Chapter 4 - Grant Wasn't Just A Coward—He Was Part Of The Plan
The next morning, Grant appeared at the Voss residence.
He arrived alone.
He asked to see Elise.
Sebastian refused.
Grant was furious.
“I need five minutes.”
“No.”
“This concerns Elise.”
“Exactly.”
Grant looked toward the house.
“You don't understand.”
Sebastian stepped closer.
“I understand that you lied to her.”
Grant's face changed.
“What did she tell you?”
“Enough.”
Grant's jaw tightened.
“She thinks I'm working with Vivian.”
“Are you?”
“No.”
Sebastian stared.
Grant held his gaze.
“I made mistakes.”
“That's not an answer.”
Grant looked toward the house again.
“I'm trying to protect her.”
Sebastian almost laughed.
“You left her outside my reception.”
Grant's expression darkened.
“That was different.”
“No.”
“It was complicated.”
“You humiliated her.”
Grant said nothing.
Sebastian leaned closer.
“If you ever use her again, you won't get a second warning.”
Grant swallowed.
Then asked,
“Can I speak to her?”
Sebastian considered it.
“No.”
Grant's eyes hardened.
“You can't keep me away from my girlfriend.”
“You did that yourself.”
Grant left.
Inside, Elise watched from a window.
She felt nothing.
That frightened her more than anger would have.
Later, Sebastian entered the room.
“He came.”
“I know.”
“He wanted to talk.”
“I don't.”
“You should hear him eventually.”
“No.”
Sebastian looked at her.
“Why?”
“Because every explanation he gives will be designed to make me responsible for something he chose.”
Sebastian smiled faintly.
“You've become difficult.”
“I always was.”
“No.”
He looked at her.
“You're becoming confident.”
That surprised her.
Before she could answer, an alarm sounded.
The archive had been breached.
Security rushed downstairs.
Sebastian grabbed Elise's hand.
“Stay close.”
They entered the archive.
One cabinet was open.
A single document was missing.
Elise recognized it.
“The Hargrove registry.”
Sebastian frowned.
“Why that one?”
“I don't know.”
She looked at the empty drawer.
Then at the floor.
A tiny scrap of paper lay near the cabinet.
Three curves.
One long stroke.
Her heart sank.
“This mark again.”
Sebastian crouched.
“You recognize it.”
“It's not just an authentication mark.”
“What is it?”
“A signal.”
“For what?”
“A network.”
His expression hardened.
“What network?”
Elise looked at him.
“Historical smugglers.”
He stared.
“You're saying this is some old criminal code?”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“The code is old.”
“The people using it aren't.”
Sebastian understood.
Someone had inherited a network.
A network built around stolen artifacts, forged provenance, and secret ownership transfers.
The charity foundation was not simply a foundation.
Some of its acquisitions had been used to hide illegal assets.
Sebastian looked horrified.
“My family.”
“Yes.”
“Was involved?”
“Maybe.”
He stared at the files.
Then said,
“Find out.”
Elise worked.
For hours.
She traced ownership.
Shipping manifests.
Auction records.
Insurance claims.
Every route led back to one person.
Vivian Voss.
Elise printed the documents.
Sebastian read them.
“She built the system.”
“Looks like it.”
“But why?”
“I don't know.”
His phone rang.
He answered.
Then looked at Elise.
“Vivian is leaving the city.”
“When?”
“Tonight.”
Elise stood.
“We need to stop her.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because she wants you to chase her.”
Elise thought.
Then understood.
“She's using me.”
“Yes.”
She looked at the documents again.
“What if the real target isn't me?”
Sebastian's eyes narrowed.
“Then who?”
“You.”
He went silent.
The archive lights suddenly turned off.
The doors locked.
A voice came through the security system.
“Sebastian.”
Vivian.
“You should have left the past alone.”
Elise looked around.
Sebastian's hand moved toward his weapon.
Vivian continued.
“You were always sentimental.”
Sebastian shouted,
“Open the doors.”
“No.”
“What do you want?”
“The ledger.”
“There are dozens.”
“Not those.”
Her voice became colder.
“The ledger your grandfather kept in 1987.”
Sebastian looked at Elise.
She understood.
The old registry.
The first fraudulent transaction.
The document that started everything.
Elise whispered,
“She wants the original.”
Sebastian nodded.
Vivian's voice returned.
“And I want the archivist.”
Elise's blood went cold.
“You're the reason she's here,” Vivian said.
Sebastian stepped toward the speaker.
“You touch her, and I will end you.”
A laugh came through.
“Brother.”
Pause.
“You already lost.”
The doors unlocked.
But Vivian was gone.
On the table lay one final note.
May you like
BRING HER TO THE DOCKS.
ALONE.
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