Chapter 17 - The Shot in the Barnyard
The shot hit the dirt beside Linda’s feet.
She screamed and fell backward against the car.
Claire moved toward her.
Walter raised the weapon.
“Stop.”
Claire stopped.
Every instinct in her body screamed at once.
Distance.
Cover.
Angle.
Mother.
Walter’s hand trembled.
Good.
He was afraid too.
Linda stared at Claire.
Her face was pale, but she was not hurt.
Claire held the fake ledger out.
“You want this. Take it.”
Walter looked at the book.
Then back at Claire.
“Put it on the ground.”
Claire did.
“Kick it over.”
She kicked it halfway.
Walter stepped toward it.
Claire watched his eyes, not the gun.
He looked down.
That was enough.
Linda slammed the passenger door into him.
The weapon swung away.
Claire rushed forward.
Walter stumbled.
The gun fired again into the air.
Police vehicles exploded from both ends of the road.
Walter turned as if to run.
There was nowhere to go.
He dropped the gun.
Agents took him to the ground.
Claire reached Linda.
Her mother grabbed her so tightly Claire could barely breathe.
“I’m sorry,” Linda sobbed.
“For what?”
“For letting fear raise all of you.”
Claire held her.
“We’re done with that.”
Across the yard, Walter shouted while officers cuffed him.
“You think this ends with me?”
Claire looked over Linda’s shoulder.
Walter’s face was red with rage.
“You think your grandfather was innocent?”
Claire froze.
Walter laughed.
“Ask Robert who started Harbor Light.”
Mark, arriving with Ethan in an unmarked vehicle, heard him too.
They all stared.
Walter continued shouting.
“Samuel Bennett built the machine. I just learned how to use it.”
Robert had always described Harbor Light as Walter’s project.
The accusation struck like a match in dry grass.
Claire walked toward Walter.
Marisol blocked her.
“Don’t.”
Claire stopped.
Walter smiled through split lips.
“Your grandfather stole first.”
Marisol pulled Walter away.
Ethan looked at Claire.
“You believe him?”
“I don’t know.”
Mark shook his head.
“He lies.”
“So does Dad.”
That silenced everyone.
Later that evening, Claire entered Robert’s hospital room with the question already burning.
“Did Grandpa start Harbor Light?”
Robert looked at her for a long moment.
“Yes.”
Claire’s stomach dropped.
“Was he stealing?”
Robert shook his head.
“Not at first.”
“At first?”
Robert closed his eyes.
“He created the foundation to help veterans. Then Walter convinced him to use one fake vendor to keep a project alive during a funding gap.”
Claire stared.
“And then?”
Robert opened his eyes.
“Grandpa found out Walter had turned one lie into a business.”
Claire exhaled.
“So Walter’s accusation has a piece of truth.”
“Yes.”
Robert looked away.
“Which is why Samuel blamed himself.”
Claire thought of the recorder.
If anything happens to me…
She asked, “Did he leave anything else?”
Robert nodded.
“One letter.”
“Where?”
“In a bank box under Ethan’s name.”
Ethan, standing in the doorway, went still.
“My name?”
May you like
Robert nodded.
“And I never opened it.”
