Chapter 9 - Discovering secret underground tunnels beneath the historic estate reveals a century-old smuggling network used by modern corporate criminals today.
Dr. Harrison collapsed into a nearby chair, burying his face in his hands as tears of panic broke through his professional composure.
"She threatened to ruin my medical license, Julian! She had photographic proof of a past malpractice cover-up in Boston!" Harrison confessed.
"Where did she get the placebo inhalers?" Julian demanded, stepping closer and grabbing the doctor by his lapels with immense strength.
"In the old cellar... behind the wine rack... there's an access hatch to the sub-basement tunnels," Harrison gasped out, choking for air.
Julian released the doctor, leaving him trembling in the chair, and motioned for Clara and Marcus to stay with Lily in the nursery.
He pulled a heavy service flashlight and a sidearm from his study safe, descending the stairs back down into the grand foyer.
He walked past the crushed red rose petals, heading deep into the mansion's lower levels where the ancient stone cellar was located.
Behind an old wooden wine rack, Julian pushed a hidden iron lever, causing a heavy stone slab to swing open with a grinding screech.
A dark, cool draft swept out of the opening, smelling of damp earth, old iron, and chemical residues hidden deep underground.
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Julian clicked on his flashlight, illuminating a vast brick tunnel that stretched far beneath the estate grounds toward the nearby riverfront.
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