Chapter 10 - The Uncle No One Mentioned
Victor Mason pushed Patricia toward the center of the chamber.
His suit was expensive.
His expression was calm.
Too calm.
Detective Chen stood several feet behind him.
Her weapon was raised.
“Put the gun down.”
Victor ignored her.
He looked at Clara.
“You have your father’s eyes.”
Thomas stepped forward.
“Leave her out of this.”
Victor laughed.
“She has been inside this from birth.”
Clara kept one hand pressed against Andrew’s wound.
“What do you want?”
“The estate.”
Patricia turned her head slightly.
“You promised me half.”
Victor pressed the gun harder against her.
“You failed.”
Clara looked between them.
“You worked together.”
Thomas answered before Victor could.
“Victor helped Patricia hide me.”
Clara felt another piece of her childhood collapse.
“Why?”
Victor’s smile disappeared.
“Because your grandmother gave Thomas everything.”
“The estate.”
“The company shares.”
“The family name.”
“And she gave me nothing.”
Thomas shook his head.
“She gave you opportunities.”
“You gambled them away.”
Victor’s eyes flashed.
“I built my own opportunities.”
Patricia laughed bitterly.
“You kidnapped your brother.”
Victor struck her with the pistol.
She fell to one knee.
Detective Chen moved closer.
“Drop it now.”
Victor grabbed Patricia by the hair and pulled her upright.
“If anyone moves, she dies.”
Patricia stared at Clara.
For the first time, the powerful woman looked desperate.
“Help me.”
Clara almost could not believe it.
“You destroyed my family.”
“Victor planned everything.”
“You forged my name.”
“He forced me.”
Thomas shouted.
“That is a lie.”
Patricia looked toward Andrew.
He was barely conscious.
“My son needs a hospital.”
Victor glanced down.
“He will get one after Clara signs.”
He removed the original estate deed from his coat.
Then he handed Clara a transfer document.
“Sign the estate to me.”
Clara did not take it.
“No.”
Victor smiled.
“Your groom may bleed out.”
Clara looked at Andrew.
His lips were pale.
Thomas spoke quietly.
“Do not sign.”
Clara turned toward him.
“He will die.”
“If you sign, Victor will kill us anyway.”
Victor’s smile widened.
“Your father finally learned something.”
Clara looked at the document.
Then at the steel gate where Thomas had spent years imprisoned.
Then at Patricia.
A plan began forming.
“I need a pen.”
Victor tossed one toward her.
Clara caught it.
Mr. Bell watched from the edge of the chamber.
She met his eyes for half a second.
He understood.
Clara placed the document on the floor.
She signed slowly.
Victor relaxed.
That was his mistake.
Clara lifted the paper.
“There.”
Victor pushed Patricia toward Detective Chen.
He reached for the transfer.
Clara tore it in half.
Then she threw both pieces into the standing water beside the electrical control box.
Victor roared.
He raised his gun.
Mr. Bell hit the emergency switch.
The entire chamber went dark.
Someone tackled Victor.
Three shots exploded.
Clara covered Andrew with her body.
When the emergency lights returned, Victor lay beside the steel gate.
Detective Chen had one knee on his back.
Mr. Bell held the gun.
Patricia was gone again.
Thomas looked toward the river tunnel.
“She knows another way out.”
Clara stood.
She saw blood on the concrete leading toward the tunnel.
Then she heard Patricia’s voice echo through the mill.
“You should have let me die.”
A deep mechanical sound began beneath their feet.
Mr. Bell looked toward the old machinery.
“The floodgates.”
Thomas’s face filled with fear.
“She opened the river channel.”
May you like
Water burst through the tunnel wall.
And the underground chamber began filling in seconds.
