Chapter 4: The Basement Door
“He never died.””
Evelyn's words seemed to drain the warmth from the room.
Daniel stared at her.
“Who never died?””
She pressed both hands against the table.
“Victor.””
Marcus's face had gone rigid.
“That isn't possible,” he said.
Evelyn looked at him.
“You know it is.””
“No,” Marcus said.
“I know what we were told.””
Daniel stepped between them.
“Stop talking around me.””
He pointed toward the hallway.
“We're going downstairs.””
Evelyn immediately shook her head.
“Daniel, don't.””
“Why?””
“You don't understand what you're walking into.””
“Then explain it.””
“I can't.””
Daniel's expression hardened.
“Then I'll find out myself.””
He walked toward the basement door.
Evelyn grabbed his sleeve.
“Please.””
Daniel stopped.
For one second, he looked at her hand.
Then he gently pulled away.
“You've been afraid of that door all night.””
She whispered, “Because you don't know what's behind it.””
Daniel opened the door.
Cold air drifted upward.
The mansion basement was rarely used. Daniel had always kept it locked because most of the lower level had been inherited exactly as it was when he purchased the property.
Stone walls.
Old storage rooms.
A wine cellar.
A narrow service corridor.
And at the far end, a heavy wooden door that hadn't been opened in years.
Noah followed behind Daniel.
Marcus came too.
Evelyn remained upstairs until Daniel looked back.
“Come.””
She didn't move.
“Evelyn.””
She slowly descended.
Each step echoed.
At the bottom, Daniel switched on the lights.
Several bulbs flickered before illuminating the basement.
Noah noticed something immediately.
There were fresh scratches around the old wooden door.
He crouched.
“These weren't here before.””
Daniel looked down.
“How do you know?””
“I've worked around this house for three years.””
Noah pointed.
“Someone opened this recently.””
Evelyn's breathing changed.
Daniel noticed.
“Where does that door lead?””
She whispered, “An old storage room.””
Marcus shook his head.
“No.””
Daniel looked at him.
“What?””
Marcus stepped closer.
“That's where Victor kept his office.””
Daniel frowned.
“Why would Victor have an office in my house?””
Marcus looked at Evelyn.
“Ask her.””
Daniel turned.
Evelyn closed her eyes.
“Victor was my first husband's business partner.””
Daniel stared.
“You were married before me?””
“You knew that.””
“I knew you had been married. I didn't know Victor Shaw was involved.””
“He wasn't supposed to be.””
“What does that mean?””
Evelyn looked at the door.
“Victor and I were involved in a company together. Your father invested in it.””
Daniel's expression changed.
“My father?””
“Yes.””
“What company?””
She swallowed.
“Vale Holdings.””
Daniel stepped back.
“That was my father's company.””
“And Victor helped run it.””
Marcus nodded.
“He controlled the accounts.””
Daniel looked between them.
“Then why was everyone told he died?””
Evelyn's voice dropped.
“Because we thought he had.””
She walked toward the door.
Four years earlier, Victor had disappeared after a heated argument with Evelyn.
His car had been found abandoned near a river.
His phone was recovered from the driver's seat.
His wallet was still inside.
The police found no body.
After months of searching, he was legally presumed dead.
Daniel had met Evelyn nearly a year later.
She had never told him the full story.
She had simply said her previous husband had died unexpectedly.
Daniel reached for the old door.
“What happened that night?””
Evelyn shook her head.
“I don't remember everything.””
Marcus stared at her.
“You remember enough.””
“Marcus, please.””
“No.””
He stepped forward.
“You can't keep doing this.””
Daniel turned.
“What did she do?””
Marcus looked toward the floor.
“She didn't kill Victor.””
Daniel's eyes narrowed.
“But?””
Marcus took a breath.
“But she helped him disappear.””
Evelyn covered her face.
Daniel's voice became dangerously quiet.
“Why?””
“Because Victor was stealing from the company.””
Marcus answered.
“He had been moving money for years. When Evelyn discovered it, she confronted him.””
“What happened?””
“He threatened her.””
“With what?””
Marcus hesitated.
“Your father's financial records.””
Daniel froze.
“What records?””
Marcus looked at him.
“The ones Victor used to blackmail everyone.””
A sound came from behind the basement door.
Three slow knocks.
Everyone froze.
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
Noah's heart slammed against his ribs.
Daniel stared at the door.
Evelyn whispered, “No.””
Another knock.
Daniel stepped forward.
“Who is there?””
Nothing.
Marcus grabbed his arm.
“Don't open it.””
Daniel pulled free.
“You're afraid too.””
“Yes.””
“Then I definitely need to know what's inside.””
He unlocked the door.
It opened inward with a long groan.
Dust floated through the air.
The room beyond was dark.
Daniel switched on the flashlight on his phone.
A desk stood against the far wall.
Old filing cabinets.
A broken lamp.
Stacks of papers.
And a chair facing the wall.
No one was sitting in it.
Daniel exhaled.
“See?””
Marcus didn't answer.
Noah entered.
Something caught his eye.
A small red light.
He pointed.
“There.””
On the desk sat a surveillance camera.
Its indicator was blinking.
Daniel walked toward it.
“This camera is new.””
Marcus looked around.
“So someone has been watching this house.””
A voice came from the speaker.
“You finally opened the door.””
Evelyn screamed.
Daniel spun around.
The room remained empty.
Then the speaker crackled again.
“You should have done it four years ago.””
Daniel grabbed the camera.
“Victor?””
Silence.
Then:
“Hello, Daniel.””
Evelyn backed into the wall.
Marcus looked like he might collapse.
Daniel's voice remained steady.
“Where are you?””
“You're asking the wrong question.””
“What question should I ask?””
A pause.
“Ask why your father wanted me dead.””
Daniel stared at the camera.
“What?””
The transmission cut.
The basement lights went out.
Evelyn screamed again.
Noah heard footsteps in the corridor.
Fast.
Running away.
“Someone's here!””
Noah pulled out his phone flashlight and ran toward the sound.
He reached the stairs just as a shadow disappeared through the service passage.
He chased it.
“Stop!””
The figure slammed a door.
Noah grabbed the handle.
Locked.
He looked down.
A small envelope lay on the floor.
His name was written on it.
*NOAH REED.*
He picked it up.
Inside was a photograph.
It showed Evelyn standing beside Victor Shaw.
But that wasn't what frightened Noah.
The photograph had been taken only three days earlier.
May you like
On the back, someone had written:
*You saved Daniel tonight. Now save yourself.*
