I Came Home From Deployment Three Days Early… Then I Found a Notebook With My Name on It
Chapter 5
Mia entered the house quickly.
She looked at Ethan.
Then Claire.
Then the envelope.
“You found it.”
Ethan held it up.
“What is this?”
Mia locked the door behind her.
“Where did you find it?”
“Under the door.”
Mia’s expression changed.
She looked through the window.
The second car was gone.
“Who was in that car?” Ethan asked.
“I don’t know.”
“Mia.”
“I said I don’t know.”
Claire stepped closer.
“You do.”
Mia looked at her.
“You shouldn’t have written the notes.”
“They were for Ethan.”
“They were supposed to help him understand.”
“Understand what?”
Mia looked at her brother.
“The letters.”
Ethan opened the envelope.
Inside was a photocopy of an old document.
His father’s signature appeared at the bottom.
Above it was a property transfer.
But Ethan didn’t recognize the name listed as the recipient.
Daniel Mercer.
“Who is Daniel Mercer?”
Mia swallowed.
“Our father’s business partner.”
Ethan stared at the page.
“He’s dead.”
“Yes.”
“Then why is his name here?”
Mia took the document.
“Because the original was filed three years after Dad died.”
Ethan frowned.
“That doesn’t make sense.”
“Exactly.”
Claire moved toward the notebook.
“There’s more.”
Mia shook her head.
“Not here.”
“Why?”
“Because I think someone has been inside the house.”
Ethan looked around.
“Nothing’s missing.”
“That’s the problem.”
Mia opened a cabinet.
Behind several plates was a small metal box.
“It was here yesterday.”
She pulled it out.
Empty.
Ethan stared at the box.
“What was inside?”
Mia looked at Claire.
Claire answered.
“The letters.”
Ethan’s eyes narrowed.
“You said you didn’t know where they were.”
“I didn’t.”
“Then who took them?”
No one answered.
A quiet knock came from the front door.
All three froze.
Another knock.
Then a voice from outside.
“Ethan?”
Mia’s face drained of color.
She whispered,
“That’s Daniel Mercer’s son.”
