Chapter 4 - The Safe House
I stared at Bellamy in absolute disbelief, my mind refusing to accept the words he had just spoken.
"My grandmother baked snickerdoodles and watched jeopardy," I argued, my voice shaking with denial.
"She didn't run a criminal syndicate!"
Bellamy opened a hidden compartment in the SUV's armrest and pulled out a sleek, modern tablet.
He tapped the screen a few times and handed it to me.
The screen displayed a high-resolution scan of a vintage French newspaper article from forty years ago.
The headline, written in bold French, read: "The Lioness of Marseilles Escapes Custody."
Below the headline was a black-and-white photograph of a woman being escorted by heavily armed police.
Even with her face partially obscured, I recognized the distinct shape of her eyes and the proud tilt of her chin.
It was undeniably my grandmother.
"She fled France twenty-three years ago, right after my father was killed in a rival ambush," Bellamy explained softly.
"She changed her name, moved to Queens, and raised you in complete anonymity to protect you from this exact life."
I handed the tablet back, tears stinging the corners of my eyes as the reality of her deception set in.
"Why would your father leave the key to the vault to her?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.
"Because they were partners, in business and in life," Bellamy said, his gaze fixed on the passing dark trees.
"The ledgers in that vault prove that Victor orchestrated the ambush that killed my father."
"If we retrieve those ledgers, Victor loses the empire, and I can finally bring him to justice."
The SUV turned off the main highway, navigating down a long, hidden gravel road surrounded by dense forest.
We arrived at a massive, modern estate built entirely of glass and steel, completely isolated from the outside world.
Vivienne parked the car in an underground garage, and we took a private elevator up to the main living area.
"You will be safe here tonight," Bellamy assured me, leading me to a luxurious guest bedroom.
"Get some sleep, Clare. Tomorrow, we open the letter."
I locked the bedroom door behind him, stripping off my ruined uniform and stepping into a hot shower.
I stood under the scalding water for a long time, trying to wash away the terror of the evening.
When I finally stepped out and wrapped myself in a plush towel, I noticed something strange.
My uniform blouse, which I had thrown carelessly onto the bathroom floor, had been slightly moved.
May you like
I rushed over and checked the pocket where I had safely tucked the gold medallion.
The pocket was completely empty.
