CHAPTER 11: THE MAN ADRIAN FEARED
Evelyn and Roman found Cecilia with less than three minutes remaining on the timer.
Roman cut the restraints while Evelyn disabled the device attached to the door.
“It isn’t a bomb,” she realized. “It’s connected to the building’s fire system.”
Malcolm had wanted them to panic.
He had intended to suffocate them while making the death appear accidental.
They brought Cecilia upstairs as federal agents entered the banquet hall.
Guests screamed and moved toward the exits.
Evelyn ran to Malcolm’s office.
Adrian was on the floor, holding his bleeding shoulder.
Malcolm stood over him with a gun.
“You were always weak,” Malcolm said. “Cruel men usually are.”
Adrian laughed bitterly.
“You taught me everything.”
“I taught you control. You confused it with rage.”
Malcolm raised the gun again.
Evelyn stepped into the doorway.
“It’s over.”
Malcolm pointed the weapon at her.
“No, Evelyn. Your family has been saying that for twenty years.”
Roman appeared behind her.
Agents surrounded the office from the opposite corridor.
Malcolm pressed the gun against Adrian’s head.
“One step and he dies.”
Evelyn looked at Adrian.
For years, she had feared him.
Now she saw him clearly—a frightened man who had mistaken another person’s pain for proof of his own strength.
“Tell them,” Adrian said.
Malcolm’s eyes narrowed.
Adrian slowly opened his hand.
A miniature recorder rested in his palm.
“I recorded everything you said downstairs.”
Malcolm’s calm expression finally cracked.
“You idiot.”
He turned the gun toward Evelyn.
Adrian struck his wrist.
The weapon fired into the ceiling.
Roman rushed forward and forced Malcolm to the ground. Agents secured both men.
Malcolm was handcuffed.
Adrian remained against the wall, breathing heavily.
He looked at Evelyn as paramedics approached.
“I saved your mother.”
“You also helped imprison her.”
“I saved you tonight.”
“That does not erase what you did.”
His face hardened.
“You still need me to testify.”
“I have your recordings.”
“You don’t have the original ledger page.”
Evelyn paused.
Adrian smiled faintly.
“I hid it where Malcolm would never look.”
“Where?”
“In the grave of the only person he was ever afraid of.”
“My father?”
Adrian shook his head.
“No.”
He looked toward Cecilia.
“Your mother’s empty grave.”
Before Evelyn could question him, Adrian was placed on a stretcher.
As the paramedics wheeled him away, he added one final warning.
“Get there before Malcolm’s daughter does.”
Evelyn turned back.
Malcolm had a daughter?
Cecilia’s expression revealed that she already knew the answer.
Naomi entered the room.
Evelyn looked at her.
“Who is Malcolm’s daughter?”
Naomi did not respond.
May you like
She didn’t have to.
The truth was written across her face.
