Chapter 9 - THE HOUSE OF LIES
Matthew's world narrowed to one thought.
Find his sons.
Nothing else mattered.
The police arrived within minutes.
Security footage was reviewed.
Three men had entered the property.
They had disabled the cameras.
But one camera had continued recording.
Matthew watched the footage.
A black van.
Two masked men.
And then someone else.
A woman.
Matthew leaned closer.
"Stop."
The footage froze.
The woman turned slightly.
Matthew recognized her.
"Evelyn."
Jessica stared.
"Your mother?"
Matthew nodded.
His mother had helped them enter.
But why?
He called her.
No answer.
Then her phone location appeared.
An abandoned church outside Seattle.
Matthew drove there.
Grace and Jessica followed.
Inside the church, Evelyn was sitting alone.
Matthew approached.
"Where are my boys?"
Evelyn looked up.
Her face was broken.
"I tried to stop them."
"You helped them."
"I had no choice."
"There is always a choice."
She began crying.
"Robert has something on me."
"What?"
"He knows what happened to your father."
Matthew froze.
"What happened to Dad?"
Evelyn looked down.
"Your father didn't die naturally."
Silence.
"He was murdered."
Matthew's breathing stopped.
"By whom?"
"Robert."
"Why?"
"Because your father discovered the money."
Matthew shook his head.
"You're lying."
"I'm not."
"Then why did you stay silent?"
"Because Robert threatened you."
Matthew stared.
"How?"
"He said if I went to the police, you would die."
Matthew stepped closer.
"And now my sons?"
"He wants the company."
Matthew's face hardened.
"Where did he take them?"
Evelyn gave him an address.
"Your father's old estate."
Matthew knew the place.
A massive property north of Seattle.
Abandoned for years.
He immediately called the police.
Then he turned toward Grace.
"I'm going."
"I'm coming."
"No."
"Matthew—"
"You have done enough."
Grace looked hurt.
Jessica stepped between them.
"She's coming."
Matthew looked at his wife.
"Why?"
"Because she knows Robert."
"How?"
Jessica swallowed.
"Because she met him."
Matthew stared.
"When?"
"Six years ago."
Grace closed her eyes.
"I didn't know who he was then."
Jessica continued.
"Robert was the man who helped our father."
Matthew's mind raced.
"Your father?"
Grace nodded.
"My father didn't die in prison."
Matthew froze.
"What?"
"He escaped."
Grace looked at him.
"Robert helped him disappear."
Matthew stepped backward.
The entire story was changing again.
May you like
Grace whispered:
"And my father is still alive."
