Chapter 4 - Vanessa Crowe Sent Me a Photograph That Proved My Brother Was Her Next Target
My aunt lived in a small house outside Chicago.
She had raised Ethan and me after our mother died, and she was the only person I trusted completely.
When I called her that evening, she sounded frightened.
"Clara, where are you?"
"Somewhere safe."
"Are you sure?"
I glanced toward the office door.
Adrian was speaking with Marcus in the hallway.
"I think so."
My aunt hesitated.
"Your father would have wanted me to give you something."
"What?"
"His envelope."
I closed my eyes.
"What envelope?"
"The one he left before he died."
I felt my heart begin to race.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because he made me promise not to give it to you unless you were in danger."
I looked toward the hallway again.
"I think I'm in danger."
My aunt was silent.
Then she whispered, "I'll bring it to you tomorrow."
I thanked her and ended the call.
For the first time since arriving at Adrian's mansion, I felt a small measure of hope.
Perhaps my father had known something.
Perhaps the answer to everything was waiting inside that envelope.
But before I could think further, my new phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered cautiously.
"Hello?"
A woman's voice came through.
"Clara Bennett."
I recognized it immediately.
Vanessa Crowe.
My blood turned cold.
"How did you get this number?"
She laughed softly.
"Darling, you really should stop asking questions you already know the answers to."
I stood up.
"What do you want?"
"Your ledger."
"I don't have it."
"Don't insult my intelligence."
I said nothing.
Vanessa sighed.
"I always liked you, Clara. You were quiet, efficient, and very good at making yourself invisible."
"Then you shouldn't have noticed me."
"Oh, I noticed you long before you realized I existed."
My stomach tightened.
"What does that mean?"
"It means I know everything about you."
A photograph appeared on my phone.
Ethan.
He was standing outside the maintenance building at the freight yard.
The picture had been taken that morning.
My hands began to shake.
"Leave him alone."
"Then give me what belongs to me."
"It doesn't belong to you."
Vanessa's voice hardened.
"Be careful, Clara."
The call ended.
I stared at the photograph.
Then I heard Adrian behind me.
"What happened?"
I turned.
He saw my face and immediately took the phone from my hand.
His expression changed when he saw the image.
"Marcus!"
The security chief appeared almost instantly.
"Sir?"
"Find Ethan Bennett."
Marcus took the phone.
"Where is he?"
"At the freight yard," I said. "But I don't know if he's still there."
Adrian turned toward me.
"Call your aunt. Tell her not to leave the house."
I nodded.
He reached for his coat.
"Where are you going?"
"To bring your brother home."
I grabbed his arm.
"Don't hurt anyone."
He looked down at my hand.
Then he looked at me.
"I'll bring him back."
For some reason, I believed him.
An hour later, Marcus called.
Ethan had been found.
He was unharmed.
But someone had broken into his apartment.
And they had left a message written across his bedroom wall.
RETURN THE LEDGER.
I felt sick.
Adrian stood beside me as I read the message.
"He's coming here," he said.
"Thank you."
He didn't respond.
Instead, he walked toward the window.
For several minutes, he stared at the dark lake.
Then he spoke.
"Vanessa made a mistake."
"What mistake?"
"She threatened someone under my protection."
I swallowed.
"Am I under your protection?"
He turned.
"Yes."
The answer came so quickly that I didn't know what to say.
Then his phone rang.
He answered.
Listened.
And suddenly, his expression became unreadable.
"What happened?" I asked when he hung up.
May you like
He looked at me.
"Your aunt is missing."
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