Chapter 13 - THE RAID ON SILVER LAKE
We did not race up there alone.
Ben called the sheriff’s office first.
By the time we reached Silver Lake, two patrol vehicles were already parked near the driveway.
The truck at the dock belonged to a moving company.
Three men stood beside it looking confused.
Karen was there.
So was Thomas.
I recognized him immediately from the motel photograph.
He was taller than Karen.
Thin.
Sharp-faced.
He looked at Ben without warmth.
“So you’re Harold’s favorite.”
Ben ignored the bait.
“What are you doing on my property?”
Thomas smiled.
“Taking what belongs to me.”
“Nothing here belongs to you.”
Thomas pointed toward the house.
“My father bought this place.”
“And he transferred it to me.”
“He stole my share.”
Ben’s voice remained even.
“You never had a share.”
Thomas laughed.
“That’s what lawyers say.”
One of the deputies stepped between them.
The moving men explained Karen had hired them.
Karen immediately blamed Thomas.
Thomas immediately blamed Karen.
Their alliance lasted less than five minutes under pressure.
Then we learned what they were trying to remove.
Not furniture.
Boxes.
Old Walker family records.
Photo albums.
Harold’s desk.
Thomas believed Harold had hidden original financial documents somewhere inside the desk.
He wanted proof that Harold owed him money.
Karen had agreed to help because Thomas promised to destroy the evidence of her financial lies.
Ben looked at his mother.
“So after everything you told us, you still came here with him.”
Karen was crying.
“He said this would end it.”
“No.”
Ben shook his head.
“You keep choosing the thing that hides what you did instead of the thing that fixes it.”
Thomas scoffed.
“Spare us the therapy speech.”
Then Ella spoke from behind us.
Everyone turned.
I had told her to stay in the car.
She had stepped out.
Thomas looked at her.
His eyes moved to the medals hanging from her backpack.
The cleaned ribbons.
Including the stained one.
He smiled.
“You must be the runner.”
Ben moved instantly.
He put himself between Thomas and Ella.
“You do not speak to my daughter.”
Thomas raised both hands.
“I’m complimenting her.”
“No.”
“You’re leaving.”
The deputy agreed.
Thomas became angry.
He pointed toward the lake.
“My father promised me half of this.”
Karen shouted.
“No, he didn’t.”
Thomas turned on her.
“You said you had the papers.”
“I said I could find them.”
“You said Ben would sell.”
“He was supposed to.”
Ben stared at her.
There it was.
Not fear.
Not protection.
The original plan.
Karen had agreed to pressure Ben into selling long before Thomas threatened Ella.
The threat came later.
Karen saw us understand.
“No.”
Ben said nothing.
“Ben, listen.”
He looked exhausted.
“You lied again.”
Thomas suddenly laughed.
“She’s been lying to you since you were born.”
Karen slapped him.
The deputies stepped in immediately.
Thomas only smiled.
Then he said something none of us expected.
“Ask her who paid for your college.”
Ben frowned.
Karen went pale.
May you like
Thomas looked directly at him.
“Ask your mother where the money really came from.”
