Chapter 13 - Thomas's Final Trap
Police told me not to cooperate.
Of course they did.
Patricia had kidnapped Daniel.
Every instinct in me screamed to give her whatever she wanted.
The problem was simple.
I truly didn't have Thomas's final recording.
Frank didn't.
Rachel didn't.
The bank boxes didn't.
The boat didn't.
Daniel might have known.
But Daniel was now tied to a chair somewhere with Patricia.
Thomas's memo replayed in my mind.
The final proof is with someone Patricia will never suspect.
Someone.
I made a list.
Me.
Emily.
Rachel.
Daniel.
Frank.
None fit.
Then Grace began crying.
Emily lifted her from the crib.
"It's okay, sweetheart."
Grace calmed almost immediately.
Thomas's granddaughter.
A baby he never met.
I stared.
Someone Patricia would never suspect.
Not Grace.
Impossible.
Then another thought.
Thomas had known Emily was trying to become pregnant before he died.
She and Brandon had been undergoing fertility evaluations.
Thomas had been excited.
He bought a small wooden music box.
I remembered because I teased him.
"You're buying gifts for a baby who doesn't exist yet?"
He smiled.
"I'm planning ahead."
The music box.
I hadn't seen it since his funeral.
"Emily."
"What?"
"The elephant music box Dad bought."
She frowned.
"It's in storage."
We drove nowhere.
Police retrieved it.
An hour later, Harris placed the little wooden elephant on the table.
It played a lullaby when wound.
Nothing unusual.
Then an evidence technician removed the bottom panel.
Inside was a memory card.
Thomas had hidden evidence inside a gift intended for his future grandchild.
Someone Patricia would never suspect.
Grace.
The card contained one video.
Thomas sat inside his office.
Date: two days before his death.
He looked tired.
"Margaret, Emily, if you're watching this, then I either became paranoid for nothing… or I was right."
I started crying before he finished the first sentence.
Emily grabbed my hand.
Thomas continued.
"Patricia Cole has built a network around debt, fear, and information. Brandon is involved more deeply than Emily knows, though I still believe he is weaker than he is cruel."
Then he described the investigation.
Red Fern.
Malcolm.
Victor.
Frank.
Allison.
The forged trust access.
Then Thomas held up his phone.
"I recorded a conversation this morning."
The video switched.
Patricia's voice.
"Grace hasn't even been conceived yet, and you're already changing the trust."
Thomas replied, "I'm protecting my family."
"You can't protect Emily forever."
"I don't need forever. I need long enough for her to see Brandon clearly."
Patricia laughed.
"Then perhaps you won't be around when she does."
Silence.
Thomas said, "Say that again."
"You heard me."
Then another voice.
Brandon.
My blood froze.
He had been in the room.
"Mom, stop."
Thomas addressed him.
"You know what she's doing."
Brandon answered, "I know she's trying to keep everything from falling apart."
"By threatening me?"
"You don't understand the pressure I'm under."
"I understand exactly. You borrowed money. You lied to my daughter. Now you want her inheritance to save you."
Brandon said nothing.
Thomas continued.
"Tell Emily the truth tonight."
"And if I don't?"
"I will."
Then Patricia spoke.
"If you do, you will not enjoy what follows."
The recording ended.
Thomas returned on screen.
"Emily, I am sorry I kept this from you. I wanted certainty before I damaged your marriage. That was my mistake."
My daughter sobbed.
Thomas looked directly into the camera.
"If Brandon becomes the man I fear he is becoming, leave. Money can be rebuilt. A home can be replaced. Your life cannot."
I covered my mouth.
"And Margaret…"
His expression softened.
"I know you'll blame yourself for whatever happens next. Don't."
I closed my eyes.
"You spent our entire marriage believing I was the brave one because I climbed roofs and argued with contractors."
He smiled.
"You were always braver."
I couldn't watch through my tears.
The video continued.
Then Thomas revealed the final proof.
A second audio file.
Patricia speaking privately with Malcolm.
"Tomorrow afternoon."
Malcolm: "The car?"
"Yes."
"How far?"
"Far enough that he doesn't walk away."
That was it.
Clear intent.
Clear planning.
A murder order.
Patricia wanted the recording because she knew it could bury her.
Now police could use it.
But Daniel was still in danger.
Patricia called again.
"Did you find it?"
"Yes."
Harris traced the call.
We needed time.
"What do you want?"
"The original."
"Where do I bring it?"
Patricia gave an address.
An abandoned lakeside resort ninety minutes away.
"Come alone."
"No."
"Then Daniel dies."
Police prepared a controlled operation.
I argued until Harris finally agreed I could appear at the location, surrounded by hidden officers.
Emily begged me not to go.
"I have to."
"No, you don't."
"Daniel helped Dad."
"And Patricia already took him because of us."
I held her face.
"This ends now."
At 11:40 p.m., I drove to the resort.
The memory card in my pocket was a duplicate.
Police had the original.
Fog covered the lake.
The main lodge was dark.
I entered.
"Patricia?"
A light came on.
Daniel sat in a chair.
Alive.
Patricia stood behind him holding a handgun.
My heart pounded.
"I have it."
"Put it on the table."
I did.
She smiled.
"Thomas always did like hiding things."
"Let Daniel go."
"When I know it's real."
She moved toward the laptop.
That was the opening police needed.
But before they entered—
A second man stepped from the shadows.
Victor.
I stared.
He was supposed to be in custody.
Then I saw the ankle monitor cut from his leg.
He had escaped during transport using help from someone in Red Fern's network.
Patricia looked furious.
"What are you doing here?"
Victor raised his gun.
"Making sure you don't bury everything on me."
Patricia laughed.
"You already talked."
"You abandoned me."
"You were useful until you weren't."
Victor's hand shook.
Daniel leaned sideways.
"Margaret, get down."
The first shot shattered a lamp.
I dropped.
Police stormed the building.
Chaos exploded.
Patricia ran toward the rear exit.
Victor surrendered almost immediately.
Daniel fell sideways with the chair.
I crawled toward him.
Officers pursued Patricia into the fog.
For five minutes, nobody knew where she went.
Then we heard an engine.
A speedboat.
Patricia was escaping across Blackwater Lake.
Police boats followed.
From shore, I watched the lights disappear into darkness.
Ten minutes.
Twenty.
Then Harris received a radio message.
The boat had been found drifting near the opposite shore.
Empty.
Patricia was gone.
Again.
But this time, she left something behind.
Her phone.
On it was a scheduled email addressed to Emily.
One sentence.
If I cannot have Grace, neither will you.
My blood ran cold.
Emily and Grace were at the safe house.
May you like
And suddenly I realized Patricia had never expected to escape by boat.
The entire kidnapping had been a distraction.
