The road to Rosewood House had almost disappeared beneath years of neglect. Victor drove himself. No driver, no security convoy, just the four of them in two cars, moving away from Aurelia City while the clock on the dashboard seemed to move faster than it should.Benedict sat in the passenger seat, barely speaking since they'd left. Behind them, Jonathan drove with Serena beside him. Damian followed in the second car. Nobody needed to say why they were going. Rosewood House had been closed for twenty-six years. Yet someone had used it on the night Benedict disappeared. That fact alone was enough to change everything.Victor tightened his hands around the wheel. "I haven't been here since I was thirty."Benedict looked through the windshield. "What happened to it?""My father used it for private family matters. Old contracts. Estate documents. Medical records when privacy was important." He paused. "After your disappearance, he ordered it closed."Benedict turned slightly. "Why?"Vic

Benedict was already moving before anyone could respond. "We need to go back."Victor grabbed his coat. "I'm coming.""So am I," Damian said.Jonathan was already calling the courthouse security office. "Find out exactly who entered the property."The judge had not released them from the hearing, but the court had ordered the evidence procedure suspended until the chain of custody could be verified. That gave them a narrow window.Serena caught up with Benedict in the corridor. "You think whoever entered Rosewood is looking for the sample.""I think they're looking for something.""What?"Benedict shook his head. "If I knew, I wouldn't be going back."Outside, the reporters were still waiting. This time Benedict didn't slow down.The drive to Rosewood took less than twenty minutes. Jonathan remained on the phone throughout. "They haven't identified the person.""Cameras?""Old system. Someone disabled the exterior feed."Victor stared ahead. "Rosewood has been closed for twenty-six ye

Wintermere House stood beyond the northern edge of Aurelia City, hidden behind a line of old trees and a stone wall that had nearly disappeared beneath climbing vines. Victor drove faster than usual. They had twenty-three minutes left.Benedict sat beside him, holding the photograph from Rosewood. Eleanor was in the back seat with Serena. Damian and Jonathan followed close behind. Nobody spoke much. There was too much at stake.When the house finally appeared, Victor slowed. The building was smaller than Ashcroft Manor but older, built from dark stone with narrow windows and a steep roof.Eleanor stared through the windshield. "I've never been here."Victor looked at her through the mirror. "You've been here before."She shook her head. "No.""You told me you came here looking for the child.""I said the record claims I came here."Victor frowned. Eleanor looked down at her hands. "I don't remember this house."Benedict turned toward her. "Maybe you weren't supposed to remember."The

Mercer Medical Services had been closed for nearly two decades. At least, that was what the public records claimed. Benedict stood outside the old office building the following morning, studying the faded sign above the entrance. The letters were barely visible.MERCER MEDICAL SERVICESJonathan parked behind them. Serena stepped out first, Damian following. Victor remained in the car for several seconds before finally getting out, looking at the building with a troubled expression."You knew this place?"Victor nodded. "Not personally. My father's companies used Mercer for private medical transportation.""Did Ashcroft own it?""No.""Who did?"Victor hesitated. "Mercer Family Trust."Jonathan frowned. "The same trust connected to Blackwood Farm.""Yes."Benedict looked at the building again. "So Mercer wasn't just a transport company.""No. It handled confidential medical transfers for several wealthy families.""And Ashcroft was one of them.""Yes."Damian folded his arms. "Then Mar

The receiver remained on the desk.Benedict stared at it for several seconds.Nobody moved.The call had lasted less than twenty seconds, yet it had changed the atmosphere in the room completely.Jonathan was the first to speak."Could we trace it?""The line is too old," he said. "And whoever called knew exactly what they were doing."Serena looked toward the doorway."You think he was nearby?""Maybe."Benedict walked to the window.The Mercer building sat almost entirely in darkness. Across the road, a streetlamp flickered over an empty pavement.No car.No movement.Nothing obvious.That bothered him more than if someone had been standing outside.He turned back."Lock the door."Jonathan did.Victor remained beside the recorder.His face had lost the color it had carried moments earlier."You said the caller knows what happened that night."Benedict nodded."That's what I heard."Victor's jaw tightened."But he could have been bluffing.""He could.""Then why believe him?""Becau