Chapter 10 - FIRE BELOW THE STAGE
At two in the morning, they returned to the theater with detectives and the fire marshal.
"Sublevel B isn't on our current access map," the marshal said.
Julian pointed toward an old freight elevator. "My grandfather used it when this building stored touring sets."
The elevator was dead, so they took a narrow concrete stairwell.
At the bottom, a rusted door had been forced open.
Inside, rows of shelving hid behind old scenery.
Marta swept her flashlight across the nearest shelf.
"There."
Brown archive boxes.
Each marked BPH LEGACY.
Cesare opened one.
Original transfer sheets. Bank confirmations. Vendor forms. Photocopies of his retired blue authorization stamp.
Julian whispered, "My God."
A sound came from the darkness.
Metal scraping concrete.
"Police!" a detective shouted. "Show yourself."
A shadow moved.
Then a steel scenery cart came flying down the aisle.
Everyone jumped aside.
Ethan burst from behind the shelves and ran.
One detective chased him. Cesare followed before anyone could stop him.
Ethan kicked open a backstage door and sprinted onto the dark main stage.
"It's over!" Cesare shouted.
Ethan turned near the orchestra pit.
"You don't understand what she promised me."
"Six million wasn't enough?"
"Six million was the setup. Saturday was the real money."
"Where's Vanessa?"
Ethan smiled through a bruised, swollen cheek.
"Ask your son. He always tells her everything."
Julian appeared at the edge of the stage.
"I told her nothing tonight."
Ethan laughed.
Then he pulled a lighter from his pocket.
Cesare saw the gasoline trail too late.
May you like
Ethan flicked the flame toward the floor.
And the entire stage edge erupted.
