Chapter 8 - The Trap at Six
We reached the house at 5:32 p.m.
The front gate was open.
No guards.
No cars.
No neighbors outside.
Too quiet.
Rachel stayed in the vehicle.
Daniel and I approached the house together.
“Mom,” he said.
I stopped.
“I need to tell you something before we go in.”
“Go ahead.”
“I signed the papers.”
“What papers?”
“The ones Brooke brought.”
I stared at him.
“What did you sign?”
“A transfer agreement.”
My heart sank.
“When?”
“Eight months ago.”
“Why?”
“She said it was temporary.”
“That was a lie.”
“Yes.”
“You knew?”
“I knew later.”
“Daniel.”
He closed his eyes.
“I was drowning.”
“In debt?”
“Yes.”
“How much?”
“Three hundred thousand.”
I almost laughed.
“That explains nothing.”
He looked at me.
“The company had failed.”
“What company?”
“Mark's construction company.”
“And your money?”
“Gone.”
“Then where did the house come in?”
“She told me we could borrow against the future development rights.”
I stared.
“Without my permission?”
“She said the trust allowed it.”
“And you believed her?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I wanted to save everything.”
“Or because you wanted to save yourself.”
He said nothing.
That was answer enough.
I turned toward the house.
“Stay behind me.”
“Mom.”
“Stay behind me.”
We entered.
Brooke was waiting in the living room.
She was wearing Harold's pearl earrings.
Again.
Her hair was perfect.
Her makeup flawless.
A bottle of champagne sat on the table.
Three glasses.
She smiled.
“You came.”
I looked around.
“Where are your friends?”
“They went home.”
“Chelsea?”
Brooke's smile weakened.
“She had somewhere to be.”
I stepped forward.
“Where is she?”
Brooke's eyes moved toward Daniel.
“You told her.”
“What?”
“She knows about Chelsea.”
Daniel stiffened.
Brooke smiled.
“You've always been bad at keeping secrets.”
I ignored her.
“Why six o'clock?”
Brooke poured champagne.
“You're going to sign the property transfer.”
“No.”
She laughed.
“I don't think you understand your situation.”
“I understand it perfectly.”
She lifted a folder.
“Your son owes more than three hundred thousand.”
Daniel whispered, “Brooke.”
“You signed the guarantee, Daniel.”
She turned toward me.
“If he doesn't pay, the creditors come after him.”
I looked at Daniel.
“Is that true?”
He nodded.
“But that's not all.”
Brooke placed another document on the table.
“This is the development agreement.”
I read the title.
The company wanted an easement across our property.
If I refused, the entire project collapsed.
If I accepted, the trust would receive millions.
Brooke pointed to the final page.
“All you have to do is sign.”
“And give you control?”
“Yes.”
“No.”
Her smile vanished.
“You don't have a choice.”
I looked at the wall.
The security camera above the doorway was blinking.
Brooke followed my gaze.
Then laughed.
“I had the cameras disconnected.”
I looked back at her.
“No.”
She frowned.
“No?”
“They're still recording.”
For the first time, fear crossed her face.
Daniel stepped toward her.
“Brooke.”
She turned.
“You knew?”
“I didn't.”
“You're lying.”
Rachel's voice came from the doorway.
“No. He's not.”
Brooke spun.
Her face changed completely.
“Rachel.”
Rachel stepped into the room.
Brooke stared at her as though she'd seen a ghost.
“You're dead.”
Rachel smiled.
“Apparently not.”
Brooke backed away.
“Where's Chelsea?”
Rachel's expression darkened.
“That's what we're here to ask you.”
Brooke looked at Daniel.
Then me.
Then the door.
She ran.
Daniel grabbed her arm.
She screamed.
“Don't touch me!”
Rachel pulled out a phone.
“Tell us where Chelsea is.”
Brooke went silent.
Then she smiled.
“You think Chelsea is the one you're looking for?”
Rachel froze.
Brooke whispered:
“You still haven't figured it out.”
I stepped closer.
“Figured what out?”
Brooke looked straight at me.
“The woman who injected Harold wasn't me.”
Daniel's face went white.
Brooke continued.
“I was there.”
“But I didn't give him anything.”
“Then who did?”
Brooke smiled.
“You already know her.”
I heard footsteps upstairs.
Slow.
Measured.
A familiar voice came from the landing.
“She's right.”
My blood froze.
I looked up.
And there stood the woman from Harold's final photograph.
Evelyn.
But she wasn't alone.
Beside her was Chelsea.
May you like
And Chelsea was holding a knife.
:::
