For a few seconds, nobody spoke.
\nJeremy was still holding my wrist.
\nI looked at the message again.
\nIF PRICE TOOK THE BLACK FOLDER, YOU JUST GAVE THE EVIDENCE TO THE WRONG MAN.
\nJeremy released me.
\n\u201cCall him.\u201d
\n\u201cCaleb?\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\nI looked at the unknown number.
\n\u201cWhat if it isn\u2019t him?\u201d
\nJeremy stared at the screen.
\n\u201cThen whoever it is knows too much.\u201d
\nI hit call.
\nIt rang once.
\nTwice.
\nThen someone answered.
\nNo greeting.
\nJust breathing.
\n\u201cCaleb?\u201d
\nSilence.
\nJeremy stepped closer.
\n\u201cPut it on speaker.\u201d
\nI did.
\n\u201cCaleb?\u201d
\nA man finally spoke.
\nHis voice was low.
\n\u201cTook you long enough.\u201d
\nJeremy\u2019s face changed.
\nHe knew the voice.
\n\u201cCaleb.\u201d
\nThere was a long pause.
\nThen the man said, \u201cHi, Dad.\u201d
\nJeremy sat down like his knees had stopped working.
\n\u201cOh my God.\u201d
\n\u201cI wouldn\u2019t use His name right now.\u201d
\nJeremy closed his eyes.
\n\u201cWhere are you?\u201d
\n\u201cNot telling you.\u201d
\n\u201cI thought you were dead.\u201d
\n\u201cNo. You were just easier to control if you thought I might be.\u201d
\nI frowned.
\n\u201cWho controlled him?\u201d
\nCaleb heard me.
\n\u201cJill?\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\n\u201cI\u2019m sorry.\u201d
\nThere it was again.
\nThe apology.
\n\u201cWhat are you sorry for?\u201d
\nHe didn\u2019t answer.
\n\u201cCaleb.\u201d
\n\u201cYou really don\u2019t know?\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nJeremy looked confused too.
\nCaleb exhaled.
\n\u201cThat makes this worse.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat makes what worse?\u201d
\n\u201cPrice.\u201d
\nI tightened my grip on the phone.
\n\u201cWhy shouldn\u2019t I trust him?\u201d
\n\u201cBecause Samuel Price isn\u2019t investigating Randall.\u201d
\nJeremy stood.
\n\u201cWhat are you talking about?\u201d
\n\u201cHe\u2019s protecting him.\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\n\u201cHe\u2019s a detective.\u201d
\n\u201cSo what?\u201d
\n\u201cBad people can have badges.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Jeremy paced.
\n\u201cCaleb, Price came to the company eight months ago asking questions.\u201d
\n\u201cI know.\u201d
\n\u201cYou told me you didn\u2019t trust anybody.\u201d
\n\u201cI didn\u2019t.\u201d
\n\u201cThen why didn\u2019t you tell me this?\u201d
\n\u201cBecause I didn\u2019t trust you either.\u201d
\nThat landed hard.
\nJeremy stopped moving.
\nCaleb continued.
\n\u201cYou were taking Randall\u2019s money.\u201d
\n\u201cI was collecting evidence.\u201d
\n\u201cYou started collecting evidence after you helped him.\u201d
\nJeremy didn\u2019t answer.
\nCaleb said, \u201cThat\u2019s why I disappeared.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I stepped in.
\n\u201cStart from the beginning.\u201d
\nCaleb went quiet.
\nThen said, \u201cClaim 419.\u201d
\nOf course.
\nEverything kept coming back to Eleanor Watkins.
\nCaleb continued.
\n\u201cI inspected Mrs. Watkins\u2019 roof.\u201d
\nJeremy nodded even though Caleb couldn\u2019t see him.
\n\u201cThere was hail damage, but not enough for a full replacement.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat did you report?\u201d
\n\u201cAbout twelve thousand dollars in repairs.\u201d
\n\u201cAnd Randall changed it?\u201d
\n\u201cTo one hundred eighty-seven thousand.\u201d
\nI felt sick hearing the number again.
\n\u201cI confronted him.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat happened?\u201d
\n\u201cHe laughed.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Jeremy closed his eyes.
\nCaleb continued.
\n\u201cHe told me nobody checks details once enough paperwork looks official.\u201d
\n\u201cThen what?\u201d
\n\u201cI started watching.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat did you find?\u201d
\n\u201cFake subcontractors. Fake invoices. Borrower information. Driver\u2019s licenses. Social Security numbers.\u201d
\nEmma whispered, \u201cMine?\u201d
\nCaleb heard her.
\n\u201cIs Emma there?\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\nSilence.
\nThen his voice softened.
\n\u201cEmma, none of that was you.\u201d
\nShe started crying quietly.
\n\u201cI know.\u201d
\n\u201cNo, I mean I saw the file.\u201d
\nEveryone froze.
\n\u201cWhat file?\u201d I asked.
\n\u201cRandall kept folders on families connected to employees.\u201d
\nJeremy stared at the phone.
\n\u201cFamilies?\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\n\u201cWhy?\u201d
\n\u201cIdentity pools.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
My skin crawled.
\n\u201cWhat does that mean?\u201d
\n\u201cNames he could use.\u201d
\nNobody spoke.
\nCaleb continued.
\n\u201cSpouses. Adult children. Dead relatives. Teenagers. Anybody with clean credit or no criminal history.\u201d
\nEmma covered her mouth.
\n\u201cHe used real people to build fake transactions.\u201d
\nI thought about my loan.
\nMy fake divorce.
\nEmma\u2019s fake notary commission.
\n\u201cHow long?\u201d
\n\u201cYears.\u201d
\nJeremy whispered, \u201cI never knew.\u201d
\nCaleb laughed bitterly.
\n\u201cYou didn\u2019t want to know.\u201d
\nJeremy flinched.
\nI asked, \u201cWhere does Price come in?\u201d
\nCaleb\u2019s voice hardened.
\n\u201cI found payment records.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat kind?\u201d
\n\u201cTransfers.\u201d
\n\u201cTo Price?\u201d
\n\u201cNot directly.\u201d
\n\u201cThen how do you know?\u201d
\n\u201cBecause I followed the account.\u201d
\nJeremy looked at me.
\nCaleb continued.
\n\u201cRandall paid a consulting company every quarter.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat company?\u201d
\n\u201cSouthern Compliance Strategies.\u201d
\nJeremy frowned.
\n\u201cI\u2019ve never heard of it.\u201d
\n\u201cNeither had I.\u201d
\n\u201cAnd?\u201d
\n\u201cThe company was registered to Price\u2019s brother-in-law.\u201d<\/p>\n
Silence.
\nJeremy whispered, \u201cThat doesn\u2019t prove Samuel Price was involved.\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nCaleb answered immediately.
\n\u201cThat didn\u2019t.\u201d
\nI caught the word.
\n\u201cDidn\u2019t?\u201d
\n\u201cI found something else.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\n\u201cA recording.\u201d
\nJeremy stopped breathing.
\n\u201cOf who?\u201d
\n\u201cRandall and Price.\u201d
\nI looked toward the door, almost expecting Price to walk back in.
\n\u201cWhat were they saying?\u201d
\nCaleb paused.
\n\u201cRandall asked how much longer they needed to keep the investigation open.\u201d
\nJeremy\u2019s face went pale.
\n\u201cAnd Price said?\u201d
\n\u201cHe said as long as the case stayed active, other agencies would assume it was being handled locally.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
My stomach dropped.
\n\u201cA fake investigation.\u201d
\n\u201cExactly.\u201d
\nJeremy whispered, \u201cJesus.\u201d
\nCaleb continued.
\n\u201cIt protected Randall.\u201d
\n\u201cAnd Price got paid.\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\nI looked at the empty space where the black folder had been.
\n\u201cAnd I just gave him the evidence.\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\nI felt sick.
\n\u201cWhy didn\u2019t you contact me sooner?\u201d
\nCaleb went quiet.
\nThen he said, \u201cBecause I didn\u2019t know if Jeremy had finally told you the truth.\u201d
\nJeremy looked down.
\n\u201cAbout me?\u201d
\n\u201cAbout everything.\u201d
\nI asked, \u201cAnd the apology?\u201d
\nCaleb didn\u2019t answer.
\n\u201cCaleb.\u201d
\n\u201cI was there when Randall used your signature.\u201d
\nThe whole room froze.
\nMy voice disappeared.
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\n\u201cI didn\u2019t forge it.\u201d
\n\u201cThen what did you do?\u201d
\n\u201cI watched Marsha do it.\u201d
\nMy chest tightened.
\n\u201cAnd you said nothing.\u201d
\n\u201cI was twenty-one.\u201d
\n\u201cYou were old enough to know.\u201d
\n\u201cI know.\u201d
\n\u201cWhy?\u201d
\n\u201cBecause Randall had something on me.\u201d
\nJeremy looked up sharply.
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\nCaleb\u2019s voice cracked for the first time.
\n\u201cClaim 419.\u201d
\n\u201cI don\u2019t understand.\u201d
\n\u201cRandall made me sign the final inspection.\u201d
\nJeremy shook his head.
\n\u201cYou told me you refused.\u201d
\n\u201cI did refuse.\u201d
\n\u201cThen?\u201d
\n\u201cHe threatened Rebecca.\u201d
\nJeremy\u2019s face changed.
\nCaleb continued.
\n\u201cMy mother was already sick.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat did he threaten to do?\u201d
\n\u201cTake her house.\u201d
\nSilence.
\n\u201cRandall had financed repairs on her place years earlier. He said he\u2019d call the note.\u201d
\nJeremy whispered, \u201cWhy didn\u2019t you tell me?\u201d
\n\u201cBecause you were working for him.\u201d
\n\u201cI would have helped you.\u201d
\nCaleb laughed.
\n\u201cYou were helping him.\u201d
\nJeremy looked like he\u2019d been punched.
\nI understood something then.
\nCaleb wasn\u2019t only angry.
\nHe had spent years believing Jeremy had chosen Randall too.
\nI asked, \u201cWhat happened after you signed?\u201d
\n\u201cRandall used my signature to legitimize the claim.\u201d
\n\u201cAnd Mrs. Watkins lost her house.\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\nHis voice broke.
\n\u201cThat\u2019s why I\u2019m sorry.\u201d
\n\u201cTo me?\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nHe paused.
\n\u201cTo all of you.\u201d
\nI frowned.
\n\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d
\n\u201cI knew Randall was collecting family records.\u201d
\nJeremy whispered, \u201cOur records?\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\n\u201cWhy didn\u2019t you warn us?\u201d
\n\u201cBecause I thought if I disappeared, he\u2019d stop using people connected to me.\u201d
\nEmma said quietly, \u201cHe didn\u2019t.\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nCaleb sounded broken.
\n\u201cHe got worse.\u201d
\nI sat down.
\n\u201cWhere have you been for a year?\u201d
\n\u201cMoving.\u201d
\n\u201cWhere?\u201d
\n\u201cDifferent states.\u201d
\n\u201cWhy?\u201d
\n\u201cBecause someone followed me.\u201d
\n\u201cRandall?\u201d
\n\u201cI thought so.\u201d
\n\u201cYou don\u2019t anymore?\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\n\u201cWho?\u201d
\nCaleb hesitated.
\n\u201cPrice.\u201d
\nThe room went cold again.
\nJeremy grabbed the phone closer.
\n\u201cAre you sure?\u201d
\n\u201cI saw him.\u201d
\n\u201cWhere?\u201d
\n\u201cKnoxville. Then again outside Lexington.\u201d
\n\u201cThat could be coincidence.\u201d
\n\u201cIt wasn\u2019t.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat happened?\u201d
\n\u201cHe tried to get into my motel room.\u201d
\nJeremy went silent.
\nI asked, \u201cWhy would he do that?\u201d
\n\u201cBecause I had the recording.\u201d
\n\u201cYou still have it?\u201d
\nAnother pause.
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\nMy pulse quickened.
\n\u201cThen send it to me.\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\n\u201cWhy?\u201d
\n\u201cBecause your phone may already be compromised.\u201d
\nI looked at my screen.
\n\u201cBy who?\u201d
\n\u201cRandall has people.\u201d
\nJeremy shook his head.
\n\u201cThis is getting crazy.\u201d
\nCaleb snapped, \u201cDad, your wife has a fake divorce, a forged loan and a stolen house.\u201d
\nJeremy stopped talking.
\nCaleb continued.
\n\u201cThis was crazy before she knew any of it.\u201d
\nHe was right.
\nI asked, \u201cWhat do we do?\u201d
\n\u201cLeave the house.\u201d
\nJeremy immediately said, \u201cNo.\u201d
\nCaleb ignored him.
\n\u201cTake Tyler. Take Emma and Lacey too.\u201d
\n\u201cWhere?\u201d
\n\u201cAnywhere Randall doesn\u2019t expect.\u201d
\nJeremy stepped closer.
\n\u201cWe can\u2019t run.\u201d
\n\u201cThen don\u2019t call it running.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat do you call it?\u201d
\n\u201cStaying alive long enough to testify.\u201d
\nThat sentence changed the room.
\nLacey looked terrified.
\nI asked, \u201cAre we in danger?\u201d
\nCaleb took too long to answer.
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\nEmma started crying again.
\nJeremy said, \u201cWhy now?\u201d
\n\u201cBecause the fire means Randall is cleaning up.\u201d
\n\u201cThe fire at Mercer Roofing?\u201d
\n\u201cYou know already?\u201d
\n\u201cPrice got the call.\u201d
\nCaleb cursed.
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\n\u201cThat fire wasn\u2019t an accident.\u201d
\n\u201cI assumed.\u201d
\n\u201cNo. You don\u2019t understand.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat don\u2019t I understand?\u201d
\nCaleb\u2019s voice dropped.
\n\u201cThe building has a basement records room.\u201d
\nJeremy stared at the phone.
\n\u201cSo?\u201d
\n\u201cRandall kept everything there.\u201d
\n\u201cThen he burned it.\u201d
\n\u201cNot everything.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d
\n\u201cThere\u2019s a second archive.\u201d
\nJeremy frowned.
\n\u201cWhere?\u201d
\n\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d
\n\u201cThen how do you know?\u201d
\n\u201cBecause I helped move boxes into it.\u201d
\nSilence.
\n\u201cWhen?\u201d
\n\u201cTwo years ago.\u201d
\n\u201cWhere did you take them?\u201d
\nCaleb hesitated.
\n\u201cThat\u2019s the problem.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat problem?\u201d
\n\u201cI was blindfolded.\u201d
\nTyler, who had been standing quietly on the stairs, finally spoke.
\n\u201cThat sounds insane.\u201d
\nCaleb heard him.
\n\u201cTyler?\u201d
\nMy son froze.
\n\u201cYeah.\u201d
\nThere was silence on the line.
\nThen Caleb said, \u201cYou sound older than I expected.\u201d
\nTyler stared at the floor.
\n\u201cYou know who I am?\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\n\u201cDad told you?\u201d
\n\u201cMore than he told you about me.\u201d
\nJeremy closed his eyes.
\nTyler\u2019s jaw tightened.
\nCaleb added softly, \u201cI\u2019m sorry.\u201d
\nTyler didn\u2019t answer.
\nThen Caleb said, \u201cI know one thing about the archive.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d I asked.
\n\u201cThere was a train.\u201d
\n\u201cA train?\u201d
\n\u201cI heard it every night.\u201d
\nJeremy frowned.
\n\u201cFreight?\u201d
\n\u201cYeah.\u201d
\n\u201cAnd water.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat kind of water?\u201d
\n\u201cRiver, maybe.\u201d
\n\u201cAnything else?\u201d
\n\u201cA church bell at six.\u201d
\nThat wasn\u2019t much.
\nBut it was something.
\nThen Caleb\u2019s voice suddenly changed.
\n\u201cSomeone\u2019s here.\u201d
\nI stood.
\n\u201cWhere?\u201d
\n\u201cDon\u2019t call back.\u201d
\n\u201cCaleb?\u201d
\n\u201cI mean it.\u201d
\nJeremy shouted, \u201cSon, where are you?\u201d
\nA sound came through the phone.
\nA door.
\nThen footsteps.
\nCaleb whispered, \u201cOh, hell.\u201d
\n\u201cCaleb!\u201d
\n\u201cDon\u2019t trust Price.\u201d
\nThen the line went dead.
\nJeremy immediately called back.
\nStraight to voicemail.
\nAgain.
\nVoicemail.
\nAgain.
\nNothing.
\nHe threw the phone onto the couch.
\n\u201cWe need to find him.\u201d
\n\u201cWith what?\u201d I asked.
\n\u201cHe could be anywhere.\u201d
\n\u201cHe\u2019s my son.\u201d
\n\u201cAnd Tyler is upstairs.\u201d
\nJeremy looked at me.
\nI continued.
\n\u201cYou don\u2019t get to destroy the family in front of you chasing the family you hid.\u201d
\nThat hurt him.
\nI could see it.
\nBut I wasn\u2019t taking it back.
\nLacey whispered, \u201cJill.\u201d
\nI looked at her.
\n\u201cWe should leave.\u201d
\nShe was right.
\nI hated it.
\nBut she was right.
\nI grabbed my purse.
\n\u201cPack one bag.\u201d
\nTyler came down.
\n\u201cWhere are we going?\u201d
\n\u201cI don\u2019t know yet.\u201d
\nJeremy said, \u201cI have somewhere.\u201d
\nI looked at him.
\n\u201cNo more secrets.\u201d
\n\u201cIt\u2019s my mother\u2019s old cabin.\u201d
\n\u201cYour mother had a cabin?\u201d
\n\u201cOutside Columbia.\u201d
\nI stared at him.
\n\u201cI\u2019ve been married to you eighteen years.\u201d
\n\u201cI know.\u201d
\n\u201cAnd somehow there\u2019s still property I don\u2019t know about.\u201d
\n\u201cIt\u2019s barely property.\u201d
\n\u201cJeremy.\u201d
\n\u201cIt\u2019s an old hunting cabin.\u201d
\n\u201cWho knows about it?\u201d
\n\u201cAlmost nobody.\u201d
\n\u201cRandall?\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\n\u201cPrice?\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\n\u201cCaleb?\u201d
\nJeremy paused.
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\nOf course.
\nI said, \u201cThen we\u2019re not going there.\u201d
\nTyler muttered, \u201cGood call.\u201d
\nJeremy rubbed his face.
\n\u201cI\u2019m trying to help.\u201d
\n\u201cThen start by thinking of something you haven\u2019t lied about.\u201d
\nThat shut him up.
\nWe packed quickly.
\nClothes.
\nMedication.
\nChargers.
\nDocuments.
\nI copied every photo I had taken from the red folder onto a small flash drive.
\nThen onto another.
\nOne went in my purse.
\nOne went into Tyler\u2019s backpack.
\nJeremy watched.
\n\u201cSmart.\u201d
\n\u201cMelissa told me to protect myself.\u201d
\nThat reminded me.
\nMelissa.
\nI called her.
\nNo answer.
\nAgain.
\nNothing.
\nI left no voicemail.
\nThen a text arrived from her.
\nDO NOT COME TO THE COURTHOUSE.
\nMy heart jumped.
\nAnother message.
\nPRICE WAS HERE.
\nJeremy saw it.
\n\u201cWhat did he want?\u201d
\nI typed:
\nWHAT HAPPENED?
\nThree dots appeared.
\nThen disappeared.
\nThen appeared again.
\nFinally:
\nHE TOOK COPIES OF THE DIVORCE FILE.
\nI looked at Jeremy.
\nA second message arrived.
\nJILL, SOMETHING IS WRONG.
\nThen:
\nTHE SEALED FILE IS GONE FROM THE SYSTEM.
\nI stared at the screen.
\n\u201cWhat does that mean?\u201d Tyler asked.
\n\u201cIt means somebody deleted it.\u201d
\nJeremy whispered, \u201cPrice.\u201d
\nMaybe.
\nMaybe not.
\nI typed:
\nARE YOU SAFE?
\nMelissa replied:
\nI THINK SO.
\nThen:
\nI MADE COPIES FIRST.
\nRelief hit me.
\nI typed:
\nHIDE THEM.
\nHer response came immediately:
\nALREADY DID.
\nThen another:
\nTHERE IS SOMETHING YOU NEED TO SEE.
\nI waited.
\nA photo arrived.
\nA scanned page.
\nIt looked like an old application.
\nI zoomed in.
\nTOLLEY FAMILY PROPERTY TRUST.
\nSUPPLEMENTAL BENEFICIARY SCHEDULE.
\nMy name.
\nTyler\u2019s name.
\nEmma\u2019s name.
\nAnd one more.
\nCALEB MERCER.
\nI stopped breathing.
\nJeremy looked over my shoulder.
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\nI pointed at the last name.
\nHe went completely still.
\n\u201cThat\u2019s wrong.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\n\u201cCaleb\u2019s last name isn\u2019t Mercer.\u201d
\n\u201cAccording to this, it is.\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nLacey stood.
\n\u201cWhat\u2019s Caleb\u2019s full legal name?\u201d
\nJeremy whispered, \u201cCaleb Tolley.\u201d
\nMelissa sent another image.
\nBirth certificate amendment.
\nFiled three years earlier.
\nFather:
\nRandall Clay Mercer.
\nNobody spoke.
\nJeremy stared at the screen.
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nHis voice barely existed.
\nI looked at him.
\n\u201cWhat does this mean?\u201d
\n\u201cIt means Randall forged another document.\u201d
\nBut he didn\u2019t sound sure.
\nLacey was staring at Jeremy strangely.
\n\u201cJeremy.\u201d
\nHe looked at her.
\nShe whispered, \u201cWho was Rebecca?\u201d
\n\u201cMy ex-girlfriend.\u201d
\n\u201cWhen?\u201d
\n\u201cBefore Jill.\u201d
\n\u201cHow well did Randall know her?\u201d
\nJeremy frowned.
\n\u201cWhat are you asking?\u201d
\nLacey\u2019s face changed.
\n\u201cBecause Randall knew a Rebecca too.\u201d
\nThe room went silent.
\nJeremy stepped toward her.
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\n\u201cYears ago.\u201d
\n\u201cWhen?\u201d
\n\u201cBefore Emma was born.\u201d
\nJeremy looked sick.
\n\u201cWhat was her last name?\u201d
\nLacey swallowed.
\n\u201cDaniels.\u201d
\nJeremy backed away.
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nTyler asked, \u201cWhat?\u201d
\nJeremy whispered, \u201cCaleb\u2019s mother was Rebecca Daniels.\u201d
\nEverything stopped.
\nLacey covered her mouth.
\nJeremy looked like the floor had disappeared beneath him.
\n\u201cWhat did Randall tell you about her?\u201d
\nLacey\u2019s voice shook.
\n\u201cThat they dated.\u201d
\nJeremy stared at her.
\n\u201cWhen?\u201d
\nShe answered quietly.
\n\u201cTwenty-four years ago.\u201d
\nCaleb was twenty-three.
\nI looked at the birth certificate amendment again.
\nFather:
\nRandall Clay Mercer.
\nJeremy whispered, \u201cNo.\u201d
\nBut nobody knew whether he was denying the document or begging reality not to be true.
\nThen my phone rang.
\nUnknown number.
\nWe all froze.
\nI answered.
\n\u201cHello?\u201d
\nA man\u2019s voice came through.
\nNot Caleb.
\nNot Price.
\nRandall.
\n\u201cJill.\u201d
\nMy blood turned cold.
\n\u201cHow did you get this number?\u201d
\nHe laughed softly.
\n\u201cYou really think phone numbers are the hard part?\u201d
\nJeremy reached for the phone.
\nI pulled away.
\n\u201cWhat do you want?\u201d
\nRandall said, \u201cI want what belongs to me.\u201d
\n\u201cThe house?\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nPause.
\n\u201cMy son.\u201d
\nI looked at Jeremy.
\nHe heard it.
\nEveryone heard it.
\nRandall continued.
\n\u201cTell Jeremy that Caleb was never his.\u201d
\nJeremy\u2019s face collapsed.
\nThen Randall said one last thing.
\n\u201cAnd if Caleb contacted you tonight, you need to understand something very clearly.\u201d
\nI gripped the phone.
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\n\u201cHe didn\u2019t disappear because he was afraid of me.\u201d
\nRandall\u2019s voice dropped.
\n\u201cHe disappeared because he found out what Jeremy did to Rebecca.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jeremy went completely still.
\nRandall\u2019s voice was still coming through my phone.
\n\u201cHe disappeared because he found out what Jeremy did to Rebecca.\u201d
\nI looked at my husband.
\nHis face had lost all color.
\n\u201cWhat did you do?\u201d
\nJeremy shook his head.
\n\u201cJill, hang up.\u201d
\nRandall laughed.
\n\u201cThat\u2019s right, Jeremy. Tell her to hang up.\u201d
\nI tightened my grip on the phone.
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nJeremy stepped toward me.
\n\u201cJill.\u201d
\n\u201cNo more protecting me.\u201d
\n\u201cI\u2019m not protecting you.\u201d
\n\u201cThen who are you protecting?\u201d
\nHe didn\u2019t answer.
\nRandall did.
\n\u201cHimself.\u201d
\nJeremy snapped, \u201cShut your mouth.\u201d
\nRandall\u2019s voice turned almost cheerful.
\n\u201cAsk him about the night Rebecca died.\u201d
\nLacey covered her mouth.
\nTyler stared at his father.
\nEmma whispered, \u201cWhat happened?\u201d
\nJeremy looked like he might be sick.
\nI spoke into the phone.
\n\u201cTell me.\u201d
\nRandall paused.
\nThen said, \u201cJeremy was there.\u201d
\nMy stomach dropped.
\nJeremy shouted, \u201cThat\u2019s enough.\u201d
\nRandall continued.
\n\u201cHe was the last person to see her alive.\u201d
\n\u201cStop.\u201d
\n\u201cAnd he never told police the truth.\u201d
\nI looked at Jeremy.
\n\u201cIs that true?\u201d
\nHe didn\u2019t answer.
\nThat silence hurt worse than Randall\u2019s words.
\n\u201cJeremy.\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\nTyler stepped backward.
\n\u201cDad.\u201d
\nJeremy rubbed both hands over his face.
\n\u201cYes. I saw Rebecca the night she died.\u201d
\nI nearly dropped the phone.
\nRandall laughed softly.
\n\u201cFinally.\u201d
\nI hung up.
\nJeremy immediately said, \u201cWhy did you do that?\u201d
\n\u201cBecause I want the truth from you.\u201d
\n\u201cHe\u2019ll twist everything.\u201d
\n\u201cThen don\u2019t give him anything to twist.\u201d
\nJeremy looked at Tyler.
\nThen Lacey.
\nThen Emma.
\nFinally me.
\n\u201cRebecca called me around midnight.\u201d
\n\u201cWhen?\u201d
\n\u201cFour years ago.\u201d
\n\u201cThe night she died?\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat did she want?\u201d
\n\u201cShe was scared.\u201d
\n\u201cOf Randall?\u201d
\nJeremy hesitated.
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\nLacey whispered, \u201cShe was still seeing him?\u201d
\n\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d
\n\u201cYou said she was your ex.\u201d
\n\u201cShe was.\u201d
\nI crossed my arms.
\n\u201cBut Caleb was yours.\u201d
\nJeremy looked down.
\n\u201cI believed he was.\u201d
\n\u201cThat\u2019s not what I asked.\u201d
\n\u201cYes. I believed Caleb was my son.\u201d
\n\u201cDid Rebecca ever tell you Randall might be his father?\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\n\u201cNever?\u201d
\n\u201cNever.\u201d
\nJeremy sat down.
\n\u201cShe called me and said Randall had been threatening her.\u201d
\n\u201cWhy?\u201d
\n\u201cShe had documents.\u201d
\nOf course.
\nAlways documents.
\n\u201cWhat documents?\u201d
\n\u201cLoan records. Company transfers. Old property files.\u201d
\n\u201cConnected to Mercer Roofing?\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\n\u201cHow did she get them?\u201d
\n\u201cShe used to do bookkeeping for Randall.\u201d
\nLacey looked shocked.
\n\u201cI didn\u2019t know that.\u201d
\nJeremy nodded.
\n\u201cYears ago.\u201d
\nI asked, \u201cWhat did Rebecca want from you?\u201d
\n\u201cShe wanted me to take the papers.\u201d
\n\u201cWhy you?\u201d
\n\u201cBecause she trusted me.\u201d
\nTyler let out a bitter laugh.
\nJeremy looked at him.
\n\u201cI know.\u201d
\n\u201cNo, you don\u2019t.\u201d
\nTyler turned away.
\nI said, \u201cKeep going.\u201d
\nJeremy took a breath.
\n\u201cI drove to her house.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat time?\u201d
\n\u201cA little after one.\u201d
\n\u201cWas Caleb there?\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\n\u201cWhere was he?\u201d
\n\u201cWorking nights at a warehouse.\u201d
\n\u201cAnd Rebecca?\u201d
\n\u201cShe was crying.\u201d
\nJeremy\u2019s voice broke slightly.
\n\u201cShe kept saying she had made a mistake.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat mistake?\u201d
\n\u201cShe wouldn\u2019t say.\u201d
\n\u201cShe had documents?\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat happened to them?\u201d
\n\u201cShe gave me a box.\u201d
\nI stared at him.
\n\u201cWhere is it?\u201d
\n\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d
\n\u201cJeremy.\u201d
\n\u201cI don\u2019t.\u201d
\n\u201cYou expect me to believe that?\u201d
\n\u201cI put it in my truck.\u201d
\n\u201cThen?\u201d
\n\u201cShe asked me to stay.\u201d
\n\u201cDid you?\u201d
\n\u201cFor about an hour.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat happened?\u201d
\n\u201cShe calmed down.\u201d
\n\u201cAnd then?\u201d
\n\u201cI left.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat time?\u201d
\n\u201cMaybe two-thirty.\u201d
\n\u201cAnd she died when?\u201d
\nHe closed his eyes.
\n\u201cPolice estimated between three and five.\u201d
\nThe room went silent.
\n\u201cHow?\u201d
\nJeremy didn\u2019t answer.
\nI stepped closer.
\n\u201cHow did Rebecca die?\u201d
\n\u201cHer car went off the road.\u201d
\n\u201cA crash?\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\n\u201cAccident?\u201d
\n\u201cThat\u2019s what police said.\u201d
\n\u201cBut Randall says you did something.\u201d
\nJeremy looked at me.
\n\u201cI didn\u2019t kill Rebecca.\u201d
\nI studied his face.
\n\u201cI didn\u2019t ask if you killed her.\u201d
\nHe froze.
\nThere it was.
\nAnother hidden piece.
\n\u201cWhat are you not telling me?\u201d
\nJeremy stood.
\n\u201cShe followed me.\u201d
\n\u201cWho?\u201d
\n\u201cRebecca.\u201d
\n\u201cWhy?\u201d
\n\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d
\n\u201cYou left her house and she followed you?\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\n\u201cIn her car?\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\n\u201cFor how long?\u201d
\n\u201cA few miles.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat happened?\u201d
\n\u201cShe started flashing her headlights.\u201d
\n\u201cDid you stop?\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nMy stomach tightened.
\n\u201cWhy?\u201d
\n\u201cBecause I was angry.\u201d
\n\u201cAt her?\u201d
\n\u201cAt everything.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat did she want?\u201d
\n\u201cI didn\u2019t know.\u201d
\n\u201cSo you kept driving?\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\n\u201cThen?\u201d
\n\u201cI saw her headlights disappear.\u201d
\nLacey whispered, \u201cOh God.\u201d
\nJeremy\u2019s eyes filled.
\n\u201cI turned around.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat did you find?\u201d
\n\u201cHer car was down an embankment.\u201d
\nEmma covered her mouth.
\nTyler stared at his father.
\n\u201cWas she alive?\u201d
\nJeremy whispered, \u201cYes.\u201d
\nThe room went dead silent.
\nI could barely speak.
\n\u201cShe was alive?\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\n\u201cDid you call 911?\u201d
\nJeremy\u2019s face collapsed.
\n\u201cNot immediately.\u201d
\nMy whole body went cold.
\n\u201cWhat did you do?\u201d
\n\u201cShe was trapped.\u201d
\n\u201cJeremy.\u201d
\n\u201cShe was bleeding.\u201d
\n\u201cWHAT DID YOU DO?\u201d
\n\u201cI tried to get her out.\u201d
\n\u201cThen call for help.\u201d
\n\u201cI know.\u201d
\n\u201cHow long?\u201d
\nHe looked down.
\n\u201cHow long?\u201d
\n\u201cMaybe twenty minutes.\u201d
\nI felt sick.
\n\u201cTwenty minutes?\u201d
\n\u201cI panicked.\u201d
\n\u201cWhy?\u201d
\n\u201cBecause of the box.\u201d
\nI stared at him.
\n\u201cWhat box?\u201d
\n\u201cThe documents Rebecca gave me.\u201d
\nIt clicked.
\n\u201cYou were afraid police would find them.\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\n\u201cSo while she was dying, you were worried about yourself.\u201d
\n\u201cI was worried Randall would know.\u201d
\n\u201cDid you leave her there?\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\n\u201cThen what?\u201d
\n\u201cI drove the box away.\u201d
\nTyler whispered, \u201cDad.\u201d
\nJeremy looked at his son.
\n\u201cI drove about a mile and hid it.\u201d
\nMy stomach turned.
\n\u201cThen you came back?\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\n\u201cAnd called 911?\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\n\u201cWas she alive?\u201d
\nHe started crying.
\n\u201cBarely.\u201d
\nI closed my eyes.
\n\u201cHow long after the crash did you finally call?\u201d
\n\u201cThirty-four minutes.\u201d
\nI couldn\u2019t breathe.
\nThirty-four minutes.
\nMaybe it wouldn\u2019t have changed anything.
\nMaybe it would have.
\nBut that wasn\u2019t the point.
\nThe point was he chose secrecy first.
\nAgain.
\nAlways secrecy.
\nI asked, \u201cDid Rebecca die at the scene?\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\n\u201cAt the hospital?\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\n\u201cWhen?\u201d
\n\u201cAbout an hour later.\u201d
\n\u201cAnd did she speak?\u201d
\nJeremy nodded.
\nMy eyes opened.
\n\u201cWhat did she say?\u201d
\n\u201cShe said one word.\u201d
\nLacey leaned forward.
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\nJeremy whispered, \u201cCaleb.\u201d
\nTyler turned away.
\nI asked, \u201cWhat did you tell police?\u201d
\n\u201cThat I came upon the crash.\u201d
\n\u201cYou lied.\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\n\u201cYou didn\u2019t tell them she had followed you?\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\n\u201cThe documents?\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\n\u201cThe thirty-four minutes?\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\n\u201cNo wonder Caleb disappeared when he found out.\u201d
\nJeremy shook his head.
\n\u201cHe didn\u2019t know all of it.\u201d
\n\u201cThen what did he know?\u201d
\n\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d
\nLacey stared at Jeremy.
\n\u201cWhere did you hide the box?\u201d
\nHe looked at her.
\n\u201cI went back the next morning.\u201d
\n\u201cAnd?\u201d
\n\u201cIt was gone.\u201d
\nMy skin prickled.
\n\u201cSomeone took it?\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\n\u201cWho knew where you hid it?\u201d
\n\u201cNo one.\u201d
\n\u201cThen how?\u201d
\nJeremy\u2019s voice dropped.
\n\u201cI think someone followed me.\u201d
\n\u201cRandall?\u201d
\n\u201cMaybe.\u201d
\n\u201cPrice?\u201d
\nJeremy looked at me.
\n\u201cI don\u2019t know anymore.\u201d
\nMy phone buzzed.
\nA text from Caleb.
\nOne word.
\nLEAVE.
\nThen another.
\nNOW.
\nI stared at the screen.
\nJeremy noticed.
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\nI showed him.
\nTyler grabbed his backpack.
\n\u201cGood enough for me.\u201d
\nI looked toward the front windows.
\nNothing outside.
\nStill.
\nToo still.
\n\u201cEverybody move.\u201d
\nLacey struggled to stand.
\nEmma helped her.
\nJeremy grabbed the black duffel he had packed.
\nI stopped him.
\n\u201cWhat\u2019s in there?\u201d
\n\u201cClothes.\u201d
\n\u201cOpen it.\u201d
\nHe stared at me.
\n\u201cJill.\u201d
\n\u201cOpen it.\u201d
\nHe unzipped it.
\nClothes.
\nShoes.
\nA flashlight.
\nAnd a small revolver.
\nI stared at it.
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\n\u201cI have a permit.\u201d
\n\u201cI don\u2019t care.\u201d
\n\u201cIf Randall comes\u2014\u201d
\n\u201cWe are not turning this into something worse.\u201d
\nTyler looked uneasy.
\nJeremy removed the gun.
\nHe locked it in the metal cabinet.
\nI watched him pocket the key.
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nHe looked at me.
\n\u201cThe key.\u201d
\nHe handed it over.
\nI put it in the kitchen drawer.
\n\u201cNow we go.\u201d
\nWe slipped out through the back.
\nNo lights.
\nNo talking.
\nTyler and Emma went with Lacey in my car.
\nJeremy followed in his truck.
\nI didn\u2019t tell him where we were going.
\nI didn\u2019t know.
\nI just drove.
\nSouth first.
\nThen east.
\nBack roads.
\nEvery pair of headlights behind us made my pulse jump.
\nAfter fifteen minutes, Tyler leaned forward.
\n\u201cMom.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\n\u201cThere\u2019s a truck behind us.\u201d
\nI checked the mirror.
\nDark pickup.
\nTwo car lengths back.
\n\u201cHas it been there long?\u201d
\n\u201cSince we turned off Highway 31.\u201d
\nMy hands tightened around the wheel.
\n\u201cJeremy\u2019s behind it.\u201d
\nI checked again.
\nHis truck was farther back.
\nThen the dark pickup moved closer.
\nEmma whispered, \u201cIs that Randall?\u201d
\n\u201cI can\u2019t tell.\u201d
\nI turned right without signaling.
\nThe pickup turned too.
\nLacey grabbed the door handle.
\n\u201cJill.\u201d
\n\u201cI know.\u201d
\nI sped up.
\nThe truck followed.
\nTyler twisted around.
\n\u201cDad\u2019s flashing his lights.\u201d
\nI checked the mirror.
\nJeremy was trying to pass.
\nThe pickup blocked him.
\nMy heart started hammering.
\n\u201cCall 911.\u201d
\nTyler pulled out his phone.
\nNo signal.
\n\u201cNothing.\u201d
\nOf course.
\nI took another turn.
\nGravel road.
\nTrees on both sides.
\nBad choice.
\nVery bad choice.
\nThe pickup came closer.
\nThen Jeremy\u2019s truck suddenly surged forward.
\nHe clipped the pickup\u2019s rear corner.
\nThe pickup swerved.
\nLacey screamed.
\nJeremy passed on the shoulder and pulled beside us.
\nHe pointed ahead.
\nThen pointed left.
\nA gas station.
\nLights.
\nPeople.
\nI aimed for it.
\nThe dark pickup slowed.
\nThen turned around.
\nGone.
\nWe pulled into the gas station.
\nI got out shaking.
\nJeremy jumped from his truck.
\n\u201cEveryone okay?\u201d
\nTyler nodded.
\nEmma was crying.
\nLacey looked pale.
\nI looked at Jeremy.
\n\u201cDid you see the driver?\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\n\u201cPlate?\u201d
\n\u201cCovered.\u201d
\nOf course.
\nThen my phone buzzed.
\nCaleb.
\nA picture.
\nI opened it.
\nIt showed a dark pickup parked outside my house earlier that afternoon.
\nSame truck.
\nThe next message said:
\nPRICE\u2019S.
\nI stared at it.
\nJeremy read over my shoulder.
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nAnother message appeared.
\nCHECK THE DRIVER-SIDE DENT.
\nWe looked at the picture.
\nThere was a dent near the front wheel.
\nSame place.
\nSame shape.
\nJeremy whispered, \u201cThat was Price.\u201d
\nMaybe.
\nOr someone using his truck.
\nI didn\u2019t know what to believe anymore.
\nThen Caleb sent another message.
\nYOU NEED TO FIND THE BOX REBECCA GAVE JEREMY.
\nI typed:
\nIT DISAPPEARED.
\nHis response came instantly.
\nNO.
\nI KNOW WHERE IT IS.
\nJeremy grabbed my arm.
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\nAnother message.
\nI MOVED IT THE MORNING AFTER SHE DIED.
\nJeremy\u2019s face changed.
\n\u201cYou knew?\u201d
\nI typed:
\nWHERE?
\nCaleb sent coordinates.
\nThen a short message.
\nOLD BAPTIST CHURCH OUTSIDE CULLEOKA.
\nUNDER THE FLOOR BENEATH THE PULPIT.
\nJeremy whispered, \u201cThat church.\u201d
\n\u201cYou know it?\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\n\u201cWhy?\u201d
\nHe looked sick.
\n\u201cThat\u2019s where Rebecca and I used to meet when we were teenagers.\u201d
\nI stared at him.
\nThen I remembered Caleb\u2019s description of the hidden archive.
\nA train.
\nWater.
\nA church bell at six.
\nI felt the pieces snap together.
\n\u201cJeremy.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\n\u201cThe archive.\u201d
\nHis eyes widened.
\nThe church wasn\u2019t just where Caleb hid Rebecca\u2019s box.
\nIt might be where Randall hid everything.
\nAnd Caleb had been giving us clues without saying it outright.
\nI typed:
\nARE YOU THERE?
\nNo response.
\nAgain:
\nCALEB?
\nNothing.
\nThen one final message appeared.
\nNot from Caleb\u2019s number.
\nUnknown number.
\nDON\u2019T GO TO THE CHURCH.
\nI stared at it.
\nAnother message followed.
\nCALEB IS LYING TO YOU.
\nThen a photo arrived.
\nIt showed Caleb.
\nAlive.
\nSitting in a chair.
\nHands tied behind his back.
\nBlood on his shirt.
\nAnd standing behind him, visible only from the neck down, was a man wearing a sheriff\u2019s badge.<\/p>\n
Nobody spoke.
\nThe photo on my phone showed Caleb tied to a chair.
\nBlood on his shirt.
\nA sheriff\u2019s badge behind him.
\nBut no face.
\nJeremy stared at it.
\n\u201cThat could be fake.\u201d
\nI looked at him.
\n\u201cSo could half our lives.\u201d
\nHe flinched.
\nTyler leaned closer.
\n\u201cCan you zoom in?\u201d
\nI did.
\nThe badge was real enough to scare me.
\nGold shield.
\nCounty markings.
\nBut the man\u2019s face had been cut out of the frame.
\nEmma whispered, \u201cIs that Detective Price?\u201d
\n\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d
\nLacey looked at Jeremy.
\n\u201cWhat if Caleb sent us to the church because someone forced him?\u201d
\nThat possibility hit hard.
\nI looked back at the coordinates.
\nOld Baptist church outside Culleoka.
\nUnder the floor beneath the pulpit.
\nJeremy said, \u201cWe can\u2019t go.\u201d
\nTyler looked at him.
\n\u201cFive minutes ago you wanted to find Caleb.\u201d
\n\u201cI still do.\u201d
\n\u201cThen?\u201d
\nJeremy pointed at the photo.
\n\u201cThis could be a trap.\u201d
\nI said, \u201cIt probably is.\u201d
\nEveryone looked at me.
\n\u201cBut that doesn\u2019t mean the box isn\u2019t there.\u201d
\nJeremy stared at me.
\n\u201cYou\u2019re seriously thinking about going.\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\n\u201cJill.\u201d
\n\u201cThat box may have the only documents Randall couldn\u2019t burn.\u201d
\n\u201cAnd if Price is waiting?\u201d
\n\u201cThen we don\u2019t walk in blind.\u201d
\nTyler crossed his arms.
\n\u201cWhat\u2019s the plan?\u201d
\nI looked at him.
\n\u201cYou\u2019re not coming.\u201d
\nHe laughed.
\n\u201cSure.\u201d
\n\u201cTyler.\u201d
\n\u201cMom, nobody in this family has listened to you all day. I\u2019m starting a tradition.\u201d
\nDespite everything, Emma almost smiled.
\nI didn\u2019t.
\n\u201cYou\u2019re sixteen.\u201d
\n\u201cAnd apparently my family is involved in a six-million-dollar fraud case.\u201d
\n\u201cThat doesn\u2019t make you an adult.\u201d
\n\u201cNo. But it makes pretending I\u2019m not involved kind of stupid.\u201d
\nHe was right.
\nI hated that he was right.
\nLacey said quietly, \u201cI can stay with them.\u201d
\nEmma immediately said, \u201cNo.\u201d
\n\u201cEmma.\u201d
\n\u201cI\u2019m not leaving you.\u201d
\nJeremy rubbed his forehead.
\n\u201cThis is insane.\u201d
\nI looked at him.
\n\u201cNo. Insane was hiding two children and a second marriage.\u201d
\nHe closed his eyes.
\n\u201cFair.\u201d
\nI pointed at his truck.
\n\u201cWe don\u2019t go straight to the church.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat do we do?\u201d
\n\u201cWe find somewhere public. We call Melissa.\u201d
\nI tried again.
\nThis time she answered.
\n\u201cJill?\u201d
\nHer voice was low.
\n\u201cAre you okay?\u201d
\n\u201cI\u2019m at a gas station south of town.\u201d
\n\u201cGood. Stay somewhere with cameras.\u201d
\nThat made me look around immediately.
\n\u201cMelissa, Price took the black folder.\u201d
\nSilence.
\n\u201cMelissa?\u201d
\n\u201cI heard you.\u201d
\n\u201cDo you trust him?\u201d
\nShe took too long.
\n\u201cThat is not an easy question.\u201d
\n\u201cThat\u2019s becoming a popular answer.\u201d
\n\u201cJill, I have worked with Price twice.\u201d
\n\u201cAnd?\u201d
\n\u201cHe helped.\u201d
\n\u201cThat doesn\u2019t mean he\u2019s clean.\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\n\u201cDid he ask you for the divorce file?\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\n\u201cDid he delete it?\u201d
\n\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d
\n\u201cCould he?\u201d
\n\u201cWith access and the right person helping, maybe.\u201d
\nI told her about Caleb.
\nThe message.
\nThe church.
\nThe photo.
\nShe stopped me.
\n\u201cDo not go there.\u201d
\nJeremy nodded immediately.
\nI ignored him.
\n\u201cWhy?\u201d
\n\u201cBecause if somebody is baiting you, they want you isolated.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat if the evidence is real?\u201d
\n\u201cThen we preserve ourselves first.\u201d
\nI almost laughed.
\n\u201cMelissa, preservation hasn\u2019t exactly gone well today.\u201d
\nShe went quiet.
\nThen said, \u201cSend me the coordinates.\u201d
\nI did.
\nShe typed something.
\n\u201cOkay.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\n\u201cThere\u2019s an old Harmony Baptist Church near those coordinates.\u201d
\nJeremy\u2019s face changed.
\n\u201cThat\u2019s it.\u201d
\nMelissa continued.
\n\u201cIt closed eleven years ago.\u201d
\n\u201cWho owns it?\u201d
\nPause.
\nThen she said, \u201cA holding company.\u201d
\nMy stomach tightened.
\n\u201cWhat company?\u201d
\n\u201cRMC Property Solutions.\u201d
\nRandall.
\nNobody needed to say it.
\nJeremy whispered, \u201cOf course.\u201d
\nMelissa continued.
\n\u201cJill, listen carefully. If that company owns the property, do not enter.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat about Caleb?\u201d
\n\u201cIf he\u2019s there, call law enforcement.\u201d
\nI looked at the photo.
\n\u201cAnd which law enforcement do I trust?\u201d
\nShe didn\u2019t answer.
\nExactly.
\nThen Melissa said, \u201cThere may be another way.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\n\u201cI can call a state investigator.\u201d
\n\u201cNot county?\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\n\u201cDo it.\u201d
\n\u201cI will.\u201d
\n\u201cBut Melissa.\u201d
\n\u201cYes?\u201d
\n\u201cDo not tell Price.\u201d
\nSilence.
\nThen she said, \u201cUnderstood.\u201d
\nWe ended the call.
\nJeremy looked at me.
\n\u201cWe wait.\u201d
\nI shook my head.
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\n\u201cJill.\u201d
\n\u201cIf Caleb is actually tied up somewhere, waiting could get him killed.\u201d
\n\u201cAnd walking into Randall\u2019s property could get us killed.\u201d
\nTyler said, \u201cBoth of you are right.\u201d
\nWe looked at him.
\nHe shrugged.
\n\u201cI hate it too.\u201d
\nThen Emma spoke.
\n\u201cWhat if we don\u2019t go inside?\u201d
\nI looked at her.
\n\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d
\n\u201cWe can drive close enough to see the church.\u201d
\nJeremy frowned.
\n\u201cStill risky.\u201d
\n\u201cBut better than walking in.\u201d
\nI looked at Lacey.
\nShe looked exhausted.
\nScared.
\nBut steady.
\n\u201cI think we need to know if Caleb is really there.\u201d
\nThat decided it.
\nWe left the gas station.
\nThis time Tyler rode with Jeremy.
\nEmma and Lacey stayed with me.
\nWe turned off the main road twenty minutes later.
\nThe countryside got darker.
\nFields.
\nTrees.
\nOld fences.
\nVery few houses.
\nThen I heard it.
\nA train horn.
\nFar away.
\nI looked at Emma.
\nShe looked back.
\n\u201cCaleb said train.\u201d
\nI nodded.
\nThen, a few minutes later, we crossed a narrow bridge.
\nWater moved black beneath it.
\nTrain.
\nWater.
\nMy hands tightened on the wheel.
\nThe church came into view around a bend.
\nSmall.
\nWhite paint peeling.
\nOld steeple.
\nNo lights.
\nNo cars.
\nJeremy flashed his headlights behind me.
\nI pulled over half a mile away.
\nWe parked behind a line of trees.
\nNobody spoke for a moment.
\nThen the church bell rang.
\nSix slow strikes.
\nEmma whispered, \u201cOh my God.\u201d
\nI checked the time.
\n6:00 PM.
\nTrain.
\nWater.
\nBell.
\nCaleb had described this place.
\nJeremy stared toward the church.
\n\u201cHe was here.\u201d
\n\u201cOr the archive is.\u201d
\nTyler said, \u201cLook.\u201d
\nA light flickered inside the church.
\nOnce.
\nThen disappeared.
\nJeremy grabbed the door handle.
\nI stopped him.
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\n\u201cThat could be Caleb.\u201d
\n\u201cThat could be anybody.\u201d
\nThen my phone vibrated.
\nUnknown number.
\nI opened it.
\nYOU CAME.
\nI looked toward the church.
\nAnother message.
\nBAD IDEA.
\nJeremy whispered, \u201cSomeone sees us.\u201d
\nWe all ducked instinctively.
\nThen another message came.
\nLEAVE THE CAR.
\nWALK TO THE SIDE DOOR.
\nALONE, JILL.
\nJeremy shook his head.
\n\u201cAbsolutely not.\u201d
\nI typed:
\nSHOW ME CALEB.
\nNo response.
\nThen a new photo arrived.
\nCaleb.
\nSame chair.
\nSame blood.
\nBut this time there was a clock visible on the wall behind him.
\n5:57.
\nThree minutes ago.
\nHe was alive.
\nJeremy grabbed the phone.
\n\u201cHe\u2019s there.\u201d
\n\u201cWe don\u2019t know that.\u201d
\n\u201cLook at the wall.\u201d
\nI zoomed in.
\nThere was faded wood paneling.
\nA cross.
\nChurch basement.
\nMaybe.
\nThen Caleb\u2019s head lifted in the photo.
\nHis eyes looked toward whoever was holding the camera.
\nHe looked terrified.
\nI typed:
\nI NEED TO HEAR HIS VOICE.
\nA video arrived.
\nFive seconds.
\nCaleb looked into the camera.
\n\u201cJill, don\u2019t\u2014\u201d
\nThe video cut.
\nJeremy cursed.
\n\u201cThat\u2019s enough.\u201d
\nHe started toward the road.
\nI grabbed his jacket.
\n\u201cIf they wanted you, they would\u2019ve asked for you.\u201d
\n\u201cThat\u2019s my son.\u201d
\n\u201cMaybe.\u201d
\nHis face broke.
\nI regretted saying it immediately.
\nBut Randall\u2019s claim hung between us.
\nCaleb might not be Jeremy\u2019s son at all.
\nJeremy whispered, \u201cI raised him in every way I was allowed to.\u201d
\n\u201cYou hid him.\u201d
\n\u201cI know.\u201d
\n\u201cBut you love him.\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\nThat part was real.
\nWhatever the blood test might say.
\nI looked back at the church.
\nThen at Tyler.
\n\u201cYou stay with Lacey and Emma.\u201d
\nTyler opened his mouth.
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nHe stared at me.
\n\u201cMom.\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nFor once, he listened.
\nJeremy and I crossed the road.
\nWe stayed low behind an old stone wall.
\nNo lights.
\nNo talking.
\nThe church looked dead from up close.
\nWindows boarded on one side.
\nWeeds waist high.
\nThe side door stood slightly open.
\nExactly as the message said.
\nJeremy whispered, \u201cThis is wrong.\u201d
\n\u201cI know.\u201d
\nWe reached the steps.
\nThen something moved inside.
\nJeremy pulled me back.
\nA shadow crossed the hallway.
\nThen disappeared.
\nI whispered, \u201cCall Caleb.\u201d
\nJeremy did.
\nWe heard a phone ringing.
\nInside the church.
\nOnce.
\nTwice.
\nThen silence.
\nJeremy\u2019s face changed.
\n\u201cHe\u2019s inside.\u201d
\nMaybe.
\nWe stepped through the door.
\nThe smell hit first.
\nDust.
\nMold.
\nOld wood.
\nThe sanctuary was empty.
\nBroken pews.
\nA torn hymn book on the floor.
\nThe pulpit stood at the front.
\nI looked down.
\nUnder the pulpit.
\nThe box.
\nThat was why we were here.
\nJeremy started forward.
\nI stopped him.
\n\u201cCaleb first.\u201d
\nWe listened.
\nNothing.
\nThen a muffled sound came from below.
\nBasement.
\nJeremy found the door beside the choir loft.
\nLocked.
\nHe kicked it once.
\nTwice.
\nThe old frame cracked.
\nWe went down.
\nDark stairs.
\nJeremy used his phone flashlight.
\nAt the bottom was a narrow hallway.
\nStorage rooms.
\nOld Sunday school signs.
\nThen we heard breathing.
\nHeavy.
\nSomeone was there.
\n\u201cCaleb?\u201d
\nNo answer.
\nJeremy moved faster.
\n\u201cCaleb?\u201d
\nA chair scraped.
\nWe reached the last room.
\nJeremy pushed open the door.
\nEmpty.
\nExcept for one chair.
\nRope tied around it.
\nBlood on the seat.
\nAnd a phone lying on the floor.
\nCaleb\u2019s phone.
\nStill warm.
\nJeremy picked it up.
\n\u201cOh God.\u201d
\nThen the basement lights came on.
\nBright.
\nHarsh.
\nI turned.
\nA man stood at the end of the hallway.
\nSheriff\u2019s badge.
\nGun at his side.
\nSamuel Price.
\nJeremy stepped in front of me.
\nPrice raised both hands.
\n\u201cEasy.\u201d
\nI stared at him.
\n\u201cWhere is Caleb?\u201d
\nPrice looked confused.
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\n\u201cDon\u2019t.\u201d
\n\u201cJill\u2014\u201d
\n\u201cWHERE IS HE?\u201d
\nPrice looked at the bloody chair.
\nThen his face changed.
\n\u201cYou need to get out.\u201d
\nJeremy laughed bitterly.
\n\u201cThat\u2019s convenient.\u201d
\nPrice reached for his phone.
\nJeremy stepped closer.
\n\u201cHands where I can see them.\u201d
\nPrice froze.
\n\u201cYou think I did this?\u201d
\nI held up my phone.
\n\u201cWe got a picture of Caleb with a sheriff\u2019s badge behind him.\u201d
\nPrice slowly looked down at his own badge.
\n\u201cThat\u2019s not mine.\u201d
\n\u201cHow would we know?\u201d
\n\u201cBecause mine has a blue center seal.\u201d
\nI zoomed in on the photo.
\nMy stomach dropped.
\nThe badge behind Caleb had a black center.
\nJeremy stared.
\nPrice said, \u201cThat\u2019s a reserve deputy badge.\u201d
\n\u201cWhose?\u201d
\nPrice\u2019s face tightened.
\n\u201cRandall\u2019s brother.\u201d
\nSilence.
\nJeremy whispered, \u201cRandall has a brother?\u201d
\n\u201cHalf brother.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat\u2019s his name?\u201d
\n\u201cWade Mercer.\u201d
\nI looked at Price.
\n\u201cIs he law enforcement?\u201d
\n\u201cVolunteer reserve deputy. Barely active.\u201d
\n\u201cThen why is he here?\u201d
\nPrice looked at the blood.
\n\u201cBecause this was never about making Randall look clean.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\nPrice stepped closer.
\n\u201cIt was about making me look dirty.\u201d
\nBefore I could answer, a loud crash came from upstairs.
\nFootsteps.
\nSeveral.
\nPrice drew his gun.
\n\u201cBehind me.\u201d
\nJeremy snapped, \u201cNo.\u201d
\nPrice hissed, \u201cIf Randall\u2019s people are here, argue later.\u201d
\nThen a voice echoed from the sanctuary.
\n\u201cSamuel!\u201d
\nPrice\u2019s face went white.
\nHe knew the voice.
\n\u201cWade.\u201d
\nAnother voice laughed.
\n\u201cNice of you to bring everybody together.\u201d
\nThen I heard a sound that froze my blood.
\nTyler shouting outside.
\n\u201cMom!\u201d
\nI ran toward the stairs.
\nJeremy grabbed me.
\n\u201cNo!\u201d
\n\u201cTYLER!\u201d
\nA gunshot exploded upstairs.
\nDust fell from the ceiling.
\nLacey screamed outside.
\nEmma screamed too.
\nPrice pushed past us.
\n\u201cStay down!\u201d
\nThen another gunshot.
\nAnd silence.
\nJeremy and I ran up after him.
\nThe sanctuary doors were open.
\nTyler was on the floor near the entrance.
\nI screamed his name.
\nHe lifted his head.
\n\u201cI\u2019m okay!\u201d
\nRelief nearly knocked me over.
\nHe pointed outside.
\n\u201cThey took Emma!\u201d
\nLacey was crying beside him.
\nI ran to the door.
\nA dark pickup tore down the gravel road.
\nEmma was in the back seat.
\nJeremy shouted, \u201cNo!\u201d
\nThen my phone buzzed.
\nUnknown number.
\nOne message.
\nBRING REBECCA\u2019S BOX TO THE OLD MILL BY 8:00.
\nAnother.
\nCOME ALONE.
\nThen:
\nOR EMMA DIES.
\nI stared at the screen.
\nJeremy looked at me.
\nPrice looked at me.
\nLacey was sobbing.
\nAnd behind us, beneath the pulpit floorboards, the box everyone had been killing to find was still waiting.<\/p>\n
For a few seconds, nobody spoke. Jeremy was still holding my wrist. I looked at the message again. IF PRICE TOOK THE BLACK FOLDER, YOU JUST GAVE THE EVIDENCE TO … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8005,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8101","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-story"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/realstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8101","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/realstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/realstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/realstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/realstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=8101"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/realstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8101\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8109,"href":"https:\/\/realstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8101\/revisions\/8109"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/realstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/8005"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/realstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8101"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/realstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8101"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/realstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8101"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}