Chapter 4
"What did Grandma mean?"
My father said nothing.
"Dad!"
"You think you want the truth."
"I want you to stay away from my wife."
He laughed bitterly.
"Your wife started this."
Bell motioned for me to keep him talking.
"She didn't steal Grandma's money."
"No. But she went digging through things she didn't understand."
"What did you steal?"
His breathing changed.
"Be careful."
"Are you threatening me too?"
"I'm trying to save you."
"From what?"
"From learning why your grandmother never trusted your mother."
I glanced at Bell.
My mother?
Dad continued.
"Bring the drive to me. Alone. I'll explain everything."
"No."
"Then whatever happens next is your choice."
He hung up.
Bell immediately started tracing the call.
Emily squeezed my fingers.
"Don't meet him."
"I'm not."
That surprised her.
A year earlier, maybe I would have.
I would have believed Dad had an explanation.
That person was gone.
The next morning, Emily remained under observation.
The baby was doing well, but doctors didn't want to release her yet.
I stayed beside her until Detective Bell returned.
"We searched your house."
My stomach tightened.
"Why?"
"After your wife disclosed the threats, we wanted to make sure nobody had returned."
"Did someone?"
He placed a clear evidence bag on the table.
Inside was a small black device.
"We found this beneath your home-office desk."
I stared.
"What is it?"
"Audio transmitter."
Emily covered her mouth.
"Someone was listening to us?"
"Probably."
Bell added another bag.
A key.
"Found beneath the guest-room mattress used by your father."
I recognized it.
"That's not mine."
"We also obtained a warrant related to financial records."
He paused.
"Your father's accounts show several unusual transfers."
"Grandma's money?"
"Possibly more."
Bell looked directly at me.
"Did Carter Development experience financial problems recently?"
"I don't work there."
"Why not?"
The question hit harder than it should have.
"My father said Grandma didn't want me involved."
Bell gave me a strange look.
"Based on her video, that seems unlikely."
He was right.
My entire adult relationship with Grandma had been filtered through Dad.
She had invited me to work for the company after college.
Dad said she later changed her mind.
She had asked me to visit during her final months.
Dad always said she was too ill.
Had any of that been true?
My phone rang.
Daniel Mercer.
The attorney.
I answered.
"Mr. Carter, we need to meet."
"Detective Bell is here."
"Good. Put me on speaker."
I did.
Daniel's voice sounded tense.
"I located the original recording."
Emily sat up.
"The full video?"
"Yes."
"Where?"
"Not over the phone."
Bell asked, "Are you in immediate danger?"
A long silence followed.
"I don't know."
Then we heard a crash.
Daniel cursed.
"Someone's inside."
The call ended.
Bell was already moving.
He ordered another detective to contact local police and rushed out.
I stood frozen.
Emily grabbed my wrist.
"Ryan, listen to me."
I looked down.
"If your father is willing to go this far, this isn't only about money."
I knew.
Two hours later, Bell called.
Daniel was alive.
His office had been broken into.
The original video was gone.
But Daniel had hidden a backup somewhere else.
He refused to disclose the location over the phone.
That night, Emily was finally cleared to go home.
I didn't want to take her there.
Bell arranged patrols around the house.
When we arrived, the place looked untouched.
Until I opened the nursery.
The crib had been overturned.
Baby clothes were scattered across the floor.
Emily gasped.
On the wall above the crib, someone had written three words in black marker.
GIVE IT BACK.
I immediately called Bell.
Then Emily whispered my name.
She was staring at the rocking chair.
An envelope rested on the cushion.
My name was written across the front.
Not in Dad's handwriting.
Not Chloe's.
I opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
My mother.
Much younger.
Holding a newborn baby.
May you like
On the back were six words.
ASK HER WHO RYAN REALLY IS.
