Chapter 6: What Mike Took to the Grave
Cave Hill Cemetery was closed after dark.
That didn't stop the police.
By 11:20 p.m., three unmarked vehicles were moving slowly through the historic cemetery beneath dripping trees and yellow security lights.
Wolf rode with Daniels.
Ava had been ordered to remain at the hospital with Noah.
She'd argued.
Loudly.
Wolf had backed the police this time.
One Bennett child had already spent three nights trapped in darkness.
Ava didn't need to stand beside her father's grave while investigators searched it for evidence of his murder.
Ray followed in another vehicle.
The rain had stopped, leaving mist drifting above the ground.
Mike Bennett's grave sat beneath a large oak.
Simple headstone.
MICHAEL JAMES BENNETT.
BELOVED HUSBAND. FATHER. BROTHER.
Wolf stood before it.
Fifteen years.
That was how long it had been since Mike left the Black Ridge Riders.
Wolf had always assumed there would be time to reconnect.
Another ride.
Another beer.
Another stupid argument about motorcycles.
Then life moved.
People married.
Children arrived.
Phone calls became Christmas messages.
Christmas messages became silence.
Now Wolf stood over Mike's grave because Mike had left instructions for his daughter to trust him.
“You should've called me,” Wolf whispered.
Ray stood beside him.
“Maybe he thought he could handle it.””
“That was always his problem.””
Wolf touched the top of the stone.
“So was mine.””
Daniels approached with cemetery staff.
“We're not disturbing the grave.””
Wolf nodded.
“Nobody said you were.””
“Curtis said somewhere he wouldn't willingly go. Could mean the cemetery generally.””
They searched around the headstone.
Nothing.
Flowers.
Small stones.
A faded Father's Day card protected inside plastic.
Then Ray noticed something.
“Wolf.””
Behind the headstone sat a small metal motorcycle ornament.
It looked decorative.
Ray lifted it.
The base was hollow.
Inside was a waterproof capsule.
Daniels put on gloves.
“Don't touch anything else.””
He opened it.
USB drive.
Wolf exhaled.
“Rebecca.””
Back at the mobile command vehicle, investigators copied the files.
One video.
Timestamp: the night Mike died.
Gas station camera.
Wide angle.
Poor quality.
But clear enough.
Mike's car passed first.
Curtis's black pickup followed.
Rebecca's sedan came seconds later.
The vehicles disappeared beyond frame.
Two minutes passed.
Then headlights flashed in the distance.
A crash.
The camera couldn't see the impact itself.
But it captured what happened afterward.
Curtis's truck stopped.
Curtis ran toward Mike's car.
Rebecca's sedan stopped farther back.
She exited.
Then another vehicle arrived.
Police cruiser.
Raymond Cole.
Daniels leaned toward the screen.
“No dispatch record.””
The video continued.
Cole approached Curtis.
They argued.
Rebecca ran toward them.
Cole pointed at her.
Curtis grabbed Rebecca and dragged her backward.
Then Cole walked toward Mike's car.
He leaned inside.
For almost forty seconds.
When he stepped back, Mike no longer moved.
Nobody spoke.
Wolf felt rage rise through him.
Not wild rage.
Worse.
Cold rage.
The video continued.
Cole returned to Curtis.
Curtis shook his head repeatedly.
Rebecca tried to run toward Mike.
Cole stopped her.
Then he pointed toward her car.
Eventually, Rebecca left.
Curtis remained.
Cole used his radio.
Only then did emergency vehicles arrive.
Daniels whispered:
“Eleven minutes.””
“What?””
“Cole waited eleven minutes before calling it in.””
Wolf stared at the screen.
Eleven minutes while Mike sat dying inside that car.
Daniels immediately called his lieutenant.
The evidence was enough to turn an internal suspicion into a full manhunt.
Raymond Cole was now wanted for questioning in connection with Mike Bennett's death, Sarah Bennett's abduction, and the endangerment of Noah.
But one question remained.
Rebecca.
Where was she?
Daniels's phone rang before they left the cemetery.
He listened.
His face tightened.
“What hospital?””
Wolf immediately knew something was wrong.
Daniels ended the call.
“Someone tried to enter Sarah's floor using police credentials.””
Wolf's stomach dropped.
“Cole?””
“Security stopped him before he reached the room.””
“Did they catch him?””
“No.””
Wolf was already moving.
At the hospital, chaos had erupted.
Uniformed officers covered every entrance.
Sarah had been moved.
Noah and Ava too.
Wolf found Ava in a secured family room.
She rushed toward him.
“Someone came for Mom.””
“I know.””
“Was it Cole?””
“We don't know yet.””
She saw his face.
“You found something.””
Wolf hesitated.
“Ava—”
“You promised you wouldn't lie to me.””
He had.
So he sat beside her.
“We found the video.””
Her eyes filled.
“Did Curtis kill Dad?””
Wolf chose every word carefully.
“Curtis caused the crash.””
Ava looked away.
“But your dad survived the impact.””
She turned back.
Hope appeared for half a second before reality crushed it.
“Then who?””
Wolf didn't answer.
He didn't have to.
“Cole.””
Wolf nodded.
Ava began shaking.
“He was at our house.””
“I know.””
“He sat on our couch.””
Wolf's jaw tightened.
“He told me Dad died instantly.””
She covered her face.
“He looked at me and lied.””
Wolf put an arm around her.
Ava cried silently.
Then she straightened.
“Where's Rebecca?””
“We're looking.””
“My dad said not to trust her.””
“He didn't have all the information.””
Ava frowned.
“Rebecca was trying to warn him.””
Wolf nodded.
“She hid the video at his grave.””
Ava stared at the floor.
“Then why didn't she come to us?””
Fear.
Threats.
Guilt.
There were many possible answers.
Wolf didn't guess.
A nurse opened the door.
“Sarah is asking for Ava.””
Inside the protected room, Sarah looked stronger than before.
Noah slept beside her.
Ava sat close.
“They found Dad's video.””
Sarah closed her eyes.
“Rebecca.””
“You knew?””
“I hoped.””
Sarah looked toward Wolf.
“Did it show Cole?””
“Yes.””
Tears slipped down her face.
“I knew it.””
Ava took her hand.
“Mom, why did Dad say not to trust Aunt Rebecca?””
Sarah was quiet for a long time.
“Because Mike misunderstood what happened before the crash.””
“What happened?””
Sarah looked toward Wolf.
“Rebecca worked at the accounting firm that managed their father's estate.””
Wolf understood.
“She discovered Curtis stealing.””
“Yes.””
“Then why didn't she tell Mike?””
“She did eventually.””
Sarah sighed.
“But before that, she tried to fix it herself. She moved money.””
Ava frowned.
“Stole it?””
“No. Hid it.””
“Where?””
“I don't know.””
Sarah looked toward Noah.
“She was trying to keep Curtis from accessing the rest of the estate.””
“But Dad thought she was involved.””
“Yes.””
Sarah closed her eyes.
“By the time she convinced him otherwise, Curtis already knew Mike was investigating.””
Wolf asked:
“And Cole?””
“Curtis met him through gambling.””
“Curtis gambled?””
Sarah gave a bitter laugh.
“That's where the money went.””
Suddenly everything fit.
The stolen estate money.
Mike's possessions.
The desperate selling.
Curtis wasn't supporting Ava and Noah.
He was feeding a hole that never stopped growing.
Sarah continued.
“Cole had gambling debts too. Curtis paid them. Then Curtis owned him.””
Ava whispered:
“So they killed Dad because he found out.””
Sarah looked at her.
“Yes.””
The door opened.
Daniels entered.
“Wolf.””
Something in his voice made Wolf stand.
“What?””
“We found Rebecca.””
Ava rose too.
“Where?””
Daniels hesitated.
“River Road.””
“The car?””
“Near it.””
“Is she alive?””
“Yes.””
Ava exhaled.
“But she's injured.””
Sarah covered her mouth.
“What happened?””
“Looks like she was attacked.””
“Cole?””
“We don't know.””
Daniels continued.
“She regained consciousness ten minutes ago.””
“Did she say anything?””
“Yes.””
Wolf waited.
“She asked whether Curtis was alive.””
Ava frowned.
“Why?””
Daniels looked toward Sarah.
“Because she says Curtis has something Cole needs.””
“What?””
“She wouldn't tell the paramedics.””
“Where is she?””
“University Hospital.””
Wolf glanced at Sarah.
Sarah nodded.
“Go.””
Daniels and Wolf reached Rebecca's room shortly after midnight.
A state trooper guarded the door.
Rebecca Bennett looked exhausted.
Bandage across her forehead.
Bruises around one wrist.
She opened her eyes when Wolf entered.
“You're Walter.””
“Yes.””
“Mike talked about you.””
“So everybody keeps telling me.””
A faint smile appeared.
Then disappeared.
“Is Ava okay?””
“Yes.””
“Noah?””
“Yes.””
“Sarah?””
“Alive.””
Rebecca started crying.
“Thank God.””
Wolf moved closer.
“What does Curtis have?””
Rebecca's fear returned.
“A key.””
“What key?””
“Not the storage key.””
“Then what?””
She looked toward Daniels.
“You have dirty cops in your department.””
Daniels remained calm.
“We know about Cole.””
“No.””
Rebecca shook her head.
“I said cops.””
Plural.
Wolf felt the temperature in the room drop.
Daniels stared at her.
“Who else?””
“I don't know.””
“Then how do you know?””
“Because Cole wasn't the one who found me tonight.””
Daniels stepped closer.
“Who did?””
“Someone wearing a Louisville Metro badge.””
“What did they want?””
“The key.””
Wolf's jaw tightened.
“Curtis has it?””
Rebecca nodded.
“Mike gave it to him the night of the crash.””
“That makes no sense.””
“It does if you know what Mike was trying to do.””
She struggled upright.
“Mike knew Curtis had betrayed him. But Mike also knew Curtis wasn't a killer.””
Wolf thought about the crash.
Curtis had rammed Mike's car.
That distinction felt generous.
Rebecca continued.
“Mike believed Curtis might panic and help him if things went bad.””
“What key did he give him?””
Rebecca looked at Wolf.
“A safe-deposit box.””
“What's inside?””
“The original estate records.””
Daniels asked:
“Which bank?””
Rebecca shook her head.
“I don't know.””
Wolf frowned.
“You've spent months looking for evidence and don't know?””
“Mike deliberately separated everything. One person had the box number. Another had the bank. Another had the key.””
“Who knew the bank?””
Rebecca looked toward the hallway.
“Sarah.””
Wolf understood.
“And the box number?””
Rebecca's eyes filled.
“Mike gave it to Ava.””
Wolf frowned.
“Ava doesn't know anything about a box number.””
“She does.””
Rebecca shook her head.
“She just doesn't know that's what it is.””
“What are you talking about?””
“Mike gave Ava something on her thirteenth birthday.””
Wolf waited.
“A silver bracelet.””
He remembered seeing one around Ava's wrist.
Rebecca continued.
“There are six numbers engraved inside it.””
Daniels pulled out his phone.
“We need to contact the hospital.””
Rebecca suddenly grabbed his wrist.
“No.””
Daniels looked down.
“Why?””
“Because whoever came after me knew Sarah was alive before the hospital officially confirmed her identity.””
Wolf stared at her.
Meaning the leak was already inside.
Daniels's phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
Lieutenant.
He answered.
“Daniels.””
Silence.
His expression changed.
“When?””
He listened.
“We're coming.””
He ended the call.
Wolf's instincts screamed.
“What happened?””
Daniels looked at Rebecca.
Then Wolf.
“Curtis was being transferred to a secure holding location.””
Wolf's stomach sank.
“And?””
“The transport vehicle never arrived.””
Rebecca closed her eyes.
Daniels continued.
“Two officers were found unconscious inside the van.””
Wolf stepped closer.
“Curtis?””
“Gone.””
Rebecca whispered:
“Cole has him.””
Daniels shook his head.
“We don't know that.””
Rebecca stared at him.
“Yes, you do.””
Then Wolf's phone vibrated.
Unknown number.
A photograph arrived.
Curtis.
Alive.
Bruised.
Sitting in a dark room.
A gun pressed against the side of his head.
Beneath the photograph was one sentence.
BRING MIKE BENNETT'S DAUGHTER AND HER BRACELET.
Wolf's face hardened.
A second message appeared.
NO POLICE.
Then a third.
OR CURTIS TELLS US WHERE TO FIND NOAH.
Wolf stared at the screen.
Rebecca whispered:
“They don't understand.””
Wolf looked at her.
“What?””
Her eyes widened with sudden realization.
“They think the bracelet opens the box.””
“Doesn't it?””
“No.””
Rebecca shook her head.
“The numbers aren't the box number.””
Daniels frowned.
“Then what are they?””
Rebecca looked directly at Wolf.
“They're a date.””
Wolf's pulse slowed.
“What date?””
Rebecca whispered:
“The day Mike discovered who was really stealing from the family.””
Wolf glanced at Daniels.
“I thought that was Curtis.””
“So did Mike.””
Rebecca's voice trembled.
“Until he learned Curtis had stolen only part of it.””
Silence filled the room.
Wolf stepped closer.
“Who stole the rest?””
Rebecca looked terrified.
“Our father never left $640,000.””
She swallowed.
“He left almost four million.””
Daniels stared at her.
“Where did the rest go?””
Rebecca's answer came barely above a whisper.
“That is what Mike died trying to find out.””
Wolf's phone vibrated again.
Another photograph.
This time, Curtis was holding a handwritten note.
Three words had been written across it.
ASK SARAH'S FATHER.
Wolf stared at the message.
Then slowly looked toward Daniels.
Sarah's father.
Ava and Noah's grandfather.
A man nobody had mentioned.
A man who had attended Mike's funeral, comforted his daughter, hugged his grandchildren—
and then quietly left Kentucky.
Wolf looked back at Rebecca.
“What's Sarah's father's name?””
Rebecca closed her eyes.
“Thomas Vale.””
Daniels went completely still.
Wolf noticed.
“You know that name.””
Daniels didn't answer.
“Officer.””
Daniels finally looked at him.
“Thomas Vale isn't just Sarah's father.””
“What is he?””
Daniels took a slow breath.
“He was Raymond Cole's commanding officer.””
Wolf felt the final piece slide into place.
May you like
Daniels finished:
“Before Thomas Vale retired as Louisville's Deputy Chief of Police.””
