Chapter 10: The Ring Beside the Loading Door
I ran.
I didn't stop to grab my coat or lock the office. I pushed through the kitchen, past the stainless-steel counters, and burst through the loading entrance.
The night air hit my face.
My father's car was parked crookedly beside the dumpsters. The driver's door hung open. One headlight was still on, illuminating a small patch of wet pavement.
And there, beside the front tire, lay his wedding ring.
"Richard!""
No answer.
Eddie hurried behind me.
"Nobody's seen him since he left here earlier.""
I picked up the ring.
It was warm.
That frightened me more than anything.
"Call the police.""
Eddie pulled out his phone.
I looked toward the alley.
There were tire marks in the damp gravel. A dark vehicle had apparently pulled away recently.
Then I noticed something beneath the car.
A small white envelope.
My name was written across it.
I crouched and retrieved it.
Inside was a photograph of my father standing outside St. Andrew's Church. He was holding a brown leather briefcase.
On the back, someone had written:
*HE KNOWS WHERE YOUR MOTHER'S LAST LETTER IS.*
I felt my stomach tighten.
Grandma appeared in the doorway.
"What happened?""
I held up the photograph.
She stared at it.
"Oh, Richard.""
"Do you know when this was taken?""
She nodded slowly.
"Three days ago.""
"Why was Dad at the church?""
"Because I sent him there.""
I turned.
"What?""
Grandma took a shaky breath.
"Your mother left a package with the pastor. I asked your father to retrieve it several years ago, but he refused. He said it was better left alone.""
"Then why would he go now?""
"Because he finally understands what Vanessa is trying to do.""
A siren sounded somewhere in the distance.
Eddie approached.
"The police are on their way.""
I looked at Grandma.
"Did Dad tell you anything about Mom's final letter?""
She shook her head.
"Only that she had written it after discovering the second loan.""
I remembered the notebook.
The trust.
The forged signatures.
The missing money.
Everything seemed to lead back to the same night.
The night my mother died.
A police cruiser pulled into the parking lot.
Two officers approached us. One was a middle-aged man with a tired expression. The other was younger, carrying a small notepad.
"Who reported the vehicle?"" the older officer asked.
"I did," Eddie replied.
He explained what we had found.
The officer examined the car, photographed the ring, and asked whether my father had any medical conditions.
"He's sixty-two," I said.
"He has high blood pressure, but nothing that would make him disappear.""
"Any recent threats?""
I hesitated.
Then I told him about the business dispute.
I told him about the missing money.
I told him about the documents.
The officer listened without interrupting.
Finally, he asked, "Do you believe someone may have taken him?""
"I don't know.""
"Did he have any reason to leave voluntarily?""
I looked at the open car door.
"No.""
Grandma quietly added, "He wouldn't leave his ring.""
The officer nodded.
"We'll check nearby cameras and contact local hospitals. If you receive any communication from him, don't delete it.""
I gave him my number.
When the officers left to examine the alley, my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered immediately.
"Hello?""
A man's voice spoke.
"Ms. Mercer, this is Daniel Price.""
My stomach tightened.
"What do you want?""
"I need to speak with you privately.""
"Where is my father?""
A pause.
"I don't know.""
"Then why are you calling me?""
"Because I believe he's made a very serious mistake.""
I gripped the phone.
"Did you take him?""
"Absolutely not.""
"Then tell me what you know.""
Daniel lowered his voice.
"Your father came to my office this evening. He brought documents relating to your mother's estate.""
"What documents?""
"The second will.""
My heart stopped.
"Vanessa said she had it.""
"She has a copy.""
"And the original?""
"Your father.""
I looked at Grandma.
She was watching me carefully.
"Where is he now?""
"I don't know. But before he left my office, he told me something I haven't been able to stop thinking about.""
"What?""
Daniel hesitated.
"He said your mother had discovered that someone in the family was using her identity before she died.""
I felt cold.
"Who?""
"That's what he was trying to tell me.""
I glanced at the photograph of Dad outside the church.
"Mr. Price, why didn't you tell me this earlier?""
"Because I was afraid.""
"Of what?""
He took a breath.
"Of the person who has been paying me to keep quiet.""
The line went dead.
I immediately called back.
The number was unavailable.
Grandma put a hand on my arm.
"Nora, we need to go to St. Andrew's.""
I looked at her.
"Now?""
"Yes.""
"Grandma, the police are still here.""
"I know. But if your father left something with the pastor, we need to find it before someone else does.""
I glanced at the officers.
I didn't want to interfere with their investigation.
But I also knew that waiting until morning might cost us the only remaining evidence.
I approached the older officer and explained what we had learned.
He gave me a warning.
"Don't confront anyone. If you find something relevant, call us immediately.""
I promised.
Then Eddie offered to drive.
St. Andrew's Church stood on Maple Street, between an old bookstore and a small medical clinic. Its wooden doors were closed, but a light remained on in the pastor's office.
Grandma knocked.
A few seconds later, an elderly man opened the door.
His name was Pastor James.
He recognized Grandma immediately.
"Margaret.""
She looked exhausted.
"James, we need the package Evelyn left.""
The pastor's expression changed.
He glanced at me.
"Are you Nora?""
"Yes.""
He opened the door wider.
"I've been expecting you.""
He led us into his office.
On the desk sat a small wooden box.
There was a brass lock on the front.
Pastor James took a key from his drawer.
"Your mother gave me this eight years ago. She said it was to be opened only if the restaurant was in danger of being taken away from the family.""
He unlocked it.
Inside was a sealed envelope, a small flash drive, and a handwritten note.
The note was addressed to me.
I opened it.
My darling Nora,
If you are reading this, then I was right to worry.
Your father is not the only person who knows about the money. Someone much closer to you has been watching the restaurant for years.
I stopped.
Grandma leaned closer.
I continued.
Do not believe everything Vanessa tells you. But do not assume she understands the entire plan, either.
My fingers trembled.
The final sentence was underlined twice.
The person who forged my signature is not the person who first taught them how.
I looked up.
"Grandma, what does that mean?""
She shook her head.
Pastor James reached for the flash drive.
"Your mother also left instructions about this.""
"What instructions?""
He looked at me.
"She wanted you to see the video before you read the second will.""
He placed the flash drive on the desk.
Then he opened an old laptop.
A file appeared on the screen.
The date was March 2.
One day before my mother died.
The video began.
My mother appeared, sitting in the Blue Lantern office.
She looked tired.
But her voice was steady.
"If you're watching this, Nora, then something has happened to me.""
She paused.
Then she looked directly into the camera.
"And I need you to understand that the person who is about to inherit my trust is not the person you think.""
The video stopped.
A second file appeared automatically.
Its title was:
*THE NIGHT YOUR MOTHER DIED — ORIGINAL RECORDING.*
Grandma covered her mouth.
I stared at the screen.
May you like
Because the timestamp showed that the recording had been created at 11:47 p.m.
Fourteen minutes after the hospital had officially recorded my mother's death.
