Chapter 6 - THE WAREHOUSE
The old Hale warehouse sat near the river, abandoned for almost a decade.
Julian entered through the side door.
“Mom!”
His voice echoed.
A light flickered.
Martha was tied to a chair.
Julian rushed toward her.
“Stop.”
Victor stepped from behind a pillar.
A gun was pressed against Martha’s head.
Julian froze.
“You came.”
“Let her go.”
Victor laughed.
“You always were predictable.”
“What do you want?”
“The box.”
Julian held it up.
Victor stared.
“Open it.”
Julian did.
Inside were photographs, account numbers, and a recording device.
Victor’s expression changed.
“Where did you get that?”
“My father left it.”
Victor swore.
Julian pressed play.
His father’s voice filled the warehouse.
“If anything happens to me, the person responsible is not Victor Laurent.”
Victor looked stunned.
The recording continued.
“Her name is Evelyn Cross.”
Martha began crying.
Victor lowered his gun slightly.
“No.”
Julian listened.
His father described secret transfers, forged signatures, and a hidden account controlled by Evelyn.
Then came the final sentence.
“She has someone inside my family.”
The recording ended.
Julian looked at Martha.
“Who?”
Martha whispered, “I don't know.”
Victor suddenly grabbed his head.
“No.”
A gunshot rang out.
Victor dropped.
A bullet had struck his shoulder.
Julian pulled Martha behind a crate.
A woman stepped from the shadows.
Evelyn Cross.
She looked exactly as Julian remembered.
Older.
Calmer.
Deadly.
“You shouldn't have listened to that recording,” she said.
Julian stared.
“You killed my father.”
Evelyn smiled.
“Your father was going to destroy everything I built.”
“You stole from him.”
“I built Hale Industries with him.”
“You murdered him.”
“He chose his own ending.”
Martha shouted, “Monster!”
Evelyn raised her gun.
Julian stepped in front of his mother.
“Kill me instead.”
Evelyn laughed.
“You still think this is about money.”
She pulled out a photograph.
It showed Julian as a child beside his father.
Behind them stood a little girl.
Julian stared.
“Who is she?”
Evelyn’s smile widened.
“Your sister.”
Martha made a broken sound.
Julian turned.
“Mom?”
Martha covered her mouth.
Evelyn said softly, “Now you finally understand why your father kept secrets.”
Julian’s world shattered.
He had grown up believing he was an only child.
Evelyn stepped backward.
“Find your sister.”
Then she disappeared into the darkness.
Julian looked at Martha.
“Tell me the truth.”
Martha began to cry.
“I thought she was dead.”
A voice came from behind them.
“No.”
Bianca stood there.
“She isn't dead.”
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She held up a photograph.
“She’s alive.”
