Chapter 5 - The Secret Beneath the HospitalThe kidnapping was planned from inside.
Gabriel knew it.
He also knew the people responsible expected him to react with rage.
They were wrong.
He reacted with patience.
He checked security footage.
Found a missing two-minute interval.
Tracked a vehicle.
Found a warehouse.
Empty.
Then another location.
Also empty.
Mara watched him work.
“You're not going after them.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because I'm going after the person who thinks they know where I'll go.”
She stared.
“That's terrifying.”
He looked at her.
“Good.”
They followed the trail to an abandoned hospital property owned by a Ror subsidiary.
Inside, they found Patrick.
Alive.
But unconscious.
Mara rushed to him.
“Dad.”
Gabriel stopped.
“My father.”
Mara realized.
She hadn't called him that.
Not until that moment.
A syringe was taped to Patrick's arm.
Mara checked the medication.
“Sedative.”
“How long?”
“Not long.”
“Can you wake him?”
“Yes.”
She worked.
Minutes later, Patrick opened his eyes.
Gabriel's shoulders dropped.
Then a gunshot echoed.
Victor Vale stepped into the doorway.
“Well done.”
Gabriel stood.
“It's over.”
Victor laughed.
“Not yet.”
He pointed at Mara.
“She knows.”
Mara frowned.
“Knows what?”
Victor smiled.
“Who your father really was.”
“Tell me.”
Victor looked at Patrick.
“Your father stole something from the Ror family.”
Gabriel stared.
“What?”
“A ledger.”
Patrick's eyes widened.
Victor continued.
“Not money.”
“Names.”
“Officials. Judges. politicians. police commanders.”
“Everyone.”
Mara understood.
“My father hid it.”
Victor nodded.
“He hid it for Robert Ror.”
Gabriel froze.
His father.
Victor smiled.
“That's why Samuel disappeared.”
“You lied to everyone.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“To protect the ledger.”
Gabriel stepped forward.
“And where is it?”
Victor looked at Mara.
“With her.”
Mara's blood ran cold.
“I don't have anything.”
Victor smiled.
“You have your father's memory.”
“What does that mean?”
“Ask your mother.”
Mara turned.
Her mother was crying.
“Mara…”
“You knew?”
“Yes.”
“Where is it?”
Her mother swallowed.
“Your father hid it in the only place nobody would search.”
Mara stared.
“Where?”
She whispered:
“Patrick's original hospital room.”
Gabriel turned.
“The hospital?”
His father had been admitted to the same hospital sixteen years earlier.
Before his stroke.
Before the company war.
Before everything.
They found an old wing.
Room 417.
The number matched.
Behind a loose wall panel was a metal case.
Inside:
The ledger.
Photographs.
Bank statements.
And a final letter.
To Robert Ror.
Samuel's handwriting.
If this reaches you, then Victor has betrayed us.
The ledger proves it.
Your son Gabriel is the only person I trust to finish this.
Gabriel stared at the words.
“He knew me.”
Mara touched his hand.
“He trusted you.”
Gabriel looked at her.
Then at Patrick.
His father slowly nodded.
Tears filled Gabriel's eyes.
For years he had believed his father was disappointed in him.
Now he understood.
Patrick had always believed in him.
Victor raised his gun.
“Enough.”
Gabriel turned.
“Give me the ledger.”
“No.”
Victor laughed.
“You think you can stop me?”
Mara stepped forward.
“Yes.”
Victor pointed at her.
“You have no idea how many people depend on me.”
Mara looked at him.
“You have no idea how many people depend on me.”
She raised her phone.
The ledger had already been uploaded.
Victor's face changed.
“You—”
“Everything is backed up.”
Gabriel smiled.
“Mara.”
She looked at him.
“That was very attractive.”
She laughed.
Victor fired.
Gabriel pushed Mara aside.
Security stormed the room.
Victor was captured.
Patrick was safe.
The ledger was secured.
But when the police opened it, they found one final entry.
A payment.
Made the night before.
To someone inside Gabriel's organization.
Someone close.
Very close.
Gabriel read the name.
May you like
His blood ran cold.
Victor D'Angelo.
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