Chapter 4
1083 Words
The headlights cut through the night as Julian's hands grip the steering wheel. I watch his knuckles go white.
We haven't spoken since we left the cabin.
The photo burns a hole in my memory. Elena holding a baby. Julian's eyes staring back at me. Six years before their marriage.
I can't shake it.
Julian pulls through the estate gates. The iron bars close behind us like a cage. I should feel safe now.
I don't.
The mansion looms ahead. Dark windows. Sharp angles. Then I see him.
Alex stands on the front steps with his arms crossed. He's not wearing a coat despite the cold. His face is unreadable.
Julian kills the engine. The silence rushes in.
"He's been waiting," Julian mutters.
"For how long?"
"Doesn't matter."
We get out. Our footsteps echo on the gravel. Alex doesn't move. He watches us like he's been expecting this.
"Brother," Alex says. Flat. Controlled.
"Alex." Julian's jaw is tight.
"I told you not to go poking around."
"You threatened us."
Alex's eyes shift to me. Cold. Calculating.
"You brought the accountant."
"She's not just the accountant anymore."
Alex laughs. It's not a pleasant sound.
"Elena always had a thing for strays."
My blood runs hot. "What do you know about the cabin?"
Alex's smile vanishes. I caught him off guard.
"The Webb cabin?"
"You know exactly which one."
Julian steps closer to me. Protective. "She found photos. Elena. With a baby."
Alex's face goes pale. I watch the color drain in the porch light.
"Where did you find them?"
"That's not important," I say. "You knew."
"I didn't."
"You're lying."
Alex runs a hand through his hair. He looks nervous now. Genuinely nervous.
"I was protecting her."
"Protecting who?" Julian demands.
"Elena." His voice cracks. "She came to me a year ago. She was scared. Said someone was watching her."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"She made me swear not to. She didn't trust you, Julian."
The words hit like a punch. I see Julian's face crumble.
"She was my wife."
"And she was keeping secrets. Big ones. That baby in the photo? I don't know whose it is. But she was terrified someone would find out."
"Find out what?"
Alex looks at me. Then back at his brother.
"I don't know. She never told me the full story. Just said if anything happened to her, I needed to keep you away from the truth."
"Keep me away?"
"For your own good. That's what she said."
I step forward. "So you installed the safe? You helped her hide things?"
Alex nods slowly.
"I did what she asked. I loved her too, you know."
Julian flinches.
"But not the way you did," Alex adds quickly. "She was my sister-in-law. That's all."
"Then why threaten us?" I ask.
"Because digging up the past could get you killed. Both of you."
The wind picks up. I shiver despite my coat.
"Who's watching the house now?" Julian asks.
Alex glances behind him at the mansion. "Morrison's been by twice since you left. He's looking for you."
"Morrison can wait."
"Julian, listen." Alex grabs his brother's arm. "Whatever you think you're doing, stop. Elena's dead. Nothing you find will bring her back."
"It might tell me who killed her."
"And then what? You play detective? You end up dead too?"
Someone has to.
The words hang between us.
I watch the brothers face off. There's history here. Layers I can't see.
But I can feel them.
"I'm going inside," Julian says. "You coming?"
He's looking at me. Not at Alex.
"Yes."
Alex steps aside. He doesn't follow us in.
The mansion swallows us whole. The door clicks shut behind us.
"Don't trust him," I whisper.
"I don't."
"But he knows more than he's saying."
Julian turns to me. His eyes are tired. Broken.
"They all do."
We stand in the foyer. The grandfather clock ticks. Each second feels like a countdown.
"Your brother knew about the safe. He knew about Elena's secrets. He helped her hide them."
"And now he's warning us off."
"Maybe he's scared."
"Of what?"
"Of what we might find."
Julian walks to the study. I follow. The fire is still burning from yesterday.
"The photo," I say. "The baby has your eyes."
"I know."
"Who's the mother?"
"I don't know."
"But Elena knew."
"Obviously."
"Why would she keep a child from you?"
Julian pours himself a drink. His hands shake.
"Maybe she was protecting the child."
"From you?"
"From my family."
"Alex said the same thing."
"Alex is part of my family."
I sit down across from him.
"There's something you're not telling me."
He looks at me. "There's a lot I'm not telling you."
"Start talking."
"Elena was scared of my father. Even after he died."
"Your father's been dead three years."
"I know."
"So what was she afraid of?"
Julian downs the drink.
"His network. His people. The things he built that outlived him."
"Like what?"
"Like the adoption agency. Like Marcus Webb. Like everyone who still owes loyalty to the Blackwood name."
Including Alex.
I don't say it. I don't have to.
Julian knows.
"The text we got," I say. "Find Margaret."
"Yes."
"Who is she?"
"Marcus Webb's wife. She worked at the agency."
"Then that's our next stop."
"Tomorrow."
"No. Tonight."
"We can't go back out there. Morrison is watching."
"Then we go without him."
Julian considers it.
"Margaret Webb lives on Rosewood Lane. I know the address."
"How?"
"I had her investigated after Elena died."
"Who else?"
"Everyone. Marcus. Alex. Mrs. Harlow. Anyone connected to my wife."
"And what did you find?"
"Nothing. Everything was clean. Too clean."
"Because someone buried it."
"Yes."
I stand up.
"Then we dig deeper."
"Now?"
"Now."
Julian grabs his coat.
"You don't have to come."
"Yes I do."
"Why?"
"Because I'm already in too deep."
He almost smiles.
"Fine. But we take my car. And we stay off the main roads."
"Agreed."
We slip out the back. The estate is quiet. The staff are asleep.
But I feel eyes on us.
Someone is watching.
I just don't know who.
My phone buzzes as we get in the car.
Unknown number.
"You found the cabin. Now find Margaret."
The same message.
"Someone's tracking us."
"I know."
Julian starts the engine.
"Whoever it is, they're leading us somewhere."
"Or trapping us."
"Either way, we're going."
We pull out of the gates.
The night swallows us again.
And I wonder if we'll make it back this time.
- Writer
