Chapter 7 - THE GRAVEYARD
Rain poured over the cemetery.
We arrived just before midnight.
My father's grave stood beneath an old oak tree.
There was nothing unusual.
Then I noticed the stone.
A small metal plate had been attached beneath his name.
I touched it.
It clicked.
A compartment opened.
Inside was a flash drive.
We took it to my attorney.
The file contained financial records.
But one folder was labeled:
EVELYN — PROTECTION
I opened it.
There were reports from six years earlier.
Medical records.
Travel documents.
Photographs of the twins as newborns.
And a payment history.
Someone had been paying Evelyn's expenses for years.
Not my mother.
Not Victor.
Someone else.
The account belonged to a company called Northbridge Holdings.
My attorney searched the registration.
His face changed.
“What?”
“Northbridge is owned by your former business partner.”
I froze.
“Thomas Reed?”
“Yes.”
Thomas had been my closest friend.
He had helped me build my first hotel.
He had attended my wedding.
He had stood beside me when Evelyn disappeared.
He had told me:
Forget her. She chose to leave.
My stomach turned.
I called him.
He answered immediately.
“Marcus.”
“Were you paying Evelyn?”
Silence.
Then:
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I was asked to.”
“By whom?”
He didn't answer.
“Thomas.”
“I was trying to keep her alive.”
“From Victor?”
“From everyone.”
“Who ordered it?”
Another silence.
Then:
“Your father.”
My mind raced.
“My father died before the payments began.”
“He left instructions.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because he made me promise.”
I closed my eyes.
“Why?”
“Because your father believed someone inside your family was monitoring you.”
“Who?”
Thomas exhaled.
“Your mother wasn't the only person with access to your life.”
I suddenly remembered the old office.
The hospital.
The fake messages.
The forged signatures.
Someone had access to my phone.
My records.
My business.
My family.
Then Thomas said something that made my blood freeze.
“Marcus, don't go back to the house.”
“Why?”
“Because whoever did this knows where you are.”
I turned toward Evelyn.
Too late.
My phone displayed a security alert.
MOTION DETECTED — LAKE HOUSE.
Someone was there.
The twins.
I called security.
No answer.
We drove through the storm.
When we arrived, the front door was open.
Evelyn ran inside.
“Ethan!”
“Evan!”
No answer.
Then a sound came from upstairs.
Crying.
We ran.
The twins were hiding beneath the bed.
Alive.
Terrified.
I pulled them into my arms.
“Where's the person who came in?”
Ethan pointed toward the closet.
“Mommy's friend.”
Evelyn froze.
“What friend?”
A woman stepped out.
I recognized her immediately.
Nora.
But Nora was crying.
“I didn't hurt them.”
I raised my weapon.
“Then why were you here?”
She looked at Evelyn.
“I came to warn you.”
“About what?”
Nora swallowed.
“Your mother was right.”
“About what?”
“The person controlling Victor isn't Victor.”
Silence.
“Who?”
Nora looked at me.
“Someone you trust.”
Before she could say the name, a bullet shattered the window.
Nora collapsed.
I caught her.
She was bleeding.
And in her hand was a photograph.
It showed Thomas.
Standing beside my mother.
May you like
And someone else.
A man whose face had been scratched out.
