Chapter 9 - WHAT HAROLD HID
Harold remained in custody while the investigation continued.
Rebecca visited him.
He looked smaller than she remembered.
“Did you tell Thomas to disappear?”
Harold stared at the table.
“I didn't hurt him.”
“That wasn't my question.”
Harold closed his eyes.
“Thomas was going to destroy the family.”
“By telling the truth?”
“He didn't understand what the truth would do.”
“What did you do?”
Harold finally looked at her.
“I helped him leave.”
Rebecca's voice became quiet.
“Where?”
“I don't know.”
“You're lying.”
“No.”
“Then what happened?”
Harold shook his head.
“I drove him to the bus station.”
Rebecca froze.
“He left?”
“Yes.”
“Why did Grandma say he disappeared?”
“Because he never contacted anyone again.”
Rebecca stared at him.
“Did he have the second deed?”
Harold said nothing.
Rebecca leaned closer.
“Did Thomas have it?”
“Yes.”
“Where is it?”
“I don't know.”
Rebecca stood.
Then Harold said something that stopped her.
“Your grandmother did.”
Rebecca turned.
“What?”
“Thomas gave it to her.”
Rebecca's heart raced.
“Then where is it?”
Harold looked toward the ceiling.
“She hid it.”
“Where?”
“I don't know.”
Rebecca left.
But when she reached the parking lot, Evelyn called.
“Rebecca.”
“Yes?”
“I found something.”
“What?”
“Your grandmother's safe.”
Rebecca stopped walking.
“Where?”
“At the old cemetery.”
Rebecca frowned.
“The cemetery?”
“Yes.”
“Why would Grandma put a safe there?”
“Because nobody searches for family documents in a graveyard.”
Rebecca drove there immediately.
Behind the family mausoleum was a stone bench.
Evelyn lifted one side.
Underneath was a small metal panel.
The brass key opened it.
Inside was a sealed envelope.
Rebecca opened it.
There was no deed.
Only a photograph.
Thomas stood beside a woman Rebecca had never seen.
On the back were four words.
She knows where he is.
Rebecca looked at Evelyn.
“Who is she?”
Evelyn stared at the photograph.
Her face went pale.
“That can't be.”
“Who is she?”
May you like
Evelyn whispered:
“Your grandmother's sister.”
