The cab pulled up to Victor's mansion.
Rain was coming down harder now. Adrian sat for a moment. The key still in his palm.
Tony cut the engine. Looked back.
"You good?"
Adrian nodded. Got out.
The front door opened before he knocked. Same guard. Same silence.
Adrian walked inside.
Victor was still in the study.
Stacy sat at a side table. Laptop open. Wires connected to the encrypted device. Her fingers moved fast.
Andrew stood by the window. Watching the rain.
Victor looked up when Adrian walked in.
"You're back."
Adrian set the metal box on Victor's desk. Then the key.
Victor picked up the key. Examined it.
"Where did you get this?"
"Neighbor. She held it for twenty years. My father left it for me."
Victor turned the key over. Frowned.
"It's not for a door."
Stacy looked up. "Let me see."
Victor handed it to her. She held it under a light. Squinted.
"Old. Brass. Probably a safe deposit box." She looked at Adrian. "Banks change locks every few decades. But some still use these."
Adrian's jaw tightened. "Which bank?"
Stacy shrugged. "No markings. But the shape tells me something." She turned the key. "There's a number. Faint. 447."
Andrew stepped closer. "That's it? A number?"
Stacy ignored him. Looked at Adrian. "I can search old bank records. Find out which institution used this style. But it'll take time."
"How long?"
"A few hours. Maybe a day."
Victor spoke. "Then you have a day. Find the bank."
Stacy nodded. Turned back to her laptop.
Adrian looked at Victor. "What else did you know about my father?"
Victor leaned back. "Not much. He worked for people like me. Then he stopped. Disappeared."
"Why?"
Victor was quiet for a moment. Then, "That's what you're here to find out."
Adrian left the study.
Andrew followed him into the hallway.
"You think Victor's telling the truth?" Andrew asked.
"No."
"Then why stay?"
Adrian stopped. Turned.
"Because he's the only one with answers. Even if he's lying, the lies lead somewhere."
Andrew nodded slowly. "So what now?"
"Now we wait." Adrian replied.
Adrian found an empty room upstairs.
Couch. No windows. Quiet.
He sat down. Pulled out the photograph from the metal box. His mother. Pregnant. Standing in front of the brownstone.
He stared at her face.
She looked happy.
He wondered if she knew what his father was. What he did.
Probably not.
People rarely knew the people they loved.
Adrian tucked the photograph away. Closed his eyes.
A knock woke him.
Stacy stood in the doorway. Laptop under her arm.
"Found it."
Adrian sat up. "The bank?"
She nodded. "Old branch in Manhattan. Closed ten years ago. But the safe deposit boxes were moved to a central vault." She held up the key. "This still works. I checked."
Adrian stood. "Let's go."
"Now? It's almost 2 AM."
"Now."
Stacy sighed. "Fine. But I'm bringing my laptop."
Tony was asleep in the cab.
Adrian knocked on the window. Tony jolted awake.
"What now?"
"Manhattan. Central vault."
Tony rubbed his eyes. "You don't sleep, do you?"
"No.
Tony started the engine.
The vault was in the basement of an old bank building.
Closed to the public. But Stacy had done her homework. A security guard worked overnight. Name was Frank. Stacy had his schedule.
They parked around the corner. Adrian got out. Andrew stayed with Stacy in the cab.
Adrian walked to the service entrance. Knocked.
A slot opened. Eyes looked out.
"We're closed."
Adrian held up the key. "Safe deposit box. 447. I have the key."
The eyes studied the key. Then the slot closed.
A minute later,
the door opened.
Frank was older. Gray hair. Tired eyes. He looked at Adrian.
"You're not on the list."
"My father is. Or was. Name's Voss."
Frank frowned. Stepped back. "Wait here."
He disappeared into the back. Adrian stood in the hallway. Cold air. Fluorescent lights.
Frank returned. Holding a small metal box. Same style as the one from the brownstone.
"Sign here."
Adrian signed. His hand steady.
Frank handed him the box. "You have ten minutes."
Adrian took it. Walked to a small private room. Closed the door.
Sat down.
The box was heavier than he expected.
He opened it.
Inside:
A passport. Different name. Different photo. But the face was his father's.
A stack of cash. Old bills. Banded together.
A USB drive. Black. Metal casing.
A letter. Sealed. His name on the front.
Adrian opened the letter.
Adrian,
"If you're reading this, I'm dead. Or close to it.
I wasn't a good man. But I tried to be a good father. That's why I left.
The people I worked for... they don't forgive. They don't forget. And they don't let go.
I hid you. Changed records. Made you disappear. So they couldn't find you.
But if you're reading this, they found you anyway. Or you found them.
The USB drive has everything. Names. Dates. What I did. What they did.
Destroy it. Or use it. But once you know, you can't go back.
I'm sorry.
Dad"
Adrian read it twice.
His hands didn't shake this time.
He folded the letter. Put it back in the box. Closed the lid.
Then he stood up. Walked out.
Frank was at his desk. "All good?"
Adrian nodded. "All good."
He walked to the exit. Stepped outside.
Rain had stopped. The street was wet. Reflecting the city lights.
Tony looked at him. Andrew leaned forward.
"What was in it?"
Adrian held up the USB drive.
"Everything."
He got in the cab.
"Back to Victor's."
Tony hit the gas.
Adrian stared at the drive in his hand.
His father had hidden him. Erased him. To keep him safe.
But safe from what?
He was about to find out…