Chapter 6 - THE SILVER MINE
The mine was surrounded before sunrise.
The tunnels were unstable.
Old explosives remained underground.
I studied the original plans.
“There is a ventilation shaft.”
Reyes looked at me.
“You think Julian is using it?”
“He needs airflow.”
The tactical team entered.
Three hours passed.
Then the radio crackled.
“Child located.”
Grace was alive.
She was found beside the waterproof evidence case.
Julian had abandoned both.
The case contained hundreds of documents.
Fourteen buildings.
Six residential towers.
Three hospitals.
Two schools.
A courthouse.
A sports arena.
And the Halcyon Tower.
The final property stopped me cold.
My father had worked on a Caldwell project years earlier.
His name appeared in the files.
Samuel Bennett.
My father.
The documents revealed that he had discovered the falsified steel reports.
He had refused to sign.
A recording played.
My father's voice.
“I will not approve this.”
Charles Caldwell answered.
“You already did.”
“That isn't my signature.”
“It will be once the original disappears.”
Three days later, my father was dead.
The official story had been a traffic accident.
It wasn't.
Grace was brought to me after the rescue.
She looked terrified.
“Grandmother said you wanted our house.”
I knelt.
“You have nothing to be afraid of.”
She hesitated.
“Uncle Julian told me to give you this.”
She handed me a recorder.
Julian's voice played.
“Charles ordered Lydia's death.”
“He ordered Samuel Bennett's death.”
“And he ordered Adrian to marry Claire.”
Then another voice spoke.
Cold.
Calm.
Familiar.
“Finish the recording, Julian.”
May you like
Eleanor.
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