Chapter 10 - THE WOMAN TAKEN IN DAYLIGHTNicholas ran.
Through the station.
Past tourists.
Past police.
Past the newsstand.
He shouted his mother's name.
No answer.
Amelia followed.
Victoria followed her.
Security footage showed Eleanor walking toward a service corridor.
Then nothing.
The cameras had been disabled for exactly ninety seconds.
Nicholas stared at the screen.
“Who did this?”
A security officer shook his head.
“We don't know.”
Victoria looked at him.
“I do.”
“Who?”
“Thomas.”
Nicholas turned.
“Why?”
“Because he wants the journal.”
“Then why take my mother?”
Victoria's voice became quiet.
“Because your mother knows where the original records are.”
Nicholas stared.
“Where?”
Victoria shook her head.
“She never told me.”
Amelia looked at the journal.
“Maybe it tells us.”
They opened it.
A hidden compartment appeared in the binding.
Inside was a photograph.
A farmhouse.
A handwritten address.
Pennsylvania.
Nicholas recognized it.
His grandmother's childhood home.
They drove through the night.
The farmhouse stood alone beneath a stormy sky.
Nicholas entered first.
The house was empty.
Dust covered the furniture.
A grandfather clock still ticked.
Then Amelia noticed a basement door.
They opened it.
Inside were shelves.
Documents.
Boxes.
And a wall covered with photographs.
At the center was Eleanor.
Tied to a chair.
Alive.
A camera switched on.
Thomas appeared.
“You came.”
Nicholas stared.
“Where is my mother?”
“Safe.”
“Let her go.”
“When you bring me the journal.”
“You already have copies.”
“I want the original.”
“Why?”
Thomas smiled.
“Because originals have power.”
Nicholas looked at the camera.
“You killed my father.”
“No.”
“You tried.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because he betrayed me.”
Nicholas laughed.
“You both destroyed people for money.”
Thomas shook his head.
“You still don't understand.”
“Explain.”
“The money was never ours.”
Nicholas froze.
“Whose was it?”
Thomas leaned toward the camera.
“America's.”
Silence.
“The foundation was built using federal contracts, defense funds, pension investments, and stolen corporate assets.”
Nicholas stared.
“Your grandfather wasn't just a businessman.”
“He was part of a network.”
Thomas nodded.
“Politicians.”
“Bankers.”
“Judges.”
“Military contractors.”
“Everyone who benefited from the machine.”
Nicholas looked at the photographs.
“This is bigger than our families.”
“Yes.”
“And the journal exposes them.”
“Yes.”
“Then why haven't you destroyed it?”
Thomas smiled.
“Because I need you.”
Nicholas frowned.
“For what?”
May you like
Thomas's answer was chilling.
“To become the person they fear.”
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