Chapter 29 - THE ROOM UNDER THE HOUSE
We found the key's location through my grandfather's old records.
It wasn't a storage unit.
It wasn't a bank.
It was a property.
A house that had belonged to our family for decades.
But the house had been sold before my grandfather's death.
According to the records.
We arrived before sunrise.
The house was abandoned.
Dust covered everything.
Julian found the keyhole behind a painting.
He inserted the key.
A section of wall opened.
Behind it was a narrow staircase.
We descended.
At the bottom was a room filled with boxes.
Photographs.
Documents.
Audio recordings.
And dozens of names.
My name was everywhere.
So was Noah's.
Julian picked up a folder.
His face changed.
"What?"
He handed it to me.
Inside was a contract.
My grandfather had created a trust in my name when I was six.
I was the beneficiary.
But there was another clause.
Noah would become the sole beneficiary if anything happened to me.
I looked at Julian.
"Why would he do that?"
"Because someone was trying to take the trust."
"Who?"
I turned the page.
A signature appeared.
Victoria Hale.
My ex-husband's new wife.
I stared at it.
"Victoria?"
Julian shook his head.
"I don't understand."
Then we heard footsteps above us.
Someone had entered the house.
Slow footsteps.
One.
Two.
Three.
Then a man's voice echoed down the stairs.
"You should never have found this room."
Julian stepped in front of me.
The man appeared at the top of the staircase.
Arthur Bell.
But he wasn't alone.
Beside him stood my mother.
And between them was Noah.
My son was alive.
But he wasn't smiling.
He looked terrified.
Arthur raised one hand.
"Don't come any closer."
I froze.
"Let my son go."
Arthur looked at Noah.
Then at me.
"I will."
May you like
He paused.
"As soon as you tell me where the original trust documents are."
