The rain had stopped, leaving the night air thick with heavy, freezing mist.
Ethan stood in the subterranean basement beneath the ruins of Kingsley Manor. The air smelled of old dust, mold, and ancient stone. In his hand, he held the heavy brass key Alexander Laurent had given him.
His fingers trembled as he inserted the key into the rusted iron door set deep inside the foundation wall.
CLICK.
The heavy lock mechanism turned with a deep, echoing groan. Ethan pushed the door open, stepping into a small, secret study that had been sealed for over fifteen years.
Cobwebs hung from the low ceiling. On the wooden desk sat a dusty leather journal, an old cassette recorder, and a stack of yellowed financial documents.
Ethan walked over, his heart pounding against his bruised ribs. He picked
