Chapter 13 - Beneath the Chapel
Rebecca drove a syringe into Grace’s shoulder.
Grace collapsed.
Chaos erupted.
Rebecca ran through the choir passage.
Marcus pursued her.
Adrian turned toward the live image of Nora.
The real Nora was trapped beneath the chapel floor.
Julian had taken her during the evacuation from the surveillance-room fire.
Rebecca had replaced her using a wig, makeup, and Nora’s uniform jacket.
Adrian found the crypt entrance behind the altar.
Water poured down the stone stairs.
The estate’s old reservoir had been opened into the chamber.
Nora stood waist-deep in freezing water.
Her wrists were chained to an iron ring.
Adrian entered without waiting for rescue equipment.
“Go back,” Nora shouted.
“The chamber seals when the water reaches the upper step.”
He waded toward her.
The chain lock required a four-digit code.
Julian’s voice came through the crypt speaker.
“Richard’s death date.”
Adrian entered the date.
The lock rejected it.
“Michael Bennett’s death date,” Nora said.
That code also failed.
The water reached Adrian’s chest.
Nora remembered her father’s watch.
Julian had removed it, but Michael once taught her that numbers mattered less than patterns.
Richard died at 2:34 a.m.
Michael died at 2:34 a.m.
Helena’s boat exploded at 2:34 a.m.
Charles used the same time as a signature.
Adrian entered 0234.
The lock opened.
They reached the stairs as the stone door began closing.
Adrian pushed Nora through first.
The door struck his injured shoulder.
Nora pulled him free seconds before the chamber sealed.
Upstairs, the countdown had reached nine minutes.
Helena and the board were attempting to stop the leak.
The system required three executive authorizations.
Adrian held one.
Helena held one.
The third belonged to Charles Wynn.
Charles was unconscious from Pierce’s injection.
Dr. Samuel Pierce claimed only he could wake him safely.
Adrian dragged the doctor toward Charles.
“Do it.”
Pierce refused.
“You arrest me, and Charles remains unconscious.”
Nora stepped beside him.
“Vivian survived your poison.”
“She is awake.”
“She told federal agents where you kept the antidote records.”
Pierce’s confidence vanished.
Marcus returned with Rebecca in custody.
Grace was alive.
Pierce administered the reversal drug.
Charles woke gasping.
The countdown showed three minutes.
He refused to authorize the shutdown.
“Let Vale burn.”
Celeste stood over him.
“Then Ethan and I release every recording of Mother’s death.”
Charles stared at her.
Their mother had supposedly died from cancer twelve years earlier.
Celeste now knew Pierce had sedated her during a forced proxy signing.
Charles finally placed his hand against the scanner.
The leak stopped with eleven seconds remaining.
Then Julian’s voice came from the chapel roof.
May you like
“You saved the company.”
“Now come watch me bury the family.”
