Chapter 10 - What My Mother HidWe escaped through a maintenance tunnel.

By the time we reached Blackwood House, it was 11:57.

I ran inside.

“Where would she hide something?”

Richard shook his head.

“I don't know.”

“My grandfather did.”

We searched the study.

The safe.

The bookshelves.

The desk.

Nothing.

Then I remembered the photograph.

My mother.

My grandfather.

The note.

She found the missing money.

I looked toward the fireplace.

“What's behind that?”

Richard frowned.

“Nothing.”

I tapped the stone.

Hollow.

Margaret appeared behind us.

She looked at the wall.

Then at me.

“I wondered when you'd notice.”

She pulled a lever hidden beneath the mantle.

The stone shifted.

A narrow compartment opened.

Inside was a small metal box.

I reached for it.

Inside was an old cassette tape.

A photograph.

And a letter.

I read the letter first.

It was my mother's handwriting.

Nathan,

You won't remember me writing this because you were too young.

But one day you will know why your grandfather protected you.

The next sentence made me stop.

Your father did not betray me first. James did.

I stared.

Richard whispered,

“Keep reading.”

James knew Victor was stealing from the company. He also knew Daniel was afraid. Instead of exposing them both, he tried to negotiate.

That was his greatest mistake.

When I found the evidence, I decided to go to the police.

Daniel begged me not to.

He said they would kill Nathan.

I told him fear was not an excuse.

I swallowed.

Then:

The night of the crash, I hid the original records where only Nathan would ever think to look.

I looked around the room.

“Where?”

No answer.

The final paragraph was short.

Look where your grandfather first taught you to read.

I frowned.

“I never met him.”

Richard's face changed.

“No.”

“What?”

He whispered,

“That's the lie.”

I stared at him.

“What lie?”

“Your grandfather did meet you.”

My chest tightened.

“When?”

“When you were four.”

“Why don't I remember?”

“Because your father took you away.”

Richard looked toward the hallway.

“There was a fire.”

“What fire?”

“Your grandfather's old office burned down.”

I stared at the walls.

“This house?”

“No.”

He gave me an address.

An abandoned warehouse district.

I grabbed my jacket.

“Then we're going.”

Margaret stepped forward.

“Nathan.”

I turned.

She handed me a small wooden toy boat.

I recognized it.

A faded blue boat.

My mother had given it to me when I was little.

But there was something I didn't remember.

My name was carved underneath.

And beside it were two initials.

J.B.

My grandfather.

I looked at Margaret.

“How do I remember him?”

She whispered,

“You don't.”

“You do?”

“Yes.”

“And my father?”

“He remembers too.”

That was when the house lights went out.

All of them.

Then we heard a car crash through the front gate.

Richard reached for his weapon.

A black SUV stopped outside.

The rear door opened.

Victor stepped out.

Beside him was my father.

But my father was not tied up anymore.

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