Chapter 6: The Person Standing Behind Me
I walked outside before answering Evelyn’s question.
The morning air was cold.
The fields stretched endlessly in front of me.
The same fields I grew up believing were safe.
But nothing felt safe anymore.
I pressed the phone against my ear.
“I’m outside.””
Evelyn exhaled.
“Good.””
“What is this about?””
“Your father discovered the truth three days before he died.””
My throat tightened.
“You knew him.””
“Yes.””
“Then why didn’t you tell my mother?””
A long pause.
“Because I was afraid.””
Those words surprised me.
Afraid.
Everyone kept using that word.
My mother.
Evelyn.
Even Richard’s confidence felt like fear disguised as control.
“Afraid of who?””
Evelyn lowered her voice.
“The Whitmores.””
I looked back at the farmhouse.
“Everyone keeps telling me they’re dangerous.””
“They are.””
“What exactly did they do?””
She hesitated.
“Your father found evidence that Richard was planning to take Willowbrook permanently.””
“I know.””
“No, Charles.””
Her voice became urgent.
“You don’t.””
I frowned.
“What am I missing?””
“The agreement with Stephanie was not the beginning.””
I felt my stomach tighten.
“What was it?””
“The end.””
I said nothing.
Evelyn continued.
“Richard knew your mother would never sell the farm.””
“She wouldn’t.””
“So he found another way.””
I already knew where this was going.
“Me.””
“Yes.””
The word hit harder than I expected.
“He didn’t want the farm.””
I swallowed.
“He wanted access to it.””
“Yes.””
The pieces started connecting.
The wedding.
The pressure.
Stephanie’s behavior.
Her family’s obsession with appearances.
It was never about love.
It was a business arrangement.
“Where is the document?””
Evelyn became quiet.
“I can meet you.””
“When?””
“Tonight.””
“Where?””
“Your father’s old storage building.””
I frowned.
“That place has been empty for years.””
“No.””
Her voice was almost a whisper.
“It hasn’t.””
Before I could ask more, she ended the call.
I stood there staring at my phone.
Then I heard footsteps.
I turned.
My mother was standing behind me.
She looked hurt.
“You talked to her.””
I didn’t answer.
“Charles.””
“Why didn’t you tell me about Evelyn?””
She looked away.
“Because I wanted to protect you.””
“That’s not an answer.””
She closed her eyes.
“She was there the night your father died.””
My heart stopped.
“What?””
“She came to the farm.””
“When?””
“The night before.””
I stared at her.
“And you never told me?””
“Your father asked me not to.””
“Why?””
My mother’s voice broke.
“Because he believed someone was watching him.””
A cold feeling moved through my body.
“Mom…”
She grabbed my arm.
“Promise me you won’t go alone tonight.””
I looked at her.
“You think something will happen?””
She didn’t answer.
That was the answer.
That evening, I drove to the old storage building behind the north field.
The place had been abandoned since I was a teenager.
The door was locked.
But when I arrived, it was already open.
My heart started pounding.
I stepped inside.
Dust covered the floor.
Old equipment sat against the walls.
Then I saw something that made me stop.
A light was on.
Someone was already there.
“Evelyn?””
No answer.
I walked deeper inside.
Then I saw a folder sitting on the table.
My name was written across it.
I reached toward it.
And before my fingers touched the cover, a voice came from behind me.
“Charles.””
I turned.
My blood ran cold.
May you like
Because the person standing in the doorway was the last person I expected to see.
Stephanie.
