Chapter 10: The Threat That Brought Us Home
For three seconds, nobody in Daniel Reed's office moved.
I stared at the photograph on my phone. Lily stood outside our Ohio house, wearing the gray hoodie she'd put on before we left that morning. Behind her, the curtains in the living room were open.
Someone had taken the picture from across the street.
Someone knew exactly where she was.
I called her immediately.
She answered on the second ring.
"Emily? What's wrong?""
"Where are you?""
"At home. Why?""
"Are you alone?""
A pause.
"Yeah. Dad said I should stay inside until you guys get back.""
"Lock the doors. Every door. Don't open them for anyone.""
"Emily, you're scaring me.""
"Please, Lily. Just do it.""
I heard her footsteps rushing across the floor, followed by the metallic click of a deadbolt.
Then she whispered, "Someone's in the driveway.""
My stomach dropped.
"Get away from the windows.""
"There's a black SUV. I can't see who's inside.""
"Go to the bathroom and lock yourself in. Call 911 if anyone tries to enter.""
"What's happening?""
I couldn't bring myself to tell her that someone had threatened her because of a document she hadn't even seen.
"Just trust me.""
The call ended.
My father snatched the phone from my hand and called the local police department. He explained the photograph, the threat, and Lily's location. Daniel immediately contacted a friend who worked in law enforcement.
Ethan stood beside the desk, his fists clenched.
"They're threatening a sixteen-year-old girl to get a piece of paper.""
Daniel nodded grimly.
"That means the document is more dangerous than we realized.""
My father turned on him.
"Then why did you keep it?""
"Because your father told me to protect it.""
"By putting my daughter in danger?""
"Robert, I didn't send that message.""
"But you knew someone might come after us!""
Daniel's expression hardened.
"I've spent years looking over my shoulder because I believed your wife's death wasn't an accident. Don't stand there pretending I'm the one who put your children in danger.""
Dad opened his mouth, then closed it.
Ethan stepped between them.
"Arguing won't help Lily.""
He turned to Daniel.
"Is there another copy of the will?""
"Yes. My attorney has a certified copy in a secure file. But the original contains handwritten notes from James that aren't included in the certified version.""
"Then we'll protect the original and let the police handle the threat.""
Daniel nodded.
"That's the right decision.""
My phone rang again.
This time, Lily was crying.
"Emily, someone just rang the doorbell.""
I stood so quickly that my chair toppled backward.
"Did you look outside?""
"No. I heard a man's voice.""
"What did he say?""
"He said he had something from Dad.""
My father took the phone.
"Lily, it's Dad. Don't open that door. Do you hear me?""
"Dad, he says Mom—"
The call cut out.
My father stared at the screen.
Then he ran.
We were halfway to Daniel's truck when his phone rang. It was the police officer he'd spoken to earlier.
"Mr. Mitchell, your daughter is safe," the officer said.
"We have two units at your property.""
Dad stopped walking.
"Was someone at the door?""
"Yes. A man attempted to deliver an envelope. He left before officers arrived.""
"Did you identify him?""
"Not yet. But we recovered the envelope.""
My father closed his eyes.
"Thank God.""
The officer continued.
"There's something else. Your daughter says the man mentioned her biological mother.""
Dad went rigid.
"What did he say?""
"He told her that if she wanted to know what really happened to Sarah Mitchell, she should ask her father why he signed the papers.""
The call ended.
Nobody spoke as we climbed into the truck.
On the drive back to Ohio, I sat beside Ethan while Dad drove so fast that Daniel repeatedly told him to slow down.
My brother stared at the photograph on my phone.
"Someone's trying to make Dad believe he signed the original will.""
"Maybe he did," I said quietly.
Ethan turned toward me.
"You think Dad had something to do with Mom's death?""
"I don't know what to think anymore.""
He looked away.
"Neither do I.""
We reached our house just after midnight.
Two police cruisers were parked outside. Lily sat on the front steps wrapped in a blanket, talking to an officer. The moment she saw us, she ran straight into my arms.
I held her so tightly she complained that she couldn't breathe.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
I pulled back.
"For what?""
"If I hadn't recorded Linda, none of this would have happened.""
"Lily, listen to me. You didn't cause any of this. The people who lied and stole and threatened you did.""
She nodded, but her hands were still shaking.
My father knelt in front of her.
"You're safe now, sweetheart.""
Lily studied his face.
"Why did the man say you signed papers about Mom?""
Dad looked as if he had aged ten years in one evening.
"I don't know.""
"Are you sure?""
He swallowed.
"I remember signing some documents after the accident. I was barely sleeping. Linda told me they were insurance forms.""
Daniel stepped closer.
"Robert, we need to find those documents.""
One of the officers approached us carrying a sealed evidence bag.
Inside was a single sheet of paper.
It was a photocopy of a document bearing my father's signature.
The heading read: *Authorization for Transfer of Estate Assets.*
Below the signature was a date.
Three days before my mother's death.
Dad stared at the page.
"I never signed this.""
Ethan took a step closer.
"Are you sure?""
"I would remember authorizing a transfer of my father's estate!""
Daniel examined the photocopy through the plastic.
"Then someone forged your signature.""
The officer nodded.
"We'll send this for examination. But there's something else you should know. The envelope contained a handwritten note.""
He removed a second evidence bag.
The message was short.
If you want the truth about Sarah, stop looking at Linda.
At the bottom was a name.
*Daniel Reed.*
My father slowly turned toward Mom's brother.
"You sent this?""
Daniel looked genuinely stunned.
"No.""
Dad's face hardened.
"Then explain why your name is on it.""
Daniel stared at the note for a long moment.
Finally, he said, "Because whoever sent it wants you to believe I was involved.""
He looked toward the darkened house.
"And that means someone knows I have the original evidence.""
Before anyone could respond, the officer's radio crackled.
A voice came through, distorted by static.
"We've identified the owner of the black SUV.""
The officer listened, then looked directly at my father.
"Mr. Mitchell, the vehicle is registered to your wife.""
Dad's expression collapsed.
But before he could speak, the officer added one final detail.
May you like
"The vehicle's registered owner reported it stolen this afternoon.""
And Linda had been missing for nearly six hours.
