Chapter 2 - The Orphan Boy Said Ruby Was Afraid of a Woman Who Had Been Dead for Three Years, and the Evidence Inside Her Bedroom Made Me Question Everything I Knew About Her MotherMy wife, Amelia, had been dead for three years.
Cancer.
That was the official story.
She had spent eighteen months fighting.
Doctors had told us the prognosis.
I had moved heaven and earth to save her.
Nothing worked.
She died with Ruby holding her hand.
Afterward, I buried Amelia beneath an oak tree overlooking the lake.
I thought I knew her.
That night, Theo's words changed everything.
“Your dead wife.”
I stared at him.
“Explain.”
He shook his head.
“Not here.”
“Why?”
“Because your walls listen.”
I looked at Warren.
He was still surrounded by my men.
“Take Theo somewhere secure.”
Warren reacted.
I raised my gun.
“No.”
My voice went cold.
“You don't get to move him.”
Two guards took Theo away.
Ranger followed.
I turned toward Warren.
“You're staying.”
He looked at me.
“What is this about?”
“You tell me.”
“I don't know what that boy—”
“Don't lie.”
He stopped.
I had known him too long.
He was afraid.
Not of me.
Of something else.
“Where is Ruby?”
“I don't know.”
“Where is the boy's brother?”
“I don't know.”
“Who disabled the cameras?”
“I don't know.”
I stared.
“Then you're not useful.”
He lowered his eyes.
That frightened me.
Because Warren always looked me in the eyes.
Always.
Unless he was hiding something.
I told my men to search his office.
They found nothing.
Then Theo spoke.
“He doesn't keep things there.”
I looked at the child.
“Where does he?”
Theo pointed upstairs.
“Your wife's room.”
My blood went cold.
Amelia's bedroom had remained untouched since she died.
I hadn't allowed anyone inside.
Not even cleaners.
I followed Theo upstairs.
The door had been locked for three years.
I opened it.
Dust covered everything.
Her perfume bottle.
Books.
Jewelry.
Photographs.
Then Theo walked to the wardrobe.
He pointed.
“Behind there.”
We moved it.
A small panel was hidden in the wall.
I had never seen it.
Inside was a box.
Letters.
A passport.
Medical records.
A photograph of Amelia standing beside a little boy.
Four years old.
Theo looked at it.
“That’s my brother.”
I stared.
“Amelia knew your family?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Theo swallowed.
“Because she saved us.”
The room became silent.
I opened a letter.
Amelia's handwriting.
Sebastian,
If you're reading this, something has happened that I prayed would never happen.
I read on.
Do not trust the security reports.
My heart tightened.
The next line:
Someone inside your organization is working against you.
I looked at Warren through the doorway.
The letter continued.
I couldn't tell you because I wasn't sure who was listening.
Then:
Ruby is not safe because of your enemies. She is unsafe because of someone you trust.
My hands shook.
Three years.
She had known.
She had suspected someone.
Maybe Warren.
Maybe someone else.
I continued reading.
If something happens to me, protect Ruby.
And find Theo's family.
I looked at the child.
“Why was your brother involved?”
Theo answered:
“He worked for your wife.”
“What did he do?”
“Delivered messages.”
“To whom?”
“I don't know.”
Then Theo pulled something from his pocket.
A key.
Silver.
Old.
It carried Amelia's initials.
I stared at it.
“Where did you get that?”
“My brother gave it to me.”
“What does it open?”
Theo shook his head.
“He said only your daughter could open it.”
I felt cold.
Ruby.
A six-year-old.
Why would Amelia leave something that required Ruby?
Unless Amelia had known Ruby would eventually need it.
I ran downstairs.
I found Ruby's room.
Her stuffed animals.
Her drawings.
Her schoolbooks.
And a music box.
I had given it to her on her fourth birthday.
I opened it.
Nothing.
Then I heard a click.
A hidden compartment beneath the music box.
Inside was a photograph.
Amelia.
Ruby.
Theo's brother.
And one other man.
Warren.
My blood froze.
On the back, Amelia had written:
He knows.
I turned.
Warren was standing in the doorway.
He looked at me.
I asked:
“What does this mean?”
He didn't answer.
Then Theo screamed from downstairs.
“RANGER!”
May you like
The dog barked.
Gunfire exploded.
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