Chapter 7 - Behind the Painting
They returned to the mansion before sunrise.
Daniel and Emily entered through the rear door.
The house was silent.
Too silent.
Daniel led her upstairs.
The study looked exactly as it had the previous night.
He moved toward the painting.
Emily watched.
He lifted it.
Behind it was a metal panel.
A keyhole.
Daniel inserted the brass key.
Nothing happened.
Emily stepped forward.
"There should be another."
Daniel looked around.
"Where?"
She remembered.
The silver frame on the desk.
She opened it.
Inside was a second key.
Daniel stared.
"My father left this?"
"Yes."
He inserted both keys.
The safe opened.
Inside was a black ledger.
A USB drive.
Several photographs.
And a sealed envelope.
Daniel picked up the envelope.
His hands shook.
The handwriting was unmistakable.
His father's.
He opened it.
The letter contained only a few lines.
Daniel,
If you are reading this, then the people around you have already begun fighting over what they believe belongs to them.
Trust no one who tells you that power is more important than family.
Your mother will be afraid. George will be ambitious. And Emily will be blamed.
Do not make the mistake of believing the loudest person in the room.
Daniel stared at the final line.
The person who saved this family will be the one everyone accused of destroying it.
He looked at Emily.
She said nothing.
Then footsteps sounded in the hallway.
Both turned.
Someone was coming.
Daniel quickly closed the safe.
The door opened.
George stood there.
He smiled.
"What are you two doing?"
Daniel stepped forward.
"What are you doing here?"
George looked at Emily.
"She shouldn't be here."
Emily's expression remained calm.
"Why?"
George's smile disappeared.
"Because this is a family matter."
Emily answered:
"That's exactly why I'm here."
George's eyes narrowed.
Daniel held up the letter.
"Did you know about this?"
George's face changed.
Only slightly.
But Emily saw it.
George stepped closer.
"Give me the letter."
"No."
"Daniel."
"No."
George's voice became threatening.
"You don't understand what you're dealing with."
Daniel stared at him.
"I understand more than I did yesterday."
George reached into his coat.
Emily immediately stepped between them.
"Don't."
George stopped.
A long silence followed.
Then he slowly withdrew his hand.
Not a weapon.
A phone.
He showed them the screen.
A photograph of Patricia.
She was sitting inside a car.
Her hands were tied.
Daniel's face went white.
"Where is she?"
George smiled.
"Now you're listening."
Emily stepped forward.
"What do you want?"
"The original trust."
"You can't have it."
"Then Patricia disappears."
Daniel looked at Emily.
Emily looked at him.
For the first time, Daniel understood something.
This wasn't about money anymore.
It was war.
George turned toward the door.
"You have two hours."
Then he left.
Daniel stood frozen.
Emily closed her eyes.
"He's bluffing."
Daniel looked at her.
"How do you know?"
"Because if he had wanted to kill her, he wouldn't have shown us the photograph."
Daniel swallowed.
"Then what does he want?"
Emily looked at the black ledger.
"The original ownership certificate."
She opened it.
Her expression changed.
"Daniel."
"What?"
"This isn't the only property."
He stepped closer.
May you like
Emily pointed to a line buried deep inside the ledger.
"There are twelve."
