Chapter 7: The Blue Folder
I read Ivy's message three times.
Dad just called someone. He said they need to get rid of the blue folder before Monday morning.
My first instinct was to jump into my car.
My second was to call Margaret.
I chose both.
"Margaret, it's Avery. Something is happening at my parents' house. My father has a document he wants destroyed before Monday.""
"What document?""
"My grandmother called it the blue folder in her final voicemail. She specifically warned me not to let my father get it.""
Margaret went quiet.
Then she asked, "Did June ever explain what was inside?""
"No.""
"Listen carefully, Avery. Don't confront your father alone. Whatever is in that folder may be important evidence.""
"My seventeen-year-old sister is in that house.""
"I understand. Is she in immediate danger?""
"I don't know.""
Margaret gave me the number of a local attorney who handled emergency family matters and advised me to request a welfare check if I couldn't establish Ivy's safety.
I hung up and grabbed my keys.
Tessa was already reaching for her coat.
"I'm coming.""
"You don't have to.""
She gave me a look.
"Your parents stole your identity, tried to sell your house, and apparently have a secret folder they're desperate to destroy. You're not going over there alone.""
Twenty-five minutes later, we pulled onto Willow Creek Road.
The house looked exactly as it had when I'd left.
White siding. Dark shutters. The maple tree Grandma planted near the driveway.
But something was different.
A large black trash bag sat beside the garage.
And smoke was rising from a metal barrel in the backyard.
My stomach tightened.
"That's not good," Tessa whispered.
I parked across the street.
Before I could get out, I received a message.
It was from Ivy.
Don't come to the front door. Dad is watching.
I immediately typed back.
Where are you?
Three dots appeared.
Then disappeared.
Finally:
Upstairs bathroom. He took my phone, but I have my tablet.
I looked toward the house.
"She's upstairs.""
Tessa nodded.
I called the police non-emergency number and explained that I was concerned about my seventeen-year-old sister, who was being prevented from communicating with me.
I didn't mention the family inheritance dispute.
I focused on her safety.
While we waited, I sent Ivy another message.
Do you know where the blue folder is?
Her response came almost immediately.
Dad took it to the garage. I saw him put it inside his briefcase.
I stared at the screen.
Then another message appeared.
There's something else. Mom was crying. She said Grandma had given the original documents to someone before she died.
My heart raced.
Who?
The screen showed that Ivy was typing.
Then the message arrived.
Uncle Peter.
I felt cold.
Uncle Peter was the notary who had supposedly witnessed my fraudulent deed transfer.
Why would Grandma give him anything?
A vehicle pulled into the driveway.
Dad stepped out carrying a black briefcase.
I watched him unlock the garage.
Then I saw him remove a blue folder.
My stomach dropped.
He walked toward the metal barrel.
"No," I whispered.
Tessa grabbed my arm.
"Don't.""
Dad opened the folder and pulled out several pages.
Then he tore them in half.
He dropped the pieces into the flames.
I began walking toward the driveway.
Tessa caught up with me.
"Avery, wait!""
I didn't stop.
"THIS IS MY PROPERTY!""
Dad turned.
His face went pale.
Then his expression hardened.
"What are you doing here?""
I pointed toward the barrel.
"What's in that folder?""
"None of your business.""
"Grandma specifically mentioned it in her final message.""
His eyes widened.
For a second, he looked genuinely terrified.
Then he slammed the folder shut.
"You're trespassing.""
"That's funny. The house belongs to me.""
He stepped between me and the garage.
"You have no proof of that.""
I reached into my bag and pulled out the copy of Grandma's will.
"Would you like to read it again?""
Dad laughed.
"That document is worthless.""
"Then why are you burning papers?""
His jaw tightened.
Mom appeared behind him.
"Avery, please. Not here.""
I turned toward her.
"Where is Ivy?""
"She's upstairs.""
"Is she safe?""
"Of course she's safe!""
"Then bring her down.""
Mom folded her arms.
"She's grounded. She's been causing trouble.""
A police cruiser pulled into the driveway.
Dad's face changed immediately.
An officer stepped out.
"Good evening. We received a request to check on a minor at this address.""
Dad quickly approached him.
"Everything is fine. This is just a family disagreement.""
I stepped forward.
"I'm Avery Bennett. I'm Ivy's older sister. She's seventeen, and I've been unable to reach her.""
The officer looked between us.
"Would you mind if I spoke with her privately?""
Dad hesitated.
"She's studying.""
"That won't take long.""
A few minutes later, Ivy appeared at the top of the stairs.
Her eyes found mine.
She looked frightened but unharmed.
The officer spoke with her privately while Dad paced across the living room.
When Ivy came downstairs, she carried a small backpack.
She approached me.
"I want to stay with Avery.""
Mom immediately protested.
"Absolutely not!""
The officer explained that Ivy could express her wishes, but any longer-term living arrangement would need to follow the appropriate legal process.
Ivy nodded.
"I understand. I just don't want to stay here tonight.""
Dad pointed toward her.
"You're being manipulated!""
Ivy finally raised her voice.
"No, Dad. I'm tired of you lying.""
Everyone went silent.
She looked at me.
"Can we go?""
I put my arm around her.
"Yes, sweetheart.""
As we walked toward the door, Dad shouted behind us.
"YOU'RE MAKING A TERRIBLE MISTAKE!""
I turned around.
"No. I'm finally correcting one.""
In the car, Ivy handed me a small flash drive.
"What's this?"" I asked.
"Pictures of everything in Dad's office.""
I looked at her.
"Did you find the blue folder?""
She nodded.
"I photographed it before he took it outside.""
My heart started pounding.
"What was inside?""
Ivy swallowed.
"Bank statements. A copy of Grandma's original deed. And a letter from Uncle Peter.""
She opened her tablet and showed me the photograph.
The letter was dated March 21, six years earlier.
It was addressed to my father.
The first sentence read:
Richard, I cannot continue pretending I witnessed Avery sign that deed.
I stared at the screen.
My father hadn't just forged my signature.
He had recruited a witness.
And that witness was finally admitting it.
Then Ivy pointed to the bottom of the letter.
There was another sentence.
You promised me June would never find out what happened to the original trust documents.
"What trust documents?"" I whispered.
Ivy shook her head.
"I don't know.""
Then she enlarged the photograph.
Beneath Uncle Peter's signature was a handwritten note.
The safe deposit box key is still with June's attorney.
I remembered Grandma's final voicemail.
A safe deposit box at First National Bank.
And the key hidden in the place where she kept her most precious things.
I looked toward my suitcase in the back seat.
May you like
The wooden jewelry box was inside.
For the first time, I understood why Dad wanted it back so desperately.
