Chapter 8 - The Second Betrayal
They escaped through the back door.
Michael drove.
Daniel sat beside him.
Richard sat in the back.
For ten minutes nobody spoke.
Finally Daniel asked:
“Who was in the house?”
Michael kept his eyes on the road.
“I don't know.”
“You said they were coming.”
“I said they were already there.”
“That's not an answer.”
Michael sighed.
“You want answers? Fine.”
He pulled into an empty gas station.
“Rebecca discovered that James had hidden money before he died.”
Richard stared at him.
“How much?”
“Enough to attract very dangerous people.”
Daniel looked at his father.
“And you knew?”
“I suspected.”
“You suspected?”
Richard looked ashamed.
“I found records years ago.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I thought it was over.”
Michael shook his head.
“It wasn't.”
Daniel looked at him.
“Then why did Rebecca empty the account?”
“She didn't.”
Daniel froze.
“What?”
Michael looked at Richard.
“Someone used Rebecca's credentials.”
Richard's face changed.
“Then where is she?”
“We don't know.”
Daniel felt his heart pound.
“What about Emily?”
Michael looked down.
“That's what worries me.”
Daniel grabbed his phone.
There were seven missed calls.
All from Emily.
He called back.
She answered immediately.
“Daniel?”
Her voice was shaking.
“Where are you?”
“I can't tell you.”
“Emily, listen to me. Are you safe?”
“I think so.”
“Where are you?”
“I found something.”
“What?”
“A room.”
Daniel's stomach tightened.
“What room?”
“In Dad's office.”
Richard went pale.
Emily continued.
“There are documents here. And photographs.”
“Get out.”
“I can't.”
“Why?”
“Because someone locked me in.”
The call cut off.
Daniel stood.
Michael grabbed his arm.
“Wait.”
“Let go.”
“You can't rush in blind.”
“That's my sister.”
Richard spoke.
“Daniel.”
Daniel turned.
Richard looked broken.
“There is another entrance.”
“To the office?”
“No.”
Richard swallowed.
“To the house beneath it.”
Daniel stared.
“What house?”
Richard looked at Michael.
Michael closed his eyes.
“The old property.”
Daniel understood.
May you like
The family had been hiding something beneath the place they had called home.
And Emily was trapped inside it.
