Chapter 10 - BENEATH THE ESTATE
Edward entered the mausoleum at 11:57.
Alone.
At least, that was what Victoria believed.
The golden key hung around his neck.
“Victoria?”
His voice echoed against stone.
A lantern came on.
Daniel Cross stepped from behind a column.
He was taller than Edward expected.
Calm eyes.
Gray jacket.
A pistol rested in his hand.
“Phone.”
Edward handed it over.
Daniel smashed it beneath his shoe.
“Jacket.”
Edward removed it.
Daniel searched him.
Nothing.
“Move.”
A hidden door opened behind the Hale family crypt.
Stone stairs descended underground.
Edward counted.
Twelve steps.
Twenty.
Thirty-six.
The tunnel smelled damp.
At the bottom, Daniel shoved him forward.
A steel door stood ahead.
Second level.
First door.
Florence’s signal had been right.
Victoria waited inside.
She had changed clothes.
Black pants.
Dark sweater.
No jewelry.
No elegant dress.
No performance.
Florence was tied to a chair.
Dr. Mason stood beside her.
Edward stared at him.
“You.”
Mason looked away.
Victoria smiled.
“Family reunion.”
“Let her go.”
“The key.”
Edward removed it.
Victoria held out her hand.
“First, untie her.”
Daniel pressed the gun against Florence’s shoulder.
“Key.”
Edward tossed it.
Victoria caught it.
She looked at the heirloom with almost religious hunger.
“All this trouble for something so small.”
Florence glared at her.
“You’ll never open the vault.”
Victoria smiled.
“Edward will.”
“No.”
Daniel struck Edward across the stomach with the gun.
Edward doubled over.
Florence screamed.
“Stop!”
Victoria crouched beside him.
“You will.”
“Because despite everything, you’re still the good son.”
Edward looked up.
“You don’t know me anymore.”
Victoria touched his cheek.
“I know you better than anyone.”
“No.”
He smiled through the pain.
“You knew the man who trusted you.”
Victoria’s expression changed.
A faint electronic click sounded from the tunnel.
Daniel turned.
“What was that?”
Edward smiled wider.
“You searched the wrong jacket.”
Daniel looked down.
Inside the heel of Edward’s shoe, a tiny transmitter was broadcasting their location.
Mitchell had insisted.
Victoria understood.
“Move!”
Daniel grabbed Florence.
Mason panicked.
“You said there wouldn’t be police!”
“Shut up!”
Victoria ran toward the rear passage.
Edward tackled Daniel.
The gun fired.
Stone chipped above them.
Florence screamed.
Mason ran.
Edward drove his shoulder into Daniel.
The pistol slid across the floor.
Victoria grabbed it.
“Stop!”
Everyone froze.
She pointed it directly at Florence.
Edward slowly stood.
“Victoria.”
“Don’t.”
Her hand shook.
Footsteps thundered somewhere in the tunnel.
Police.
Victoria looked toward the sound.
Then back at Edward.
Her face twisted.
“If I can’t have this family…”
Florence stared at her.
Victoria raised the gun.
May you like
“…neither can you.”
A shot exploded through the underground chamber.
