Chapter 5 - The Safe and the Switch
Night had fallen over Manhattan, casting long, sharp shadows across the penthouse. Arthur was asleep in the master suite, heavily sedated by the scotch he drank every evening. Eleanor was in the guest room with the boys, pacing the floor.
“I checked his home office,” Eleanor whispered. “He keeps a biometric safe behind the painting of the hounds. If there’s any proof of the bribes, the orphanage, or the inheritance clause, it’s in there.”
“Biometric means fingerprint, Mom,” Julian pointed out. “We can’t open it.”
Eleanor pulled a small roll of clear tape and a dusting brush from her pocket—items she had sneaked from her own vanity. “I watch true crime documentaries. If we can lift his print from his scotch glass…”
It was a crazy plan, desperate and terrifying, but it was all they had.
Ten minutes later, the three of them crept into Arthur’s dark, oak-paneled office. The city lights from the window illuminated the massive painting. Eleanor swung it open, revealing the sleek black safe. Julian pressed the piece of tape, bearing Arthur’s thumbprint from the glass, against the scanner.
Beep. Click.
The heavy metal door swung open.
Inside were stacks of cash, a velvet box, and a thick manila folder labeled Project Gemini.
Leo snatched the folder and opened it on the desk. They turned on a small pen light. Inside were birth certificates—two of them. There was also a copy of Eleanor’s father’s will, highlighting a clause that stated the vast family fortune would revert to a trust if there was more than one direct male heir, to prevent the splitting of the empire.
And then, there were the bank statements. Monthly wire transfers to a man named Thomas Grimsby—the abusive director of Leo’s orphanage.
“He didn’t just abandon me,” Leo said, a tear finally escaping and cutting a clean line down his dirty cheek. “He paid them to torture me. So I’d never come looking for my half of the money.”
“He’s a monster,” Eleanor sobbed, clutching Leo to her chest. “I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry.”
Suddenly, the overhead lights blazed on, blinding them.
“Well, well, well,” a cold voice sneered.
Arthur stood in the doorway, holding a sleek black handgun. His eyes darted from Julian, to Eleanor, and finally settled on Leo. A sickening smile spread across his face.
“I knew there was a rat in the house,” Arthur said, stepping inside and locking the door behind him. “I must say, I’m impressed you survived this long, street rat. Grimsby assured me you’d freeze to death years ago.”
“You’re insane, Arthur!” Eleanor screamed, stepping in front of the boys. “I’m calling the police! I’m showing them everything!”
“You aren’t doing anything, my dear,” Arthur said smoothly, raising the gun. “Because tonight, there will be a tragic accident. A home invasion. The intruder—this filthy street kid—broke in. He attacked my beloved wife. My brave son Julian tried to stop him. Sadly, both boys were killed in the crossfire.”
Julian and Leo looked at each other. They had identical faces, but right now, they shared the exact same thought.
May you like
“Run!” Julian screamed.
Julian threw the heavy glass paperweight from the desk directly at Arthur’s head. Arthur ducked, the gun firing a suppressed thwip into the ceiling. In that split second, the boys bolted.
