Chapter 5 - The Clock Tower
Sebastian stood in the rain, staring up at the son he had mourned for seven years.
Michael’s face was thin.
His hair had grown long around his shoulders. A scar crossed one side of his forehead. Even from the ground, Sebastian could see that his son was struggling to remain upright in the wheelchair.
But he was alive.
“Father,” Michael shouted weakly.
The word nearly broke Sebastian.
Elena stepped out from behind the wall.
Michael’s gaze found her.
For one impossible moment, the storm seemed to disappear.
“Elena?”
She began running toward the tower.
Security caught her before she reached the open ground.
“Michael!” she screamed.
His hands gripped the sides of the wheelchair.
Vivian appeared behind him.
She no longer looked like the polished woman who had ruled the wedding ballroom.
Her hair was wet and wild. The sleeve of her designer dress had torn. She held a pistol in one hand and a phone in the other.
“You should have stayed hidden,” she shouted at Elena.
“You should have let him come home!”
“Home?” Vivian laughed. “Michael was going to destroy everything.”
“You stole from the company.”
“I saved it!”
“You cut his brakes.”
“I told Keller to frighten him. I never told him to make the car crash.”
Sebastian’s eyes narrowed.
“You admit Keller tampered with the car?”
Vivian realized too late that police body cameras were recording every word.
She dragged Michael’s wheelchair away from the window.
“Bring Noah inside.”
Elena wrapped both arms around her son.
“Never.”
“Then Michael dies.”
Noah looked at the tower.
He was terrified.
But beneath his fear, something else appeared.
Determination.
He whispered to his mother, “Dad said to find the lion.”
“You are not going inside.”
“Maybe he meant something else.”
Noah looked toward the stone crest above the front entrance.
A carved lion stood with one paw resting on a shield.
Its mouth was open.
Inside was a dark metal circle.
Julian saw it too.
“The old servant passage.”
Sebastian turned.
“What?”
“Michael and I used it when we played as children. The switch is inside the lion’s mouth.”
Claire looked at the police commander.
“Can your officers enter through it?”
“If the passage is still open.”
Julian moved toward the building.
Sebastian stopped him.
“Vivian will expect you.”
“She expects me to obey her.”
Julian’s face hardened.
“For the first time in my life, that may be useful.”
The plan formed quickly.
Elena would approach the front door with Noah but remain behind a protective shield held by officers. The movement would distract Vivian.
Julian, Claire, and two tactical officers would enter through the servant passage.
Sebastian objected to Claire joining them.
She refused to stay behind.
“I know the building’s wedding renovation plans,” she said. “Your family gave them to me when we discussed using the estate for future events. The old staircase was sealed, but the service lift still connects to the tower.”
Julian looked at her.
“You remembered the plans?”
“I pay attention when people speak.”
The words carried more meaning than the plans alone.
They moved into position.
Elena stepped into the open with Noah beside her.
A line of officers protected them with shields.
Vivian returned to the window.
“Closer!”
“No,” Elena shouted. “Let Michael come down first.”
“You are in no position to negotiate.”
Inside the hidden passage, Julian pressed the switch behind the lion crest.
Stone scraped against stone.
A narrow door opened.
Claire entered behind the officers.
The passage smelled of dust and damp earth. They moved through darkness until they reached the sealed staircase.
Above them, Vivian’s voice echoed through the walls.
“You think giving birth to Michael’s child makes you an Ashford?” she shouted at Elena. “You cleaned floors today. Tomorrow, you will still be nothing.”
Elena lifted her chin.
“I was never ashamed of honest work.”
Noah stepped closer to the shield.
“My mother is not nothing.”
Vivian aimed the pistol toward him.
Michael suddenly threw his body sideways.
The wheelchair crashed into Vivian.
The gun fired.
The bullet struck the stone window frame.
Police opened fire at the ceiling to force Vivian back.
Inside the tower, Julian heard the shot and ran ahead of the officers.
He reached the top landing just as Vivian raised the gun toward Michael.
“Mother!”
She turned.
Julian stood in the doorway.
Claire and the officers were behind him.
Vivian’s face twisted.
“You brought them here?”
“Put the gun down.”
“I did all of this for you.”
“You kept my brother imprisoned.”
“He was going to leave you with nothing!”
“He was going to expose you.”
Vivian pointed the weapon toward Julian.
“You were always weak.”
Claire moved subtly toward Michael.
Vivian noticed.
“Stop!”
Claire froze.
Julian stepped closer.
“Look at me, Mother.”
“Do not come any nearer.”
“You wanted me to inherit the company?”
“Yes.”
“You wanted me to become powerful?”
“Yes!”
“Then listen carefully.”
Julian slowly removed the Ashford signet ring from his finger.
“I would rather lose every dollar than become you.”
He dropped the ring.
It struck the stone floor.
Vivian stared at it.
For one second, her attention shifted.
Claire pulled Michael’s wheelchair backward.
An officer rushed forward.
Vivian fired.
Julian fell.
Claire screamed.
The officers tackled Vivian.
The gun slid across the floor.
Down below, Elena heard Julian’s name shouted through the radio.
She ran into the tower with Noah before anyone could stop them.
When they reached the top, Julian lay against the wall with blood spreading across his white wedding shirt.
Claire knelt beside him, pressing both hands over the wound.
Michael sat nearby, barely conscious.
Vivian was handcuffed on the floor.
Elena rushed toward her husband.
Michael lifted his eyes.
She touched his face.
“It’s me.”
His lips trembled.
“You survived.”
“So did you.”
Noah remained near the doorway.
Michael saw him.
The room fell silent.
Elena held out her hand.
“Noah, come meet your father.”
The boy moved forward slowly.
Michael reached toward him.
Noah took his hand.
Neither of them spoke for several seconds.
Then Michael smiled weakly.
“You have your mother’s courage.”
Noah shook his head.
“She says I have your eyes.”
Michael began to cry.
Before he could answer, Claire screamed for help.
Julian’s eyes were closing.
The paramedic pressed two fingers against his neck.
May you like
His expression changed.
“We’re losing him.”
