Chapter 2 - THE MAN AT THE DOOR

Mark Dalton was Brenda’s boyfriend.

At least, that was what Shawn remembered from the occasional family photos Brenda sent him.

What she had never mentioned was that Mark practically lived in their parents’ house.

Heavy footsteps crossed the kitchen above.

“Brenda?” Mark called. “Why is his truck outside?”

Shawn looked at his sister.

She raised both hands. “Please. Don’t make this worse.”

“Unlock them.”

“Shawn—”

“Now.”

Mark appeared at the top of the cellar stairs.

He was broad, forty-five, wearing a black winter coat and the annoyed expression of a man walking into a room he believed belonged to him.

Then he saw Shawn beside the gate.

The annoyance disappeared.

“Brenda,” he said quietly. “What did you tell him?”

Shawn answered. “She told me my parents were on vacation.”

Mark descended two steps. “There’s a medical situation you don’t understand.”

“Then explain the padlock.”

“Your father has dementia.”

Don shouted from behind the bars. “I know exactly who you are, you thief!”

Mark did not even look at him.

Shawn noticed that.

He also noticed the fresh scratch across Mark’s right hand.

Maria spoke. “He took Dad’s phone yesterday.”

Mark’s jaw tightened.

Shawn held out his palm to Brenda. “Key.”

She hesitated.

He stepped closer.

Brenda pulled the key from her necklace and dropped it into his hand.

Mark moved quickly.

“Don’t.”

Shawn turned the padlock anyway.

Mark grabbed his shoulder.

He removed Mark’s hand.

“Touch me again and we’ll have a different conversation.”

The gate opened.

Maria collapsed into Shawn’s arms.

Don stepped out slowly, leaning against the wall.

Shawn took out his phone.

“I’m calling 911.”

Brenda panicked. “No!”

Mark’s voice went flat. “You should think before you do that.”

Shawn looked at him.

“Why?”

Mark reached into his coat and pulled out a folded document.

“Because legally, Brenda controls their care, their finances, and this property.”

He opened the paper.

At the bottom was Shawn’s father’s signature.

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Don stared at it.

Then whispered, “I never signed that.”