Chapter 7 - The Man Behind the CurtainJulian poured himself whiskey.
He behaved as though the penthouse belonged to him.
"You've been very difficult to eliminate," he said.
I stared at him.
"Did you kill my mother?"
He didn't answer immediately.
That was answer enough.
"Her brakes failed," he finally said.
My chest tightened.
"You murdered her."
"Your mother refused to cooperate."
"You murdered her."
Julian sighed.
"Words like murder are emotional. Business prefers cleaner language."
I wanted to kill him.
Every cell in my body screamed for it.
But I remembered my mother's handwriting.
Trust no one.
Think.
Survive.
Julian raised his glass.
"You have something we need."
"The ledger."
"Exactly."
"And if I refuse?"
He smiled.
"You'll join your mother."
I stared at him.
He believed he had already won.
That was his mistake.
Because he didn't know what I had built into the Solmere security system.
He didn't know I had been listening to him.
He didn't know every word was being transmitted elsewhere.
I took one slow step backward.
"Then I suppose we're at an impasse."
Julian smiled.
"No, Charlotte."
He raised his glass.
"You are at the end."
I looked at the clock.
Ten seconds.
"Five," I whispered.
He frowned.
"What?"
"Four."
His smile disappeared.
May you like
"Three."
Then the penthouse exploded with light.
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