Chapter 9 - THE EMPTY GRAVE
Evelyn had no intention of going alone.
She also had no intention of telling Marcus that.
She waited until hospital security became distracted by surveillance footage.
Then she left through the service elevator.
She could barely walk.
Every step hurt.
But Hope was somewhere with Thomas.
Pain didn't matter anymore.
A taxi dropped Evelyn outside the cemetery at 8:40 a.m.
Rain covered the gravestones.
Thomas Carter's mausoleum stood at the far end.
The doors were open.
Evelyn entered.
“Dad?”
A light turned on.
Thomas stood beside his own empty coffin.
Hope slept in his arms.
Evelyn stopped breathing.
“Give me my daughter.”
Thomas looked down at the baby.
“My granddaughter.”
“Don't touch her.”
His face tightened.
“I'm not going to hurt her.”
“You threatened me.”
“I threatened circumstances.”
“You kidnapped my child!”
“To get you away from Reed.”
“Give her to me.”
Thomas sighed.
“You always had your mother's temper.”
“Give me my baby.”
He approached.
Evelyn took Hope.
The moment her daughter touched her chest, Evelyn almost collapsed from relief.
Thomas watched.
“You named her?”
“Hope.”
He smiled.
“Your grandmother's middle name.”
“You don't get sentimental privileges.”
Thomas's smile disappeared.
“Fair.”
“Where's Rosa?”
“Safe.”
“Where?”
“Safer than she was with Daniel.”
“You expect me to trust you?”
“No.”
Thomas stepped toward the coffin.
“I expect you to trust evidence.”
He opened a hidden compartment.
Inside was the second ledger.
Evelyn stared.
“Rosa stole it?”
“Yes.”
“From Daniel?”
“No.”
Thomas looked at her.
“From Margaret.”
Evelyn's heart sank.
“My mother?”
“The first ledger records money.”
Thomas lifted the second.
“This one records favors.”
He opened it.
Names.
Dates.
Deaths.
Promotions.
Court decisions.
Police investigations.
At the top of one page was Margaret Carter.
Evelyn shook her head.
“No.”
“Your mother didn't create Willow to protect money.”
“What did she create it for?”
“Influence.”
Thomas's voice became bitter.
“I loved Margaret.”
“You cheated on her.”
“Yes.”
“I suppose that's your version of love.”
“I never said I was a good man.”
At least that was true.
Thomas handed her the ledger.
“Your mother was smarter than Robert and me combined.”
“She tried to shut Willow down.”
“No.”
Thomas looked at her.
“She tried to take complete control.”
Evelyn read the entries.
Some were in Margaret's handwriting.
She recognized it.
Her mother's neat letters.
Payment approved.
Judge confirmed.
Transfer completed.
Evelyn's stomach turned.
“Why fake your death?”
“To investigate her without her knowing.”
“You could have gone to the police.”
“Half the people investigating Willow were being paid by Willow.”
“Marcus?”
Thomas hesitated.
“Marcus was clean.”
That surprised her.
“You threatened me because he was protecting me.”
“I threatened you because I couldn't risk you interfering.”
“That's supposed to sound better?”
“No.”
A sound came from outside.
Thomas immediately reached beneath his jacket.
Evelyn backed away.
“Don't.”
“Someone followed you.”
“I came alone.”
“You're my daughter.”
Thomas gave her a sad smile.
“You've never been good at lying.”
Gunfire shattered the mausoleum window.
Thomas threw Evelyn behind the stone coffin.
“Stay down!”
Another shot.
Stone exploded above them.
Hope began crying.
Evelyn covered her.
Thomas fired toward the doorway.
A man entered.
Thomas shot him in the leg.
The attacker fell.
Another appeared.
Then Marcus shouted from outside.
“POLICE!”
More gunfire.
Evelyn curled around Hope.
Seconds felt like hours.
Then silence.
Marcus entered.
“You okay?”
“Yes.”
He saw Thomas.
Both men aimed weapons at each other.
“Drop it, Thomas.”
Thomas smiled.
“You first.”
“Dad.”
Thomas looked at Evelyn.
“Please.”
He lowered his weapon.
Marcus cuffed him.
Then Evelyn heard a groan.
The wounded attacker was still alive.
Marcus removed his mask.
Evelyn recognized him.
He worked for her mother.
Margaret's personal driver.
Evelyn stared.
“No.”
The man laughed weakly.
“Mrs. Carter said you'd be difficult.”
Marcus leaned down.
“Margaret sent you?”
The driver smiled.
“She said no witnesses.”
Evelyn looked at Thomas.
For the first time, her father seemed genuinely heartbroken.
“I told you.”
Evelyn couldn't answer.
Her phone rang.
Margaret.
Evelyn answered.
Her mother's voice sounded frantic.
“Evelyn, where are you?”
“At the cemetery.”
Silence.
“Is Hope safe?”
Evelyn looked at the wounded driver.
“How did you know she wasn't?”
Margaret stopped speaking.
Evelyn's heart broke.
“You knew.”
“Evelyn—”
“You knew she had been taken before I told you.”
“I can explain.”
“No.”
“Please come home.”
“Why?”
Margaret's voice became strangely calm.
“Because Daniel is here.”
Evelyn froze.
“What?”
“And if you don't bring me the second ledger…”
Margaret paused.
May you like
“…your husband won't survive long enough to explain why he married you.”
The line went dead.
