Chapter 7 - THE WRONG BROTHER
Victoria pressed a small blade against Noah’s pajama sleeve.
“Open the vault.”
Richard stopped several feet away.
“He cannot.”
“He knows the phrase.”
“No.”
Victoria looked at the child.
“You told me you were Liam.”
Noah began crying.
“You said you would hurt Ethan.”
Victoria’s expression twisted.
She had entered the hospital disguised beneath a nurse’s coat during the confusion caused by Owen Pike.
She took Noah because he claimed to be Liam.
The five-year-old had protected his brother.
Emily moved slightly toward the left.
Victoria noticed.
“Do not come closer.”
Emily stopped.
“Noah, look at me.”
The boy lifted his eyes.
“Remember the pillow fort.”
Noah’s breathing slowed.
The triplets built forts using three chairs and a blue blanket.
Emily had taught them a game.
When frightened, they named the objects around them.
Chair.
Blanket.
Door.
Window.
The exercise kept them focused.
“What do you see?” Emily asked.
Noah looked around.
“Painting.”
“Good.”
“Table.”
“Good.”
“Daddy.”
Richard swallowed hard.
Victoria pulled him closer.
“Enough.”
Detective Ellis remained beyond the studio doorway.
Marcus had cut power to the outer gates.
Graham Vale could not drive onto the property without being detected.
Richard looked at the vault.
“You want the shares.”
“I want what you promised me.”
“I promised you nothing.”
“You promised me a family.”
“You were poisoning mine.”
Victoria’s eyes flashed.
“You never saw me.”
“You saw Claire.”
“You saw the children.”
“You saw your company.”
“I stood beside you for three years and remained invisible.”
Emily spoke calmly.
“So you made sick children dependent on you.”
Victoria looked toward her.
“They never loved me.”
“They feared you.”
“Children confuse fear with loyalty.”
“No.”
Emily’s voice remained steady.
“Adults do.”
Victoria moved the blade.
Richard took one step forward.
“Let him go and I will open the vault.”
“You need Liam.”
“I can override it.”
Victoria studied him.
She wanted to believe him.
A sound came from the hallway.
Graham Vale entered behind Detective Ellis with a gun against her back.
Marcus turned.
Vale fired into the ceiling.
Dust fell across the doorway.
“Everyone inside,” he ordered.
Ellis moved into the studio.
Vale closed the door.
Victoria looked relieved.
“You took too long.”
Vale looked at Noah.
“You took the wrong boy.”
“I know that now.”
Vale’s face hardened.
“Then the plan changes.”
Richard stepped between Vale and Noah.
“What plan?”
Vale raised the gun.
“We take Richard and the child.”
“Emily opens the employee tunnel.”
Victoria stared at him.
“What about me?”
Vale did not look at her.
“You were useful until the cameras turned on.”
May you like
Victoria finally understood.
Graham Vale had never planned to share the trust.
