Chapter 6 - Beneath the Estate
The hidden staircase was beneath the wine cellar.
Julian found it behind a rack of imported Bordeaux.
The door opened with a hydraulic hiss.
Marco went first.
Julian followed.
Nora stayed upstairs with Lily.
The tunnel led beneath the estate.
Old bricks.
Rusting pipes.
Concrete walls.
At the end was a blue metal door.
Julian touched it.
For four years, he had dreamed about finding Claire.
Now he was terrified the dream might be real.
He opened the door.
Inside stood three steel cabinets.
A hospital bed.
A medical monitor.
And a wall covered with photographs.
Claire.
Lily.
Julian.
Cassandra.
His blood turned cold.
“This isn't old,” Marco said.
“No.”
Julian walked toward the photographs.
Several had been taken within the last year.
Someone had been watching them.
A voice came from the darkness.
“You should have stayed away.”
Julian turned.
A gunshot cracked.
Marco shoved him aside.
The bullet struck the wall.
Two guards fired into the hallway.
The attacker fled.
Julian chased him.
He reached the tunnel entrance just in time to see a black SUV disappear beyond the estate gate.
Marco ran back.
“You hurt?”
“No.”
Julian stared at the road.
On the floor lay a broken black bird charm.
He picked it up.
Then his phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
A distorted male voice spoke.
“You found the room.”
Julian said nothing.
“You always were stubborn.”
“Where is Claire?”
A pause.
“Alive.”
The call ended.
Julian stood motionless.
Marco looked at him.
“What did he say?”
Julian closed his fist around the charm.
May you like
“He said Claire is alive.”
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