Chapter 10: The Woman Who Should Have Been Dead

The Collector's question hung in the air.

'How certain are you that Celeste Monroe is dead?'

Nobody moved.

Nobody spoke.

For the first time since entering the vault, Adrian looked genuinely shaken.

'We found a body,' Harris said.

'Did you?'

The Collector smiled.

'Or did you find a body someone wanted you to find?'

Lena felt a chill crawl down her spine.

'What are you saying?'

'I'm saying assumptions are dangerous.'

The Collector casually walked between the shelves.

As if they weren't pointing weapons at him.

As if he controlled the room.

Perhaps he did.

'Six years ago, Marcus Monroe believed he killed his sister.'

Adrian froze.

'Believed?'

'Yes.'

'Explain.'

'Gladly.'

The Collector stopped beside a cabinet.

'Marcus arranged the kidnapping.'

'The murder.'

'The burial.'

'Everything.'

'Unfortunately for him, the plan failed.'

Silence.

'Celeste survived,' Lena whispered.

The Collector smiled.

'Very good.'

Adrian's face went pale.

'No.'

'Yes.'

'You're lying.'

'I rarely lie.'

'Then where is she?'

The Collector's expression became unreadable.

'That's a complicated question.'

Before anyone could respond, an alarm suddenly echoed through the mansion.

Red lights flashed.

The Collector sighed.

'Ah.'

'That's unfortunate.'

'What is?' Harris demanded.

'Marcus.'

The Collector looked genuinely annoyed.

'He's become impatient.'

The vault doors burst open.

Armed guards flooded inside.

At least fifteen.

Weapons raised.

The situation changed instantly.

'Nobody move,' one guard shouted.

Lena's heart raced.

Harris cursed.

Adrian remained still.

The Collector simply rolled his eyes.

'Honestly, Marcus always preferred dramatic entrances.'

Another figure entered.

Marcus Monroe.

Elegant suit.

Confident smile.

The smile of a man who thought he had already won.

'Adrian.'

'Marcus.'

'Still chasing ghosts?'

'Still murdering people?'

Marcus laughed.

'Only when necessary.'

Lena wanted to hit him.

Instead, she settled for glaring.

'You buried your own sister.'

'Allegedly.'

'You're a psychopath.'

'I've been called worse.'

Marcus's attention shifted toward the teddy bear.

'There's my property.'

'No,' Adrian replied.

'It's hers.'

For the first time, Marcus's smile faded.

'Not anymore.'

The room became tense.

Dangerously tense.

The Collector watched the interaction with visible amusement.

'You know what's fascinating?'

Nobody answered.

'Both of you still think this story is about Celeste.'

'It isn't.'

Marcus frowned.

'What are you talking about?'

'The drive.'

The Collector pointed toward Adrian's pocket.

'That's what matters now.'

'Not the woman.'

'Not the history.'

'The drive.'

For the first time, uncertainty appeared on Marcus's face.

'You said it only contained the foundation records.'

'Did I?'

The Collector smiled.

'Perhaps I simplified.'

'What else is on it?' Adrian demanded.

'Everything.'

'Be specific.'

'Every payment.'

'Every account.'

'Every crime.'

'Every partner.'

'Every politician.'

'Every judge.'

'Every businessman.'

'Including me.'

The room went silent.

'You documented your own crimes?' Lena asked.

'Of course.'

'Why?'

'Insurance.'

The answer was terrifyingly logical.

'If someone betrayed me, I could destroy everyone.'

Harris looked horrified.

'You're insane.'

'Probably.'

The Collector didn't seem offended.

Instead, he looked almost proud.

Then something unexpected happened.

Marcus laughed.

'You fool.'

The Collector frowned.

'Excuse me?'

'You really think I didn't know?'

Marcus pulled a small flash drive from his pocket.

'I copied everything years ago.'

The Collector's expression changed instantly.

Not fear.

Anger.

Pure anger.

'You weren't supposed to find that.'

'And you weren't supposed to betray me.'

The room suddenly felt like a battlefield.

Because the two villains had stopped working together.

And started turning on each other.

'Interesting,' Harris muttered.

'Very,' Lena agreed.

Marcus raised his weapon.

The Collector did the same.

Their guards immediately became confused.

Nobody knew whose side they were on anymore.

'You planned to sacrifice me,' Marcus said.

'I planned to survive.'

'Same thing.'

'Not really.'

For several seconds, nobody moved.

Then gunfire erupted.

Chaos exploded across the vault.

Guards fired at guards.

People screamed.

Shelves collapsed.

Documents flew through the air.

Lena ducked behind a cabinet.

'This is insane!'

'Agreed!' Harris shouted.

'Any suggestions?'

'Run!'

Excellent suggestion.

Adrian grabbed Lena's hand.

'Move!'

They sprinted through the vault.

Bullets shattered glass around them.

Paper filled the air like snow.

Behind them, Marcus and the Collector continued trying to kill each other.

Neither seemed interested in anyone else anymore.

For the first time all night, they had an opportunity.

A chance to escape.

A chance to expose everything.

A chance to finally end six years of lies.

Then a familiar voice echoed through the chaos.

'Adrian!'

He stopped instantly.

So did Lena.

Because they both recognized that voice.

Impossible.

Unbelievable.

Yet unmistakable.

Slowly, Adrian turned around.

Standing near the far end of the vault was a woman.

Blonde hair.

Blue eyes.

A silver rose pendant around her neck.

Alive.

Breathing.

Real.

Celeste Monroe.

And judging by the shock on Marcus's face...

He wasn't expecting her either.