Chapter 8 - The Second DeedForensic officers returned to the hospital.
The doll was opened completely.
Inside the lining, beneath the memory device, they found a sealed plastic cylinder.
Inside that cylinder was a folded legal document.
The second deed.
My father's hidden deed.
It gave me control over an additional parcel.
A parcel nobody in the family knew existed.
The property was beneath the old hospital district.
More importantly, it granted me veto power over any redevelopment agreement involving the surrounding land.
Nathan read the final paragraph.
"This is why they wanted you to sign."
"They couldn't buy the property."
"No."
"They could only force you."
Before anyone could respond, Clara opened her eyes.
"Michael."
I moved beside her.
"You're safe."
She shook her head.
"No."
She pointed toward the deed.
"That's not why they need it."
"Then why?"
"There's another clause."
I read it.
My father's handwriting appeared in the margin.
If the property is threatened, release the archive.
I frowned.
"What archive?"
Clara whispered:
"Your father recorded everything."
"Where?"
"Miss Button."
I looked at the doll.
"The memory card."
"Not just that."
Her eyes filled with fear.
"He made copies."
"Copies of what?"
"Everything Evelyn did."
I felt cold.
Including the murder?
Clara nodded.
"Your father knew he might die."
Then Lily spoke.
Her voice came through the hospital room speaker.
"Daddy?"
I turned.
The call was live.
A video appeared.
Lily sat in a chair.
The camera showed her smiling.
"Daddy, I found something."
I moved closer.
"What?"
She held up a piece of paper.
It had a drawing on it.
A house.
A basement.
A red door.
And three stick figures.
Grandma.
Uncle Daniel.
A man I didn't recognize.
I stared.
"Who is the third person?"
Lily looked at the camera.
"The man Grandma calls Mr. Gray."
The video cut.
My phone rang.
This time the caller ID displayed a name.
Daniel.
I answered.
He said only four words.
May you like
"Come to Dad's grave."
Then the line went dead.
