Chapter 12 - THE QUARRY
There were three abandoned quarries in the county.
Only one had belonged to Crawford Construction.
Helena’s father’s company.
Of course.
They called state police this time.
Helena sent copies of the dashcam video to three separate email accounts and one reporter.
Then she looked at Anna.
“We’re not waiting.”
Daniel grabbed his keys.
“I’m driving.”
The old Crawford quarry sat forty minutes north.
Rain started halfway there.
By the time they arrived, darkness covered the access road.
A rusted chain blocked the entrance.
Daniel cut it with bolt cutters from his truck.
“You just carry those around?” Helena asked.
“I’m a mechanic.”
They drove in.
The quarry office appeared beyond piles of stone.
One light burned inside.
Anna whispered, “That’s her.”
Helena grabbed her arm.
“You stay behind us.”
“No.”
“Anna—”
“That’s my mother.”
Daniel looked at Helena.
“She’s coming.”
They approached on foot.
The office door was unlocked.
Inside, a chair lay overturned.
Blood stained the floor.
Anna called, “Mom?”
No answer.
Helena found Evelyn’s phone beneath a desk.
The screen was cracked.
Daniel looked through the rear window.
“Tire tracks.”
They followed them toward an old equipment shed.
A sound came from inside.
Three knocks.
Then two.
Anna ran.
“Mom!”
Daniel caught her.
“Wait.”
He pulled the door open.
A woman lay on the floor.
Hands tied.
Gray hair matted with blood.
Anna dropped to her knees.
“Mom!”
Evelyn lifted her face.
Helena forgot how to breathe.
Nineteen years disappeared.
For one second, Evelyn was twenty-two again, sneaking into Helena’s bedroom after midnight with popcorn.
Then reality returned.
Evelyn looked older.
Bruised.
Terrified.
Alive.
“Helena?”
Her voice broke.
Helena knelt beside her.
“You idiot.”
Evelyn started sobbing.
Helena cut the rope.
“You absolute idiot.”
Then she pulled her sister into her arms.
Both women cried.
Anna wrapped herself around them.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Evelyn suddenly stiffened.
“Where’s Daniel?”
A voice came from behind them.
“Right here.”
Evelyn looked up.
Daniel stood in the doorway.
Nineteen years of pain passed between them without a word.
“Danny.”
He swallowed.
“Hey, Evie.”
She began crying harder.
“I’m sorry.”
“I know.”
“I lied.”
“I know.”
“I thought—”
“I know.”
Daniel looked at Anna.
Then back at Evelyn.
“You kept her.”
Evelyn nodded.
“I fought for her.”
A gunshot shattered the moment.
Daniel dropped.
Anna screamed.
Blood spread across his shoulder.
Silas Bell stood outside the shed with a pistol.
“Touching reunion.”
Behind him stood Ray Nolan.
Bell smiled.
“Now give me the flash drive.”
Helena slowly rose.
“It’s already everywhere.”
Bell’s smile vanished.
“You’re lying.”
“Try me.”
Bell lifted the gun toward Anna.
“Then I guess you don’t need her.”
Evelyn lunged in front of her daughter.
May you like
“No!”
Bell’s finger tightened on the trigger.
