Chapter 6: The Empty Room
Marcus couldn't move.
For several seconds, the only sound was the low hum of the mansion's security system.
Then he shook his head.
“No.””
Vanessa whispered, “I'm sorry.””
“You're lying.””
“I'm not.””
“You just said my father was alive.””
“I thought he was.””
Marcus grabbed her shoulders.
“Where did you hear this?””
“From James.””
“When?””
“This morning.””
“What did he tell you?””
Vanessa's eyes darted toward the house.
“He said Daniel disappeared eight years ago because he knew he was going to be killed.””
Marcus released her.
“By who?””
“He wouldn't say.””
“Then how do you know Daniel is dead?””
“He showed me proof.””
Marcus stared at her.
“What proof?””
“A photograph.””
“What photograph?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“I don't have it.””
Marcus heard footsteps behind him.
Diane.
She walked into the garage, followed by Daniel.
When Diane saw Vanessa, her face tightened.
“Where is the necklace?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“I don't have it.””
Daniel looked at Marcus.
“What happened?””
Marcus stared at him.
“Vanessa says Uncle James is responsible.””
Daniel went completely still.
“James?””
“She says he told her you were dead.””
Daniel's eyes narrowed.
“He did?””
Vanessa nodded.
“He said you were killed eight years ago.””
Daniel looked at Diane.
“Did you tell him?””
Diane shook her head.
“No.””
Daniel looked genuinely confused.
Then he whispered, “James is dead too.””
Marcus frowned.
“What?””
“Your uncle died three years ago.””
Vanessa's face drained.
“No.””
Diane stepped forward.
“James had a stroke.””
“He's alive.””
Diane shook her head.
“I attended his funeral.””
Vanessa backed away.
“No. I spoke to him.””
Marcus looked at her.
“When?””
“Today.””
“Where?””
“At a hotel.””
“Which hotel?””
Vanessa named one.
Daniel immediately shook his head.
“That hotel was demolished two years ago.””
Vanessa stared at him.
“No.””
Daniel stepped closer.
“Whoever you met wasn't James.””
Vanessa began crying.
Marcus looked at the mansion.
“Then who was it?””
Nobody answered.
A loud metallic bang came from the garage.
Marcus turned.
The interior door leading into the basement had slammed shut.
Daniel moved first.
He crossed the garage and opened it.
Darkness waited beyond.
Diane grabbed Marcus's arm.
“Don't go down there.””
Marcus looked at her.
“Why?””
“Because your father built that room.””
Daniel looked at Diane.
“You told him?””
“No.””
Marcus stared at both of them.
“What room?””
Daniel sighed.
“The original workshop.””
Marcus descended the stairs.
Daniel followed.
Diane reluctantly came behind them.
The basement smelled of dust, old wood, and something metallic.
Marcus swept his phone light across the walls.
Boxes.
Old equipment.
Photographs.
A workbench.
And twelve empty velvet cases.
Marcus stopped.
“Those are them.””
Diane nodded.
“The prototypes.””
Daniel walked toward the workbench.
He touched the surface.
“I haven't been here since the night they disappeared.””
Marcus looked at him.
“What happened that night?””
Daniel stared at the empty cases.
“I came here after midnight.””
“Why?””
“To confront your uncle.””
“About the money?””
“About the files.””
Marcus waited.
Daniel continued.
“James had stolen the storage device.””
Diane interrupted.
“No. He stole the key.””
Daniel looked at her.
“Same result.””
Marcus frowned.
“And you?””
“I found the twelfth shoe.””
“Where?””
Daniel pointed to a metal cabinet.
“Inside.””
Marcus opened it.
Empty.
His phone light moved across the back wall.
There was a narrow rectangular imprint in the dust.
Something had been removed recently.
Marcus ran his fingers over it.
“Someone was here.””
Daniel nodded.
“The necklace.””
Diane's face went pale.
“What?””
Marcus turned.
“The necklace was hidden here.””
Diane shook her head.
“No.””
Daniel looked at her.
“You told me you moved it.””
“I did.””
“Where?””
Diane didn't answer.
Marcus's voice became quiet.
“Mom.””
She looked at him.
“Where did you move it?””
Diane's eyes filled with tears.
“I gave it to you.””
Marcus frowned.
“What?””
“When you were nineteen.””
“I've never had Grandma's necklace.””
Diane shook her head.
“You did.””
“No.””
“I put it in your graduation box.””
Marcus stared.
“I don't have it.””
Diane's face went white.
Daniel whispered, “Then James took it.””
Marcus looked at the twelve cases.
“No.””
They both turned toward him.
“What's wrong?””
Marcus slowly looked at the velvet cases.
“Twelve pairs.””
“Yes,” Diane said.
“Twelve cases.””
“Yes.””
“But the photograph showed twelve.””
Daniel nodded.
“So?””
Marcus's eyes narrowed.
“One case is still locked.””
Diane's breath caught.
Marcus walked toward the far wall.
The twelfth velvet case was different.
A tiny gold latch held it shut.
He touched it.
The latch clicked.
The case opened.
Inside was a single black shoe.
The missing prototype.
Diane covered her mouth.
Daniel whispered, “Impossible.””
Marcus lifted it carefully.
The underside had the same gold logo.
But beneath the emblem was a tiny engraved number.
*12.*
Marcus turned the shoe over.
There was something inside.
A thin metallic object.
He pulled it free.
A key.
Diane stared at it.
“No.””
Marcus looked at her.
“You know this?””
She nodded.
“That opens the vault.””
“What vault?””
Diane's voice dropped.
“The one your father and I built beneath the company headquarters.””
Daniel suddenly looked toward the basement door.
“We need to leave.””
Marcus frowned.
“Why?””
“Because if the key is here…”
Daniel stopped.
A phone began ringing.
Not Marcus's.
Not Diane's.
Not Vanessa's.
The sound came from inside the velvet case.
Marcus looked down.
A tiny hidden compartment had opened beneath the shoe.
Inside was an old cell phone.
The screen was glowing.
Incoming call.
*MOM*
Diane stared at it.
Her face became expressionless.
Marcus slowly answered.
“Hello?””
There was static.
Then breathing.
Slow.
Deliberate.
A man's voice finally came through.
“Marcus.””
Marcus's eyes widened.
“Who is this?””
The voice laughed softly.
“You really don't recognize me?””
Marcus looked at Daniel.
Daniel had gone completely pale.
The caller continued.
“Ask your father why he buried me.””
Marcus tightened his grip on the phone.
“What does that mean?””
A pause.
Then the voice said:
“Because the man standing beside you isn't your father.””
The call ended.
Marcus slowly lowered the phone.
Daniel didn't move.
May you like
Diane stared at him.
And for the first time that night, even Daniel looked afraid.
