Chapter 10 - Trapped in the Dark
Detective Miller stood in the open doorway of the vault, his hand resting near his holster as his sharp eyes took in the scene. Behind him, Julian stood with his hands cuffed behind his back, flanked by the junior officer, a cold, mocking smirk playing across his lips.
"Well, well," Julian said smoothly, stepping past the detective into the cramped underground room. "It looks like family bonding time has gotten a bit out of hand."
Elena stood up slowly from the desk, letting the red binder slip from her fingers to clatter against the concrete floor. The grief and shock that had paralyzed her moments before evaporated, replaced by a cold, searing rage that burned deep in her chest.
"You monster," Elena spat, taking a step toward him despite the handcuffs. "You sold my firstborn, and you were planning to do the same to my baby boy tonight."
Julian didn't flinch. He simply tilted his head, looking at his wife with an unsettling mixture of pity and contempt.
"Business, Elena. Nothing personal," Julian replied casually. "Your family’s fortune was tied up in archaic trusts that only paid out if I maintained sole control of the lineage. By clearing out the obstacles—and restructuring the heirs—I secured our future."
Detective Miller stepped forward, his face hardening as he looked at Julian.
"Mr. Vance, you are adding kidnapping, child trafficking, and conspiracy to an already extensive list of federal charges," the detective said, pulling his handcuffs tighter. "You have the right to remain silent."
Julian chuckled softly, a low, grating sound that echoed off the stone walls.
"Silence is a luxury, Detective," Julian muttered, glancing meaningfully toward the ceiling. "Especially when you don't know who owns the judges in this county."
Before Detective Miller could push Julian out of the vault, a sudden, piercing alarm began to wail throughout the entire Vanderbilt estate, plunging the basement into flashing red emergency lights.
Officer Hayes rushed down the stairs, his face pale and panicked.
"Lieutenant! We’ve got a problem!" the young officer shouted over the deafening siren. "The perimeter gates are locked, and the security system has just initiated a full lockdown. We’re sealed inside."
Julian’s smirk widened into a triumphant grin.
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"Like I said, Detective," Julian whispered as the heavy iron vault door began to slide shut automatically on its own hydraulic tracks. "You're locked in here with me."
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