Chapter 5 - Storage Unit 17The storage facility sat on the edge of town.

Rows of blue doors stretched beneath harsh fluorescent lights.

Mia recognized it immediately.

She pointed.

Unit 17.

Agent Morris opened the door.

Inside was a small collection of boxes.

Caleb's handwriting covered several of them.

FINANCIALS.

WAREHOUSE.

FAMILY.

I opened the last one.

Inside were photographs.

Letters.

Bank statements.

And a sealed envelope.

My name was written across it.

ANNA.

My hands trembled.

I opened it.

My brother had written the letter three days before the fire.

Anna,

If you're reading this, I'm sorry.

I should have told you everything sooner.

Dad is stealing money through the warehouse.

Mom knows.

She says she's afraid.

I don't blame her.

But I don't know what to do anymore.

Mia has seen things she shouldn't have seen.

Please protect her.

Whatever happens, don't let Dad convince you that I'm the bad guy.

I love you.

Caleb.

I couldn't stop crying.

My brother had known.

He had tried to protect us.

And we had failed him.

Then Agent Morris found another envelope.

Inside was a photograph of Victor Hale.

And beneath it:

THE MAN WHO STARTED THE FIRE.

We finally had proof.

But there was more.

A second USB drive.

Agent Morris opened it.

Video footage from the warehouse security system.

The footage showed my father entering the building.

Victor followed.

Then Evelyn.

Then my mother.

I watched in horror.

They argued with Caleb.

The timestamp showed 2:47 a.m.

At 3:02, Victor carried a container into the room.

At 3:08, the lights went out.

At 3:12, the fire began.

My father ran.

Victor followed.

My mother carried Mia.

Caleb was left behind.

The footage ended.

Agent Morris stared at the screen.

"We have them."

I whispered:

"Not all of them."

She looked at me.

"My mother."

"Your mother will have to answer for her actions."

I nodded.

I knew.

Then footsteps echoed outside.

Everyone froze.

Agent Morris raised her weapon.

A voice called:

"Anna?"

My heart stopped.

My mother.

She appeared at the doorway.

Her face was bruised.

She looked exhausted.

Mia ran toward her.

"Mom!"

My mother dropped to her knees.

Mia hugged her.

I watched them.

For a moment, I wanted to forgive her.

Then I remembered Caleb.

My mother looked at me.

"I'm sorry."

I didn't answer.

She cried.

"I thought I could save both of you."

"But you didn't."

She closed her eyes.

"I know."

"Why did you leave him?"

"Because your father threatened to kill Mia."

My anger weakened.

"He said if I helped Caleb, Mia would disappear."

I looked at Mia.

My mother continued.

"I made the worst choice of my life."

I swallowed.

"Where is Dad?"

She looked terrified.

"On the ship."

"What?"

"He never planned to return."

Agent Morris stepped closer.

"Where is he going?"

My mother whispered:

"Panama."

Then she added:

"Victor is with him."

Agent Morris immediately called for backup.

But my mother grabbed my arm.

"There's something else."

"What?"

She looked at Mia.

"He knows about the notebook."

My blood went cold.

"What notebook?"

"The purple one."

Mia froze.

My mother whispered:

"Caleb hid the final evidence inside it."

I stared at Mia's backpack.

The notebook.

The thing my parents had left behind.

The thing they thought was harmless.

My mother continued:

"Your father wants it."

I opened the notebook.

The memory card was still there.

But suddenly, I noticed the cracked unicorn sticker.

It had been moved.

Beneath it was another hidden compartment.

And inside was a key.

A brass key.

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With a number engraved on it.

17.