Chapter 13 - Breaking The Brick
The basement was pitch black when Julian reached the bottom of the concrete steps. He clicked on his heavy-duty flashlight, the bright beam cutting through the damp air as he made his way toward the back corner where the rusted iron door of the cold storage room stood slightly ajar.
He slipped inside the small, refrigerated alcove, his breath forming small clouds in the chilled air. The walls were lined with wooden shelving units once used for storing winter vegetables, now completely bare and coated in a fine layer of gray dust.
Julian knelt down beside the northern foundation wall, shining his light along the lower row of cinder blocks. David had mentioned a loose brick near the base. Julian ran his calloused fingertips along the mortar lines, pressing firmly against each block.
Click.
The fourth brick in the bottom row gave way, shifting inward with a hollow sound. Julian dug his fingers into the narrow gap, pulling away a crumbling chunk of old mortar until the entire rectangular block slid free from the wall.
He reached his hand into the dark cavity behind it, his fingers brushing against something cool and rectangular wrapped in oilcloth. Carefully, he pulled the package out into the light and unwrapped the thick cloth.
Inside lay two documents: the original, unaltered birth certificate bearing David Vance and Sarah Miller as parents, and the true, unencumbered land deed assigning sole ownership of the estate to the Vance family lineage—with zero provisions for Clara.
"Looking for your inheritance, Julian?"
Julian spun around, dropping to one knee as the bright glare of a high-powered flashlight blinded him. Clara stood in the doorway of the cold storage room, holding a heavy hunting rifle pointed squarely at his chest. Her cream blouse was gone, replaced by a dark utility jacket, her blonde hair pulled back tightly into a utilitarian ponytail.
"Clara," Julian said, rising slowly to his feet while keeping the documents clutched tightly in his left hand. "It's over. The tape is secured, and I have the real deed right here."
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"The tape means nothing if you don't live to play it for a jury," Clara replied coldly, her finger resting lightly against the trigger of the rifle.
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