Chapter 5 - THE HOUSE UNDER THE HOUSE
The lake house had been empty for years.
It sat beside a dark stretch of water surrounded by trees.
Thomas drove us there before sunrise.
Caleb slept in the back seat.
I kept checking the mirrors.
No one followed us.
At least, no one we could see.
The house looked abandoned.
Dust covered the furniture.
The windows were boarded.
Thomas unlocked the front door.
“Your father built this place for emergencies.”
Ryan looked around.
“I've never been here.”
“He didn't want you to know.”
“Why?”
“Because he didn't know who might be watching.”
Thomas led us to the basement.
There was an old wooden floor.
He moved a cabinet.
A metal hatch appeared.
He entered a code.
The hatch opened.
Below was a hidden room.
It contained computers.
Files.
Medical supplies.
Food.
A generator.
And dozens of photographs.
Ryan walked toward the wall.
His father.
Carol.
Thomas.
Michael.
Laura.
And someone else.
A young woman.
I recognized her.
“That's Sarah.”
Thomas turned.
“You know her?”
“She came to Michael's office.”
Thomas's expression changed.
“Then we're already too late.”
“Why?”
“She was working for Richard.”
I felt sick.
“She said she was your father's assistant.”
“She was.”
“So she betrayed him?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Money.”
Ryan looked at the photographs.
“Then why did she warn us?”
Thomas shook his head.
“Because she wants something.”
“What?”
“The original ledger.”
We opened another cabinet.
Inside were files labeled with names.
Carol.
Sarah.
Richard.
Thomas.
And mine.
I opened my file.
There were photographs of me from years earlier.
My college.
My wedding.
My pregnancy.
Even Caleb as a newborn.
My hands shook.
“Someone has been watching us for years.”
Thomas nodded.
“Your father hired someone to monitor threats.”
“Who?”
“Me.”
“Then why didn't you stop Carol?”
“I didn't know she was involved.”
I looked at him.
“You knew about her.”
“I suspected.”
“That's not enough.”
“No.”
Ryan found another folder.
It was labeled:
CALEB — EMERGENCY SUCCESSION.
He opened it.
Inside was a video recording.
His father appeared on screen.
He looked tired.
But calm.
“If you're watching this, something has gone wrong.”
Ryan sat down.
His father continued.
“Ryan, if you are watching this, I am sorry.”
Ryan's eyes filled with tears.
“Your mother will tell you I betrayed the family.”
He paused.
“She will lie.”
Carol's name appeared on the screen.
“She believes she deserves control of the trust. She does not.”
Then he looked directly at the camera.
“The trust exists for one reason.”
He opened a document.
“To protect the evidence.”
Ryan leaned closer.
“Evidence of what?”
His father answered:
“The Carter family's illegal acquisitions.”
I felt cold.
“The companies were built using stolen assets.”
Ryan stared.
“Your grandfather?”
“Yes.”
“Then why did Dad keep the companies?”
“Because he was trying to expose them.”
The video continued.
“My death may not be natural.”
Ryan covered his mouth.
“If I die, do not trust Carol.”
Then his father said something that changed everything.
“Do not trust Robert either.”
Ryan looked at me.
“Who is Robert?”
Thomas answered.
“Your father's younger brother.”
“Uncle Robert?”
“He died when you were a child.”
Thomas shook his head.
“No.”
“Where is he?”
“Inside the company.”
Ryan stared.
“He's been working there?”
“Under another name.”
The video ended.
A door opened behind us.
We turned.
Sarah stood there.
She was holding a gun.
“Give me the ledger.”
Thomas stepped forward.
“Sarah.”
She looked terrified.
“I don't want to hurt anyone.”
Ryan moved Caleb behind him.
“Then put the weapon down.”
Sarah shook her head.
“You don't understand.”
“Explain.”
“Richard has my daughter.”
The room became silent.
“What?”
“He took her.”
“Where?”
“I don't know.”
“So you're working for him?”
“I have no choice.”
Thomas lowered his hands.
“Where is the ledger?”
“I don't know.”
She looked at me.
“But he believes Emily has it.”
I stared.
“Why me?”
“Because your father appointed you trustee.”
Sarah's voice broke.
“Everyone thinks the trust is about money.”
“It isn't.”
“No.”
She looked at Caleb.
“It is about who controls the evidence.”
Suddenly a gunshot came from outside.
Sarah dropped her weapon.
Thomas grabbed us.
“Down!”
Another shot struck the wall.
Men surrounded the lake house.
Richard's voice came through a speaker.
“Bring me the boy.”
I held Caleb tightly.
Thomas looked at me.
“There's another exit.”
“Where?”
“Under the floor.”
He opened a hidden door.
We crawled into a narrow tunnel.
Behind us, the hidden room door exploded open.
Richard's men entered.
We ran.
The tunnel led beneath the lake.
We reached an old boat dock.
A boat was waiting.
Thomas pushed us inside.
As we escaped, I looked back.
Richard stood on the shore.
He wasn't angry.
He was smiling.
Then he raised a phone.
My phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
Richard said:
“You have something that belongs to me.”
“What?”
“The first will.”
“I don't.”
“You will.”
The call ended.
Then another message appeared.
A photograph.
Caleb asleep in the car.
May you like
Taken twenty minutes earlier.
Someone had been inside our vehicle.
