Chapter 9: The Trap Inside My House
I took a picture of Claire’s message before she could lock her phone.
My hands shook the entire drive back.
Not from fear.
From realization.
She wasn’t hiding anymore.
She knew.
And now she knew that I knew.
When I arrived at Mrs. Patterson’s house, Ethan was waiting.
“Well?””
I showed him the photo.
His expression changed immediately.
“She’s working with Daniel.””
“I know.””
“No.””
He looked at me.
“You don’t understand.””
“What?””
“Daniel isn’t the leader.””
The room went quiet.
I stared.
“What are you saying?””
Ethan looked terrified.
“Daniel takes orders.””
“From who?””
He didn’t answer.
That scared me more.
“Maya,” I said softly, “what else did your father leave?””
She looked at me.
“I don’t know.””
“Think.””
She closed her eyes.
Then suddenly opened them.
“The basement.””
“What?””
“Dad hid something in the basement.””
Mrs. Patterson stood.
“Your house?””
Maya nodded.
“He told me if anyone searched his office, I should check the place where nobody looks.””
I felt sick.
Our house.
The house I had lived in for years.
The house where Thomas and I raised Maya.
The house where secrets had been sitting beneath our feet.
We returned after midnight.
The neighborhood was silent.
Too silent.
I unlocked the door.
Inside, everything looked normal.
That scared me.
A person who knew they were exposed would run.
Unless they were confident.
We went downstairs.
Maya walked straight toward an old storage shelf.
“I remember Dad moving this.””
She pushed it aside.
Behind it was a small metal panel.
I stared.
“How did you know?””
“He told me once.””
She opened it.
Inside was a small box.
No lock.
No dust.
Someone had opened it recently.
My heart sank.
“It’s empty.””
Mrs. Patterson looked around.
“Someone got here first.””
Then the basement lights turned off.
Everyone froze.
A sound came from upstairs.
The front door closing.
Someone was inside.
Maya grabbed my hand.
We heard footsteps above us.
Slow.
Confident.
Not hiding.
Whoever it was wanted us to know they were there.
Ethan whispered:
“Don’t move.””
The footsteps came closer.
The basement door opened.
A figure stood at the top of the stairs.
I couldn’t see the face.
Then the person spoke.
“Renee.””
My blood froze.
It was Claire.
She stepped into the light.
“You really should have listened to me.””
I moved in front of Maya.
“How did you get in?””
Claire smiled.
“Your brother gave me the code.””
I turned toward Ethan.
His face changed.
“What?””
Claire laughed.
“Did you really think he brought you here to protect you?””
Ethan stepped back.
“No.””
“You’re still trying to play the hero, Ethan.””
My chest tightened.
“Ethan?””
He looked at me.
“I didn’t.””
But his expression wasn’t anger.
It was fear.
Claire walked down the stairs.
“Thomas was always too trusting.””
She looked at Maya.
“And now he’s made the same mistake with his daughter.””
I felt rage rise inside me.
“You killed him.””
Claire tilted her head.
“No.””
A smile appeared.
“But I know who did.””
She reached into her bag.
And pulled out a photograph.
A photograph of Thomas.
Standing beside the person who had actually betrayed him.
Then she said:
“The person you’re protecting is not Maya.””
May you like
She looked directly at me.
“It’s yourself.””
