Chapter 11: The Man Behind the Locked Door
"Everybody down!""
Marcus grabbed my shoulder and pulled me behind the desk.
Thomas stumbled against the wall.
Another gunshot shattered a bottle somewhere in the cellar.
I heard hurried footsteps.
Then a familiar voice.
"Daniel! Come out!""
Michael.
Of course.
I clutched the blue ledger against my chest.
Marcus whispered, "Stay here, sir.""
He drew his weapon and moved toward the door.
I caught his sleeve.
"Don't shoot unless absolutely necessary.""
He nodded.
Thomas crouched beside me.
"Mr. Bennett, there's another exit.""
"Where?""
He pointed toward a narrow passage behind the shelves.
"Your father used it when he wanted to leave without being seen.""
I looked at the passage.
"Where does it lead?""
"To the old laundry corridor.""
A loud crash came from the cellar entrance.
Michael shouted again.
"Daniel! I know you're in there!""
I slowly stood.
I was done running from my own family.
"Marcus, take Thomas through the passage. Get Lily out of the hotel and somewhere secure.""
Marcus frowned.
"What about you?""
"I need to talk to my brother.""
"Sir, that's not safe.""
"Neither is letting him control everything.""
Thomas grabbed my arm.
"Your father would want you alive.""
I looked at him.
"Then help me finish what he started.""
They disappeared through the passage.
I stepped out from behind the desk.
Michael stood near the wine racks with two men.
His expensive suit was dusty, and his tie hung loosely around his neck.
He held a small pistol.
"Finally," he said.
I stared at the weapon.
"Put it down.""
Michael laughed.
"You're still giving orders?""
"You're in my hotel.""
"Not for much longer.""
He gestured toward the ledger.
"Hand it over.""
I held it tighter.
"Why?""
"Because you don't understand what's inside.""
"Then explain.""
He shook his head.
"You've always needed everything explained to you.""
I stepped forward.
"Where is Dad?""
His expression changed.
For the first time, genuine fear crossed his face.
"Who told you that?""
"He's alive, isn't he?""
Michael looked at the two men beside him.
"Find the ledger.""
They moved toward me.
Then a voice came from behind them.
"Nobody touches my son.""
Everyone turned.
A man stood at the far end of the corridor.
He was older, thinner, and leaning heavily on a wooden cane.
His hair was almost completely white.
But I recognized his eyes.
I had seen them every morning in the mirror for forty years.
"Dad?""
The man took one unsteady step.
"Hello, Daniel.""
I dropped the ledger.
My father.
Richard Bennett.
Alive.
Fifteen years after his supposed death.
I crossed the room and caught him before he fell.
"Dad!""
He wrapped his arms around me.
For several seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then I pulled back.
"Where have you been?""
He looked at Michael.
"Running from the people who wanted me dead.""
Michael raised his pistol.
"You're supposed to be dead.""
My father stared at him.
"I know. You and your mother made sure everyone believed it.""
Michael's face twisted.
"You don't understand what we had to do.""
My father shook his head.
"I understand exactly what you did.""
He looked at me.
"Daniel, I am sorry.""
I swallowed.
"You let me believe you were dead.""
"I was trying to keep you safe.""
"By leaving me alone?""
His eyes filled.
"I thought I had no other choice.""
Michael suddenly laughed.
"Beautiful family reunion. But we're wasting time.""
He pointed the weapon toward my father.
"Give me the ledger.""
My father stepped forward.
"Michael, look at yourself.""
"Don't.""
"You were a child when I taught you to run this business.""
"Stop talking.""
"I gave you everything.""
Michael's hand trembled.
"And you gave Daniel everything else!""
I stared at him.
"What are you talking about?""
Michael turned toward me.
"Father always wanted you to inherit the company. You were his favorite. You got the wife, the hotel, the shares. I got whatever was left.""
My father shook his head.
"I gave you control of the international division.""
"Because you didn't trust me with anything important!""
"You stole from the company.""
"I built my own future!""
"You destroyed your family.""
Michael's face twisted.
Then he raised the gun.
A sharp crack exploded through the corridor.
My father collapsed.
"DAD!""
I dropped beside him.
Blood spread across his shirt near the shoulder.
Marcus rushed into the room from the opposite entrance and tackled one of Michael's men.
The second man ran.
Michael disappeared through the cellar door.
I pressed my hands against my father's wound.
"Stay with me!""
He gripped my wrist.
"Daniel.""
"Don't talk.""
He forced the words out.
"Listen.""
I leaned closer.
"The ledger isn't enough.""
I shook my head.
"What?""
"Your mother kept the original recordings.""
"Where?""
My father swallowed.
"In the chapel.""
"What chapel?""
"The one Clara used to visit.""
His eyes closed briefly.
Then he opened them again.
"There's a second recording. It proves who ordered the attack.""
I felt tears running down my face.
"Who?""
My father looked directly at me.
"Not Michael.""
I froze.
"Then who?""
He squeezed my hand.
"Eleanor.""
A siren sounded outside.
My father began losing consciousness.
Then he whispered something else.
"Daniel, there's one more thing.""
I leaned closer.
"Tell me.""
He looked toward the corridor where Michael had disappeared.
"Your brother wasn't the one who arranged the adoption.""
I frowned.
"Then who was?""
My father closed his eyes.
"Clara agreed to it.""
I stared at him.
"What?""
"She gave your son away to save his life.""
Before I could ask another question, the paramedics rushed into the cellar.
May you like
And as they lifted my father onto the stretcher, he grabbed my sleeve.
"Find Clara. She knows why.""
