Chapter 11 - INTO THE FIRE
“Shawn!”
Ruiz grabbed him.
“You are not going inside.”
“The box is in there.”
“The roof is coming down.”
“I know where it is.”
“You go in, you die.”
Don stepped forward.
“Listen to him.”
Shawn turned.
His father’s face was illuminated by the flames.
For twelve years, Shawn had told himself he was too busy to come home.
Now every second mattered.
He looked toward the barn.
Then at his father.
“If that deed burns, Reed wins.”
Don grabbed his coat.
“If you burn, nobody wins.”
A firefighter approached.
“Back up!”
Part of the roof collapsed.
Flames shot into the sky.
Shawn clenched his jaw.
Then Maria’s words returned.
False bottom.
Toolbox.
His father kept everything.
He looked at Don.
“Did you leave the original in the box?”
Don hesitated.
Shawn saw it.
“You didn’t.”
Don almost smiled.
“I’m not completely stupid.”
“Where is it?”
“Bank deposit box.”
Shawn stared at him.
“You let us drive out here?”
“You didn’t ask.”
Ruiz laughed despite himself.
Then a firefighter shouted.
“We found someone!”
Two firefighters dragged a man from behind the barn.
He was alive.
Burned jacket.
Blood on his forehead.
Shawn recognized him.
Malcolm Reed.
Ruiz rushed forward.
Reed looked at Shawn and laughed weakly.
“Too late.”
“For what?”
Reed coughed.
“You’ll see.”
Ruiz arrested him at the scene.
But Reed remained strangely calm.
At the hospital, investigators questioned him.
He denied everything.
Claimed Kyle acted alone.
Claimed the video was taken out of context.
Claimed Brenda forged the documents herself.
Then the bank called.
The safe-deposit box had been accessed that morning.
By someone using Don’s authorization.
Don exploded.
“I didn’t authorize anyone!”
The bank produced paperwork.
His signature.
Forged again.
Ruiz asked who opened the box.
The answer shocked everyone.
Brenda.
Shawn turned toward her.
“You told us you didn’t know where the deed was.”
“I didn’t!”
“The bank has video.”
Brenda shook her head.
“No. I never went.”
They watched the footage.
A woman entered wearing a hat and sunglasses.
Same height.
Same hair.
Same coat Brenda owned.
She signed the form.
Opened Don’s box.
Removed an envelope.
Shawn looked at his sister.
“That’s you.”
Brenda stared at the screen.
“No.”
“Brenda—”
“That’s not me.”
Ruiz zoomed in.
The woman turned slightly.
A small tattoo was visible behind her left ear.
Brenda touched her own skin.
Nothing there.
She whispered:
“I know who that is.”
Shawn leaned closer.
“Who?”
Brenda looked sick.
“Kyle’s sister.”
“What sister?”
“Nicole.”
Ruiz frowned.
“Kyle never mentioned a sister.”
Brenda shook her head.
“He wouldn’t.”
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“Why?”
“Because everyone thinks she died seven years ago.”
