Chapter 6 - The Camera Behind the WallHarrison had twenty seconds before Martin entered the house.
He had attended Harrison’s high-school graduation, paid for a ski trip after Harrison’s father died, and stood beside him at his wedding to Caroline.
He had also chaired Cole Global for eleven years.
Harrison read Caroline’s note three times.
It did not become less impossible.
Elena stood beside him.
“Could she have meant another Martin?”
“No.”
The folder beneath the letter was labeled M.V.
Inside were printed bank transfers.
Harrison recognized several company subsidiaries.
Millions had moved through offshore accounts.
He had no idea why Caroline possessed the records.
A second folder contained photographs.
Martin entering a hotel.
Martin meeting with a man Harrison recognized as Victor Sloane, owner of a logistics company that had lost a major contract to Cole Global.
Then Harrison found a photograph of Caroline’s damaged SUV.
Taken before the crash.
The brake assembly was circled in red.
Elena covered her mouth.
“What is that?”
“I don’t know.”
Harrison called the only person he trusted without hesitation.
Then he stopped before pressing dial.
Who did he trust?
That question had once seemed simple.
Now it terrified him.
The twins shouted downstairs.
Harrison immediately closed the safe.
“Not a word around them.”
“Of course.”
He found Connor crying beside the kitchen island.
Caleb stood nearby holding a broken mug.
“What happened?”
“I didn’t do it,” Caleb said quickly.
Harrison crouched.
“I didn’t ask who did it.”
Connor looked frightened.
“Elena’s leaving.”
Elena had brought her suitcase downstairs.
Harrison looked at her.
“Why?”
“Lucas is being moved tonight.”
“We discussed this.”
“You offered something impossible.”
“No. I offered a room.”
“You offered a grieving child another unfamiliar house.”
Harrison glanced at the twins.
“Maybe unfamiliar isn’t always bad.”
Elena shook her head.
“I can’t experiment with Lucas.”
Connor stepped forward.
“Is he scared?”
Everyone looked at him.
Elena knelt.
“Sometimes.”
“Because his mommy died?”
“Yes.”
Connor considered this.
“So did ours.”
Harrison closed his eyes.
Caleb walked closer.
“Does he break stuff?”
Elena almost smiled.
“Sometimes.”
“I break stuff.”
“I know.”
“Does he bite?”
“Sometimes.”
Caleb looked impressed.
“I only bit one nanny.”
Harrison stared at him.
“Twice,” Connor corrected.
Elena laughed.
It was the first full laugh Harrison had heard from her.
Caleb tugged her sleeve.
“He can have my dinosaur room.”
“You don’t have a dinosaur room,” Harrison said.
“The guest room with dinosaurs.”
“That wallpaper has sailboats.”
“I can draw dinosaurs.”
Elena’s eyes filled.
“You boys are very kind.”
Caleb frowned.
“People say I’m bad.”
Harrison’s chest tightened.
“Who says that?”
The boy immediately looked away.
“Caleb.”
“No one.”
Harrison glanced at Elena.
This was new.
“Who called you bad?”
Caleb whispered, “Uncle Martin.”
The room went silent.
Harrison felt cold.
“When?”
“When Mommy was here.”
“What exactly did he say?”
Connor answered.
“He said Mommy made us weak.”
Elena slowly stood.
Harrison’s pulse accelerated.
“When did Martin say that?”
Caleb shrugged.
“In Daddy’s room.”
“My office?”
“Yes.”
“You were in my office with Martin?”
“No.”
“Then how did you hear him?”
Connor pointed toward the hallway.
“The secret.”
“What secret?”
The twins exchanged a look.
Then they ran.
Harrison followed them to the library.
Caleb crawled behind an antique cabinet and pushed on the wall.
A narrow panel opened.
Harrison stared.
The estate had been built in 1924.
He knew about old servant corridors, but most had supposedly been sealed decades earlier.
A narrow passage ran behind his office wall.
Connor squeezed inside.
“We used to hide when Mommy and Uncle Martin yelled.”
Harrison crouched.
“Mommy and Martin fought?”
Connor nodded.
“What about?”
“Daddy.”
Harrison entered the passage.
Dust covered the floor.
Near the end was a vent overlooking his office.
Every conversation could be heard clearly.
He imagined two four-year-old children hiding there while adults fought.
“What did Martin say?”
Caleb’s lip trembled.
“He told Mommy Daddy would lose everything.”
Harrison touched his shoulder.
“And Mommy?”
“She said she had proof.”
Harrison looked at Elena.
Caroline’s files.
Connor whispered, “Then Uncle Martin said accidents happen.”
Every hair on Harrison’s arms lifted.
He immediately called his private security chief, Daniel Ross.
No answer.
He called again.
Nothing.
Then Harrison noticed a tiny red light above the passageway vent.
A camera.
New.
Someone had been watching.
“Get the boys out.”
Elena moved instantly.
Harrison pulled the device from the wall.
His phone rang.
Martin Vale.
Harrison stared at the name.
Then answered normally.
“Martin.”
“Harrison, thank God. I’ve been trying to reach you.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I’m outside your gate.”
Harrison looked toward the window.
A black Mercedes was approaching.
Martin’s voice became warm and familiar.
“I heard about another nanny quitting. I thought my godsons might need someone who actually loves them.”
Harrison looked down at Caroline’s warning.
Do not trust Martin.
Then Martin added casually, “And Harrison?”
“Yes?”
“Tell your new housekeeper I’d very much like to meet her.”
May you like
Harrison’s blood went cold.
He had never told Martin Elena existed.
Related Stories
