The Name on the Screen
669 Words
The room fell into complete silence.
Hope stared at the computer screen, unable to breathe.
One name filled the document.
Grace Kingsley.
Lily stepped closer.
"No..."
Marcus immediately shook his head.
"This could be fake."
Hope wanted to believe him.
She had known Grace her entire life. Grace had helped raise her after her mother passed away. She had devoted decades to the Kingsley Foundation and Adrian's Haven.
She couldn't be a traitor.
She simply couldn't.
Alexander folded his arms.
"Raven never leaves evidence unless they want you to find it."
Hope looked at him.
"So you think they're lying?"
"I think they're trying to divide your family."
Marcus nodded.
"That's exactly what I'd do if I wanted to weaken the Kingsleys."
Hope closed the file.
"We don't accuse anyone until we have proof."
---
At that very moment, Grace walked into the study carrying a tray of coffee.
She smiled warmly.
"You've all been working since yesterday. You should eat something."
The room became strangely quiet.
Grace noticed everyone staring at her.
"What happened?"
Hope forced a smile.
"Nothing."
Grace looked unconvinced but placed the tray on Adrian's old desk.
"I've also spoken with the police."
"They've expanded the search."
Hope thanked her, but her heart was racing.
She hated herself for even wondering if the file could be true.
Grace squeezed Hope's shoulder gently.
"We'll bring Ethan and Noah home."
"I promise."
Then she quietly left the room.
The door closed.
Marcus exhaled slowly.
"If she's acting..."
"She's very good."
Hope looked down at the desk.
"I don't know what to believe anymore."
---
Alexander picked up Adrian's silver pocket watch.
"There may be another clue."
He turned the watch over in his hands.
Then he smiled faintly.
"I thought so."
Hope frowned.
"What?"
He pointed to the inside edge of the watch.
"Look closely."
Tiny letters were engraved around the inner rim, almost invisible to the naked eye.
Marcus used a magnifying glass.
"It says..."
He read slowly.
'Only the oak remembers the truth.'
Hope's eyes widened.
"The oak tree."
The ancient oak planted by Adrian.
Alexander nodded.
"If Adrian hid messages everywhere, he may have hidden one there too."
---
An hour later, Hope, Alexander, Marcus, and Lily stood beneath the enormous oak tree at the Kingsley Estate.
The afternoon breeze rustled the leaves overhead.
Hope gently touched the rough bark.
"This tree has been here longer than any of us."
Alexander circled the trunk.
"He chose this place for a reason."
Marcus examined the roots.
"There's something unusual."
He brushed away layers of soil.
Half-buried beneath the roots was a small bronze plaque.
Hope knelt beside it.
It wasn't visible unless someone knew where to look.
Engraved on it were seven words:
The truth lies beneath what has grown.
Marcus looked at Hope.
"We'll need permission to dig."
Hope didn't hesitate.
"You have it."
Workers carefully removed the soil around the roots without harming the tree.
Nearly two hours passed.
Then—
Clang!
One shovel struck metal.
Marcus knelt and cleared away the dirt.
A weatherproof steel box slowly emerged from the earth.
Hope's heartbeat quickened.
Another box.
Another secret from Adrian.
She entered the combination.
This time...
The lock opened immediately.
Inside were only two items.
An old cassette tape.
And a handwritten note.
Hope unfolded it.
It read:
«If you have found this, then Raven has returned. Do not trust appearances. The enemy is closer than you think—but not the one you suspect.»
Hope looked up sharply.
Alexander frowned.
"So Grace may have been framed."
Before anyone could respond, Marcus's phone rang.
He answered.
His face drained of color.
"What?"
Hope stepped toward him.
"What is it?"
Marcus lowered the phone slowly.
"The hospital just called."
"Why would the hospital call?"
"They've identified a patient who was admitted this morning after escaping from an abandoned warehouse."
Hope's heart pounded.
"Who is it?"
Marcus looked directly into her eyes.
"It's Noah."
"But..."
"He says Ethan told Raven where to find him."
- Writer
