Chapter 10 - The Night Everything Changed
That evening, Ryan returned.
He didn't enter through the front door.
He came through the garage.
Emily heard him.
James immediately stood.
Ryan appeared in the doorway.
He looked exhausted.
“I'm not here to hurt her.”
James stepped between them.
“You don't get to decide that anymore.”
Ryan nodded.
“I know.”
Emily looked at him.
“Why did you come back?”
Ryan stared at her.
“Because I finally understand what my mother has been doing.”
Linda's name changed the atmosphere.
“What has she been doing?”
Ryan swallowed.
“She has been searching for something.”
“What?”
“A file.”
James stiffened.
“What file?”
Ryan looked at him.
“The original Bennett file.”
James's expression changed.
“I destroyed it.”
“No.”
Ryan shook his head.
“You destroyed the copy.”
James stared.
Ryan continued.
“The original is somewhere else.”
“Where?”
“I don't know.”
Emily stepped forward.
“Then why are you here?”
Ryan looked at her.
“Because Linda thinks you have it.”
“I don't.”
“I know.”
“Then what does she want?”
Ryan hesitated.
“You.”
Emily stepped backward.
James moved closer to his daughter.
Ryan's voice lowered.
“She believes you inherited something from Sarah.”
“What?”
“I don't know.”
“You're lying.”
“I wish I were.”
Ryan reached into his pocket.
He pulled out a small key.
Emily recognized it.
It was attached to the photograph she had found.
Ryan placed it on the table.
“This belonged to Sarah.”
James stared at it.
“Where did you get that?”
Ryan looked at him.
“She gave it to me the night she disappeared.”
Emily picked it up.
“What does it open?”
Ryan's expression became grim.
“A safety deposit box.”
James asked, “Which bank?”
Ryan looked toward the window.
Before he could answer, the lights went out.
Someone outside shouted.
Then the front door slammed open.
James pulled Emily behind him.
May you like
Ryan whispered.
“They found us.”
