Chapter 15 - The House Beneath the Vineyard
Evelyn’s journals contained the answer.
A repeated address hidden inside charity donation records.
A vineyard in the Hudson Valley.
The property had belonged to Adrian’s grandfather but never appeared in public trust documents.
Police prepared a raid.
I refused to stay behind.
Daniel argued.
Adrian argued louder.
“You gave birth less than two weeks ago.”
“My daughter was taken.”
“You can’t go into a police operation.”
“Watch me.”
“Emma.”
I stepped close.
“If you try to stop me, I will end our agreement and let your company burn.”
His face hardened.
“That’s not fair.”
“No.”
It wasn’t.
It was cruel.
And I meant it.
That was my mistake.
Not because I went.
Because I used thousands of employees as a weapon against him.
Adrian said nothing for several seconds.
Then he moved aside.
“I’ll drive.”
The vineyard looked abandoned.
Dead vines stretched across dark fields.
A stone house stood at the center of the property.
Police entered first.
The rooms were empty.
No Evelyn.
No Lily.
Then an officer found a hidden elevator beneath the wine cellar.
It led to a concrete level underground.
There were bedrooms.
A kitchen.
Medical supplies.
Cameras.
One room had been prepared for a baby.
Pink walls.
White crib.
Stacks of diapers.
A framed photograph of Evelyn holding Adrian as an infant.
The sight made me sick.
We heard crying through the ventilation system.
Lily.
I ran toward the sound.
Adrian grabbed my arm.
“Wait.”
I pulled free.
A steel door stood at the end of the hall.
Behind it, Lily cried again.
I entered the code from Evelyn’s journal.
The lock opened.
Evelyn sat in a chair with Lily in her arms.
Richard stood near the wall.
A gun hung loosely in his hand.
He looked thinner than before.
Older.
Dying.
“You brought police,” Richard said.
“Give me my daughter.”
Evelyn rocked Lily gently.
“She was hungry.”
“Give her to me.”
“You should have chosen a stronger name.”
Adrian stepped forward.
“Mother.”
Richard raised the gun.
“Stop.”
Adrian stopped.
Evelyn looked at her husband with disgust.
“You always ruin the clean moments.”
Richard’s hand shook.
“You said she would come alone.”
“She never does anything alone anymore.”
Evelyn stood with Lily.
I couldn’t breathe.
“Put her in the crib,” I said.
“No.”
“Please.”
The word came out before I could stop it.
Evelyn smiled.
She had wanted that.
Submission.
One desperate word.
Adrian moved half a step.
Richard pointed the gun at him.
Evelyn turned toward the crib.
That was when Vanessa stepped from the adjoining room.
She struck Richard’s wrist with a metal lamp.
The gun fired.
Lily screamed.
Adrian fell.
May you like
And blood spread across his shirt.
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