Chapter 13 - The Child’s Secret
Thirty minutes later, Marcus arrived back at the estate. The afternoon had turned into a slate-gray dusk, and flashing red and blue lights illuminated the grand entrance. State troopers and forensic units were cordoning off the grand staircase, cataloging the broken glass and marking bullet impacts on the mahogany walls.
Marcus pushed through the uniformed officers, ignoring their questions. He strode directly down to the sub-basement, where the bomb squad had just finished removing the inert C4 brick from the primary pillar.
He punched the override code into the panic room keypad. The heavy steel door slid open with a hiss of pressurized air.
Victoria sat curled in the corner of the outer airlock, sobbing hysterically in handcuffs, guarded by two county deputies. Marcus didn't spare her a single glance. He walked past her into the inner chamber where Elena sat reading a picture book to Leo under the warm halogen lamps.
""Daddy!"" Leo cried out, dropping the book and running across the carpeted floor.
Marcus dropped to his knees, catching the boy in his arms and holding him so tightly that his ribs ached. He buried his face in Leo’s hair, breathing in the scent of clean laundry and childhood, letting the crushing weight of the day finally wash over him.
""You're safe,"" Marcus whispered, his voice cracking. ""You're safe now, Leo. Nobody is ever going to hurt you again.""
Elena stood up quietly, wiping tears from her eyes. ""Is it over, Mr. Vance?""
""The house is secure,"" Marcus said, standing up while keeping Leo perched on his hip. ""Victoria is going to prison for attempted murder and conspiracy. Julian is in federal custody.""
Leo pulled back slightly, looking into his father’s eyes. His small face was serious, far older than his six years. ""Daddy... the lady who looked like Mommy. Did she take Mommy's red book?""
Marcus nodded slowly. ""Yes, buddy. She did.""
May you like
Leo reached into the tiny pocket of his denim jeans and pulled out a small, folded piece of paper, creased and worn around the edges. It was covered in childish drawings of trees and houses, but inside, written in Clarissa’s elegant, flowing script, was a fourteen-digit alphanumeric string.
""Mommy told me to hide this in my shoe before she fell,"" Leo whispered softly. ""She said if a bad lady ever came for the red book, I had to give this only to you.""
