Chapter 16 - The House Manager
Adrian's greatest mistake was underestimating Evelyn Hart.
For twenty-one years she had managed Brooks Mansion.
She knew every employee.
Every delivery route.
Every renovation.
Every hidden service corridor.
She also remembered everything.
One evening she entered Daniel's office carrying three old accounting books.
“I found how Adrian is entering the property.”
Daniel looked up.
“He isn't.”
Evelyn placed the books down.
“These are construction records from twelve years ago.”
Natalie leaned closer.
A forgotten maintenance tunnel connected the original wine cellar to an abandoned carriage building beyond the eastern wall.
Daniel stared.
“Why didn't I know about this?”
“Because you rarely read household renovation reports.”
Evelyn looked at him dryly.
“You were busy being terrifying.”
Natalie hid a smile.
They searched the tunnel.
Near the exit they found cigarette ash.
Fresh footprints.
And a camera.
Adrian had been watching the mansion from inside the property.
Daniel's anger returned.
This time he controlled it.
Federal agents installed surveillance instead of sealing the tunnel.
For six nights, nothing happened.
On the seventh, someone entered.
Not Adrian.
A woman.
Former Brooks accountant Melissa Crane.
She carried a bag filled with cash and documents.
Agents arrested her quietly.
Under questioning, she revealed Adrian's final plan.
He was not trying to escape.
He wanted Daniel dead before testimony began.
“Where?”
Daniel asked.
Melissa looked frightened.
“At the mansion.”
“When?”
She shook her head.
“I don't know.”
Natalie felt cold.
Melissa continued.
“He said Daniel would die in the place he thought belonged to him.”
Evelyn's face changed.
“The gala.”
Daniel looked at her.
Brooks Foundation's annual children's hospital gala was four days away.
It had been scheduled for months.
Hundreds of guests.
Politicians.
Business executives.
Media.
Daniel immediately canceled it.
Then Natalie noticed Evelyn still staring at the floor plans.
“What?”
Evelyn looked up.
“He expects you to cancel.”
Daniel frowned.
“Why does that matter?”
“Because the gala was never the target.”
Evelyn pointed toward the schedule.
“Adrian knows cancellation triggers emergency relocation.”
Natalie understood.
“Lucas.”
Daniel's face went white.
The evacuation route.
Adrian was not planning to attack the party.
He was planning to control where Lucas went when the party was canceled.
They changed everything.
No relocation.
No convoy.
No predictable route.
The mansion became a trap.
May you like
Not for Lucas.
For Adrian.
