Chapter 9: The Locked Box
“Mom!”” Ethan shouted.
No answer.
Dad rushed toward the stairs.
The basement door wouldn't open.
“It's locked.””
He pounded on it.
“Open this door!””
Mom's voice came from the other side.
“John, listen to me.””
Dad slammed his shoulder against the door.
“Open it!””
“You don't understand.””
“You started the fire!””
Silence.
Then Mom whispered:
“I was trying to save Ethan.””
Ethan stepped toward the door.
“You locked me in the garage.””
“I was scared.””
“You left me there.””
“I came back.””
“After you started the fire.””
Mom began crying.
“I thought the fire would stay downstairs.””
Marcus shouted, “You knew the gasoline was there!””
Dad turned toward him.
“Gasoline?””
Marcus didn't answer.
Ethan did.
“She wanted the insurance money.””
Dad stared into the darkness.
“What was she planning to do with it?””
Ethan looked at the metal cabinet.
“There was another person involved.””
Dad's voice hardened.
“Who?””
Before Ethan could answer, the basement door opened.
Mom stood there.
Her hair was soaked from the rain.
She held a small handgun pointed at the floor.
Lily gasped.
Mom immediately raised it.
“Don't come closer.””
Dad froze.
“Put it down.””
“I can't.””
“You're frightening the kids.””
“I know.””
“Then put it down.””
Mom's hands shook.
“You think I wanted any of this?””
Dad laughed bitterly.
“You destroyed your own family.””
“I was protecting you.””
“From what?””
Mom looked at Marcus.
“From him.””
Marcus's face hardened.
“You're still blaming me?””
“You came back for revenge.””
“I came back because Ethan deserved the truth.””
Mom looked at Ethan.
“I did everything to protect you.””
Ethan shook his head.
“No. You did everything to protect yourself.””
She flinched.
Dad stepped closer.
“Why the money?””
Mom's eyes moved to the cabinet.
“There was a life insurance policy.””
Dad frowned.
“Whose?””
“Yours.””
The room went silent.
Dad stared.
“My life insurance?””
Mom nodded.
“I increased the policy before the fire.””
Marcus whispered, “There it is.””
Dad looked at him.
“What?””
“The box.””
Marcus pointed toward the floor beneath the cabinet.
“That's where she kept the original policy.””
Ethan knelt and pulled away a loose wooden board.
A small steel box was hidden underneath.
Mom raised the gun.
“Don't.””
Ethan stopped.
Dad looked at her.
“What’s inside?””
“The evidence.””
“Evidence of what?””
Mom's eyes filled with tears.
“The reason I couldn't let Ethan talk.””
Ethan slowly stood.
“What did you do?””
Mom looked at him.
“I didn't start that fire alone.””
Everyone froze.
Dad whispered, “Who helped you?””
Mom's lips trembled.
“Someone you trusted.””
A loud bang came from upstairs.
Lily screamed.
Another set of footsteps thundered across the floor above us.
Dad looked toward the ceiling.
“Who else is here?””
Mom's face went white.
She lowered the gun.
“It's too late.””
The basement door suddenly opened again.
A shadow appeared at the top of the stairs.
Then a familiar voice spoke.
“You should have left the box buried.””
Dad's eyes widened.
I knew that voice.
So did Ethan.
It was the voice from Lily's recording.
Marcus whispered one name.
“David.””
Dad stared at him.
“Who the hell is David?””
Marcus looked at Ethan.
“Your father's brother.””
And behind the shadow, another figure stepped into the light.
May you like
Chloe.
She was holding the steel box.
