Chapter 8 - THE THEATER OF GHOSTS
The old Ashford Theater stood at the edge of the river.
Its broken sign creaked in the rain.
Half the letters had fallen away.
Police surrounded the building from two blocks away.
Nathaniel insisted Lily remain inside an armored vehicle with a trusted detective.
Evelyn entered the theater carrying the fake chip.
The lobby smelled of mold and wet carpet.
Dust covered the framed photographs.
Her father’s face appeared in one of them.
He stood beside a group of employees beneath the grand staircase.
Eleanor was in the center.
Julian was a teenager at the time.
A third man stood behind them.
Evelyn recognized him immediately.
Commissioner Cross.
A much younger Nathaniel stood beside her father.
Evelyn’s chest tightened.
She continued into the auditorium.
Rows of torn red seats faced a dark stage.
One spotlight switched on.
Eleanor sat beneath it with her hands tied.
Her silver gown was stained with dirt.
“Evelyn,” she called.
“Do not give him anything.”
Julian stepped from behind the curtain.
His arm was bandaged.
He held a gun.
“You came.”
Evelyn raised the envelope.
“Release her.”
Julian laughed.
“You hate her.”
“I don’t want another person dead.”
“You sound like your mother.”
“Where is the real chip?”
Evelyn said nothing.
Julian aimed the gun at Eleanor.
“I know that one is fake.”
Eleanor looked at Evelyn.
“He has Lily.”
Evelyn’s heart stopped.
“That’s impossible.”
Julian smiled.
A side door opened.
The detective assigned to protect Lily walked inside.
He held Lily by the shoulder.
Lily’s face was wet with tears.
Nathaniel’s trusted detective had betrayed them.
Evelyn forced herself not to move.
“Let her go.”
The detective pressed a gun against Lily’s back.
Julian walked closer.
“The real chip.”
“I don’t have it.”
“Then tell Nathaniel to bring it.”
Evelyn looked toward the balcony.
She knew the commissioner was listening through the wire hidden in her dress.
Julian ripped the necklace from her throat.
He examined the golden key.
The compartment was empty.
His face twisted.
“You opened it.”
Eleanor laughed bitterly.
“You were always slower than your father.”
Julian struck her.
Evelyn lunged forward.
The detective tightened his grip on Lily.
“Stop!”
Evelyn froze.
Julian faced Eleanor.
“You knew the chip was in the key.”
“I suspected.”
“You let me chase the brooch for years.”
“I let you believe you were useful.”
Julian pressed the gun beneath her chin.
“Who killed Evelyn’s father?”
Eleanor’s eyes moved toward the balcony.
“Nathaniel Cross.”
Evelyn stared at her.
The theater became completely silent.
May you like
Then Nathaniel’s voice came through the loudspeakers.
“She’s telling the truth.”
