Chapter 10 - The Door That Broke Open
The address belonged to a storage facility in Queens.
Grant and Evelyn went with police.
Inside unit 218 stood a single wooden chest.
The brass key Margaret had kept for twenty-seven years opened it.
Inside were Grace’s journals.
Hundreds of pages.
She had known Daniel.
Trusted him.
After his death, she spent years trying to clear his name.
Then Evelyn found a page dated two months before Grace died.
Daniel’s daughter is thirty years old now. Margaret tells me she is stubborn, kind, and incapable of leaving a problem alone. She sounds exactly like him.
Evelyn smiled through tears.
The next page mentioned Grant.
My son has built walls around himself so high that he mistakes loneliness for independence.
Grant looked away.
Evelyn continued.
If Evelyn Harper ever crosses his path, I hope he is wise enough not to treat her as a debt he owes her father. She deserves better than gratitude.
Grant laughed softly.
“My mother is criticizing me from the grave.”
“She was thorough.”
The journals contained evidence clearing both families’ victims.
But one envelope remained.
TO GRANT — ONLY AFTER THE TRUTH IS KNOWN.
Grant opened it.
Grace wrote that the ring was never meant for a future bride.
It represented protection.
Her mother had given it to her when she escaped an abusive first marriage.
Grace wanted Grant to give it one day to someone who made him feel safe enough to be himself.
Grant became silent.
Evelyn closed the journal.
“Don’t.”
“Don’t what?”
“Turn this into something because your mother wrote it.”
“I’m not.”
“You’re vulnerable.”
“I’ve been vulnerable around you for nine years.”
Her breath caught.
Grant stepped closer.
“I know this is the worst possible timing.”
“It really is.”
“I know.”
“You almost married someone else.”
“I know.”
“I work for you.”
“Not anymore.”
Evelyn blinked.
“Did you just fire me?”
“I’m trying to remove one objection.”
Despite everything, she laughed.
Grant smiled.
Then the storage facility alarm sounded.
Police shouted outside.
A woman ran past the open unit.
Victoria.
Grant moved toward the corridor.
Evelyn grabbed him.
“Don’t.”
Police pursued Victoria.
A crash echoed downstairs.
Then silence.
Minutes later, an officer returned.
“She got away.”
“How?”
“Service exit.”
Grant’s phone vibrated.
Unknown number.
A photograph appeared.
Margaret Harper was sitting inside her own kitchen.
Unaware someone was photographing her through the window.
May you like
Underneath were five words.
COME ALONE OR SHE DIES.
