Chapter 4: The Secret Inside My Aunt's House
I wanted to believe Tom was wrong.
I wanted to believe my aunt was simply a cruel woman who had taken advantage of an orphaned child.
But the photograph lying on the table told a different story.
Linda Parker had been standing beside my father only four days earlier.
And according to Walter's handwritten note, she was helping the man responsible for my mother's death.
"How long have you known?"" I asked.
Tom sat across from me, his fingers wrapped around a coffee mug.
"About your aunt? We suspected something for years. We didn't have enough proof.""
"Then why didn't you tell me?""
"Because your father begged us not to expose you to the danger.""
I stood abruptly.
"Well, congratulations. You protected me so well that I spent three years thinking my father was dead!""
Jace looked down.
Nobody argued.
I picked up the photograph again.
"Where is this house?""
Tom slid a piece of paper across the table.
"About forty minutes outside Knoxville. Your father has been living there under another name.""
"Then let's go.""
"Not yet," Tom replied.
I stared at him.
"Why not?""
"Because if your aunt is working with Richard Hayes, she may already know we've found you.""
I pulled out my phone.
"I need to go home.""
Jace stood.
"I'm coming with you.""
Tom nodded.
"Take two men. Don't let her know you're suspicious.""
Twenty minutes later, Jace drove me back to Linda's house.
The afternoon sun reflected off the windows. Everything looked ordinary.
The white curtains.
The flowerpots.
The little American flag beside the front door.
It was the same house where I'd spent three years believing I had nobody.
Jace parked across the street.
"Let me go in first," he suggested.
"No. She's my aunt. I'm not hiding from her.""
He studied my expression.
"All right. But if anything feels wrong, call me.""
I walked inside.
Linda was sitting at the dining table, sorting through a pile of envelopes.
She looked up.
"Where have you been?""
"Out.""
"With those bikers?""
I placed my backpack on the floor.
"Who is Richard Hayes?""
Her fingers stopped moving.
"Emily, we already discussed this.""
"No. You talked. I listened. Now I'm asking.""
She pushed the envelopes into a drawer.
"He's an old family friend.""
"Why were you standing beside my father four days ago?""
For the first time, my aunt looked genuinely frightened.
Then she stood and walked toward me.
"Who showed you that photograph?""
"Does it matter?""
"Of course it matters!""
"Why?""
She lowered her voice.
"Because your father is a dangerous man.""
I almost laughed.
"That's funny. You told me he was dead.""
"Emily, you don't understand what you're getting involved in.""
"Then explain it.""
She grabbed my shoulders.
"Your mother destroyed this family with her stupid decisions. Your father made everything worse. I took you in because somebody had to.""
I stepped away.
"Did you take me in because you loved me, or because Dad was paying you?""
Her face turned red.
"How dare you?""
I reached into my pocket and pulled out a printed copy of the bank statement.
Thirty-six monthly payments.
Thirty-six thousand dollars.
Linda stared at it.
"Where did you get that?""
"From the man who actually cared enough to make sure I had food and a roof over my head.""
She snatched the paper.
"That money was for your expenses!""
"Then why did I have to work evenings at a grocery store to buy school supplies?""
She didn't answer.
I pointed at the receipts.
"Why did you tell Dad I refused to see him?""
Linda folded the paper and dropped it onto the table.
"Because you were better off without him!""
"That's not your decision!""
Her hand came down hard against the table.
"You ungrateful little girl!""
I flinched.
For a moment, I was eleven again, standing in the kitchen while she told me my mother was gone and my father didn't want me.
Then I remembered something.
My mother's letter.
I reached into my backpack and removed it.
"Mom left something for me.""
Linda's eyes locked onto the envelope.
"What is that?""
"A letter.""
She stepped closer.
"Give it to me.""
"No.""
"Emily, give me that letter.""
I backed away.
She lunged.
I managed to pull my hand out of reach, but her fingernails scratched my wrist.
"STOP!""
The front door opened.
Jace stepped inside.
Behind him stood two enormous bikers.
Linda immediately released my arm.
"What is this? Get out of my house!""
Jace looked at the red marks on my wrist.
"Did you touch her?""
"She's my niece!""
"That wasn't my question.""
Linda pointed toward the door.
"Call the police!""
I looked directly at her.
"Go ahead. Maybe they'll want to know about those thirty-six payments.""
Her expression changed.
And then her phone rang.
She glanced at the screen.
I saw the name.
RICHARD.
She declined the call.
It rang again.
This time, she answered.
"What?"" she snapped.
A man's voice came through loudly enough for me to hear.
"Did you get the letter?""
Linda looked at me.
Then she whispered:
"No. She's with them.""
There was a pause.
The man's voice became colder.
"Then you have a problem, Linda.""
The call ended.
Linda slowly lowered her phone.
Jace stepped toward me.
"We need to leave. Now.""
I grabbed my backpack.
But before I reached the door, my aunt spoke.
"Emily.""
I turned.
Her face had gone pale.
"If you find your father, ask him what happened to the money he stole before your mother died.""
I froze.
"What money?""
Linda's eyes filled with tears, but there was no kindness in them.
"Your father wasn't the innocent man those bikers want you to believe.""
May you like
Then she smiled bitterly.
"Ask him why your mother was in that car alone.""
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