Chapter 2 - The Room Behind the Garage)
The next afternoon Emily waited until Rick left for work.
Laura was at a dental appointment.
Noah was supposed to be doing homework.
Instead, Emily took him into the backyard.
The attached shed behind the garage looked ordinary.
Weathered boards.
Rusty hinges.
A padlock.
No windows.
Emily had walked past it hundreds of times.
Now she noticed the green line beneath the door.
Paint.
The bottom edge had recently been painted dark green.
Noah stopped six feet away.
"I don't want to go in."
"We're not going in."
"You said that before."
"When?"
Noah looked confused.
Then frightened.
"I don't know."
Emily crouched.
"Did I bring you here before?"
"No."
"Then who did?"
Noah's face tightened.
"I don't remember."
The statement sounded rehearsed.
Emily walked around the shed.
Behind it, partly hidden by weeds, she found an old electrical box attached to the siding.
Four numbers had been scratched into the metal.
8146.
Her heart started pounding.
She entered the numbers into the small keypad beneath the box.
Nothing happened.
Noah suddenly whispered, "Backward."
Emily turned.
"What?"
"The man said backward."
She typed 6418.
A faint click came from inside the shed.
Emily stared at the door.
The padlock was still locked.
But something behind the wall had opened.
Noah began backing away.
"We have to go."
Emily touched the siding.
One wooden panel shifted beneath her fingers.
She pushed.
A narrow compartment opened.
Inside was an old pair of men's glasses.
A photograph.
And a small digital recorder wrapped in plastic.
Emily recognized the man in the photograph immediately.
James Carter.
Her father.
He was standing beside another man Emily remembered only vaguely.
Richard Hale.
Her grandfather.
The photograph had been taken behind this very house.
Except the shed had been painted green.
Emily turned the photo over.
Two words were written on the back.
For Laura.
Noah stared at it.
"That's the man."
"Which man?"
"In my drawing."
Emily pointed at James.
"Dad?"
Noah shook his head.
Then he pointed to Richard.
"Him."
Emily's fingers went cold.
"You heard Grandpa Richard on the recording?"
Noah nodded.
Before Emily could ask anything else, the back door of the house slammed.
Rick was home.
Too early.
Noah's face went white.
Emily quickly returned the photograph and recorder to the compartment.
She closed the panel.
"Go inside."
Noah ran.
Emily walked toward the house slowly enough not to look suspicious.
Rick stood at the back door.
He was still wearing his work clothes.
"School out early?"
"No."
"Your mother said you were supposed to take Noah to the library."
"We changed our minds."
Rick looked past her.
Toward the shed.
Then back at Emily.
"You weren't messing around back there, were you?"
"No."
Rick smiled.
"Good."
That evening he said almost nothing during dinner.
Laura talked about groceries.
Noah pushed peas around his plate.
Emily watched Rick.
At eight fifteen, he went outside.
Emily moved to the kitchen window.
Rick walked directly to the shed.
He inspected the electrical box.
Then the wall panel.
He knew.
Emily stepped away from the window.
Minutes later he returned.
"Emily."
She looked up.
"Come here."
Her mother glanced nervously at Rick.
Emily stayed where she was.
"What?"
Rick walked closer.
"I asked if you went into the shed."
"And I said no."
"Don't lie to me."
"I'm not."
Rick grabbed Emily's wrist.
Laura stood.
"Rick."
He looked at her.
That single look stopped her.
Emily saw it happen.
The same freezing response she had seen dozens of times.
Rick turned back.
"That shed belonged to your father."
Emily's heart jumped.
He had never volunteered information about James.
"Then why can't I go inside?"
"Because your father kept things he shouldn't have."
"What things?"
"None of your business."
"He's my father. That makes it my business."
Rick tightened his grip.
"Your father is dead."
Emily pulled her hand free.
"And you're not him."
Noah dropped his fork.
Rick's face went blank.
For one frightening second Emily expected him to hit her.
Instead he stepped back.
"You've always had a mouth."
"And you've always hated that."
"Emily," Laura whispered.
"No, Mom."
Emily looked directly at her.
"Why does Rick have Dad's shed locked?"
Laura's face changed.
Rick answered for her.
"Because your mother asked me to lock it."
Emily looked at Laura.
"Is that true?"
Laura opened her mouth.
No sound came out.
Rick smiled.
"There. Happy?"
Emily stared at her mother.
"Why?"
Laura finally spoke.
"Because there are things in this family you don't understand."
"Then explain them."
"I can't."
"Can't or won't?"
Rick struck the table with his palm.
"Enough."
Noah jumped.
Water spilled from his glass.
Rick looked at him.
Noah immediately began apologizing.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry."
Rick pushed his chair back.
Emily stood.
"Noah didn't do anything."
Rick looked at her.
Then something unexpected happened.
Laura placed herself between them.
"Rick, go upstairs."
Everyone stared at her.
Rick laughed softly.
"What did you say?"
"I said go upstairs."
For several seconds no one moved.
Then Rick leaned close to Laura.
"You remember what happens when you make decisions without me."
Laura's face lost all color.
Rick walked upstairs.
Emily stared at her mother.
"What does that mean?"
Laura shook her head.
"Nothing."
"Mom."
"Please."
Laura began wiping the spilled water with shaking hands.
Emily knelt beside her.
"Who is Richard Hale?"
The paper towel stopped moving.
Laura looked at Emily.
For the first time, Emily saw something stronger than fear in her mother's eyes.
She saw guilt.
"Your grandfather."
"I know that."
"No."
Laura lowered her voice.
"You know his name."
May you like
She looked toward the stairs.
"You don't know why Rick is terrified of him."
