Chapter 1 - The Secret in the Wall
Adrian watched Naomi carry the child away.
The quiet click of his bedroom door echoed loudly in the heavy silence.
He stood entirely alone in the massive closet.
His gaze drifted slowly to the back wall.
Zuri had been staring at the solid oak paneling just moments before her mother arrived.
Adrian walked past rows of tailored suits and pressed his palm flat against the wood.
The surface felt unusually cold.
He tapped his knuckles against the center panel.
A hollow thud answered him.
Adrian pressed his weight into the wood, running his fingers along the seamless groove.
Something clicked sharply beneath his thumb.
The heavy oak panel suddenly popped outward by a fraction of an inch.
His heart began to hammer against his ribs.
He pulled the panel aside, revealing a dark, narrow cavity hidden inside the architecture of the house.
A small lockbox rested on a dusty shelf.
Beside it sat a silver flash drive stained with dried blood.
Adrian reached out with a trembling hand to take the drive.
The heavy wooden door of his closet slammed shut behind him.
The deadbolt engaged with a heavy, metallic snap.
Adrian spun around and slammed his fist against the door.
May you like
A soft, terrified voice whispered through the thick wood.
"I am so sorry, Mr. Vale, but I cannot let you see what is on that drive."
