Chapter 10 - THE HOUSE THAT WASN'T EMPTYThey returned to the Miller house before midnight.
The snowfall had stopped.
The house stood dark against the trees.
Shawn entered first.
The living room looked exactly as he remembered it.
Except for one thing.
The Christmas tree lights were on.
A gift sat beneath the tree.
His name was written on it.
Shawn opened it.
Inside was a small child's shoe.
Brenda gasped.
“My daughter.”
A voice came from upstairs.
“Shawn.”
He looked up.
Evelyn stood at the top of the staircase.
Older now.
Hair streaked with gray.
But unmistakably the woman from the photograph.
Emma ran toward her.
“Mom!”
They embraced.
Brenda stood frozen.
“My daughter.”
Evelyn looked at her.
“She is safe.”
“Where?”
“Not here.”
Shawn stepped closer.
“You've been alive all these years.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you come back?”
“Because Kane watched every road.”
“What about my father?”
Evelyn's eyes darkened.
“Don is not your father.”
“I know.”
“He loves you anyway.”
Shawn looked toward the basement.
“We have to get him out.”
“Not yet.”
“Why?”
“Because Kane expects you to rescue him.”
“Then what?”
“We make Kane believe he has won.”
Evelyn led them into the kitchen.
She lifted a loose floorboard.
Underneath was a metal case.
Inside was the missing final page.
Shawn stared.
“The page.”
Evelyn nodded.
“The list is only half the weapon.”
“What is the other half?”
“Evidence.”
She handed him another folder.
Inside were photographs.
Bank records.
Audio recordings.
Payment transfers.
Murder files.
Names.
Dates.
Everything.
“Why did you wait twenty years?”
“Because the people on the list were protected.”
“By Kane?”
“By each other.”
Shawn understood.
If one fell, others would fall.
Evelyn needed enough evidence to destroy all of them at once.
“Then why did Kane let me return?”
“He didn't.”
She pointed toward the doorway.
“He invited you.”
Shawn's expression changed.
“You mean…”
A slow clap came from the hallway.
Kane appeared.
Everyone froze.
He wasn't alone.
Reeves stood behind him.
And beside Reeves was Don.
Blood covered his face.
Kane smiled.
“Family reunion.”
Shawn stepped forward.
“Let him go.”
“No.”
“Take me instead.”
“That was always the plan.”
Kane pointed at the notebook.
“Give me the list.”
Shawn held it up.
“Why?”
“You know why.”
“I want to hear you say it.”
Kane looked at Evelyn.
“Your grandfather stole billions from me.”
Evelyn laughed.
“He stole your laundering network.”
“He stole my empire.”
“And he gave it to his grandson.”
Shawn froze.
Kane nodded.
“You.”
The room fell silent.
“Every account. Every trust. Every holding company. All hidden under the identity of Thomas Miller's grandson.”
Shawn stared.
“How much?”
Kane's smile widened.
“Enough to make you the most powerful man in this county.”
“And you can't access it.”
“No.”
“Because you need my identity.”
“Yes.”
Evelyn whispered:
“Don't give him anything.”
Kane raised a gun to Don's head.
“You have ten seconds.”
Shawn stared at his father.
Don shook his head.
“Don't.”
Kane began counting.
“Ten.”
Shawn stepped forward.
“Nine.”
He looked at Evelyn.
She nodded.
“Eight.”
Shawn handed over the notebook.
Kane smiled.
“Seven.”
Kane took it.
“Six.”
He opened the cover.
“Five.”
His expression changed.
The pages were blank.
“What?”
Shawn smiled.
“I knew you'd take it.”
Kane looked up.
“What did you do?”
“The real list is already online.”
Kane's face went pale.
“You're lying.”
“No.”
Shawn held up his phone.
“Thousands of copies.”
Reeves grabbed the phone.
His expression changed.
“Kane…”
Sirens began sounding outside.
Not one car.
Dozens.
Police vehicles surrounded the house.
Kane's smile disappeared.
Shawn stepped backward.
“You lost.”
Kane looked at him.
“No.”
His eyes moved toward Brenda.
Then he smiled.
“Not yet.”
He pulled a small remote from his pocket.
Emma whispered:
“What is that?”
Kane pressed the button.
The entire house shook.
An explosion erupted beneath the floor.
May you like
The lights went out.
And Don disappeared into the darkness.
