Chapter 6 - The Dead Man’s PhoneMeredith had not slept in thirty-six hours.
She sat in her father’s old office, surrounded by documents.
Julian entered carrying coffee.
“You should rest.”
“I’ll rest when we know he’s alive.”
Julian placed the coffee down.
“You believe he is?”
Meredith looked at the old family portrait.
“I need to.”
A buzzing sound came from the desk.
They both froze.
An old landline phone was ringing.
Meredith stared.
“That line was disconnected.”
Julian picked it up.
“Hello?”
Silence.
Then a man's breathing.
Julian’s face changed.
“Who is this?”
A voice answered.
Older.
Weaker.
But unmistakable.
“Julian.”
He dropped into the chair.
“Dad?”
Meredith rushed over.
“Let me hear him.”
Julian placed the phone on speaker.
Meredith heard it.
Her father's voice.
“Meredith.”
She covered her mouth.
Tears filled her eyes.
“Dad?”
“Listen carefully.”
The voice sounded strained.
“You cannot trust Richard.”
Meredith looked at the library door.
“He helped us.”
“No.”
Her father coughed.
“He helped because he has no choice.”
Julian leaned closer.
“Where are you?”
“I cannot tell you.”
“Why?”
“They are listening.”
A pause.
“Who?”
“The Vances are not the only threat.”
Meredith looked at Julian.
Her father's voice continued.
“The person closest to you is compromised.”
Julian frowned.
“Who?”
Silence.
Then:
“Your sister.”
Meredith stared.
“Me?”
“Yes.”
Her heart stopped.
“You don’t understand.”
“You have something they want.”
“What?”
“The original trust key.”
Meredith looked around.
“What key?”
“You were given it after my death.”
“I received nothing.”
“You did.”
Julian looked at her.
“What was it?”
Her father spoke:
“The necklace.”
Meredith touched the pendant around her neck.
She had worn it every day since the funeral.
She had believed it was sentimental.
Her father whispered:
“Do not remove it in front of anyone.”
The line crackled.
“Dad?”
“Meredith, someone has already—”
The call ended.
Julian stared at the phone.
“We need to find out what’s inside that necklace.”
Meredith removed it carefully.
The pendant looked ordinary.
Small.
Silver.
Old.
Julian took a jeweler’s magnifier.
He examined the clasp.
Then stopped.
“There’s a seam.”
Meredith froze.
Julian carefully opened it.
Inside was a microscopic chip.
And engraved beneath it were four words.
THE TRUTH LIVES BELOW.
Suddenly the office door opened.
Richard stood there.
He stared at the necklace.
Then his face went white.
“You found it.”
Meredith slowly turned.
“What is it?”
Richard whispered:
“The thing your father killed himself trying to protect.”
Julian stared at him.
“What do you mean?”
Richard shook his head.
“He didn’t die.”
He looked at Meredith.
May you like
“But he let the world believe he did.”
Then every light in the house went out.
