Chapter 10 - THE FIRE IN THE WALLS
Smoke moved through the hotel faster than a normal fire.
It appeared from ventilation grilles, service doors, and gaps beneath the walls.
Adrian had planned the destruction before Charlotte entered the building.
The gala had given him hundreds of wealthy witnesses to use as cover.
Mason ordered the guards to open the emergency exits.
The electronic controls did not respond.
Charlotte remembered the original manual release beneath the reception desk.
“The lobby doors can be opened from the old bell system.”
Mason gathered three guards.
“I will get the guests out.”
Charlotte looked toward the corridor leading underground.
“I am going to the vault.”
Bianca grabbed her arm.
“My father went with Conrad.”
“Then he knows exactly what they intend to destroy.”
Bianca removed the flash drive from her bracelet.
“I watched Adrian take it from your pocket while I was dragging you.”
Charlotte stared at her.
“You knew he was searching me.”
“I thought you had stolen a Laurent necklace.”
“You never asked.”
Bianca looked down at the cuts on Charlotte’s hands.
“No.”
She placed the drive in Charlotte’s palm.
“I never asked.”
An explosion shook the western wing.
The ceiling sprinklers remained dry.
Charlotte began running toward the service stairs.
Bianca followed.
“You cannot come with me.”
“My father is down there.”
“He helped steal my family’s company.”
“I know.”
Bianca lifted the torn hem of her silk gown.
“But he is still my father.”
They reached the freight elevator.
The power failed before the doors opened.
Charlotte pulled aside a brass panel and activated the counterweight release.
The elevator descended with a violent jolt.
Bianca gripped the railing.
“You really own this place?”
“My grandfather built the elevator system.”
The doors opened into the underground tunnel.
Heat rolled toward them.
Flames were spreading through stacks of archived files.
Daniel lay unconscious beside the maintenance hatch.
Nora was trying to drag him away from the smoke.
Charlotte and Bianca helped carry him toward the vault.
The steel door was untouched by the flames.
Conrad stood before it.
Roland and Adrian were beside him.
Adrian held a pistol.
Conrad smiled when Charlotte appeared.
“I knew you would come.”
Charlotte hid the ring inside her fist.
Roland stared at Bianca.
“What are you doing here?”
“Finding out what kind of man my father really is.”
Roland’s face hardened.
“This is not the time for childish judgment.”
Adrian aimed the pistol at Nora.
Conrad held out his hand to Charlotte.
“Open the vault.”
Charlotte stepped closer.
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“And then?”
“Then I decide who survives the fire.”
