Chapter 4 - The Abandoned Office
The news of my father's escape sent a shockwave through the estate. Julian immediately ordered a full lockdown, but I refused to stay behind. We sped toward downtown, a convoy of heavily armored SUVs flanking our car. The old bank building loomed in the darkness, a forgotten relic of the city. We bypassed the main entrance and used a service elevator in the alley. My heart pounded in my chest as we ascended to the top floor. "Stay close to me," Julian whispered, drawing his weapon as the doors opened. The hallway was pitch black, the air thick with dust and the smell of old paper. We crept toward the heavy oak door of my father's private office. It was slightly ajar, a faint sliver of light escaping from within. Julian pushed the door open, his gun raised, ready for anything. The office was completely empty, but it looked like a war zone. Files were scattered everywhere, drawers were torn from their desks. Someone had been here recently, searching for something desperately. "Look at this," Julian said, pointing to a massive safe embedded in the wall. The thick steel door was wide open, the contents completely cleaned out. "He took everything," I whispered, walking toward the empty safe. But as I looked closer, I noticed a small, hidden compartment in the back. It was slightly ajar, a single piece of paper sticking out. I reached in and pulled out a faded, dog-eared photograph. It was a picture of my mother, but she wasn't alone. She was standing next to a man I had never seen before, smiling brightly. And he was holding a baby. "Julian," I gasped, my hands trembling as I showed him the photo. "That's not me." Julian took the photo, his eyes narrowing as he studied the man's face. "I know him," Julian said, his voice barely a whisper. Before he could explain, a loud, metallic click echoed from the doorway. "Put the photo down, Mr. Vance," a cold, familiar voice ordered. We spun around to find my father standing there, a shotgun aimed right at us.
