Chapter 9 — The Cemetery of Secrets
Chapter 9 — The Cemetery of Secrets
Three days later...
Elena had stabilized enough to leave intensive care under heavy protection.
Vincent moved both Elena and Sophie into a secluded wing of his heavily guarded estate overlooking Lake Michigan.
The mansion resembled a fortress.
Armed guards patrolled every entrance.
Surveillance cameras covered every hallway.
Still...
Vincent slept only three hours each night.
Someone had declared war.
And they always seemed to know his next move.
Early Sunday morning, Vincent stood before Maria's grave carrying a bouquet of white lilies.
Rain clouds drifted across the gray Chicago sky.
The cemetery was empty.
Or so it seemed.
"You've been coming here every month for thirty years."
The voice came from behind him.
Vincent turned.
An elderly groundskeeper slowly approached with a shovel resting on one shoulder.
Vincent recognized him immediately.
Arthur Nolan.
He had maintained the cemetery longer than Vincent could remember.
Arthur smiled sadly.
"Maria always loved lilies."
Vincent nodded.
"You knew her."
"I buried her."
Silence stretched between them.
Finally Arthur reached into the pocket of his worn jacket.
"I've been waiting a long time to give you this."
He handed Vincent a faded envelope.
The paper had yellowed with age.
Maria's elegant handwriting covered the front.
For Vincent. Only if something happens to me.
Vincent stared at the envelope in disbelief.
"Where did you get this?"
"Maria asked me to keep it safe."
"For thirty years?"
Arthur nodded.
"She told me you'd come back one day when you were finally ready."
Vincent's hands trembled.
He carefully opened the letter.
Inside rested only a single page.
No confession.
No farewell.
Only one sentence.
Trust the man who carries the silver key.
Nothing else.
Tony looked confused.
"That's impossible."
Vincent slowly folded the letter.
"The silver key Elena mentioned..."
"They're connected."
Before either man could speak again...
A massive explosion echoed across the cemetery.
Earth erupted fifty yards away.
Headstones shattered into the air.
Visitors screamed.
Vincent instinctively shielded Arthur.
When the smoke cleared...
Maria's grave was gone.
In its place remained a smoking crater.
May you like
Pinned to the broken marble cross was another note.
YOU'RE STILL TOO LATE.
