Chapter 16 - The Woman by the Lake
Lake Arden looked smaller than Daniel remembered.
The church was gone. Only the stone foundation remained beside the water.
Emma found footprints first.
“They go toward the boathouse.”
Daniel’s chest tightened.
He approached alone.
The door opened before he touched it.
A woman in a gray coat stood inside.
Her hair was almost white.
Her face was thinner than the photographs.
But her eyes were Daniel’s eyes.
Neither of them spoke.
Then she said, “You still bite the inside of your cheek when you’re scared.”
Daniel broke.
“Mom?”
Laura covered her mouth.
He crossed the room and held her.
For a long time there was no conspiracy, no police, no Samuel, no files.
Just twenty-four stolen years.
Emma began crying behind him.
Laura looked past Daniel.
“My granddaughter?”
Emma nodded.
Laura touched her face with both hands.
“You look like Rachel.”
Rachel gave a broken laugh. “Thank God.”
They had only minutes before Laura forced herself back to the danger.
“Samuel will come.”
“Police are outside.”
“He has people in law enforcement.”
Daniel showed her Robert’s video.
Laura watched without speaking.
When it ended, she looked tired rather than surprised.
“Your father finally told the truth when it cost him everything.”
Daniel swallowed. “Did you forgive him?”
“No.”
The answer was immediate.
“But I stopped letting him own the rest of my life.”
A gunshot shattered the boathouse window.
Daniel pulled Emma down.
Rachel screamed.
Laura reached beneath a bench and pulled out an old flare gun.
Outside, a man shouted through the dark.
“Laura! Bring me the ledger!”
Daniel recognized Samuel’s voice.
Laura looked at him.
“He still thinks I have the original.”
Daniel stared.
“You don’t?”
May you like
Laura shook her head.
“You do.”
