BENEATH HIS SECRET

THE INTRUDER

The blue file was gone.

Amara stood at the top of the staircase, staring at the empty table downstairs.

Only minutes ago, it had been there.

Now there was nothing.

Adrian moved quickly down the stairs.

"Stay upstairs."

Amara followed him.

"No."

He stopped and looked back.

"Amara—"

"Someone just broke into your house and stole the only evidence connecting my family to yours. I'm not staying upstairs."

For a moment, Adrian said nothing.

Then he nodded.

"Fine. Stay close."

Elena followed them into the sitting room.

The windows were still intact.

The doors were locked.

Nothing appeared disturbed.

Adrian walked toward the table.

"Nobody leaves this house."

He turned to the security guards.

"Check every entrance. Nobody gets through the gates without my permission."

The guards immediately moved.

Amara looked around.

"Who could have taken it?"

Adrian examined the room.

"Someone who knew exactly where it was."

Elena's face tightened.

"Which means someone told them."

Amara looked at her.

"You think there's a traitor here?"

Elena didn't answer.

Adrian did.

"Possibly."

He walked toward the hallway.

"Mrs. Harris."

The older woman appeared.

"Yes, sir?"

"Where were you when the lights went out?"

"In the kitchen."

"Anyone else there?"

"No."

"Did you see anyone?"

Mrs. Harris hesitated.

"Only one person."

Adrian stopped.

"Who?"

She looked frightened.

"A man."

Amara's heart jumped.

"What man?"

"I don't know. He was wearing a dark coat. I saw him near the study."

Adrian immediately turned toward the study.

"Did he say anything?"

Mrs. Harris shook her head.

"He only asked where your father's office was."

Adrian's expression changed.

"My father's office?"

Mrs. Harris nodded.

"He said he had an appointment."

Adrian walked away without another word.

Amara followed.

The study was at the end of the hallway.

Adrian opened the door.

The room was dark.

He switched on the lights.

Everything looked normal.

Books lined the shelves.

A large desk stood near the window.

Old photographs covered one wall.

Adrian walked toward the desk.

Amara noticed something on the floor.

"Adrian."

He turned.

She pointed.

A small silver key lay beneath the desk.

Adrian picked it up.

His expression became serious.

"Where did you find that?"

"On the floor."

He examined it carefully.

"That's my father's."

"How do you know?"

"He carried it everywhere."

Elena entered the room.

"What does it open?"

Adrian looked at her.

"I don't know."

Elena's eyes widened.

"You do know."

Adrian remained silent.

She stepped closer.

"Adrian, if that key survived all these years, there's a reason."

Amara looked between them.

"What are you both talking about?"

Adrian finally answered.

"My father had a private room at Blackwood Publishing."

"Room 217."

He nodded.

"Nobody was allowed inside except him."

Amara remembered the note from the blue file.

She knows about Room 217.

Her mother's name.

Claire Bennett.

"Maybe that's where my mother hid the evidence."

Adrian looked at her.

"That's what I'm thinking."

"Then we need to go there."

"Not tonight."

"Why?"

"Because whoever stole the file may already know about the room."

Amara folded her arms.

"Then we have to get there before them."

Adrian stared at her.

"You really don't know when to stop."

"No."

A faint smile appeared on his face.

"I noticed."

Elena interrupted.

"This isn't a game."

The smile disappeared.

"I know."

Suddenly, a loud alarm sounded throughout the mansion.

Everyone froze.

Adrian reached for his phone.

"Security?"

A guard's voice came through.

"Sir, someone is at the east gate."

"Who?"

"We don't know."

Adrian walked toward the window.

"Can you see them?"

"No, sir. The cameras went offline."

Adrian's expression hardened.

Again.

The cameras.

Someone was interfering with the security system.

"Lock down the house."

The guards moved immediately.

The mansion doors locked.

The lights outside switched on.

Amara looked through the window.

A figure stood beyond the gate.

Too far away to identify.

Then the figure raised one hand.

Something dropped onto the ground.

A guard cautiously approached the object.

A few seconds later, he returned.

He handed Adrian a small envelope.

There was no name on it.

Only one sentence:

ASK AMARA WHAT HER MOTHER NEVER TOLD HER.

Amara's stomach tightened.

She looked at Elena.

"What does that mean?"

Elena looked away.

"Elena?"

Her sister didn't respond.

Adrian opened the envelope.

Inside was a single photograph.

He pulled it out.

Amara stepped closer.

Her mother was in the picture.

Standing beside a young Adrian.

And behind them was a door.

A brass number was clearly visible.

217.

Amara stared at the photograph.

"When was this taken?"

Adrian turned it over.

A date was written on the back.

Five years ago.

The same year their parents disappeared.

Elena covered her mouth.

Amara looked at her.

"You knew."

Elena shook her head.

"I didn't know about this photograph."

"But you knew Mom knew Adrian's father."

"Yes."

"How long?"

Elena lowered her eyes.

"Since the night she died."

Amara's voice became quieter.

"And you never told me."

"I was trying to protect you."

"From what?"

Elena looked at her.

"From the truth."

Before Amara could answer, Adrian's phone rang.

He checked the number.

Unknown.

He answered.

"Who is this?"

Silence.

Then a distorted voice spoke.

"You're looking in the wrong place, Adrian."

Adrian's expression hardened.

"Who are you?"

"You have the key."

His eyes moved to the silver key in his hand.

The voice continued.

"Go to Room 217."

Adrian said nothing.

"And take Amara with you."

The call ended.

Amara stared at him.

"What did they say?"

Adrian looked at her.

"They want us to go to Room 217."

Elena shook her head.

"No."

Amara looked at her.

"Why?"

Elena's face had gone pale.

"Because the last person who went into that room never came out."

Silence filled the mansion.

Adrian closed his hand around the key.

"We're going."

Elena stared at him.

"You're making a mistake."

"Maybe."

Adrian looked at Amara.

"But it's the only lead we have."

Amara nodded.

"I'll go."

Adrian held her gaze for a moment.

Then he looked toward the dark windows.

Somewhere outside, someone was watching.

And whoever had stolen the blue file had just given them exactly what they needed to continue the investigation.

Or exactly what they needed to walk into a trap.