Chapter 11 - LAURA’S LAKE HOUSE
The lake house stood among pine trees far from the main road.
Laura’s family had visited every summer when she was young.
Ava remembered going there once before her mother died.
Laura buried the red journal inside a weatherproof box beneath a stone bench.
She told Ava that if the blue journal was ever found, the red one must remain hidden.
Police approached the property from the water and forest.
Michael carried a copy of the brass key.
The original remained with Officer Ruiz.
Inside the cabin, Rachel had tied David to a dining chair.
His shirt was stained with blood from a cut along his shoulder.
The injury was painful but not life-threatening.
Rachel held a pistol.
The blue journal lay on the table.
“You brought the key?” she asked.
Michael stopped near the doorway.
“Where is Ava?”
“She is not here.”
“Good.”
Rachel laughed.
“You finally learned something.”
David looked at Michael.
“She plans to kill both of us.”
Rachel struck him across the face.
“You planned to abandon me in Switzerland.”
David looked toward Michael.
“The offshore account has only one beneficiary.”
“Rachel.”
“I discovered it yesterday.”
Rachel raised the gun toward him.
“You created the account.”
“You changed it.”
“You changed everything first.”
Michael understood.
The relationship between Rachel and David had begun as a partnership.
Then both tried to take the entire fortune.
“Why did you lock Ava in the pantry?” Michael asked.
Rachel’s expression flickered.
“She refused to speak.”
“You tied her to a pipe.”
“David tied her.”
“You turned on the cooling unit.”
“She needed to understand we were serious.”
“She is nine.”
Rachel looked away.
“I did not intend for you to find her that way.”
“You intended for me to find her dead?”
“No.”
“The pantry camera was supposed to capture her saying where the journal was.”
“And afterward?”
“We would take her with us.”
“To protect her?”
“To protect the account.”
David laughed bitterly.
“She was always an asset to you.”
Rachel pointed the gun at him.
“And she was different to you?”
“You stole from her before she could walk.”
The two conspirators stared at each other.
Michael moved closer to the table.
“Laura knew you would both destroy each other.”
Rachel looked at the journal.
“She thought she was smarter than everyone.”
“She was.”
Rachel’s face tightened.
“Then where is the red book?”
Michael looked toward the stone bench visible through the window.
“Somewhere you will never reach.”
David suddenly kicked the table.
The blue journal slid onto the floor.
Rachel fired.
The bullet struck the wall.
Police entered through the rear door.
Rachel ran toward the dock.
Michael followed.
She reached the end of the wet wooden platform.
The lake stretched dark beneath her.
She turned the gun toward him.
Then Ava’s voice came from behind the trees.
“Rachel.”
Everyone froze.
May you like
Ava had followed Ruth from the police boat.
She held the red journal against her chest.
