Chapter 13 - THE HOUSE WE LEFT BEHIND
I hadn't been inside the old house in twelve years.
The moment I walked through the front door, memories came rushing back.
Madeline laughing in the kitchen.
Her books on the staircase.
The blue vase she loved.
The small marks on the wall where we'd measured Avery's height.
Everything was still there.
Dust covered the furniture, but the house somehow felt like she had only just left.
Clara followed me inside.
"You don't have to do this alone."
I looked at her.
"I know."
We searched for almost an hour.
Nothing.
Then Clara stopped in the hallway.
"Ethan."
She pointed toward the wall.
There was a tiny scratch beside an old framed photograph.
I removed the frame.
Behind it was a keypad.
I entered Madeline's birthday.
Nothing.
Then Clara whispered:
"Try yours."
I did.
The wall clicked.
A hidden door opened.
Inside was a small room.
There were dozens of boxes.
Letters.
Photographs.
Bank statements.
Audio recordings.
And one video file.
I opened it.
Madeline appeared on the screen.
She looked tired.
Terrified.
But alive.
She stared directly into the camera.
"Ethan, if you're watching this, Patricia has already made her move."
My heart stopped.
"I need you to understand something. The people you're fighting aren't interested in your money."
She paused.
"They're interested in what you know."
The video continued.
"There's an organization inside the financial system. Patricia was only one part of it."
Madeline leaned closer to the camera.
"And someone close to you has been reporting everything you do."
The screen went black.
Clara looked at me.
"Who?"
I didn't answer.
Because I already knew what the next question would be.
Who had access to everything?
My house.
My business.
My security.
My family.
Then I noticed an envelope on the floor.
It had my name on it.
Inside was a single photograph.
Marcus.
May you like
Standing beside Patricia.
The photograph was dated two years before Patricia ever entered my life.
