Chapter 6 - Grandpa’s Escape
Claire grabbed the radio.
“Dad? Dad, where are you?”
Static answered.
Then Henry said, “Not safe to say. Richard can monitor the estate channels.”
Leo moved closer. “Grandpa, I found the recorder.”
“I knew you would.”
His voice sounded weak, but unmistakably alive.
Leo’s throat tightened so suddenly he could not speak.
Henry continued. “Listen carefully. The evidence in the blue room is only half of it. The original ledgers are off-site. Richard needs the court to declare me dead because the trust transfers control of the company to him if I die before a fraud ruling is entered.”
Claire gripped the radio harder. “Then come home. We’ll call the police.”
“I tried.”
Her face went still.
“What do you mean?”
“The first officer I contacted called Martin within seven minutes.”
Leo felt a chill.
Henry said, “I do not know how far this reaches. I needed proof strong enough that no one could bury it.”
A loud metallic bang echoed somewhere in the tunnel.
Richard had found the hatch.
“Move,” Henry ordered. “Take the lake tunnel to the old pump house. Maria will meet you.”
“Where are you?” Leo asked.
“Close enough to see whether you remember how to keep your head.”
Despite everything, Leo almost smiled.
They ran.
The tunnel narrowed and grew colder. Water dripped from the ceiling. Behind them came a distant shout.
“Claire!” Richard yelled. “You are making this worse!”
Claire did not slow down.
They reached a rusted ladder beneath the pump house and climbed into cold evening air.
Maria Alvarez waited beside an old pickup truck.
She pulled Leo into a fierce hug.
“I am so sorry, sweetheart.”
“Where’s Grandpa?”
“Not here.”
Claire climbed into the passenger seat. “Take us to him.”
Maria hesitated.
Then headlights appeared on the road above the lake.
Two black SUVs turned toward them.
Maria swore under her breath.
“They found us.”
Leo jumped into the truck.
Maria started the engine and slammed it into gear.
As they tore away from the pump house, Leo looked through the rear window.
One of the SUVs stopped.
The driver stepped out.
It was not Richard.
May you like
It was Sheriff Daniel Cross.
And he was raising a rifle toward their truck.
