Chapter 11 - Kevin's Deal with Emily
Kevin had met Emily four times.
The first was six months earlier.
She approached him outside his office.
He thought he was seeing a ghost.
Emily proved who she was with childhood memories only they shared.
Then she told him not to tell anyone.
Especially Frank.
“Why?”
Because Emily believed Frank was being watched.
By whom?
She didn't know.
Kevin agreed to help.
That was why he became so panicked when Frank discovered the money.
Not because Kevin had stolen it.
Because Frank was getting close to Emily's investigation.
“What did Emily want from you?”
Access to Gregory's old corporate records.
Kevin still had boxes inherited after Gregory died nine years earlier.
Emily believed the modern thief was using Gregory's old companies.
Kevin helped.
Then he discovered the agricultural company registered at his address.
He confronted Emily.
She denied creating it.
They realized someone knew about their meetings.
Kevin panicked.
He wanted Emily to disappear again.
Frank started asking questions.
Their argument escalated.
That was the “money” argument before the boar attack.
Rachel stared.
“You could have told Dad his daughter was alive.”
“She made me promise.”
“Everyone in this family needs to stop making promises that require destroying someone else.”
Kevin looked down.
Then I asked:
“Where is Emily now?”
He didn't know.
Their last meeting was six weeks earlier.
But Frank had received a call yesterday.
Someone claiming to be Emily.
Could have been real.
Could have been someone imitating her.
Then Kevin admitted something worse.
The morning Frank was attacked, Kevin received a message.
KEEP FRANK AWAY FROM THE SOUTH FENCE.
He ignored it.
He assumed Emily was hiding something there and didn't want Frank interfering.
He never imagined physical danger.
“Who sent it?”
Unknown number.
Then Helen whispered:
“I got one too.”
Her message:
IF FRANK FINDS THE PHONE, EVERYTHING ENDS.
“What phone?”
Helen pointed toward Frank's device.
No.
Not that one.
A second phone.
Hidden near the fence.
Frank must have found it before the boar attack.
Helen had seen him bend toward the grass.
Then the animal charged.
Responders recovered only Frank's regular phone.
The second one was gone.
Someone took it.
Who remained on the property after the ambulance left?
Kevin.
Helen.
Several relatives.
And Melissa? No, she was in Richmond.
Rachel's cousin Aaron.
Uncle Gregory was dead.
A farmhand named Cole.
Then Kevin remembered seeing Cole near the south fence.
Cole Matthews had worked for Frank for eight years.
Quiet.
Reliable.
He knew the property better than anyone.
Police went to question him.
His apartment was empty.
His truck abandoned.
But inside they found the second phone.
Locked.
Frank knew the passcode.
Emily's birthday.
The phone opened.
Dozens of recordings.
Frank had apparently been documenting his investigation.
Then we found the most recent video.
Recorded minutes before the attack.
Frank approached the damaged fence.
A woman stood beyond it.
Her back to the camera.
Frank whispered:
“Emily?”
She turned.
Rachel screamed.
It was Emily.
Older.
Alive.
She looked directly at Frank.
“Dad, don't come closer.”
Frank took another step.
Emily shouted:
“The fence is open!”
Then something moved behind Frank.
The boar.
Emily screamed.
The video dropped into grass.
But audio continued.
Frank fell.
People shouted.
Then another voice appeared.
A man's.
Calm.
“Get Emily out of here.”
Rachel replayed it.
Frank went pale.
“I know that voice.”
“Who?”
He looked at Helen.
“Gregory.”
Helen shook her head.
“My brother is dead.”
May you like
Frank answered:
“Then somebody buried the wrong man.”
