Chapter 15 - Midnight at the Theater
The old Vale Theater had been closed for fifteen years.
Arthur once used it for foundation events.
Now dust covered the velvet seats.
Roman arrived at 11:57 P.M.
Alone.
At least that was what Victor was supposed to believe.
Claire and Evelyn were inside a surveillance van two blocks away.
Daniel had positioned a tactical team behind adjoining buildings.
Sophie remained at a secure location with Helena.
Roman hated that decision.
But Victor did not know Helena had returned.
And despite everything, Helena would die before letting Victor take Sophie again.
Roman entered the theater.
One spotlight illuminated the stage.
Nora sat in a chair.
Her hands were tied.
Victor stood beside her.
Roman stopped in the aisle.
For the first time he saw Victor’s reconstructed face clearly.
The resemblance was grotesque.
Not exact.
Close enough to feel like looking at a distorted mirror.
Victor smiled.
“You finally came alone.”
Roman kept walking.
“Let her go.”
“Where’s Sophie?”
“Safe.”
Victor sighed.
“You never follow instructions.”
“I learned from my family.”
Nora’s lip was bleeding.
Otherwise she looked unharmed.
Roman stepped onto the stage.
“What was in the dollhouse?”
Victor smiled.
“You still don’t know.”
“No.”
“Good.”
Roman glanced around.
“Where’s Arthur?”
Victor’s smile faded slightly.
“Why?”
“You took him.”
“Did I?”
“Yes.”
Victor walked closer.
“Arthur has spent nine years making everyone chase ghosts.”
“He’s very good at disappearing.”
“Better than Claire.”
Roman remained calm.
“Your sister.”
Victor’s face changed.
“Which one?”
“Marianne.”
Victor laughed.
“So you found her.”
“She impersonated Claire.”
“Briefly.”
“She killed Dr. Hill.”
Victor tilted his head.
“That’s what the tape sounded like.”
Roman stared.
“What actually happened?”
Victor stepped closer.
“Arthur shot Hill.”
Roman’s expression did not change.
Victor continued.
“The doctor wanted out.”
“Arthur thought Hill would expose everything.”
“So your heroic father shot him.”
“No.”
“You don’t want to believe it.”
Victor smiled.
“That is the Vale family disease.”
Roman asked.
“Then why did you bury the body?”
“To protect Marianne.”
“From Arthur?”
“From everyone.”
Roman looked at Nora.
“She has nothing to do with this.”
“Everyone has something to do with this.”
Victor picked up a small remote.
One press.
The theater screen lowered.
A video began.
Arthur appeared.
Alive.
Seated in a chair.
Recent footage.
Roman’s chest tightened.
Arthur looked weak but unharmed.
Victor paused the video.
“He is alive.”
Roman kept his voice steady.
“Where?”
“That depends on Sophie.”
“You’re not getting Sophie.”
Victor shrugged.
“Then Arthur dies.”
Roman almost laughed.
“You think threatening my father works after everything I learned?”
Victor watched him.
“Yes.”
Roman’s smile disappeared.
“You’re right.”
Victor looked surprised.
Roman continued.
“I want him alive.”
“Not because I trust him.”
“Because he owes me answers.”
Victor nodded.
“Bring Sophie tomorrow.”
“No.”
“Then we’re finished.”
He reached toward Nora.
Roman raised one hand.
“Wait.”
Victor smiled.
“There he is.”
“The obedient son.”
Roman reached into his jacket.
Victor immediately aimed a gun.
“Slowly.”
Roman removed the silver 417 key.
Victor’s eyes changed.
“This is what you actually want.”
Victor stared.
“You opened the vault.”
“Yes.”
“What did you find?”
“Enough.”
Roman held up the key.
“But not page forty-one.”
Victor’s expression hardened.
“Helena destroyed it.”
“Maybe.”
“She told you Claire’s name.”
Roman noticed.
Victor knew too much.
“Who told you?”
Victor smiled.
“Your mother and I still talk.”
Roman did not believe him.
But doubt was enough.
He tossed the key onto the stage.
Victor picked it up.
“You think this is leverage?”
“No.”
Roman glanced at Nora.
“You do.”
Victor’s brow tightened.
Then the theater lights came on.
Every door locked.
Daniel’s voice filled the building.
“Drop the weapon.”
Victor grabbed Nora.
Gun against her neck.
Roman remained still.
“Bad idea.”
Victor shouted.
“You think I didn’t expect your security?”
Roman looked toward the balcony.
“No.”
Victor followed his gaze.
Claire stood there.
Victor’s face changed.
“Sister.”
Claire aimed a gun at him.
“Let Nora go.”
Victor smiled.
“You always did choose the wrong family.”
“You were never my family.”
Victor’s smile disappeared.
“You think Roman forgives you?”
Claire said nothing.
Victor laughed.
“He never will.”
Roman spoke.
“This isn’t about Claire.”
Victor looked at him.
“You’re right.”
“It’s about Sophie.”
The stage floor suddenly opened beneath Nora’s chair.
She screamed.
Roman lunged.
Victor kicked the chair backward.
Roman caught Nora before she fell into the trap opening.
Gunfire erupted.
Claire fired.
Victor disappeared behind the curtain.
Daniel’s team entered.
Roman cut Nora free.
“Can you walk?”
“Yes.”
“Get her out.”
Roman chased Victor backstage.
A service door stood open.
Outside, an engine roared.
Victor sped away on a motorcycle.
Daniel reached Roman seconds later.
“We lost him.”
Roman looked at the silver key still lying on the stage.
Victor had left it.
That bothered him.
Why abandon something he wanted?
Roman returned to the trap door.
Beneath the stage was a storage room.
Inside they found dozens of files.
Photographs.
Passports.
And one locked case.
The 417 key opened it.
Roman stared inside.
The missing item from Sophie’s dollhouse.
A cassette recorder.
One label.
SOPHIE - FIRST BIRTHDAY.
Roman pressed play.
Arthur’s voice filled the room.
“Happy birthday, Birdie.”
Baby Sophie laughed.
Then Arthur said something strange.
“When you’re nine, remember this.”
“One horse.”
“One song.”
“One moon.”
“One heart.”
Roman looked at Sophie’s drawing in his phone.
Four circles.
The final clue was the heart.
Arthur continued.
“And if I’m not there, follow the person who loves you without asking for anything in return.”
The recording ended.
Roman stared.
Not a location.
A person.
One horse.
Claire.
One song.
Arthur.
One moon.
Victor.
One heart.
Roman finally understood.
The last clue was not meant to be solved by Sophie alone.
It was meant to reveal whom she trusted.
And Roman suddenly knew exactly who Arthur meant.
May you like
Nora.
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