Chapter 6 - The Archive
Julian had never entered the private archive.
His father had forbidden it.
After his death, the room remained sealed.
Now someone had opened it.
Julian and Ava reached the archive twenty minutes later.
Richard was gone.
The door stood open.
Inside were hundreds of boxes.
Ava looked around.
“This is insane.”
Julian stepped inside.
“My father kept everything.”
“Then maybe he kept the truth.”
They searched for an hour.
Finally, Ava found a box labeled 1998.
Inside was a single cassette tape.
And a handwritten note.
For Julian, if you ever learn what happened.
Julian stared at it.
His hands trembled.
Ava noticed.
“Do you want me to leave?”
“No.”
He looked at her.
“Stay.”
They found an old recorder.
Julian pressed play.
His father's voice filled the room.
“If you're hearing this, I'm dead.”
Julian closed his eyes.
The recording continued.
“I lied about the fire.”
Ava's hand covered her mouth.
“I told everyone it was an accident. It wasn't.”
Julian stared at the recorder.
“The person responsible was not me.”
A pause.
“His name was Richard Hale.”
Ava looked at Julian.
The recording continued.
“Richard was moving money through the company. Elena discovered it. She threatened to expose him.”
Julian whispered, “No.”
His father's voice continued.
“I tried to protect her.”
Ava's eyes filled with tears.
“The fire was supposed to destroy the records. I didn't know Elena was inside.”
Julian turned away.
His father's voice cracked.
“She survived long enough to give birth.”
Ava froze.
The room seemed to disappear.
“She asked me to protect her daughter.”
Julian slowly turned.
“Her daughter was Ava.”
Ava couldn't breathe.
The recording continued.
“I gave Thomas Monroe money to keep Ava hidden. I told him never to tell her who she was.”
Julian stared at Ava.
She stared back.
“My mother was alive?”
“No,” Julian whispered.
The recording continued.
“She died three days later.”
Ava's knees weakened.
Julian caught her.
For several seconds, she cried silently against his chest.
He held her without speaking.
Then the recording changed.
A second voice appeared.
Richard Hale.
“You should have destroyed the tape.”
Julian went rigid.
The recorder clicked off.
Ava looked up.
Someone was standing behind them.
Richard.
He held a gun.
“Julian,” he said quietly.
Julian stepped in front of Ava.
Richard smiled.
“You were always too curious.”
“You killed my mother.”
Richard shrugged.
“She knew too much.”
Ava stared at him.
“And my father?”
“Thomas was useful.”
“You threatened him.”
“He was supposed to remain quiet.”
Julian's voice was cold.
“And the false relocation reports?”
Richard smiled.
“That was necessary.”
“Why?”
“Because West Briar sits on something worth far more than apartments.”
Ava's eyes narrowed.
“What?”
Richard looked at her.
“Land.”
May you like
Then he raised the gun.
“But you're not leaving this room with the answer.”
