Daniel reacted before anyone else.<\/p>\n
\u201cPhones down.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lucas stared at him. \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPut them on the table. Now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nobody argued.<\/p>\n
Five phones landed beside the photograph.<\/p>\n
Daniel crossed to the windows and closed every curtain.<\/p>\n
Marisol moved toward the back of the house.<\/p>\n
\u201cKitchen too?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Robert followed her. \u201cStay away from the glass.\u201d<\/p>\n
She turned sharply. \u201cYou do not get to give safety advice today.\u201d<\/p>\n
He stopped.<\/p>\n
Daniel took a slow breath. \u201cEveryone needs to stop attacking Dad for thirty seconds.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lucas blinked. \u201cYou feeling okay?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo. But if someone can see inside this house, yelling isn't useful.\u201d<\/p>\n
He pointed toward my phone.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe message could mean surveillance, a camera, someone watching from outside, or somebody with access to one of our devices.\u201d<\/p>\n
Robert looked at him. \u201cVictor has people who can do that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel's expression hardened. \u201cBased on actual knowledge, or are you trying to scare us?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cActual knowledge.\u201d<\/p>\n
That silenced everyone.<\/p>\n
I looked toward the curtained window. \u201cThe SUV.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCould be them,\u201d Daniel said. \u201cCould be coincidence. We don't know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt isn't coincidence,\u201d Robert said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow can you tell?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe driver.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou recognized him?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cName's Colin Mercer.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel repeated it. \u201cMercer.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe collects.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lucas gave him a flat look. \u201cMoney?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSometimes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd other times?\u201d<\/p>\n
Robert didn't answer.<\/p>\n
I didn't need him to.<\/p>\n
Daniel walked toward the door.<\/p>\n
Robert grabbed his arm.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon't.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel looked at the hand.<\/p>\n
Robert released him.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey want you afraid. Going outside gives them what they want.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel stepped back.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou're probably right.\u201d<\/p>\n
That seemed to surprise Robert.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt doesn't mean I trust you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cStop saying that.\u201d<\/p>\n
For the first time all morning, Robert almost smiled.<\/p>\n
It disappeared when another message arrived.<\/p>\n
Not on my phone.<\/p>\n
On Marisol's.<\/p>\n
She looked down.<\/p>\n
Her face changed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
She turned the screen toward us.<\/p>\n
A photograph filled it.<\/p>\n
The image showed our living room through the front window.<\/p>\n
It had been taken minutes earlier.<\/p>\n
Robert standing near the coffee table.<\/p>\n
Me holding the blue folder.<\/p>\n
Daniel beside the staircase.<\/p>\n
Underneath were four words.<\/p>\n
FORTY-SEVEN HOURS, FIFTY-ONE MINUTES.<\/p>\n
Lucas whispered something profane.<\/p>\n
Daniel took the phone.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey're using intimidation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marisol hugged herself. \u201cIt's working.\u201d<\/p>\n
I crossed to her.<\/p>\n
She leaned against me for half a second, then straightened.<\/p>\n
I knew that habit.<\/p>\n
She had learned it from me.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe should call the police,\u201d Lucas said.<\/p>\n
Robert immediately shook his head.<\/p>\n
Daniel noticed. \u201cWhy not?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause Mercer isn't carrying anything illegal by sitting in a car.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe just sent us a photo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCan you prove it was him?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd while police are asking questions, Victor learns we're escalating.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel stared at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou're still protecting Victor.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt sounds like it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Robert's face tightened. \u201cI'm trying to keep you alive.\u201d<\/p>\n
The room went still.<\/p>\n
Lucas lowered his voice. \u201cIs murder actually on the table?\u201d<\/p>\n
Robert looked at me instead of answering.<\/p>\n
That was worse than yes.<\/p>\n
I picked up the blue folder.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe're leaving.\u201d<\/p>\n
Robert straightened. \u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSomewhere they aren't watching.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey'll follow.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen we'll see who follows.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel nodded. \u201cMom's right.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAbsolutely not,\u201d Robert said.<\/p>\n
I looked at him. \u201cYou lost veto power years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to think.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI have.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are you planning?\u201d<\/p>\n
I closed the folder.<\/p>\n
\u201cI'm going to find out what my father knew.\u201d<\/p>\n
Robert stared at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMy father's storage unit.\u201d<\/p>\n
His expression gave him away.<\/p>\n
Again.<\/p>\n
Daniel saw it too.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know about it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Robert looked toward the floor.<\/p>\n
I felt anger rise. \u201cOf course you do.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cElena.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat was in there?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don't know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou lie badly when you're tired.\u201d<\/p>\n
He rubbed both hands down his face.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour father rented a storage locker near the old industrial park.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n
That surprised Robert.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou do?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes. I paid the renewal once after he died.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat happened after?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMom told me she'd closed it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Robert became very still.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe didn't.\u201d<\/p>\n
My stomach tightened.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow do you know?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause I went there after she died.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel stepped closer. \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYour grandmother asked me to.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTwo days before she died.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd what did you find?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAlmost nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAlmost?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA desk. Filing cabinets. Some boxes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo ledger?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTrust documents?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at him. \u201cWhat did Mom ask you to retrieve?\u201d<\/p>\n
Robert didn't answer.<\/p>\n
\u201cRobert.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA key.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat key?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don't know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou expect me to believe that?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe gave me an envelope with the storage number and told me there would be a key taped under the bottom drawer of the desk.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you find it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere is it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI gave it back.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTo my mother?\u201d<\/p>\n
He hesitated.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
My entire body went cold.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo Victor.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marisol stared at him.<\/p>\n
Lucas stood.<\/p>\n
Daniel's face emptied of expression.<\/p>\n
I whispered, \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
Robert looked miserable.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause he was with me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou brought Victor to my father's storage unit?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn't bring him. He followed me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you handed him the key?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe said your mother had sent him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe sent you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know that now.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou knew it then.\u201d<\/p>\n
Robert's voice rose. \u201cI was scared!\u201d<\/p>\n
The shout echoed through the living room.<\/p>\n
Buddy barked.<\/p>\n
Robert lowered his voice immediately.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had already discovered things I shouldn't have. Victor knew I knew. Your mother was sick. Your father was dead. I thought cooperating would keep everybody safe.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stared at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow did that work out?\u201d<\/p>\n
He couldn't answer.<\/p>\n
We left through the garage ten minutes later.<\/p>\n
Daniel drove my SUV. Lucas rode with him. Marisol sat beside me in the second row, while Robert occupied the back seat like an unwanted passenger nobody trusted enough to leave behind.<\/p>\n
The gray SUV moved three cars after us.<\/p>\n
Daniel checked the mirror.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey're following.\u201d<\/p>\n
Robert leaned forward. \u201cDon't go to the storage facility.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI wasn't planning to.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel turned left.<\/p>\n
Then right.<\/p>\n
Then joined the highway.<\/p>\n
Lucas watched behind us.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey're still there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marisol reached for my hand.<\/p>\n
I let her take it.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere are we going?\u201d Robert asked.<\/p>\n
Daniel answered.<\/p>\n
\u201cPolice station.\u201d<\/p>\n
Robert stiffened.<\/p>\n
\u201cDaniel\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe aren't stopping.\u201d<\/p>\n
He drove past the station.<\/p>\n
The gray SUV slowed.<\/p>\n
For one hopeful second I thought it might turn away.<\/p>\n
Instead it continued.<\/p>\n
Lucas smiled without humor. \u201cGuess they're committed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel took another exit.<\/p>\n
Then another.<\/p>\n
After twenty minutes, the SUV remained behind us.<\/p>\n
I looked at Robert.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow powerful is Victor?\u201d<\/p>\n
He stared out the window.<\/p>\n
\u201cEnough.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat means nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe knows judges. Lawyers. bankers. Developers.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPolice?\u201d<\/p>\n
Robert didn't answer.<\/p>\n
Daniel looked at him through the mirror.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was not comforting.\u201d<\/p>\n
Eventually we pulled into the parking structure of a large shopping complex.<\/p>\n
Daniel drove down two levels, circled, then exited through another ramp.<\/p>\n
The gray SUV missed the turn.<\/p>\n
Lucas twisted around.<\/p>\n
\u201cGone.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFor now,\u201d Robert said.<\/p>\n
Daniel headed toward the industrial district.<\/p>\n
The storage facility looked older than I remembered.<\/p>\n
Faded orange doors stretched in parallel rows beneath a cloudless sky.<\/p>\n
The manager glanced at my identification.<\/p>\n
Then his computer.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnit 214?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
He frowned.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis unit isn't in your mother's name.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhose is it?\u201d<\/p>\n
He turned the monitor slightly.<\/p>\n
ELENA CARTER.<\/p>\n
I stared.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat can't be right.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was transferred six years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBy whom?\u201d<\/p>\n
He clicked.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour father.\u201d<\/p>\n
Robert whispered, \u201cSix years.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nine months before Dad died.<\/p>\n
The same period as the photograph.<\/p>\n
The manager printed a form.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere haven't been many visits.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel took it.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow many?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThree in the last six years.\u201d<\/p>\n
The first was Robert.<\/p>\n
The date matched his story.<\/p>\n
The second was eighteen months later.<\/p>\n
The visitor signature read V. HALE.<\/p>\n
My skin prickled.<\/p>\n
The third visit was recent.<\/p>\n
Three weeks ago.<\/p>\n
I looked at the name.<\/p>\n
Nobody spoke.<\/p>\n
ROBERT CARTER.<\/p>\n
I turned toward him.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou said you hadn't been here since my mother died.\u201d<\/p>\n
His face drained.<\/p>\n
\u201cI haven't.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel held up the paper.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour signature says otherwise.\u201d<\/p>\n
Robert stared.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat isn't mine.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lucas laughed bitterly. \u201cConvenient.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt isn't.\u201d<\/p>\n
I studied it.<\/p>\n
Fifteen years of birthday cards, checks and school forms had taught me Robert's signature.<\/p>\n
This one was close.<\/p>\n
But wrong.<\/p>\n
The R was too narrow.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe's telling the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel compared the form with the signature on Robert's driver's license.<\/p>\n
\u201cMom's right.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marisol whispered, \u201cSomeone forged Dad's signature too.\u201d<\/p>\n
Robert looked at me.<\/p>\n
For the first time that day, we shared the same realization.<\/p>\n
Whatever had been done to me had also been done to him.<\/p>\n
The unit door opened with a groan.<\/p>\n
Inside sat the same desk Robert had described.<\/p>\n
Two empty filing cabinets.<\/p>\n
Three cardboard boxes.<\/p>\n
Dust everywhere.<\/p>\n
Daniel checked the floor.<\/p>\n
\u201cSomeone's been here recently.\u201d<\/p>\n
A clean path ran from the door to the desk.<\/p>\n
Lucas opened the first box.<\/p>\n
Old receipts.<\/p>\n
The second contained photographs.<\/p>\n
The third held tax files.<\/p>\n
I went to the desk.<\/p>\n
The bottom drawer stuck halfway.<\/p>\n
Robert moved beside me.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis one.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou said the key was taped underneath.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was.\u201d<\/p>\n
I pulled the drawer completely free.<\/p>\n
Nothing beneath it.<\/p>\n
Daniel crouched.<\/p>\n
\u201cWait.\u201d<\/p>\n
He ran his fingers along the wooden frame.<\/p>\n
A small groove had been cut into the underside.<\/p>\n
He pressed.<\/p>\n
Something clicked.<\/p>\n
A false panel dropped open.<\/p>\n
Inside was an envelope.<\/p>\n
My father's handwriting covered the front.<\/p>\n
FOR ELENA ONLY.<\/p>\n
Robert backed away.<\/p>\n
I opened it.<\/p>\n
Inside was a key.<\/p>\n
Small.<\/p>\n
Brass.<\/p>\n
Attached to a metal tag engraved with three numbers.<\/p>\n
317.<\/p>\n
Lucas frowned. \u201cSafe deposit box?\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel shook his head. \u201cCould be.\u201d<\/p>\n
A folded note remained inside.<\/p>\n
I opened it.<\/p>\n
My father's handwriting was hurried.<\/p>\n
ELENA\u2014<\/p>\n
IF YOU FOUND THIS, SOMEONE HAS ALREADY LIED TO YOU ABOUT THE HOUSE.<\/p>\n
DO NOT GIVE THIS KEY TO ROBERT.<\/p>\n
DO NOT GIVE IT TO VICTOR.<\/p>\n
TRUST THE PERSON WHO BRINGS YOU THE RED BOOK.<\/p>\n
I read it twice.<\/p>\n
Marisol looked over my shoulder.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat red book?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don't know.\u201d<\/p>\n
Robert stared at the note.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe knew.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cKnew what?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat Victor would use me.\u201d<\/p>\n
A noise came from outside.<\/p>\n
A car door.<\/p>\n
Then another.<\/p>\n
Daniel stood.<\/p>\n
Lucas moved to the entrance.<\/p>\n
The gray SUV rolled slowly into our row.<\/p>\n
It stopped thirty feet away.<\/p>\n
Two men got out.<\/p>\n
One was the driver Robert had identified.<\/p>\n
Colin Mercer.<\/p>\n
The other carried something under his jacket.<\/p>\n
Robert whispered, \u201cBack door.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel looked around.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere isn't one.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mercer walked toward us.<\/p>\n
He smiled pleasantly.<\/p>\n
\u201cMrs. Carter?\u201d<\/p>\n
Nobody answered.<\/p>\n
He stopped ten feet away.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou found the key.\u201d<\/p>\n
I closed my fist around it.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow do you know?\u201d<\/p>\n
His smile widened.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause your father was much smarter than Robert.\u201d<\/p>\n
Robert stepped in front of me.<\/p>\n
Mercer looked amused.<\/p>\n
\u201cStill pretending to be useful?\u201d<\/p>\n
Robert's hands clenched.<\/p>\n
Mercer turned back to me.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have something Mr. Hale has wanted for six years.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe deed?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
His eyes dropped to my fist.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe key.\u201d<\/p>\n
I felt the brass teeth bite into my skin.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat does it open?\u201d<\/p>\n
Mercer smiled again.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf your father left instructions, I'm sure you'll find out.\u201d<\/p>\n
Behind him, his companion moved closer.<\/p>\n
Daniel quietly reached for his phone.<\/p>\n
Mercer noticed.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wouldn't.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel stopped.<\/p>\n
Then another vehicle entered the lane.<\/p>\n
A battered pickup.<\/p>\n
It pulled directly between us and the gray SUV.<\/p>\n
An elderly man climbed out.<\/p>\n
Thin.<\/p>\n
White beard.<\/p>\n
Red cap.<\/p>\n
He looked at Mercer.<\/p>\n
Then at me.<\/p>\n
Finally he reached into the truck and pulled out an old leather-bound book.<\/p>\n
The cover was dark red.<\/p>\n
My father's note flashed through my mind.<\/p>\n
Trust the person who brings you the red book.<\/p>\n
The old man raised it.<\/p>\n
\u201cElena Carter?\u201d<\/p>\n
I stared.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
He looked toward Mercer.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou picked a bad day to follow her.\u201d<\/p>\n
Then he turned back to me.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy name is Gerald Mason.\u201d<\/p>\n
I knew that name.<\/p>\n
My mother's retired accountant.<\/p>\n
The man who supposedly only did her taxes.<\/p>\n
He held out the red book.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour father told me I'd know it was time when Robert came back asking about the house.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel reacted before anyone else. \u201cPhones down.\u201d Lucas stared at him. \u201cWhat?\u201d \u201cPut them on the table. Now.\u201d Nobody argued. Five phones landed beside the photograph. Daniel crossed to the … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12153,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12159","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-insightdrama"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12159","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=12159"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12159\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12183,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12159\/revisions\/12183"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/12153"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=12159"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=12159"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=12159"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}