Chapter 4 - The Secret in the Basement
Julian stared at the doorway.
Ava could hear her own heartbeat.
The man stepped inside.
He was in his sixties, wearing a dark coat and carrying an old metal case.
Julian recognized him immediately.
“Marcus Vale.”
The man smiled.
“You remember.”
Ava looked between them.
“Who is he?”
Julian didn't answer.
Marcus placed the metal case on the table.
“I worked for your father.”
Julian's voice was cold.
“My father died eight years ago.”
“I know.”
“Then why are you here?”
Marcus looked at Ava.
“Because Thomas Monroe was supposed to tell her everything.”
Ava stepped forward.
“My father?”
Marcus nodded.
“What everything?”
Marcus opened the case.
Inside were dozens of documents.
Bank transfers.
Property agreements.
Signed statements.
Julian picked up the first page.
His face hardened.
Ava watched him.
“What is it?”
Julian handed it to her.
The document showed payments made from Crosswell's original property company to a private account.
The payments continued for years.
“Who received this?”
Marcus answered.
“Thomas Monroe.”
Ava's stomach dropped.
“My father?”
“He was paid to keep the building from being demolished.”
Julian looked sharply at Marcus.
“That makes no sense.”
“It will.”
Marcus placed another document on the table.
“This building was never supposed to be luxury housing.”
Julian stared.
“What?”
“Your father wanted to demolish it.”
Ava looked at the old man.
“Then why didn't he?”
“Because Thomas refused.”
“Why?”
Marcus looked at her.
“Because your mother was living there.”
Ava stopped breathing.
“My mother?”
Marcus nodded.
“She was a tenant.”
Ava shook her head.
“My mother died when I was nine.”
“I know.”
“She had nothing to do with this company.”
“She had everything to do with it.”
Julian stepped closer.
“Marcus.”
The older man looked at him.
“You're telling me my father had a secret agreement with Thomas Monroe?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Marcus hesitated.
“Because your father caused an accident.”
Silence.
Ava stared.
“What accident?”
Marcus opened another file.
Inside was a newspaper clipping.
A warehouse fire.
Three workers injured.
One woman killed.
Ava recognized the name.
Her mother.
Her hand began to shake.
Julian looked at the clipping.
His face changed.
“My father said the fire was an electrical accident.”
“He lied.”
Ava looked at Julian.
“You knew?”
“No.”
“Your family knew.”
“I didn't.”
Her voice broke.
“You're telling me your father killed my mother?”
Marcus shook his head.
“No.”
He looked at the file.
“Your mother discovered the fire was deliberate.”
Ava stared.
“She found evidence.”
“Evidence of what?”
Marcus closed the file.
“Fraud.”
Julian's face hardened.
“Whose?”
Marcus looked at him.
“Your father's.”
Julian stepped back.
For the first time, Ava saw something in his eyes she had never expected.
Pain.
Not fear.
Not anger.
Pain.
A sudden crash came from the hallway.
Marcus turned.
“They found us.”
Julian grabbed Ava's hand.
“Move.”
They ran through the storage room.
Behind them, footsteps approached.
Marcus shoved the metal case into Ava's arms.
“Take this.”
“What about you?”
“Go!”
Julian pulled Ava toward the stairs.
They reached the basement corridor.
A shadow appeared behind them.
Julian turned.
A man in a black jacket stood at the end of the hallway.
He raised his phone.
“Mr. Cross.”
Julian stopped.
The man smiled.
“Your father's records aren't the only thing someone kept.”
Ava tightened her grip on the metal case.
“What does that mean?”
The man looked directly at her.
May you like
“It means your mother left something behind.”
Then he reached into his coat and pulled out an old photograph—
