Chapter 11 - My Father Finally Called
Melissa wanted to surrender the card.
I understood.
Her daughters were involved.
But handing over the only leverage we possessed could endanger everyone.
Then another voice came through the radio.
My father.
“Daniel.”
My whole body tightened.
“You left your grandson to die.”
“That wasn’t the plan.”
“You removed the food.”
“Troy did.”
“You left the note.”
Silence.
“Mom wrote it, didn't she?”
“Yes.”
“Where is she?”
Another silence.
Then Dad said:
“Grant changed everything.”
According to him, Grant had discovered Claire created copies of the evidence.
He believed one remained with me.
Dad claimed the mountain weekend was supposed to force me into revealing whether I knew anything.
Then Grant called that morning.
He knew where we were.
Dad panicked.
He ordered the family out immediately.
“Why leave Noah and me?”
“I thought Grant was coming for the group.”
“So you sacrificed us?”
“No.”
“That’s exactly what you did.”
Dad’s voice broke.
“I thought you’d walk out within hours.”
“Nine days, Dad.”
Silence.
“Nine.”
No answer.
Then I asked:
“Did you have anything to do with Claire’s death?”
“No.”
Immediate.
Almost desperate.
“Did Troy?”
“I don’t know.”
“Grant?”
Dad whispered:
“That’s what Claire believed.”
Not proof.
But enough to understand the fear.
Then he said:
“Daniel, listen carefully. Grant isn't the person controlling Troy.”
“What?”
“Troy has been working with someone else.”
“Who?”
Before Dad answered, there was shouting.
May you like
A crash.
The radio went dead.
