Chapter 9 - The Chase Through the Woods
Tessa coughed through the smoke.
Judith clung to the back of her shirt.
State troopers poured through the broken windows.
Kendra dropped her gun.
Pike dragged Officer Ruiz backward.
His weapon remained pressed to her head.
“Stay back.”
Ruiz’s eyes found Tessa.
She gave the smallest nod toward the kitchen.
Bryce had escaped that way.
Tessa looked at her mother.
Owen moved beside Judith.
“Go.”
“I’ll stay with her.”
Tessa hesitated.
Judith pushed her gently.
“He has the names.”
Tessa understood.
The cash box did not just contain proof against Bryce.
It contained evidence against every person who had helped him.
She ran.
The kitchen door stood open.
Cold night air rushed inside.
Tessa crossed the backyard and entered the woods.
Branches tore at her face.
She heard Bryce ahead.
The metal box clanged against something.
“Bryce.”
He did not stop.
Tessa followed the beam of moonlight between the trees.
The trail sloped downward toward the old river road.
Bryce knew the woods better than she did.
They had played there as children.
He had once carried her home after she broke her ankle near the creek.
For one painful second, she remembered the brother he used to be.
Then she saw him shove the cash box beneath a fallen log.
He pulled out a lighter.
“Don’t.”
Bryce turned.
His chest heaved.
Mud covered his clothes.
“You always had to be the hero.”
“I came for Mom.”
“You came because you wanted to feel less guilty.”
The accusation struck hard.
Tessa slowed.
“You’re right.”
Bryce blinked.
“I should have come sooner.”
“I should have questioned every excuse.”
“I should have known Mom would never stop answering my calls.”
“But my guilt does not erase what you did.”
Bryce laughed bitterly.
“You think this town cares?”
“Mercer owns half the courthouse.”
“Fallon has signed evaluations for dozens of families.”
“Pike buries reports.”
“The board launders donations through fake programs.”
“You expose me, you expose all of them.”
“That is exactly what I plan to do.”
“They will destroy you.”
“They already destroyed Mom.”
Bryce looked toward the river.
“No.”
“I kept her alive.”
“You drugged her.”
“She threatened to report me.”
“She was confused.”
“She was right.”
Bryce’s face crumpled.
For a moment, he looked exhausted rather than cruel.
“Dad never believed in me.”
“That isn’t true.”
“He watched every decision I made.”
“He kept records.”
“He expected me to fail.”
“He expected honesty.”
Bryce’s hand tightened around the lighter.
“Tessa, walk away.”
“Take Mom.”
“Take whatever money is left.”
“Leave me the box.”
“No.”
He stepped toward the fallen log.
Tessa grabbed the metal handle.
They struggled.
The box fell open.
Papers scattered across the wet ground.
A photograph slid toward Tessa.
It showed Bryce standing beside Judge Mercer, Dr. Fallon, Deputy Pike, and three members of the trust board.
They were outside a warehouse.
A sign behind them read Marlowe Residential Youth Center.
Tessa stared.
The center had closed after a fire six years earlier.
Two teenagers had died.
Bryce snatched the photograph.
Tessa grabbed his wrist.
“What is this?”
“Nothing.”
“Why were you there?”
He shoved her backward.
Tessa hit the ground.
Bryce tried to gather the papers.
Headlights appeared through the trees.
A vehicle raced along the old service road.
Bryce smiled with relief.
“Mercer.”
The black sedan stopped.
Judge Mercer stepped out.
Dr. Fallon was beside him.
Mercer looked at Bryce.
“Do you have the box?”
“Yes.”
“Then get in.”
Tessa rose.
Mercer saw her.
His face did not change.
“Leave her.”
Bryce hesitated.
Tessa stared at him.
“Is that what happened at the youth center?”
Mercer turned sharply.
“What did she find?”
Bryce held the photograph.
Fallon cursed.
Tessa backed toward the riverbank.
“What happened in that fire?”
No one answered.
Then Bryce said quietly,
“It wasn’t an accident.”
Mercer drew a gun from beneath his coat.
Bryce stared at him.
“You said no one else would get hurt.”
Mercer pointed the weapon at Tessa.
“That was before your sister started asking questions.”
Bryce stepped between them.
“Don’t.”
Mercer’s voice was calm.
“Move.”
Bryce did not.
Tessa saw something shift in her brother’s face.
Not innocence.
Not redemption.
Fear.
Regret.
Perhaps both.
Mercer fired.
Bryce jerked backward.
May you like
He looked down at the blood spreading across his shirt.
Then he fell into Tessa’s arms.
