Chapter 11 - THE SECOND KEY
Caldwell held the key above his head.
"Do you know what this opens?"
I didn't answer.
"The final vault."
My mother whispered:
"No."
Caldwell laughed.
"Your husband hid it beautifully."
She shook her head.
"He hid something else."
Caldwell looked at her.
"What?"
"The key doesn't open the vault."
His smile disappeared.
I looked at Noah.
He seemed confused.
Caldwell stepped toward him.
"Where did you get this?"
Noah didn't answer.
Caldwell grabbed his arm.
I reacted instantly.
"Let him go."
Caldwell tightened his grip.
"Tell me where your grandfather hid the real key."
Noah looked terrified.
Then Lily shouted:
"Leave my brother alone!"
She ran toward Caldwell.
Vanessa caught her before she reached him.
I moved forward.
"Release him."
Caldwell smiled.
"Your son knows something."
I looked at Noah.
"Buddy, don't tell him anything."
Noah nodded.
Caldwell suddenly released him.
The moment Noah ran back to me, I realized something.
Caldwell hadn't needed Noah to tell him.
He already knew.
He was testing us.
I looked at the key in his hand.
It had the same symbol as Lily's key.
But there was a difference.
The engraving was reversed.
I suddenly remembered the compass.
The needle had pointed toward the wall.
Not north.
Toward something hidden.
"The keys aren't separate," I whispered.
My mother looked at me.
"What?"
"They're meant to be used together."
Caldwell's expression changed.
I knew I was right.
I grabbed Lily's silver key.
Caldwell stared at it.
"You have the first one."
"And you have the second."
My mother whispered:
"Daniel, don't."
But I stepped toward Caldwell.
"Give it to me."
He laughed.
"You think this is a negotiation?"
"No."
I looked at Adrian.
He understood immediately.
Adrian moved left.
Vanessa moved right.
Caldwell looked around.
For the first time, he realized he was surrounded.
He threw the key toward Mrs. Harper.
She caught it.
Then she ran.
I chased her.
Down the chapel steps.
Across the courtyard.
Toward the mansion.
She disappeared through the east-wing door.
I followed.
The door slammed shut behind her.
I pushed it open.
The room was empty.
Except for one thing.
A trapdoor in the floor.
And from underneath came Mrs. Harper's voice.
"Daniel."
I stopped.
May you like
She whispered:
"If you open this, you'll finally learn why your father was afraid of your mother."
