Chapter 8 - THE HIDDEN ROOM
The lake house stood dark behind the trees.
Police vehicles approached without sirens.
"You are not going inside," Velez said.
"It's my house."
"And somebody tried to murder you."
"Twice, if the police station counts."
"That joke isn't helping."
Then Daniel found the garage wall that did not match the original plans.
A tool cabinet hid a keypad.
Emily knew the code before anyone asked.
Her wedding date.
Binders.
Printers.
Two laptops.
A shredder.
"He was following you."
The date was three weeks before the crash.
Grant had known.
On the desk lay the forged will.
Daniel put on gloves.
"Do not touch anything."
"Who notarized it?"
Daniel leaned closer.
"Martin Kell."
Emily knew the name.
Martin had handled her father's estate years ago.
He had retired to Arizona.
"Call him."
Evelyn whispered, "So the notary is dead."
"Convenient," Velez said.
An officer opened a metal drawer.
Inside were labeled envelopes.
EMILY - MEDICAL.
Emily stopped breathing.
Velez opened it.
Inside was a draft petition requesting immediate guardianship of Emily's unborn child if she became incapacitated before delivery.
The proposed guardian was Grant Mercer.
"He planned for me to survive," she whispered.
Daniel looked at her.
"What?"
Emily held up the petition.
"If the crash didn't kill me, he planned to say I was mentally incompetent and take control of my baby."
Nobody spoke.
Then Velez found a small audio recorder beneath the desk.
"If she dies, we use the will."
Evan.
"And if she lives?"
Grant said, "Then we use the doctors."
Emily's eyes burned.
Then came a third voice.
"Either way, Emily never controls Hart Design again."
Evelyn went completely still.
Emily looked at her mother.
Because Evelyn knew that voice.
"Mom?"
May you like
Evelyn whispered one name.
"Judith."
