Chapter 7 - The Door He Couldn't Open
Gregory walked toward the house.
Clara's heart pounded.
Her father locked the front door.
"Back room."
They moved quickly.
Evelyn called for assistance.
Clara stayed close to her father.
Gregory knocked.
Once.
Twice.
Then his voice came through the door.
"Clara."
She said nothing.
"I know you're inside."
Her father whispered:
"Don't answer."
Gregory laughed softly.
"Your father finally grew a conscience."
Clara stared at him through the glass.
Gregory looked completely composed.
Perfect suit.
Perfect hair.
Perfect smile.
The same man people admired.
He lifted a folder.
"I have documents."
Evelyn stepped forward.
"Leave the property."
Gregory smiled.
"You must be Evelyn Grant."
She froze.
He knew her name.
Gregory looked directly toward Clara.
"You've made this more complicated than it needed to be."
Clara's voice shook.
"You hurt me."
His expression didn't change.
"You were upset."
"You attacked me."
"I lost my temper."
Clara almost laughed.
Her mother's words echoed in her mind.
All men lose their tempers.
Gregory continued.
"Come home."
"No."
"You don't understand what you're risking."
"I understand exactly what I'm risking."
He held up the folder.
"The trust can be challenged."
Evelyn stepped forward.
"Not if the documents establish coercion."
Gregory's smile disappeared.
For the first time, Clara saw anger beneath his calm expression.
Then her father spoke.
"Gregory."
Gregory looked at him.
"You should have protected her."
Her father nodded.
"I know."
Gregory stared.
"You think you can walk away from our agreement?"
Her father replied:
"She can."
Gregory's face hardened.
"Not if Margaret has the original."
Clara froze.
"What original?"
Gregory looked toward her.
"Your mother has something I need."
"What?"
He smiled.
"You'll have to ask her."
Then he walked back toward the SUV.
Clara watched him leave.
Evelyn exhaled.
"We need to move."
Clara looked at her father.
"What does my mother have?"
He shook his head.
"I don't know."
"You're lying."
"I'm not."
Clara's father pulled out his phone.
"I have been trying to find it for years."
"What is it?"
"A recording."
Clara's heart stopped.
"Of what?"
"Of Gregory."
"Doing what?"
Her father looked toward the window.
"Admitting everything."
Clara stared at him.
"Where is it?"
"I don't know."
"Who has it?"
"Your mother."
Clara sat down.
Her mother had been the person who refused to help her.
The person who told her to apologize.
The person who had accepted Gregory's money.
And now she supposedly possessed the one piece of evidence that could expose him.
Evelyn looked at Clara.
"We need to find her."
Clara's phone vibrated.
A message from her mother.
Come to the old church at midnight.
Alone.
Clara showed Evelyn.
"No," Evelyn said immediately.
Another message arrived.
I have the recording.
And then:
If you want Lily safe, come without your lawyer.
Clara's hands went cold.
Evelyn took the phone.
"We are not doing exactly what she asks."
"Then what?"
"We find another way."
Clara stared at the screen.
Her mother knew Lily was the one thing that could make her vulnerable.
But this time, Clara wasn't the woman who had called her parents at 2:14 AM begging for rescue.
She had a lawyer.
A witness.
Evidence.
And a reason to fight.
That night, Clara stayed at a secure location.
At midnight, she did not go to the church.
Instead, Evelyn sent investigators.
They found nothing.
No mother.
No recording.
No car.
Nothing.
Then, at 12:37 AM, Clara's phone rang.
Her mother.
Clara answered.
"Where are you?"
Her mother's voice was trembling.
"I made a mistake."
"What happened?"
"I thought I could protect you."
"Where is the recording?"
"Gregory found me."
Clara stood.
"Where are you?"
"I don't know."
"Mom."
"I'm in the basement."
Clara froze.
"What basement?"
Her mother whispered:
"The basement of your house."
Clara's blood ran cold.
"You went back?"
"I had to."
"Why?"
Her mother began crying.
"Because the recording isn't the only thing hidden there."
Then the call went silent.
Clara looked at Evelyn.
"What happened?"
The phone displayed one new message.
FROM GREGORY.
Clara opened it.
May you like
The message contained only four words.
YOUR MOTHER IS LYING.
