Chapter 9 - NoahNoah sat in the chapel while we stood around him like strangers at a courtroom.
He looked exhausted.
Not dangerous.
Not like the monster my mother had described.
He looked like someone who had spent years running.
“Why were you watching Sage?” I asked.
“I wasn't.”
“You're in the photographs.”
“I had nothing to do with those.”
“Then who did?”
He looked at the folder.
“Your grandmother.”
Sage stiffened.
Noah nodded toward her.
“She became obsessed with controlling the family’s future.”
“Why?”
“Because she knew the trust would eventually expose her.”
I asked, “Then why did my father let her keep access?”
“He didn't.”
“What?”
“He removed her.”
“When?”
“Two months before he died.”
Evelyn nodded.
“That amendment exists.”
“Then why did she keep taking money?”
“Because the amendment was never filed.”
My stomach dropped.
“Why not?”
Noah looked at me.
“Someone intercepted it.”
“Who?”
“Samuel Pike.”
The lawyer.
My father had paid him.
My mother had paid him.
But why?
Noah reached into his coat.
He pulled out an old cassette tape.
“My father recorded this.”
He placed it on the table.
Michael found an old player in the storage room.
The tape hissed.
Then a male voice spoke.
Daniel.
“If Robert ever finds this, tell him I didn't run.”
My mother had lied.
Daniel had not disappeared willingly.
He had been hiding.
“I found proof that our father was laundering money through the family trust.”
The tape continued.
“Mom knows.”
My mother.
Not Robert’s mother.
Our mother.
“She helped him.”
I closed my eyes.
Noah watched me.
“There’s more.”
Daniel continued.
“The fire wasn't meant to kill me.”
The tape stopped.
Static.
Then another voice.
My mother.
“We can fix this.”
I felt sick.
Dana, who had quietly joined us, covered her mouth.
“Mom knew?”
Noah nodded.
“She knew enough.”
He looked at me.
“But she wasn't the person who ordered the fire.”
“Who was?”
“No one knew.”
“Then why did Grandpa’s letter say the truth would destroy the family?”
Noah looked at Sage.
“Because your grandfather eventually learned who did it.”
He handed Sage another envelope.
“This was meant for you.”
Sage hesitated.
“Why me?”
“Because Robert believed you would be old enough to choose what to do with the truth.”
She opened it.
Inside was one sentence.
THE PERSON WHO LIT THE MATCH IS STILL IN YOUR FAMILY.
Sage looked up.
Everyone went still.
Noah stood.
“I need to leave.”
“Wait.”
He turned.
“You're not going anywhere until you tell us everything.”
He smiled sadly.
“Your mother doesn't know the worst part.”
“What worst part?”
Noah looked at Dana.
Then at Brin.
Then back at me.
“The Wrangler wasn't bought for Brin.”
“What?”
“It was leverage.”
“Against who?”
“Against you.”
I felt the blood drain from my face.
“How?”
“Your grandmother needed you to sign something.”
“What?”
Noah took one step toward the door.
“A consent agreement.”
“For what?”
His expression hardened.
“Transfer of the trust.”
The room went silent.
May you like
Noah opened the chapel door.
“And your mother needed Sage’s birthday to pressure you into signing it.”
