Chapter 5 - THE HIDDEN ROOM
The emergency lights from the hallway barely illuminated the apartment.
Jared pulled out his phone.
The flashlight came on.
Lauren stood near the window.
Oscar was beside the kitchen.
Nothing looked disturbed.
Then Jared noticed the photograph was gone.
"Where is it?"
Oscar looked at the table.
"I had it right here."
Lauren stared at the floor.
Someone had entered the apartment during the blackout.
Jared moved toward the door.
The hallway was empty.
He looked down.
Fresh snow had been tracked across the floor.
One set of footprints.
They led toward the stairwell.
Then stopped.
Jared returned.
"Someone was here."
Lauren nodded.
"I know."
"You knew this would happen?"
"No."
"You said we weren't alone."
"I meant someone was watching."
Oscar looked at her.
"Who?"
Lauren hesitated.
Then she said, "The same people who have been watching your account."
Jared's expression hardened.
"You know who they are."
"I know enough."
"Then start talking."
Lauren looked at Oscar.
"I wasn't stealing the money."
Jared almost laughed.
"Eight thousand dollars every month went into an account you controlled."
"I know."
"Then where did it go?"
Lauren swallowed.
"To keep him alive."
Jared stared at her.
"Who?"
Lauren didn't answer.
Instead, she walked toward the kitchen.
She opened a cabinet.
Then removed a row of canned food.
Behind them was a narrow wooden panel.
Oscar stared.
"I've lived here thirty years."
Lauren pulled the panel open.
A dark opening appeared.
Inside was a small hidden room.
Jared looked at his father.
"You knew about this?"
Oscar shook his head.
Lauren stepped inside.
"There are records in here."
Jared followed.
The room contained boxes.
Old contracts.
Bank statements.
Photographs.
Letters.
And one locked metal case.
Jared picked up a folder.
The first page carried his mother's handwriting.
He read the first sentence.
If Jared ever finds this, it means the truth has finally become dangerous.
Jared looked at Lauren.
"Why didn't you show me this?"
"Because your mother asked me not to."
Jared stopped.
"My mother?"
Lauren nodded.
"She knew something was wrong before she died."
Oscar stepped into the room.
"Margaret never told me."
Lauren looked at him sadly.
"She was trying to protect you."
Oscar's face tightened.
"Protect me from what?"
Lauren looked at the locked case.
"From the person who arranged her death."
The room went silent.
Jared slowly turned toward his father.
Oscar looked devastated.
"She was killed in an accident."
May you like
Lauren shook her head.
"That's what we were told."
