“Without the certified bank records, this is just your word against mine.”

“And the word of a housekeeper will not carry much weight in Chicago.”

Nathaniel Vale smiled back, a slow, patient expression.

“We didn’t forget about the vault, Miranda,” the attorney said.

Elias Cross reached into his pocket and pulled out his own phone.

He did not look at the screen as he tapped it once.

“The vault is already open,” Elias said.

The sound of a heavy engine could be heard outside, cutting through the noise of the rain.

Headlights swept across the dark library walls, casting long, shifting shadows of the bookshelves.

A car had just pulled up to the grand entrance of the mansion.

Julian walked over to the window and pushed the heavy velvet curtain aside.

He looked down into the driveway.

“Mother,” Julian said, his voice dropping.

“You should see this.”

Miranda did not move.

She stood frozen behind her desk, her phone still clutched in her hand.

The screen of her phone suddenly lit up with an incoming call.

The caller ID displayed the name of the Sterling Trust security office.