasn't going to settle his father's crimes the way Alexander would have.

That was precisely the point.

Emily remained at St. Matthew.

She hated the plan.

Her final words to Victor before he left had been:

“Don't try to prove you're invincible.”

Victor had answered, “I'm beginning to understand I'm not.”

At midnight, the front door opened.

Alexander Callaway entered.

Victor stared at his father for the first time in twelve years.

Alexander smiled.

“You look like your mother when you're angry.”

Victor's face showed nothing.

“You don't get to say her name.”

Alexander walked farther into the room.

“You've done well.”

“Being dead suits you.”

Alexander laughed.

“I missed that.”

“I didn't.”

Alexander studied the mansion.

“You changed everything.”

“It needed changing.”

“You softened it.”

“I made it survive.”

Alexander's smile disappeared.

“There he is.”

Victor placed the metal box on the table.

Alexander's eyes moved toward it.

“You've been looking for this.”

“Your maid has caused me considerable inconvenience.”

Victor's tattooed hand tightened against the table.

“Her name is Emily.”

Alexander smiled faintly.

“That matters to you now?”

“It should've mattered sooner.”

Alexander approached.

“You always had your mother's weakness.”

“Knowing people's names?”

“Caring about them.”

Victor stared at him.

“You faked your death. Murdered Daniel Parker. Bought officials. Manipulated Marcus. Tried to have Emily killed.”

Alexander's expression remained calm.

“You've been reading.”

“I have.”

“Then you know what I built.”

Victor shook his head.

“You built something that required your own son to believe he buried you.”

“I gave you twelve years to become strong.”

“You abandoned me.”

“I prepared you.”

Victor's voice remained controlled.

“No. You used me.”

Alexander looked at the metal box.

“Give me the documents.”

“No.”

“Victor.”

“No.”

Alexander sighed.

“You think those legitimate companies belong to you?”

“They belong to the people who work there.”

Alexander laughed.

“You really did become your mother.”

Victor finally smiled.

“That's the first decent thing you've said tonight.”

Alexander's face hardened.

“You don't understand what's coming.”

“Then explain it.”

“The men behind those documents won't allow them to become public.”

“They already are.”

Alexander stopped.

Victor watched the realization hit him.

“Copies went to federal investigators two hours ago.”

For the first time, Alexander looked uncertain.

“You wouldn't.”

“I did.”

“You'd destroy the Callaway name.”

Victor stepped closer.

“No. I'm ending what you did to it.”

Alexander stared at his son.

Then he laughed softly.

“You think law enforcement can protect you?”

“No.”

“Then what protects you?”

Victor looked toward the staircase.

“Truth helps.”

The side doors opened.

Dominic entered.

Behind him came investigators.

Alexander looked around.

His face became cold.

“You invited them into my house?”

Victor shook his head.

“My house.”

An investigator stepped forward.

“Alexander Callaway?”

Alexander stared at Victor.

“You'll regret this.”

Victor's answer was simple.

“I've spent twelve years regretting the wrong things.”

Alexander was taken away without violence.

As he reached the doorway, he turned.

“Victor.”

Victor said nothing.

“Emily Parker will never be safe as long as those documents exist.”

Victor's eyes narrowed.

Alexander smiled.

“Ask her what happened to the original ledger.”

Then he was gone.

Dominic looked at Victor.

“What does that mean?”

Victor immediately called Emily.

No answer.

He called again.

Nothing.

Then his phone rang.

St. Matthew Medical Center.

Victor answered.

“Callaway.”

A nurse spoke quickly.

“Mr. Callaway, Emily Parker is missing.”

Victor went completely still.

“What?”

“Someone came to transfer her.”

“Who authorized it?”

“We thought you did.”

Victor looked at Dominic.

His blood ran cold.

Alexander had walked into Callaway House knowing he would be arrested.

Because the mansion had never been the real target.

Emily was.

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