Chapter 10 - THE HOUSE AT LAKE WREN
The drive to Lake Wren took forty-three minutes.
It felt like forty-three years.
Mercer drove.
Two tactical vehicles followed.
Rachel remained with paramedics.
Cassandra sat in the back seat beside an officer.
She had agreed to testify.
I did not trust her.
But I needed her.
Rain began falling as we left Chicago.
The road narrowed through dense woods.
I remembered being nine years old in those trees.
Preston had pushed me into the lake.
When I cried, my father made me apologize for embarrassing him.
Nothing had changed.
Only the consequences.
Mercer looked at me.
“How many entrances?”
“Front driveway.”
“Kitchen door.”
“A cellar beneath the east side.”
“And the boathouse?”
“A path behind the property.”
“We approach from both sides.”
My phone rang.
My mother.
Mercer recorded the call.
I answered.
“Let me speak to Sophie.”
“Sign first.”
“Is she hurt?”
“She is frightened because you involved the police.”
“You kidnapped her.”
“I rescued her from your instability.”
“You watched Preston plant the phone.”
Silence.
“You encouraged him.”
“You cannot prove what I encouraged.”
“I have the recording from six years ago.”
Her breathing changed.
“Rachel sent everything.”
Another pause.
Then my mother’s voice became colder.
“You were always ungrateful.”
“I spent my life protecting this family.”
“You spent your life feeding Preston.”
“He was born to lead.”
“And I was born for what?”
“To understand your place.”
I closed my eyes.
There it was.
The truth she had hidden beneath smiles and criticism for thirty-five years.
I had never failed to become good enough.
She had decided before I could speak that I never would be.
“Put Sophie on the phone.”
A rustling sound followed.
Then Sophie whispered, “Mommy?”
“I’m here.”
“Grandma says you don’t want me anymore.”
My chest broke open.
“That is a lie.”
“She said you chose the company.”
“I choose you.”
“Always.”
“Are you coming?”
“I’m coming.”
My mother took the phone back.
“Fifteen minutes.”
The call ended.
Mercer drove faster.
We stopped half a mile from the property.
The team divided.
Mercer and I moved toward the cellar.
Cassandra was ordered to remain in the vehicle.
She refused.
“I know Preston’s security code.”
Mercer hesitated.
Then allowed her to come under guard.
We reached the cellar door.
Cassandra entered six numbers.
The lock opened.
Inside, the house was silent.
Too silent.
We moved through the basement.
A television played upstairs.
My father’s voice came from the living room.
“Do you understand why your mother did this?”
Sophie answered quietly.
“She didn’t.”
“She made you steal.”
“No.”
“She made you lie.”
“No.”
“She wants our money.”
“No!”
I ran toward the stairs.
Mercer caught my arm.
“Wait.”
A second voice spoke.
Preston.
“She sounds just like Evelyn.”
My mother laughed softly.
“They both need to learn.”
Mercer signaled.
The tactical team entered from the front.
“Police!”
Chaos erupted.
A gunshot shattered the television.
I ran into the living room.
My father stood behind a marble counter.
My mother was near the fireplace.
Preston grabbed Sophie and dragged her toward the rear door.
She screamed.
“Mommy!”
I lunged forward.
Preston pressed a gun against her side.
“Stop!”
Everyone froze.
Sophie’s face was wet with tears.
Preston backed toward the lake.
“You ruined everything.”
I lifted my hands.
“Let her go.”
“Sign the papers.”
“Give me Sophie first.”
“You are still negotiating?”
He laughed.
“You never understood your position.”
He dragged her through the rear door.
Rain poured across the terrace.
The lake beyond was black.
The boathouse lights flickered in the distance.
Preston pulled Sophie down the path.
Mercer followed at a distance.
My father suddenly reached beneath the counter.
An officer shouted.
“Show your hands!”
My father raised a second gun.
He aimed at me.
May you like
Then Cassandra stepped into the doorway.
And fired first.
