Chapter 7 - THE TRAP
We went into hiding.
At least, that's what I told Alora.
The truth was worse.
We didn't know whom to trust.
Police.
Lawyers.
Employees.
Family.
Everyone suddenly seemed connected.
We moved to a secure property owned by one of my company's partners.
Alora slept in the guest room.
I stayed outside the door.
At 3:17 a.m., my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
A man's voice whispered:
“Your father left something for you.”
“What?”
“Something Daniel never found.”
“Where?”
“The old boathouse.”
I recognized the location.
The same place my father supposedly died.
I told no one.
Not even Alora.
At dawn, I drove there.
The boathouse looked abandoned.
Inside, everything smelled of salt and rot.
I found an old wooden chest beneath the floor.
Inside was a ledger.
Pages of transactions.
Names.
Dates.
Payments.
And one final entry.
Payment authorized by K. Caldwell.
Kareen.
I stopped.
My mother had paid someone.
The amount:
$250,000.
Date:
Three days before my father's death.
I called her.
She answered immediately.
“Thane.”
“Why did you pay $250,000 three days before Dad died?”
Silence.
“Where are you?”
“The boathouse.”
Her breathing changed.
“Get out.”
“Why?”
“Because it's a trap.”
The door slammed behind me.
I turned.
Daniel stood there.
He was holding a gun.
“You should have listened to your mother.”
I raised my hands.
“Daniel.”
“You were always the problem.”
“What did my father know?”
“Everything.”
“Who killed him?”
Daniel smiled.
“You still don't understand.”
He stepped closer.
“Your father wasn't murdered because he discovered the truth.”
“Then why?”
“Because he refused to give Margaret what she wanted.”
“What?”
Daniel's smile disappeared.
“You.”
I stared.
“Me?”
“Your father's entire fortune was supposed to go to Margaret.”
“But he left it to me.”
“Exactly.”
Daniel raised the gun.
“You were never supposed to survive.”
Then the boathouse door exploded open.
Police stormed inside.
Daniel dropped the gun.
I fell against the wall.
And through the chaos, I heard a familiar voice.
“Thane!”
Alora.
I turned.
She was standing in the doorway.
And behind her was Kareen.
My mother looked at me.
Then at Daniel.
And whispered:
“I told you I would protect him.”
Daniel laughed.
“You're too late.”
Kareen's face hardened.
“No.”
May you like
She pulled out a flash drive.
“I'm right on time.”
