Chapter 3: The Voice From the Basement
Vincent didn't move.
He couldn't.
The voice had been quiet, almost fragile, but he would have recognized it anywhere.
He had heard it every morning for five years.
He had heard it laughing in the kitchen, singing in the shower, and whispering his name when nightmares woke him.
He had heard it for the last time in a voicemail recorded two days before the fire.
And now it was coming from the basement.
“Who said that?”” he demanded.
Victoria grabbed his arm.
“Vincent, don't.””
He pulled away.
“Get your hands off me.””
The basement door opened another inch.
A strip of warm light appeared across the marble floor.
Then came the sound of someone breathing.
Vincent took one step toward the door.
“Elena?””
Nothing.
He tried again.
“Elena, if that's you, come out.””
Victoria moved in front of him.
“Please. You need to think.””
He stared at her.
“I have spent three years thinking about my wife's death. I have spent three years visiting a grave that apparently belongs to nobody. Move.””
Victoria's eyes filled with tears.
“I'm trying to protect you.””
“From my wife?””
“From what she knows.””
The basement door opened fully.
A woman stood in the doorway.
She was thin, wearing a dark sweater and loose trousers. Her hair was longer than Vincent remembered, pulled into a simple bun. There was a faint scar near her left temple.
Her face was pale.
But her eyes were unmistakable.
Vincent's knees nearly gave way.
“Elena?””
The woman looked at him.
For a moment, neither moved.
Then she whispered:
“Hello, Vincent.””
He crossed the distance between them in seconds.
But when he reached her, he stopped.
His hands hovered near her shoulders.
He was afraid to touch her.
Afraid she would disappear.
Afraid this was another cruel trick.
“Is it really you?”” he asked.
Elena nodded.
Vincent's face crumpled.
He pulled her into his arms.
She held him tightly, pressing her cheek against his shoulder.
He could feel her breathing.
She was warm.
Alive.
He closed his eyes.
“God,” he whispered.
“I thought you were dead.””
“I know.””
“I buried you.””
“I know.””
“I stood beside your grave.””
Elena began to cry.
“I know, Vincent.””
He stepped back just enough to look at her.
“Why?””
She lowered her eyes.
“Because I couldn't come home.””
“Why?””
“Because Victoria made sure I couldn't.””
Vincent turned.
Victoria was standing beside the staircase, gripping the railing.
“Tell him the whole story,” Elena said.
Victoria shook her head.
“Not like this.””
“Then when?”” Elena asked.
“After another three years?””
Vincent looked between them.
“Both of you are going to explain everything.””
Elena nodded.
But before she could speak, a loud metallic crash came from the basement.
She flinched.
Vincent immediately moved in front of her.
“What was that?””
Victoria closed her eyes.
“It's too late.””
They moved into the study.
Vincent locked the door.
Elena sat on the leather sofa while he remained standing near the desk. Victoria refused to sit.
For several minutes, nobody spoke.
Vincent finally looked at Elena.
“Start with the fire.””
Elena rubbed her hands together.
“Three years ago, I discovered that Victoria had been stealing money from the family foundation.””
Victoria scoffed.
“That isn't what happened.””
Elena turned toward her.
“Do you want me to show him the bank records?””
Victoria said nothing.
Elena continued.
“The foundation was created by Vincent's father. It was supposed to provide housing and medical assistance to families who couldn't afford either.””
Vincent nodded.
“I know.””
“I found transfers to companies that didn't exist. Hundreds of thousands of dollars were being moved through fake accounts.””
Vincent's jaw tightened.
“Who was receiving the money?””
“Victoria.””
Victoria laughed sharply.
“Prove it.””
Elena reached into her pocket and removed a small folded piece of paper.
“I don't need to prove it. I have the account numbers.””
Vincent took the paper.
He recognized the foundation's account information.
But he also recognized the name of the company listed beneath the transfers.
Sterling Property Holdings.
A company he had never authorized to receive charitable funds.
He looked at Victoria.
“Did you create this company?””
She folded her arms.
“Your father left behind complicated financial arrangements.””
“Did you create it?””
“Vincent, business is more complicated than you understand.””
His eyes hardened.
“Try again.””
Victoria looked at Elena.
“She stole those documents.””
Elena shook her head.
“I copied them.””
“You had no right.””
“I had every right. Those families were being robbed.””
Vincent placed the paper on his desk.
“What happened after you discovered the transfers?””
Elena's voice became quieter.
“I confronted her.””
“When?””
“The night of the fire.””
Victoria turned away.
Elena continued.
“She told me she would return the money. She asked me to meet her at the old property outside Atlanta. She said she wanted to settle everything privately.””
Vincent remembered that evening.
Elena had told him she was visiting her aunt.
He had received a message from her at 8:17 p.m.
I love you. I'll explain everything when I get home.
She never came home.
“Why didn't you call me?”” he asked.
Elena looked down.
“Because she showed me something.””
“What?””
“A photograph of you.””
Vincent frowned.
“What photograph?””
“It was taken outside your office. You were getting into your car. Someone had circled the driver's side window.””
His expression changed.
Elena continued.
“Victoria told me that if I contacted you, someone would hurt you. She said they had people watching both of us.””
Vincent shook his head.
“You should have told me.””
“I thought I could fix it.””
“You disappeared for three years.””
“I was trying to keep you alive.””
He turned away.
For a moment, the only sound was the ticking clock on his desk.
Then he asked:
“How did the fire happen?””
Elena looked at Victoria.
“She had arranged everything. There was gasoline in the hallway. The back exit was locked. I was supposed to be inside when the fire started.””
Vincent stared at her.
“Supposed to be?””
Elena nodded.
“I escaped through a storage passage. Someone helped me.””
“Who?””
Before Elena could answer, Victoria spoke.
“Enough.””
Vincent turned.
“No. You don't get to decide when this conversation ends.””
Victoria's composure began to crack.
“You think you're hearing the truth because she's standing here crying?””
Elena stood.
“Tell him who helped me.””
Victoria's mouth tightened.
“Don't.””
“Tell him about the driver.””
“Shut up.””
“The driver who was supposed to take me away from the property.””
Victoria slapped the desk.
“I said shut up!””
Vincent moved toward her.
“Who was the driver?””
Victoria looked at him.
Her eyes were wet, but there was something cold beneath the tears.
“Your father.””
Vincent stopped.
“My father has been dead for seven years.””
“Exactly,” Victoria whispered.
Elena looked confused.
“Vincent, what is she talking about?””
Victoria gave a bitter smile.
“Your father wasn't the man who arranged your escape, Elena.””
Vincent's face darkened.
“Then who?””
Victoria looked directly at him.
“Your father arranged the fire.””
The words landed like a physical blow.
Vincent shook his head.
“No.””
“He knew about the money. He knew about the documents. He wanted everything destroyed before the auditors arrived.””
“That's impossible.””
“Your father built this family, Vincent. You really think he did it without making enemies?””
Vincent backed away.
Elena stepped closer to him.
“She was lying to me that night. She told me your father had ordered the fire because he wanted me dead. I didn't believe her until I found the records.””
Victoria's voice rose.
“Because those records were fabricated!””
“Then why did you hide me?”” Elena asked.
Victoria had no answer.
A knock sounded at the study door.
Three slow knocks.
Vincent turned.
“Who is it?””
Maria's voice came from the hallway.
“Mr. Sterling? I'm sorry to interrupt.””
“What's wrong?””
“There's a man downstairs asking for Mrs. Sterling.””
Victoria went pale.
Vincent frowned.
“Who?””
Maria hesitated.
“He says his name is Thomas.””
Elena suddenly grabbed Vincent's wrist.
“Don't let him in.””
Vincent looked at her.
“Who is Thomas?””
Elena's breathing quickened.
“He was the man who helped me escape.””
Victoria shook her head.
“No. That's impossible.””
Elena stared at her.
“Why?””
Victoria backed toward the wall.
“Because Thomas is dead.””
The knock came again.
This time, harder.
Then a man's voice echoed through the hallway.
“Vincent, open the door.””
Vincent moved toward it.
Elena caught his arm.
“Please. You don't understand. Thomas didn't save me because he wanted to help.””
“Then why did he?””
Elena looked toward the basement.
“Because he was supposed to make sure I never reached you.””
The door handle began to turn.
Vincent stepped in front of Elena.
“Stay behind me.””
A second later, Maria screamed.
The door swung open.
A tall, silver-haired man stood in the hallway holding a leather briefcase.
He looked directly at Vincent.
Then he smiled.
“It's been a long time, son.””
Vincent's blood ran cold.
May you like
The man standing outside his study was Thomas.
And he was wearing the same gold signet ring Vincent remembered seeing on his father's hand.
