Chapter 6: The Man Behind the Glass
Security alarms erupted through the building.
My father moved toward the office door.
“Stay here.””
“No.””
“Adrian, listen to me.””
“No more.””
I pushed my wheelchair after him.
Nia stayed beside me.
Daniel appeared in the hallway.
“What's happening?””
My father pointed toward the stairwell.
“Lock down the floor.””
Daniel nodded.
“Security is already responding.””
Then the lights flickered.
Once.
Twice.
The entire floor went dark.
Nia grabbed my shoulder.
“Adrian.””
“I’m here.””
Emergency lights glowed red along the walls.
Somewhere below us, people were shouting.
My father looked at me.
“We're leaving.””
“Where?””
“Private elevator.””
We moved quickly.
I hated how slowly my wheelchair suddenly felt.
My father pressed a keycard against a hidden panel.
A section of the wall opened.
Nia stared.
“You have a secret elevator?””
My father didn't answer.
We entered.
Daniel followed.
The doors closed.
For several seconds, there was only the sound of our breathing.
Then the elevator began descending.
My father stood across from me.
“Give me the key.””
“No.””
“Adrian.””
“You lied to me.””
“I did.””
“You lied about Marcus.””
“Yes.””
“You lied about the crash.””
“Yes.””
“You lied about the investigation.””
My father closed his eyes.
“Yes.””
“Then why should I give you anything?””
“Because I'm still trying to keep you alive.””
Nia looked at him.
“Maybe stop deciding what he needs to know.””
He stared at her.
“You think honesty would've kept Marcus alive?””
“No,” she said.
“But maybe the truth would've given Adrian a chance to help.””
The elevator stopped.
The doors opened into a private underground garage.
My yellow Lamborghini sat beneath fluorescent lights.
A security guard rushed toward us.
“Mr. Cole, we have a problem.””
“What?””
“The building's cameras went offline.””
My father swore.
“How long?””
“Three minutes.””
“Who did it?””
“We don't know.””
My father looked at me.
“Get in the car.””
I did.
Nia climbed in.
My father leaned toward the driver's window.
“Go to the house.””
“My house?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because Marcus left something there.””
“What?””
“I don't know.””
I stared at him.
“Of course you don't.””
He stepped back.
I started the engine.
The garage filled with the deep rumble of the Lamborghini.
As I drove toward the exit, Nia looked at me.
“Your family is insane.””
I laughed.
“Starting to notice?””
She smiled.
Then her expression changed.
“Adrian.””
“What?””
“Someone's following us.””
I checked the mirror.
A black SUV emerged from the garage.
Same shape as Vanessa's.
It accelerated.
“Hold on.””
I pressed the gas.
The Lamborghini surged forward.
My leg protested against the movement, but adrenaline drowned out the pain.
We shot onto the street.
The SUV followed.
“Who is that?”” Nia asked.
“I don't know.””
“Can you lose them?””
“Probably.””
“Probably?””
“I haven't driven in weeks.””
She grabbed the handle above the door.
“That's not comforting.””
We turned hard onto a side street.
The SUV followed.
Then my phone rang.
Vanessa.
I answered on speaker.
“Where are you?””
“Being followed.””
“By who?””
“Your SUV.””
Silence.
“Adrian, that's not mine.””
“What?””
“I’m in a hotel across town.””
“Then whose is it?””
“I don't know.””
Nia looked back.
“They're gaining.””
Vanessa's voice became urgent.
“Adrian, listen to me. Don't go home.””
“My father told me to.””
“That's why you can't.””
“Why?””
“Because that's where Marcus kept the evidence.””
I tightened my grip on the wheel.
“What evidence?””
“Proof that your father wasn't protecting him.””
My stomach dropped.
“What are you talking about?””
Vanessa hesitated.
Then she said, “Marcus believed your father was involved.””
I looked at Nia.
She mouthed, *What?*
“Involved in what?””
“The theft.””
I nearly missed the turn.
“My father was stealing from his own company?””
“No.””
Vanessa's voice cracked.
“He was covering for someone.””
“Who?””
“I don't know.””
“Vanessa.””
“I swear.””
The SUV suddenly rammed our rear bumper.
Nia screamed.
I fought the wheel.
The Lamborghini fishtailed.
I regained control.
“Adrian!”” Vanessa shouted through the phone.
“I’m okay.””
“Listen to me. Marcus didn't disappear because he was afraid of whoever was stealing the money.””
“Then why?””
“Because he found out who was helping them.””
“Who?””
Vanessa went silent.
“Vanessa!””
She whispered, “Someone close to your family.””
The call ended.
I looked at Nia.
“Someone close to my family.””
“That's not specific.””
“No.””
The SUV hit us again.
This time harder.
The rear end swung sideways.
I braked.
The car spun halfway across the road before stopping.
The SUV screeched to a halt twenty yards ahead.
Its driver's door opened.
A man stepped out.
Black jacket.
Baseball cap.
Face hidden.
He started walking toward us.
Nia whispered, “Lock the doors.””
I did.
The man reached the Lamborghini.
He bent toward my window.
Then he lifted his head.
And I recognized him.
Not from the photograph.
Not from the past.
From my father's office.
He was one of my father's senior security officers.
I rolled down the window two inches.
“What do you want?””
He looked at me.
“You have the key.””
My heart stopped.
“How do you know about the key?””
He smiled.
“Because I was there when Marcus gave it to your father.””
Nia stared at him.
I whispered, “Who are you?””
He looked toward the approaching traffic.
Then back at me.
“My name is Calvin.””
“Are you working for my father?””
He shook his head.
“No.””
“Then who?””
Calvin leaned closer.
“I'm working for Marcus.””
I couldn't breathe.
“Where is he?””
“Alive.””
“Where?””
Calvin glanced at the black SUV behind us.
Then he said:
“He's been hiding in your father's house for six years.””
My entire body went cold.
“That’s impossible.””
Calvin's expression didn't change.
“No.””
He looked directly into my eyes.
“What’s impossible is that your father never found him.””
Then he stepped back.
“Drive.””
“Where?””
“To the house.””
I shook my head.
“My father told me not to go there.””
Calvin gave a grim smile.
“Exactly.””
He walked back toward the SUV.
Nia stared at me.
“You're going, aren't you?””
I looked down at the brass key marked *17*.
Then at the road ahead.
“Yes.””
My phone buzzed.
A new message from Marcus appeared.
*Adrian, if you find the room, don't open the door.*
I stared at it.
May you like
Then another message arrived.
*Because I'm not the only one hiding inside.*