Chapter 4 - SINS OF THE MOTHER
The abandoned St. Jude Orphanage stood on the outskirts of the city, a decaying monument of Gothic stone and shattered stained glass. The storm had intensified, masking the sound of Daniel’s stolen sedan as it rolled to a halt near the wrought-iron gates. Mia stepped out, the wind whipping her hair across her face. The gun in her pocket felt like an anchor, grounding her in the nightmare.
They moved silently through the ruined courtyard. The chapel’s heavy oak doors were chained, but Daniel made quick work of the lock with a pair of bolt cutters. Inside, the air was thick with dust and the smell of rotting wood. Moonlight bled through the broken roof, illuminating the altar.
"The cornerstone," Mia whispered, moving toward the base of the crumbling altar. She knelt in the debris, her fingers tracing the mortar. There was a hollow sound when she tapped it. Daniel handed her a crowbar, and together, they pried the heavy stone block loose. Behind it lay a rusted, steel lockbox.
Mia’s hands shook as she pulled it out. She used the edge of the crowbar to snap the brittle lock. Inside, wrapped in oilcloth, was a leather-bound ledger, a series of encrypted USB drives, and a final, handwritten letter addressed to her. Tears pricked her eyes as she recognized her father’s elegant script, but before she could open it, the silence of the chapel was shattered by the slow, echoing sound of applause.
"Beautiful. Truly poetic."
Floodlights suddenly blazed to life, blinding them. From the shadows of the choir loft, heavily armed men poured out, their laser sights painting red dots across Daniel’s chest. Stepping gracefully into the light was Mia’s mother, wearing a pristine white trench coat, followed closely by Victor Kane.
"I told you she would lead us right to it, Victor," her mother purred, her eyes devoid of any maternal warmth. She looked at Mia not as a daughter, but as a pest caught in a trap. "You always were a sentimental little fool, Mia. Just like your father."
"You killed him," Mia choked out, the betrayal burning her throat. "You sold your own husband to a monster."
"I secured our legacy!" her mother snapped, dropping the sweet facade. "Thomas was weak. He wanted to go to the police. He would have ruined everything we built. Hand over the box, Mia. Do it, and I’ll ask Victor to make your death quick. It’s a mother’s mercy."
Victor stepped forward, an arrogant smirk playing on his lips. "It's over, Daniel. Drop the gun. You played a long game, but the house always wins."
Daniel didn't flinch. He didn't drop his gun. Instead, he looked at Mia, a silent communication passing between them. When the lights go out, look for the wolf.
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"You're right, Victor," Daniel said loudly. "The house does win. But you forgot one thing about this building." Daniel’s hand slipped into his pocket. "I rigged the primary breakers three years ago."
He pressed a detonator.
