The Blackout
Chapter 06 - The Blackout
Guests screamed as emergency lights flickered along the walls. Security guards moved toward the exits, directing everyone to remain calm. Daniel kept one hand on Julian’s shoulder while speaking into his radio.
Then the power failed completely.
For four seconds, the corridor vanished into darkness.
Julian twisted free.
When the lights returned, he was gone.
So was Celeste.
Arthur ordered the estate sealed. Daniel divided his team between the service corridors and the basement utility room. The alarm panel showed that the fire signal had been triggered manually near the east staircase.
Evelyn held Lily close. “We should leave.”
Arthur nodded. “Daniel will take you out through the main entrance.”
Before they reached it, Lily tugged her mother’s hand. “Mommy, I saw Mr. Julian.”
“Where?”
“He went behind the curtain near the music room. Grandma-looking lady went the other way.”
Arthur almost smiled at the child’s description of Celeste, but the moment was too dangerous.
Daniel checked the music room. Behind the velvet curtain was a narrow door leading to the old winter garden, a glass-roofed conservatory that connected to the private garage.
Julian was trying to escape.
Evelyn gave Lily to Claire. “Stay with her.”
“No,” Arthur said. “You have already endured enough.”
“My husband died because of this. I’m not leaving before I know why.”
Arthur saw the determination in her face and did not argue.
They entered the conservatory with Daniel ahead of them. Moonlight silvered the glass ceiling. Broken flowerpots marked Julian’s path across the tiled floor.
Near the garage door they found Celeste.
She was kneeling beside a leather case, stuffing bundles of cash and passports into it.
Arthur stared at her. “How long have you been planning to run?”
Celeste rose slowly. “I was protecting our son.”
“You were protecting yourself.”
From the shadows behind them came Julian’s voice.
“Both of you move away from the door.”
He held the Aurora Necklace in one hand and a metal fireplace tool in the other. He was not pointing it at anyone, but his grip made the threat clear.
The star-shaped clasp glittered beneath the moonlight.
Evelyn looked at the necklace and thought of Thomas’s final letter.
“Julian,” she said, “that necklace contains proof.”
May you like
He smiled without humor.
“Not for much longer.”
