BENEATH HIS SECRET

THE EVIDENCE

The drive back to the Blackwood mansion felt longer than usual.

Neither Amara nor Adrian spoke.

The black key Adrian had found in Room 217 lay between them in the center console.

Amara kept staring at it.

There was something about that key that made her uneasy.

It wasn't just the number engraved on it.

It was the fact that someone had deliberately left it behind.

Someone wanted them to find it.

Adrian suddenly spoke.

"Did Elena sound frightened to you?"

"Yes."

"More frightened than before?"

Amara thought about it.

"Definitely."

Adrian tightened his grip on the steering wheel.

"Then something happened while we were gone."

Amara looked at him.

"What if someone followed her?"

"We'll find out."

The mansion appeared ahead.

But something was wrong.

The main gate was wide open.

Adrian slowed the car.

"Why is the gate open?"

"I don't know."

He stopped the car before entering the compound.

The security guards were nowhere to be seen.

Amara's heart began pounding.

"Adrian..."

"I know."

He reached for his phone and called the security room.

No answer.

He tried again.

Nothing.

He got out of the car.

Amara followed.

"Stay behind me."

They walked toward the mansion.

The front door was unlocked.

Adrian pushed it open.

"Elena?"

No answer.

The house was silent.

Too silent.

Amara stepped inside.

"Elena!"

Nothing.

Then she noticed something on the floor.

A glass had been shattered near the staircase.

Adrian crouched down.

"Fresh."

Amara looked toward the living room.

"Maybe she ran."

Adrian shook his head.

"Elena wouldn't leave without telling us."

They searched the first floor.

Nothing.

Then Amara heard something upstairs.

A faint sound.

Like someone crying.

She immediately moved toward the staircase.

Adrian grabbed her arm.

"Wait."

They listened.

The sound came again.

This time, they recognized the voice.

"Amara?"

It was Elena.

Amara rushed upstairs.

"Elena!"

She found her sister sitting on the floor beside the bedroom door.

Her hands were trembling.

Amara knelt beside her.

"What happened?"

Elena looked up.

"They came."

"Who?"

"The people we've been looking for."

Adrian appeared behind Amara.

"Where are they now?"

"I don't know."

"How did they get inside?"

Elena shook her head.

"I don't know."

Amara helped her stand.

"Where's the evidence?"

Elena looked toward the bedroom.

"I hid it."

"Where?"

"Somewhere they would never think to look."

Adrian's expression became serious.

"Show us."

Elena walked into the room.

She went straight to an old wardrobe.

At the bottom was a small wooden box.

She pulled it out.

Amara stared at it.

"That's Mom's."

Elena nodded.

"I found it after she died."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I was afraid."

Elena opened the box.

Inside were several documents, photographs, and an old USB drive.

Amara picked up the first photograph.

It showed her mother standing beside Adrian's father.

But this time, there was someone else in the picture.

A man Amara recognized.

Her eyes widened.

"That's Daniel Cross."

Adrian took the photograph.

His face became unreadable.

"My father's closest associate."

Elena nodded.

"Your mother discovered that Daniel had been stealing from the company."

Adrian looked at the documents.

"How much?"

"Millions."

Silence filled the room.

Amara picked up another document.

"This isn't just about money."

Adrian looked over her shoulder.

"What is it?"

She pointed to several names.

"They were making payments to people outside the company."

Adrian read the list.

His expression darkened.

"These aren't business transactions."

"What are they?"

"Protection."

Elena's voice trembled.

"Your mother discovered that Daniel wasn't working alone."

Amara looked at her.

"Who was helping him?"

Elena shook her head.

"She never found out."

Adrian picked up the USB drive.

"Maybe this contains the answer."

Suddenly—

The lights went out.

Amara froze.

Elena gasped.

Adrian immediately moved between them and the door.

"Nobody move."

Something crashed downstairs.

Then another sound.

Footsteps.

Someone was inside the mansion.

Adrian whispered:

"Stay here."

Amara shook her head.

"I'm coming."

"No."

"Adrian—"

"Stay with Elena."

He disappeared into the darkness.

Amara listened.

One footstep.

Then another.

Silence.

Then a loud crash.

She grabbed Elena's hand.

"He's in trouble."

Before Elena could answer, Adrian returned.

His breathing was heavier.

"Go."

"What happened?"

"Someone escaped through the back door."

"Did you see them?"

"No."

Adrian looked at the box.

"Is everything still there?"

Elena checked.

The documents were untouched.

But her face suddenly changed.

"The USB."

Amara looked at her.

"What?"

"It's gone."

Adrian froze.

"The USB was here."

"Yes."

He looked around the room.

Someone had entered while they were distracted.

Amara's heart sank.

"Then they know about the evidence."

Adrian nodded.

"And now they have the most important part of it."

Elena suddenly remembered something.

"Wait."

She reached inside the wooden box again.

There was a hidden compartment beneath the documents.

She opened it.

Inside was a folded piece of paper.

Amara unfolded it.

Only one sentence was written on it.

If the USB is stolen, follow the key.

Adrian slowly looked at the black key in his hand.

"312."

Amara stared at him.

"Whatever 312 opens..."

Elena finished the sentence.

"...is where your mother hid the truth."

A loud knock suddenly came from downstairs.

All three froze.

Knock.

Knock.

Knock.

Adrian raised his phone.

The security cameras had suddenly come back online.

He opened the camera feed.

The front entrance appeared on the screen.

Someone was standing outside.

A tall figure in a dark coat.

Their face was hidden.

Then the person lifted their head toward the security camera.

And smiled.

A message appeared on Adrian's phone.

YOU HAVE UNTIL MIDNIGHT.

Another message followed.

FIND ROOM 312.

Then the screen went black.

Amara looked at Adrian.

"What happens at midnight?"

He didn't answer.

He simply looked at the clock.

11:17 PM.

They had less than an hour.

And somewhere in the city, someone was waiting for them to find the door that had been hidden for years.