Chapter 10: The Phone Call That Changed Everything
“Call the police,” Jason shouted.
Margaret was already reaching for her phone.
Laura grabbed her coat.
“I'm going to your mother's house.””
“Wait!”” Jason caught her arm.
“Daniel could be waiting for you.””
“My mother died because of whatever happened that night. I'm not sitting here while he threatens another woman.””
Jason looked at Margaret.
“Can you get someone to Evelyn's house?””
“I'm contacting the authorities now. Don't approach Daniel yourself.””
Jason barely heard her.
He dialed his mother's number again.
This time, someone answered after two rings.
“Jason?””
It was Evelyn.
He nearly collapsed with relief.
“Mom! Are you okay?””
“I'm fine, sweetheart. Why are you calling like that?””
“Where's Daniel?””
“Your brother came by. He said he wanted to apologize.””
Jason closed his eyes.
“Mom, listen carefully. Don't open the door for him again. Don't sign anything. Don't speak to him alone.””
There was a pause.
Then Evelyn whispered, “He's already here.””
Jason froze.
“What?””
“I thought he had left, but I can hear someone in the kitchen.””
“Mom, get out of the house. Go to Mrs. Patterson next door. Right now.””
“I don't want to cause trouble.””
“Mom, please!””
He heard a door open.
Then Daniel's voice.
“Mother, who are you talking to?””
The phone went silent.
Jason shouted into the receiver.
“Mom!””
A second later, the call disconnected.
He was already running toward the parking lot.
Laura followed him.
“Jason, wait!””
“I'm not waiting.””
They reached Evelyn's street in twelve minutes.
A police cruiser was parked outside the house, but the front door stood open.
Jason ran inside.
“Mom!””
No answer.
The living room was empty.
A cup lay broken near the fireplace. One of the dining chairs had been knocked sideways.
Then he saw the study.
The desk drawers were open.
His father's papers were scattered across the floor.
Jason hurried toward the kitchen.
Evelyn was standing beside the counter, holding a dish towel against her wrist.
Daniel stood near the back door.
He looked annoyed rather than frightened.
“Jason,” he said.
“You really need to learn how to control your emotions.””
Jason crossed the room.
“What did you do to her?””
“Nothing.””
Evelyn stepped forward.
“He grabbed the letter.””
Jason turned toward her.
“Are you hurt?””
“Only my wrist.””
Daniel rolled his eyes.
“She dropped a glass. I was trying to help.””
Jason looked at the broken pieces.
Then at the papers.
“Where's the letter?””
Daniel smiled.
“Which one?””
Jason moved toward him.
“Don't play games.””
A police officer entered from the hallway.
“Sir, step away from the kitchen counter.””
Daniel immediately raised his hands.
“Officer, I'm visiting my mother. My brother is the one acting aggressively.””
The officer looked at Evelyn.
“Ma'am, did this man threaten you?””
Evelyn hesitated.
Daniel glanced at her.
“Mother, tell him what happened.””
Jason saw the fear in her eyes.
Then Evelyn slowly straightened.
“He took a letter from my husband's desk. When I tried to stop him, he grabbed my wrist.””
Daniel shook his head.
“That's not true.””
“I am seventy-two years old,” Evelyn continued.
“I know the difference between someone helping me and someone frightening me.””
The officer stepped toward Daniel.
“Sir, I need you to come outside.””
Daniel's expression hardened.
“This is a family dispute.””
“Then you can explain that outside.””
Daniel glanced at Jason.
“You think you've won?””
Jason said nothing.
Daniel leaned closer as the officer escorted him toward the front door.
“You still don't know what happened that night.””
Jason watched him leave.
Then he turned to his mother.
“Where's the letter?””
Evelyn pointed toward the study.
“It's gone.””
Laura entered a moment later.
She looked around the room and immediately noticed the open drawers.
“He took something else,” she said.
Jason followed her gaze.
The wooden compartment beneath the desk was open.
Inside had been a small leather pouch.
It was empty.
Laura went pale.
“My mother's key.””
Jason looked at her.
“What key?””
“The key to her briefcase.””
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Laura pulled out her phone.
She opened an old photograph of Katherine's belongings.
A small brass key was visible beside a leather briefcase.
“My mother kept the original deed inside that case,” Laura whispered.
“If Daniel has the key, he knows where to look.””
Jason looked at Evelyn.
“Did Dad ever tell you where the briefcase was?””
Evelyn slowly nodded.
“He said it was somewhere Daniel would never think to search.””
“Where?””
She looked toward the staircase.
“Your father's old workshop.””
Jason frowned.
The workshop had been locked since his father died.
May you like
And Daniel had never been given a key.
Until now.
