Chapter 9 - THE CABIN BY THE LAKEPolice traced the call to a lake three hours north of the city.
The same region where Edward had supposedly died.
Marcus wanted to join the search.
Khloe told him to go.
“You may never get another chance to find him.”
“I cannot leave you.”
“You left me when I needed you to believe me.”
Her words carried no cruelty.
Only truth.
“Do not make another decision out of fear.”
Marcus looked through the glass at Grace.
Then he kissed Khloe’s forehead.
“I will come back.”
Detective Brooks drove while Marcus examined the photograph.
The cabin stood behind a line of pine trees.
Edward looked older in the picture, but unmistakably alive.
When they arrived, the front door was open.
Blood marked the floor.
A broken phone rested near the fireplace.
They found no body.
Brooks followed a trail toward the lake.
A boat engine roared in the distance.
Marcus ran onto the dock.
Two men struggled aboard a small fishing boat.
One was Daniel Voss.
The other had silver hair and a scar along his jaw.
Marcus recognized his father immediately.
“Edward!”
Daniel turned.
For one second, surprise flashed across his face.
Then he raised a gun.
Brooks fired first.
The bullet struck the boat’s railing.
Daniel dragged Edward behind the cabin.
Marcus followed despite Brooks ordering him to stop.
He found Daniel standing near an old pickup truck.
Edward was on his knees.
Blood soaked his shoulder.
Daniel pressed the gun against his neck.
“This family destroyed mine.”
Edward looked at Marcus.
“I am sorry.”
Marcus barely heard him.
“Let him go.”
Daniel smiled.
“Your mother said the same thing fifteen years ago.”
“You were there that night?”
“I watched my father lose everything.”
“Edward gave him to the authorities.”
“Samuel Voss died in a cell while your family became richer.”
Edward spoke through clenched teeth.
“Your father stole from pension funds.”
“He ruined thousands of employees.”
Daniel struck him with the gun.
Marcus moved forward.
Daniel aimed at him.
“One more step and you lose him twice.”
Police sirens echoed between the trees.
Daniel’s smile vanished.
He pushed Edward into the truck and climbed behind the wheel.
The engine roared.
The truck crashed through a wooden fence and disappeared down a dirt road.
Brooks reached Marcus.
“We will find them.”
Marcus looked at the blood on the ground.
Then his phone rang.
May you like
It was Adrian.
“Grace has stopped breathing.”
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