Chapter 8 - The Vault of Truth
The vault,
was massive,
a labyrinth,
of shelves,
and cabinets,
packed with,
documents,
contracts,
and artifacts,
from Arthur's,
long career.
Ethan moved,
quickly,
his flashlight,
scanning the,
rows,
of boxes.
He felt,
the weight,
of the,
past,
pressing down,
on him.
He pulled,
open a,
drawer,
finding stacks,
of shipping,
manifests,
and financial,
records.
He kept,
searching,
his hands,
moving,
with purpose.
He needed,
something,
that stood,
out,
something,
that was,
hidden.
He saw,
a small,
safe,
embedded,
in the,
wall,
behind a,
stack,
of old,
ledgers.
He approached,
it,
his heart,
pounding.
This was,
it.
He examined,
the safe,
the dial,
smooth and,
cold.
He remembered,
the ship,
the 'Sea Mist'.
He tried,
the date,
of its,
launch.
The numbers,
clicked into,
place,
but the,
safe,
did not,
open.
He tried,
his father's,
birthday,
then his,
own.
Nothing.
He sighed,
leaning his,
head,
against the,
cold,
metal.
He closed,
his eyes,
trying to,
think,
like his,
father.
What would,
Arthur Sterling,
value,
above all,
else?
It was,
not money.
It was,
not power.
It was,
integrity.
It was,
the truth.
He looked,
at the,
safe,
again.
He noticed,
a small,
inscription,
on the,
bottom,
barely visible,
in the,
dim light.
'Honor the,
foundation.'
Foundation.
He thought,
of the,
first office,
on the,
pier.
The numbers,
on the,
floor.
He took,
those numbers,
the coordinates,
and he,
typed them,
into the,
combination.
The safe,
let out,
a sharp,
click.
Ethan pulled,
the handle,
and the,
door,
swung open.
Inside,
there was,
no key.
There was,
a single,
envelope,
and a,
small,
USB drive.
He opened,
the envelope.
It was,
a letter,
written in,
his father's,
handwriting.
'Ethan,
if you,
are reading,
this,
you have,
passed the,
first test.
The key,
is not,
an object.
The key,
is the,
truth.'
Ethan stared,
at the,
letter,
his hands,
trembling.
The truth.
He picked,
up the,
USB drive.
He knew,
what was,
on it.
Evidence.
Evidence,
of Victoria's,
crimes.
Evidence,
of the,
fraud,
and the,
deception.
He heard,
a sudden,
noise,
from the,
entrance,
of the,
vault.
He spun,
around,
shoving the,
drive,
and the,
letter,
into his,
pocket.
He saw,
a shadow,
moving,
toward him.
Julian.
Julian stepped,
into the,
light,
a gun,
in his,
hand.
He smiled,
a cold,
predatory,
smile.
Well,
well,
well,
little brother.
You were,
always,
so predictable.
Ethan stood,
his fists,
clenched.
It is over,
Julian.
I have,
the truth.
Julian laughed,
a harsh,
unpleasant sound.
The truth,
does not,
matter,
Ethan.
Power,
matters.
And you,
are about,
May you like
to lose,
everything.
