Beneath a loose board near the fireplace, he found a metal box.
Inside were dozens of bank statements and a small voice recorder.
The statements covered fifteen years.
Millions of dollars had moved from Bellamy Holdings through shell companies.
Some ended in accounts controlled by Robert Blackwood.
My father-in-law.
Rachel stared at the documents.
“How did Robert have access to Dad’s company?”
“He shouldn’t have.”
Deputy Cole sealed the box as evidence.
“You’ll receive copies after investigators review it.”
“What about the recorder?”
He pressed play long enough to identify the contents.
My father’s voice filled the cabin.
“If anything happens to me, Maria Chen and Robert Blackwood are responsible.”
The recording stopped.
I could barely breathe.
My father had died in a car accident five years earlier.
His brakes failed on a mountain road.
Police ruled it an accident.
Deputy Cole looked at me.
“I’m contacting the state bureau.”
My phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
Maria spoke.
“Grace, listen carefully. Claire is lying to you.”
“Where’s David?”
“I don’t know.”
“She said you took him.”
“She has spent fifteen years trying to destroy your family.”
“The records connect Robert to stolen money.”
“They’re fabricated.”
“My father recorded your name.”
Maria went silent.
“You found the box,” she said.
Her voice was no longer frightened.
It was calm.
Almost relieved.
“Yes.”
“Then you finally know why I stayed close to you.”
“To protect me?”
“To protect what your father left behind.”
“Where are you?”
“You need to return home.”
“Why?”
“Because Ethan was released.”
My blood turned cold.
“Lily.”
I called Noah.
He answered immediately.
“Aunt Grace, someone’s outside.”
“Lock every door. Take Lily upstairs.”
“The power just went out.”
A crash sounded through the phone.
Noah shouted.
Then the line died.
Rachel and I ran for the car.
The drive back felt endless.
Ich habe die Polizei, Nachbarn und die Sicherheitsfirma angerufen.
Officer Ramirez erreichte das Haus vor uns.
Die Haustür war aufgebrochen worden.
Noah wurde bewusstlos im Flur gefunden.
Er war von hinten getroffen worden, aber er atmete.
Lily war weg.
An die Wand ihres Schlafzimmers hatte jemand eine Nachricht in roter Farbe geschrieben.
BRING DIE KISTE.
KOMM ALLEIN.
Helens verbranntes Steak lag auf Lilys Bett.
