Chapter 10 - The False OfficerThe disappearance of Brandon exposed something far larger than any of us expected.
The officer listed on the transfer order had never existed in the department.
Someone had accessed the system.
Someone with credentials.
The investigation turned inward.
Officers checked security logs.
Computer access.
Vehicle records.
Every movement.
Then they found something.
A police vehicle had left the station nineteen minutes after Brandon disappeared.
Its GPS had been disabled.
The vehicle was later found abandoned.
Inside was a piece of Brandon's jacket.
But no Brandon.
Daniel looked at me.
“This is no longer a property case.”
“No.”
“They are cleaning up witnesses.”
We moved Skylar's information to a protected location.
My father contacted me using a secure phone.
His voice was older than I remembered.
But unmistakable.
“Charlotte.”
I cried before I could answer.
“Dad?”
“I’m sorry.”
“Where are you?”
“I can't tell you.”
“Is Skylar safe?”
“Yes.”
“Why did you leave us?”
Silence.
Then:
“To keep you alive.”
He explained everything.
Years before his disappearance, he discovered that Gertrude had secretly invested in distressed property acquisitions.
He confronted her.
She threatened him.
Then he discovered Victor.
Victor wasn't the mastermind.
He was middle management.
The real organization operated through private investment firms, lawyers, shell companies, and corrupt officials.
They didn't steal houses by force.
They engineered circumstances.
Financial pressure.
Family conflict.
Legal confusion.
Identity theft.
Then they appeared with a solution.
A loan.
A restructuring.
A refinance.
By the time victims realized what was happening, the property was already gone.
My father had tried to expose them.
That's why he disappeared.
But there was one thing he hadn't expected.
Brandon.
My husband had become involved after drowning in debt.
Then he discovered the group intended to target me.
He secretly began sabotaging them.
My father and Brandon eventually worked together.
I listened in disbelief.
“So the whole time…”
“Yes.”
“They were trying to protect me?”
“Not always.”
My father hesitated.
“Brandon did terrible things.”
My heart sank.
“He stole from you. Lied to you. Put you in danger.”
“Why?”
“Because he believed he could control the situation.”
“He couldn't.”
“No.”
My father exhaled.
“That's why Skylar was taken.”
There was a pause.
Then:
“Charlotte, there is something you must understand.”
“What?”
“Your house was never the real objective.”
I stared at the wall.
“Then what was?”
“The records.”
“What records?”
“The records inside your father's trust.”
My mind raced.
“What trust?”
“You inherited it.”
I almost laughed.
“My father left me a house.”
“No.”
His voice hardened.
“He left you proof.”
Before I could ask more, the line disconnected.
Daniel looked at me.
“What did he mean?”
I didn't know.
Then Skylar called.
“Mom?”
My heart leaped.
“Baby.”
“I miss you.”
“Where are you?”
“I don't know.”
“Is Grandpa with you?”
“Yes.”
“Is Dad there?”
Skylar hesitated.
Then:
“No.”
“Why?”
“Dad left.”
“Where?”
She whispered:
“He said he had to go save Grandma.”
I froze.
“Gertrude?”
“Yes.”
“But your grandma is working with them.”
Skylar's voice broke.
“He said she wasn't.”
“What?”
“He said Grandma is in danger too.”
The call ended.
Then my phone received a photograph.
Gertrude.
Bound to a chair.
Blood on her forehead.
A note beside her:
SHE KNEW TOO MUCH.
Below that was another photograph.
Brandon.
Also restrained.
And beneath his photograph:
HE BETRAYED US.
Then a final message appeared.
Charlotte, bring your father's trust documents.
I stared at the screen.
They had moved beyond the house.
May you like
Now they wanted the trust.
And whatever was inside it was valuable enough to start a war.
