Chapter 13 - THE BODY UNDER THE ICEThe message included coordinates.
A frozen lake outside town.
Police warned us not to go.
We went anyway.
Because the truth was there.
At the lake, investigators found disturbed snow.
Then a metal box beneath the ice.
Inside were photographs, contracts, and a small video camera.
The camera still worked.
We watched the footage.
Judge Hale appeared on screen.
Beside him was my father.
And another man.
My grandfather.
I stared.
My grandfather was supposed to have died years ago.
Yet there he was.
Alive.
Speaking.
“You're destroying this family.”
Hale answered:
“Families are built on power.”
My grandfather shook his head.
“You're using my money.”
“Your money built this town.”
“My money was supposed to help it.”
Hale smiled.
“That's what history will say.”
Then my father stepped forward.
“And Clara?”
My grandfather looked devastated.
“Protect her.”
Hale laughed.
“She is the heir.”
My father said:
“Then we'll make her disappear.”
I stopped the video.
Everyone was silent.
“My grandfather knew.”
“Yes,” Daniel said.
“He knew they were coming for me.”
“Yes.”
“But he never helped me.”
“He tried.”
“How?”
Daniel pointed at the screen.
“Look at the date.”
I looked.
Fifteen years ago.
The day my mother supposedly died.
My grandfather had arranged a transfer.
The money had been moved into my name.
Then the transaction was blocked.
By my father.
And Judge Hale.
That meant my grandfather had fought them.
And lost.
The next video began.
My grandfather was alone.
He looked directly into the camera.
“Clara, I'm sorry.”
His voice broke.
“I couldn't get you back.”
He paused.
“But I found someone who can.”
The camera shifted.
Elena appeared.
“You.”
My aunt nodded.
“He told me to wait.”
“Wait for what?”
“For you to find the truth.”
The video ended.
I felt tears fill my eyes.
Then a police officer shouted.
“There's something under the ice!”
They pulled up a body.
An old man.
Wearing a ring.
The same ring my grandfather wore in every family photograph.
My knees weakened.
“My grandfather.”
He had been dead all these years.
Not from natural causes.
A bullet wound was visible in his chest.
Then police found another item in his coat.
A key.
Engraved with one word.
ZOE.
Daniel stared at it.
“This key doesn't open a door.”
“What does it open?”
He looked at me.
“A safety deposit box.”
“Where?”
He shook his head.
“Not at a bank.”
I stared.
“Then where?”
He pointed toward the horizon.
“The old Walker estate.”
My parents' house.
The place where it all began.
And then my phone rang.
This time, there was no number.
May you like
Just one word.
COME HOME.
