Benedict stood outside Ashcroft Manor, staring up at the windows of the house where he'd spent most of his life. Nothing about the building had changed — the same stone walls, the same iron gates, the same gardens his grandfather had once insisted he help maintain. Yet he felt like a stranger approaching a place that used to be home.Serena stopped beside him. "You don't have to go in alone.""I know." He looked at her. "But I need to."She nodded. "I'll wait."Benedict walked through the doors into a quiet hallway, passing the portrait gallery without stopping. Every photograph seemed to belong to another life — a younger Victor, a smiling Eleanor, Sophia as a child, Benedict himself. He paused before one: he was perhaps ten years old, Victor standing behind him with a hand on his shoulder. At the time, that hand had meant everything. Now he wasn't sure what it had meant at all."Benedict."Victor's voice came from the study. He turned to find his father standing in the doorway."You

Benedict read the three words again.Mercer knows why.He stood in the middle of Arthur Bell's storage unit, holding the folded paper between his fingers.Serena watched him carefully.“Are you all right?”Benedict nodded.“I'm fine.”“You don't look fine.”“I've spent most of my life being told that Mercer was just another businessman.”“And now?”“Now I think he knows something about me that I don't.”Serena looked at the notebook.“Then we need to find him.”Benedict closed it.“Yes.”His phone rang.Victor.“Where are you?”Benedict glanced at Serena.“At a storage facility.”“What did you find?”“Something connected to Arthur.”Victor was silent.Then he asked,“Is there a reason you didn't tell me you were investigating him?”“Because every time I ask you about the past, you tell me you don't remember.”Victor sighed.“I remember more than I thought I did.”Benedict's expression changed.“What do you remember?”“Arthur came to me shortly before he left.”“What did he say?”“He t

Benedict kept the phone against his ear long after the call ended.Nothing.No breathing.No background noise.Just silence.Victor watched him from across the desk.“Who was it?”“I don't know.”“What did they say?”“Stop looking for Daniel Rowe.”Victor's face tightened.Serena, standing near the doorway, heard every word.Benedict lowered the phone.“They knew exactly what we were discussing.”Victor stood.“Then you need to stop.”Benedict looked at him.“No.”“Benedict—”“No.”His voice remained calm, but there was something different in it now.“For twenty-five years, everyone has told me to stop asking questions. Look where that got us.”Victor had no answer.Benedict picked up Daniel's resignation letter.“This man knew something about me.”“He may have.”“And then he disappeared.”“Yes.”“So I'm going to find him.”Victor looked toward Serena.“Don't let him do something reckless.”Serena almost smiled.“You're asking the wrong person.”Benedict glanced at her.“I heard that.

The black car was gone.Benedict remained by the window long after the taillights disappeared.Victor stood behind him.“Do you think they were watching us?”“Yes.”“Because of the ledger?”“Probably.”Eleanor looked at the book on the desk.“Then we shouldn't have opened it.”Benedict turned.“No. We should have opened it years ago.”His mother lowered her eyes.There was no accusation in his voice, but she still looked wounded.Benedict regretted it immediately.He walked toward her.“I'm not blaming you.”“I know.”She touched his arm.“I just wish I had known.”“So do I.”For a moment, neither spoke.Then Victor picked up the ledger.“There may be something else inside.”Benedict looked at him.“Why?”“Your grandfather never kept important information in one place.”That sounded like the man Victor had described.Careful.Suspicious.Always preparing for something no one else could see.Benedict took the ledger.“Let's find out what he was protecting.”They moved to the study.Ser

Daniel didn't answer the call. He simply stared at his phone. The word remained on the screen. COLLECTOR. Benedict watched him. "Who is that?" Daniel's fingers tightened around the phone. "Someone I hoped I'd never hear from again." "That's not an answer." "I know." The phone stopped ringing. For a few seconds the room was silent. Then it rang again. Daniel switched it off. Serena looked at Benedict, and he understood the question in her eyes. This was no longer just about an old birth record. Someone was still watching. Daniel placed the phone on the table. "You need to leave." Benedict didn't move. "No." "You don't understand." "I understand enough." "No, you don't." Daniel's voice cracked. "I spent eighteen years making sure they couldn't find me. You walked into my house carrying Arthur's evidence, and now they know exactly where I am." Benedict stayed calm. "Then tell me what they want." Daniel looked away. "You." The word landed heavily. "Why?" "Because of who yo