Chapter 7 - Fire in the Barn
The fire moved fast.
Old wood, dry hay, October wind.
Mason shouted for the deputy to call the volunteer fire department. Caleb pounded against the cruiser window, screaming Claire's name.
Claire ran toward the barn.
Mason grabbed her arm. "No."
"The stall—"
"No."
"Noah hid something there!"
"And you are pregnant. Stay here."
Scout ignored both of them.
He tore toward the smoke.
"Scout!"
The German Shepherd disappeared through the side aisle.
Claire's heart stopped.
"Get him!"
Mason cursed and ran after the dog.
Seconds stretched.
Then Scout emerged carrying a scorched leather pouch in his mouth.
Mason came behind him, coughing, one sleeve blackened.
"He found this under a loose plank," Mason said.
Claire took the pouch with shaking hands.
Inside was a flash drive wrapped in foil and a key stamped with the number 214.
The fire department arrived before the flames reached the main stable roof.
By sunset, half the old stall was gone.
Caleb had been released from the cruiser but told not to leave the property.
Mason examined the flash drive on a department laptop inside the farmhouse.
It contained scanned invoices, water tests, photographs, and bank transfers.
The ledger.
Not paper.
Digital.
One file was titled 214.
Mason clicked it.
A grainy security image filled the screen.
Noah stood outside a motel room marked 214.
Beside him was a woman Claire recognized.
Dr. Evelyn Shaw, the county medical examiner who had signed Noah's death certificate.
The timestamp was six hours after the time Noah was officially declared dead.
Claire leaned closer.
"That's impossible."
Mason didn't answer.
The image advanced to the next frame.
Noah turned toward the camera.
May you like
Alive.
And behind him stood Harlan Voss.
