Chapter 14 - THE CABIN BY THE LAKE
The lake road was almost empty.
Daniel drove too fast.
Alvarez followed two minutes behind with unmarked units farther back.
Mark sat in Daniel’s passenger seat gripping the dashboard.
“You sure this is the place?”
Daniel nodded.
“Sarah’s family owned the land.”
The maintenance cabin appeared through the trees.
A gray van was parked behind it.
Daniel stopped before the driveway.
“Stay here.”
Mark looked at him like he had lost his mind.
“Not happening.”
They moved through the woods.
Daniel heard voices inside the cabin.
Claire was crying.
Grant was shouting.
Then Lily screamed.
Daniel stopped thinking.
He kicked the back door open.
“LILY!”
Grant turned.
Claire was tied to a chair near the wall.
Lily stood beside a table, tears running down her face.
Grant held one hand on her shoulder.
“Daddy!”
Daniel stepped forward.
“Let her go.”
Grant smiled.
“Give me the key.”
Daniel held it up.
“Take your hand off her first.”
Grant squeezed Lily’s shoulder.
She cried out.
Daniel’s vision went red.
Claire shouted.
“Grant, stop!”
He backhanded her without looking.
Daniel saw Mark quietly moving outside the side window.
Grant did not.
“Sarah ruined everything,” Grant said.
“She was going to send me to prison over money that should have stayed in the family.”
“You killed your sister.”
Grant’s face twitched.
“I tried to scare her.”
“You cut her brakes.”
“I told someone to make the car unreliable.”
Claire began sobbing.
Daniel looked at her.
“You knew.”
Claire shook her head.
“Not until after.”
Grant laughed.
“She knew enough.”
Then Lily whispered something.
“Daddy, Mommy’s bird isn’t here.”
Grant looked down sharply.
“What did you say?”
Lily stared at Daniel.
“It’s at home.”
May you like
Grant’s calm expression vanished.
And Daniel realized his six-year-old daughter had just lied to a killer to protect him.
