Chapter 13 - Room 714The Mayfair Hotel smelled like rain, old carpet, and expensive lies.

Noah entered through the side lobby with his phone recording inside his hoodie pocket. Detective Sloane had told him not to go. His mother would have begged him not to go.

So he left a message for both of them.

Then he walked in anyway.

A young clerk looked up, nervous. “Can I help you?”

Noah showed the photo of the locket. “I’m here for Daniel.”

The clerk’s face emptied.

That was answer enough.

“Room 714,” the clerk whispered. “He said you’d come.”

The elevator groaned upward.

Noah’s heart pounded so hard he wondered if the microphone would pick it up.

Room 714’s door stood slightly open.

Inside, Daniel sat beside the window with Claire’s locket on the table between them.

“You came,” Daniel said.

Noah stayed near the door. “You texted.”

“I assumed love would make you stupid.”

“It made me persistent.”

Daniel smiled. A bruise darkened his cheek from the cabin fight. His left hand was bandaged.

Noah glanced around. No visible weapon. No guards.

That made him more afraid.

“What do you want?” Noah asked.

Daniel tapped the locket. “The password.”

“I don’t have it.”

“Claire gave you everything.”

“She gave me trust. You wouldn’t understand.”

Daniel’s face hardened.

“You think this is noble? Your mother sat on evidence that could destroy dozens of important people. Judges. donors. hospital board members. politicians. She built her pretty little foundation on dirty money and then got sentimental when she saw how dirty.”

Noah felt the room tilt.

“What are you talking about?”

Daniel leaned back. “Ask her who funded the first national expansion. Ask her whose money paid for those reading rooms.”

“You’re lying.”

“Sometimes. Not now.”

Noah’s phone buzzed once.

He didn’t look down.

That was the signal.

Sloane had arrived.

Daniel noticed his eyes move.

His smile vanished.

“You recorded me.”

Noah said nothing.

Daniel rose slowly. “You really are Claire’s son.”

A gun appeared from beneath the folded hotel newspaper.

Noah stopped breathing.

Daniel aimed at his chest.

Then the closet door opened.

Elise stepped out holding a small black pistol of her own.

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“Hello, Daniel,” she said.

For the first time since the casket cracked, Daniel looked truly surprised.