Chapter 2 - The House of Secrets
The Caldwell corporate helicopter tore through the stormy October sky like a bullet.
Adrian sat in the leather seat, staring blankly out the rain-slicked window while Marcus reviewed a tablet.
"St. Jude's is a privately funded facility, supposedly a charity for forgotten children," Marcus explained over the headset.
"But I just pulled their financial records, and there is a lot of dark money flowing through their accounts."
Adrian’s jaw tightened into a rigid, dangerous line.
"Who funds it?" he asked softly.
"Multiple shell companies, all untraceable so far," Marcus replied, his eyes narrowing at the data.
"Whoever runs this place is hiding something massive."
The helicopter touched down on an empty field just outside the iron gates of St. Jude's.
It was a bleak, gothic brick building that looked more like a prison than a sanctuary for children.
Adrian kicked the iron gates open without waiting for security to unlock them.
He marched up the concrete steps, the pouring rain soaking his expensive suit.
Marcus was right behind him, his hand resting casually on the weapon holstered at his waist.
Adrian kicked the heavy wooden front doors open, startling a receptionist in the dark lobby.
"Where is the headmistress?" Adrian roared, his voice echoing down the bleak hallways.
An older woman with cold eyes and a severe gray bun stepped out of an adjacent office.
"Who do you think you are, breaking into this facility?" the woman hissed angrily.
"I am Adrian Caldwell, and I am looking for a boy named Matthew," he stated coldly.
The headmistress froze, the color draining from her wrinkled face in an instant.
She tried to regain her composure, but her shaking hands betrayed her absolute terror.
"There is no boy here by that name," she lied, her voice cracking slightly.
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Marcus stepped forward, slamming his heavy hand onto the woman's oak desk.
"We know he was here, and you are going to tell us exactly where he is right now," Marcus growled.
