Chapter 7 - THE HOUSE THAT WAS NEVER SOLD
The house stood outside Pittsburgh, hidden behind twenty acres of dead winter trees.
Daniel hadn't been there since he was nineteen.
The moment he stepped through the gate, memories began returning.
The stone chimney.
The old oak tree.
The broken fountain.
His father's study.
Lily followed him.
“You've been here before.”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Before my father died.”
Daniel stopped.
“What?”
“I remember now.”
He walked toward the house.
“The night he died, he brought me here.”
Lily followed.
“What happened?”
“I don't know yet.”
Inside, everything was covered in dust.
But the electricity worked.
Daniel frowned.
“Someone has been here.”
Evelyn looked around.
“Recently.”
They entered the study.
Daniel stood before the fireplace.
His father's desk remained exactly where he remembered it.
He ran his hand over the wood.
Then stopped.
“There.”
“What?”
“A scratch.”
He crouched.
There was a tiny mark beneath the desk.
Three letters.
L.C.M.
Lily stared.
“My mother's initials.”
Daniel nodded.
Evelyn examined the desk.
“There's a false compartment.”
She found the release mechanism beneath the drawer.
A section of wood clicked open.
Inside was a black envelope.
Lily covered her mouth.
Daniel reached for it.
His hands trembled.
The envelope contained one handwritten letter.
Daniel recognized the handwriting immediately.
His father's.
Daniel,
If you're reading this, something has happened to me.
Daniel stopped.
His eyes filled with tears.
He continued.
Do not trust Thomas Halloway.
Lily gasped.
Evelyn whispered, “Keep reading.”
Thomas has been stealing from the company for years. But the money is not the worst thing.
Daniel's breathing became shallow.
He has been using our stores to move money for people who are not part of this company.
Daniel looked up.
“What people?”
The letter continued.
I found out too late.
Your mother knows. Lily's mother knows.
If anything happens to me, protect them.
Then the final sentence:
And never let Thomas find the second ledger.
Daniel lowered the letter.
“What second ledger?”
Evelyn looked at him.
“That's what we need to find.”
A noise came from upstairs.
They all froze.
Footsteps.
Someone was inside.
Evelyn reached for her phone.
Daniel whispered, “Stay here.”
He climbed the stairs.
The footsteps stopped.
Daniel entered the bedroom.
Empty.
Then he saw the window.
Open.
Someone had escaped.
On the floor was a small silver bracelet.
Lily picked it up.
She stared.
“This belonged to my mother.”
Daniel turned.
“How do you know?”
“Because I remember it.”
She held it tightly.
“She wore it the night she died.”
Daniel looked toward the open window.
Someone had been waiting for them.
Someone knew about the letter.
And someone had access to the house.
Then Daniel's phone rang.
A text message.
You found the letter.
Another message appeared.
Now find the girl who survived.
Daniel looked at Lily.
“What girl?”
A final message appeared.
Your mother had two daughters.
Lily's face went white.
“What?”
Daniel stared at the phone.
His entire body went cold.
“Lily…”
She shook her head.
May you like
“No.”
“You may have a sister.”
