Season 2 Chapter 10: The Mastermind
Chapter 10: The Safe Deposit Box
Nobody spoke after the video ended.
Emily Carter remained frozen, staring at the blank television screen.
The image of her terrified twin sister refused to leave her mind.
Michael Brooks clenched his fists.
"He found her."
Detective Sarah Mitchell immediately contacted the FBI.
"Trace the signal."
An agent answered seconds later.
"No location."
"The transmission bounced through twelve countries."
Thomas Brooks had prepared everything.
Again.
Judge William Harper struggled to breathe.
His weak voice interrupted the silence.
"The key..."
Emily looked down at the small silver key still resting in her hand.
"The safe deposit box..."
"It's your only chance."
---
Three hours later...
First National Bank.
Downtown Los Angeles.
The vault manager escorted Michael, Emily, Sarah, and Robert Ellis into the underground security vault.
Steel doors closed behind them with a heavy metallic echo.
The manager stopped before Box 417.
"This account hasn't been opened in twenty-five years."
Michael inserted the key.
The lock clicked.
Slowly...
He pulled the box from the wall.
Inside were only four items.
A leather notebook.
A VHS videotape.
A sealed envelope.
And...
A small silver locket.
Emily picked up the locket first.
She carefully opened it.
Inside were two tiny baby photographs.
Twin girls.
On the inside cover George Brooks had engraved one sentence.
"No matter what happens, never let them grow up together."
Emily's eyes filled with tears.
"He knew."
Robert nodded.
"George believed Thomas would kill both girls if he ever discovered they survived."
Sarah picked up the envelope.
Across the front was written:
To Whoever Opens This Box
She carefully unfolded the letter.
George's handwriting filled the page.
If you are reading this... then Thomas has returned.
Everything inside this box is the truth I was too afraid to reveal.
Michael quietly read over her shoulder.
George continued.
Thomas never wanted Daniel Carter's money.
He wanted something hidden inside Daniel's journal.
Michael frowned.
"The journal..."
Robert immediately understood.
"The journal wasn't important."
"It was a map."
Sarah looked up.
"A map to what?"
Robert slowly answered.
"Evidence."
"The original financial records Daniel hid before he died."
Michael opened the leather notebook.
Every page contained strange numbers.
Coordinates.
Dates.
Account numbers.
Nothing made sense.
Until Emily reached the final page.
Taped inside was a faded Polaroid photograph.
It showed Daniel Carter standing beside a large oak tree.
On the back he had written only four words.
"Where they first laughed."
Michael looked confused.
"What does that mean?"
Robert suddenly became pale.
"I know that tree."
Everyone turned toward him.
"It's still standing."
"Where?"
Robert swallowed.
"The original Brooks estate."
"The property George sold after Daniel died."
Sarah immediately called the FBI.
"Send a team."
---
Meanwhile...
Inside an abandoned mountain cabin nearly two hundred miles away...
A young woman sat tied to a wooden chair.
Her wrists were bruised.
Her face showed exhaustion.
Thomas Brooks calmly entered carrying a tray of food.
He smiled warmly.
"You should eat."
The woman looked away.
"I'll never help you."
Thomas sighed.
"You still don't understand."
"I don't need your help."
"I only need your sister."
He gently placed the tray on the table.
"Emily has always been the clever one."
"You..."
"...are simply the bait."
The young woman's eyes filled with fear.
"My sister doesn't even know me."
Thomas smiled.
"Exactly."
"That makes this much easier."
He walked toward an old television.
The news had just begun reporting Samuel Reed's murder.
Thomas quietly laughed.
"They're finally asking the right questions."
Suddenly...
A cell phone vibrated inside his pocket.
He answered.
The caller spoke only one sentence.
Thomas' smile instantly disappeared.
"What?"
His face slowly hardened.
"They opened the safe deposit box."
Silence.
Then Thomas quietly whispered,
"So George really left them the map."
He slowly turned toward the frightened young woman.
"I was hoping it wouldn't come to this."
He removed a pistol from his coat.
Then calmly walked toward the cabin door.
Before leaving, he looked back at her.
"If they find the evidence before I do..."
"...everyone dies."
The cabin door slammed shut.
Outside...
An unseen figure watched Thomas drive away from the trees.
The mysterious observer quietly raised a camera with a telephoto lens.
Pressed the shutter.
Then whispered into a radio.
"We've located Thomas Brooks."
May you like
"But he isn't alone."
END OF CHAPTER 10
