Chapter 5 - THE COAL CELLAR SANCTUARY
The rain outside intensified, hammering against the wooden roof of the boathouse like gunfire. Olivia looked from Salvatore’s outstretched hand down to her daughter’s expectant face.
Slowly, she lowered the detonator, clicking the safety switch into place, and handed it to her brother.
"Victor is in section four of the sub-basement," Olivia whispered, her strength suddenly wavering as years of tension finally cracked. "He won't survive another night in that damp. Edmund’s head of security, Vance Sterling, has the physical keys."
"Sterling is already being handled," Salvatore said. "Marcus locked down the security control room ten minutes ago."
"Then we move now," Salvatore ordered.
They returned to the main house through the underground storm tunnels that connected the boathouse to the lower foundations of Ravenswood Hall. The stone corridors were dripping with condensation, illuminated only by sparse incandescent bulbs hanging from naked wires.
Salvatore led the way, his Sig Sauer drawn and held low. Behind him walked Olivia and Marina, followed by Marcus, who had joined them at the tunnel entry.
They reached the heavy iron door of the old coal cellar. The lock was modern, heavy-duty electronic keypad installed over ancient iron hinges.
Salvatore pulled out the satellite unit Olivia had given him, connecting it via a bridge cable to the keypad. The screen flashed amber, then green, as the decryption algorithm bypassed Edmund’s personal lock codes.
The heavy iron door unlatched with a sharp mechanical hiss.
Salvatore kicked the door open, stepping inside with his flashlight scanning the dim space.
In the corner of the stone cell, chained to an iron ring embedded in the wall, sat Victor Lane. The former chief legal adviser for Vance Enterprises was gaunt, his silver hair wild and unkempt, his suit tattered. But when the flashlight beam hit his face, he blinked, his sunken eyes clearing with sudden recognition.
"Salvatore..." Victor rasped, his voice barely a dry croak. "You... you finally opened the book."
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"I did, Victor," Salvatore said, stepping forward with Marcus to cut the heavy chains with hydraulic shears. "And the story is over."
"It isn't over," Victor gasped, gripping Salvatore’s forearm with surprising strength. "Edmund... he didn't act alone tonight. The London buyers... their tactical team crossed the estate perimeter ten minutes ago. They aren't coming to save Edmund. They're coming to clean the board!"
