Chapter 29: The East Library
Leah went to the Ashford estate with Daniel.
She did not tell Adrian until they were already inside the gates.
He called six times.
She ignored the first five.
On the sixth, she answered.
“I’m not excluding you because I don’t trust you,” she said.
“That is exactly what you’re doing.”
“Eleanor told me not to bring you.”
“And Julian told you where to go.”
“I’m trusting neither of them.”
“Then wait for federal agents.”
“They may already be compromised.”
Adrian remained silent.
Finally, he said, “Keep the call connected.”
Leah agreed.
The estate had been closed since Eleanor moved into the city.
Dust covered the entrance hall.
The east library door was locked.
Julian’s key fit perfectly.
Inside, rows of books reached the ceiling.
A fire burned in the fireplace.
Someone had been waiting.
Nora Ellis sat near the window.
She appeared thinner than in the video, but she was alive.
Mara rushed from the hallway behind Leah.
She had left the hospital against medical advice.
When Nora saw her, she began crying.
Mara crossed the room and held her.
“You said not to trust me.”
“I didn’t know who was watching the recording.”
“Who kept you here?”
Nora looked toward the fireplace.
“Eleanor.”
Daniel stepped forward.
“Why?”
“To protect me from Graham Voss.”
“Then why tell everyone you moved?”
“Because Graham controlled the investigators assigned to my case.”
Leah searched the room.
“Where is Eleanor?”
Nora pointed toward the shelves.
“She went through there.”
A hidden door opened when Leah inserted Julian’s key into a carved panel.
Beyond it was a private office.
Eleanor sat behind a desk.
A pistol rested beside her hand.
Grace and Celia stood near the window.
Margaret Ashford sat across from Eleanor.
The two sisters looked at each other with decades of anger between them.
Margaret turned toward Leah.
“You brought Daniel.”
“You told me you wanted me alive.”
“I do.”
“Then start telling the truth.”
Eleanor stood.
“Leah, leave the room.”
“No.”
“Adrian is listening through your phone.”
Leah looked at the device.
The call was still connected.
Eleanor took it and placed it on the desk.
“Then he should hear this too.”
Margaret smiled.
“Finally.”
Eleanor opened a sealed folder.
Inside was the complete succession agreement.
A DNA report was attached.
Leah’s name appeared beside a 99.8 percent familial match.
The second name was hidden beneath a black strip.
“Who am I related to?” Leah asked.
Eleanor removed the strip.
Adrian’s voice came through the phone.
“No.”
The report did not identify Julian Ashford as Leah’s father.
It identified Adrian Ashford.
Leah stared at the page.
“That’s impossible.”
Daniel took the report.
“This says sibling-level or parent-child-level relationship. It doesn’t say which.”
Eleanor looked at Adrian’s name.
“The laboratory could not distinguish the relationship without Julian’s verified sample.”
Margaret leaned back.
“But Julian gave a sample twenty-nine years ago.”
“Where is it?” Leah asked.
Margaret pointed toward a locked silver case.
“Inside.”
Eleanor raised the pistol.
“You are not opening that.”
“Why?” Leah asked.
“Because Julian’s identity is also false.”
The library lights went out.
A struggle erupted near the desk.
The phone hit the floor.
A gunshot filled the room.
When the emergency lights switched on, Margaret was gone.
May you like
The silver case was gone.
And Eleanor was lying on the floor.
