Chapter 10 - A BETRAYAL INSIDE THE VOSS FAMILY
Julian didn't believe her at first.
They were sitting inside Priya's kitchen when Cora told him.
Adrian had been located.
The investigators were verifying his identity.
He was alive.
Julian stared at her.
Then shook his head.
"No."
Cora reached for his hand.
"Julian."
"No."
His voice broke.
"Don't say that unless you're sure."
She swallowed.
"I'm telling you what Detective Keene told me."
Julian stood.
Walked to the window.
Then gripped the counter.
For several seconds, he couldn't speak.
Finally, he whispered, "Eleven years."
Cora moved closer.
He turned toward her.
His expression was devastated.
"I buried him in my head eleven years ago."
Her heart tightened.
"You may not have to anymore."
He covered his face.
And Julian Voss, the man called the Undertaker, began crying in Priya's tiny kitchen.
The confirmation arrived the next morning.
Adrian Voss was alive.
He was thirty-two.
He had been kept at Grayhaven under an assumed identity and was receiving independent medical evaluation.
Investigators were examining the circumstances of his confinement.
Julian was permitted to visit after appropriate arrangements were made.
Cora accompanied him at Adrian's request.
The meeting took place in a quiet room at a hospital outside Albany.
Adrian sat beside the window.
His dark hair had grown long.
There were lines near his eyes.
But when Julian entered, he smiled.
"You're late."
Julian stopped breathing.
That had always been Adrian's joke.
When Julian arrived late to family dinners.
When he forgot birthdays.
When he promised to pick Adrian up from school and got stuck at work.
You're late.
Julian crossed the room.
He dropped to his knees beside his brother.
Adrian wrapped his arms around him.
And for several minutes, neither spoke.
Later, Adrian explained what happened.
He had discovered that Victor Voss and Felix Mercer were using the family's shipping network to conceal criminal transactions.
Some involved falsified art sales.
Others involved stolen goods moved through legitimate cargo contracts.
Adrian collected evidence and planned to report the activity.
Elena Whitaker helped preserve copies.
When Victor learned of the investigation, Adrian was abducted.
Initially, Victor intended to force him to sign documents relinquishing certain family interests.
When Adrian refused, he was moved to Grayhaven.
False medical assessments were used to justify keeping him there.
Over the years, he attempted to escape.
He also tried sending messages through staff.
Some never reached anyone.
Others were intercepted.
Elena continued trying to help him until her death.
Julian listened in silence.
Then asked the question that had haunted him for more than a decade.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Adrian looked at him.
"I tried."
Julian went still.
"What?"
"I called you the night before they took me."
Julian closed his eyes.
He remembered.
The argument.
The accusation.
The way he'd told Adrian to stop embarrassing the family.
Adrian continued quietly.
"You said I was being reckless."
Julian's face crumpled.
"I was wrong."
Adrian smiled sadly.
"Yeah."
For a moment, the brothers looked at each other.
Then Adrian added, "But you're here now."
Julian began crying again.
The investigation soon turned toward Victor.
Financial records linked him to payments made for Grayhaven's operations.
Felix's communications contained references to the auction, Elena's painting, and Arthur Whitaker.
Several witnesses described Victor directing efforts to conceal Adrian's whereabouts.
The evidence was serious.
But Julian's reaction surprised everyone.
He didn't send men to find Victor.
He didn't issue threats.
He didn't arrange a private confrontation.
Instead, he gave investigators the remaining financial documents under his control.
When Tomas asked whether Julian wanted the matter handled "the old way," Julian looked at him.
"No."
Tomas frowned.
"Boss?"
Julian turned toward the hospital room where Adrian was recovering.
"My brother spent eleven years paying for the way this family handles problems."
May you like
His voice was quiet.
"I'm not adding another year."
