Chapter 4: The Son Who Knew Too Much
I stared at the name until the ink blurred.
Caleb Pierce.
My father’s stepson.
The man who had watched me pack my suitcase the night Dad died.
The man who had told me, “This is her house now.””
Why would Dad write his name?
I read the sentence again.
If Vivian ever tries to force you out of this house, contact the second person named in this letter immediately.
Not Vivian.
Not Samuel.
Caleb.
My first instinct was anger.
I thought of every dinner where Caleb barely acknowledged me.
Every holiday where Vivian made it clear that I was an outsider.
Every time Dad defended me, Caleb acted like he was losing something.
But my father had always seen things I missed.
That was the part that scared me.
A quiet knock came at the door.
I quickly folded the letter.
“Come in.””
The door opened slowly.
Caleb stood there.
For once, he didn’t look arrogant.
He looked tired.
“You found my name.””
My body went still.
“How did you know?””
He stepped inside and closed the door.
“Because Dad told me.””
I stared at him.
“You knew about the letter?””
He nodded.
“Not all of it.””
“Then explain.””
Caleb looked toward the window.
The same window where my father used to sit.
“He called me three months before he died.””
I crossed my arms.
“And?””
“And he asked me if I was willing to tell the truth.””
I almost laughed.
“The truth about what?””
Caleb hesitated.
That hesitation told me everything.
“You know something.””
He looked down.
“Yes.””
The answer was too easy.
I felt my anger rise.
“My father was dying, and you knew something important?””
“I didn’t know how serious it was.””
“You still knew.””
His jaw tightened.
“Dad told me he didn’t trust certain things happening around him.””
“Certain things?””
He looked at me.
“Money.””
The room went silent.
I stepped closer.
“What money?””
Caleb rubbed his face.
“I don’t know all the details. He never showed me documents.””
“But he talked to you.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
He looked away.
“Because he thought I was the only person who could get close enough to find out what was happening.””
I stared at him.
That was impossible.
Caleb had spent years acting like he hated me.
“You expect me to believe you were helping him?””
“No.””
His voice surprised me.
“I expect you to believe I was trying to.””
A sound came from the hallway.
We both looked toward the door.
Someone was listening.
Caleb opened it quickly.
Nobody was there.
But the hallway camera above the entrance blinked.
I noticed.
“Does Vivian watch these cameras?””
Caleb froze.
“Sometimes.””
“Sometimes?””
He looked uncomfortable.
“Mom likes knowing what happens in this house.””
“That’s not normal.””
“No.””
He said it quietly.
“No, it isn’t.””
For the first time, I saw Caleb differently.
Not as Vivian’s son.
As someone who had been trapped in her world too.
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
He looked at me.
“Because Dad made me promise.””
“What promise?””
“That I would wait until you found the letter yourself.””
I held up the paper.
“He knew I would need you?””
Caleb nodded.
“He said you would hate me at first.””
A painful smile appeared on his face.
“He was right.””
I didn’t deny it.
Caleb walked toward the door.
Before leaving, he stopped.
“Hannah.””
I looked up.
“What?””
“My mother doesn’t know I talked to you.””
“Why?””
His expression changed.
“Because if she knew, she would destroy the one thing Dad left me.””
I frowned.
“What thing?””
Caleb looked at the floor.
“The evidence.””
My heart started beating faster.
“What evidence?””
He opened the door.
“The reason Dad started investigating her.””
I followed him.
“Caleb.””
He turned.
“Where is it?””
He looked toward the security camera.
Then whispered:
“Somewhere Mom would never think to look.””
Before I could ask anything else, the lights in the hallway suddenly went out.
The house fell dark.
A second later, Vivian’s voice echoed from downstairs.
“Caleb?””
He looked terrified.
Not annoyed.
Not surprised.
Terrified.
May you like
Then he whispered four words.
“She knows I came.””
