I Came Home From Deployment Three Days Early… Then I Found a Notebook With My Name on It
Chapter 8
“I didn’t leave the land to anyone,” his father said.
“I placed it in trust.”
Ethan stared at the recorder.
The land had never been supposed to belong to the family personally.
It was protected for another purpose.
A community agreement.
A promise made decades earlier.
His father explained that Daniel Mercer had discovered financial fraud connected to the property.
Someone had been using false documents to slowly acquire surrounding land.
Robert Hale had been involved.
But there was a problem.
They couldn’t prove it.
So Ethan’s father created the trust and hid the original documents.
“I trusted the wrong people,” the recording continued.
“But I never trusted Robert.”
Ethan looked at Mia.
She looked stunned.
The person they had suspected had actually been protected from them by their father.
The recording continued.
“One day, Robert will realize the documents still exist. If he asks about the blue folder, tell him nothing.”
The tape clicked.
Then came a final sentence.
“Claire Bennett knows where the key is.”
Everyone turned toward Claire.
She looked horrified.
“I don’t.”
Mia stepped closer.
“Claire?”
“I swear, I don’t.”
Ethan stopped the recording.
“Why would Dad mention you?”
Claire’s eyes filled with confusion.
“I was twelve.”
“You knew our father.”
“Everyone knew your father.”
“Why would he trust you with anything?”
“I don’t know.”
Lucas suddenly looked at the notebook.
“Maybe she doesn’t remember.”
Claire stared at him.
Then something flickered across her face.
“A box.”
“What box?”
“When I was little, your father gave me something.”
Ethan waited.
“I thought it was a toy.”
“What happened to it?”
“My mother threw it away.”
“Are you sure?”
Claire shook her head.
“No.”
She closed her eyes.
“I remember keeping it in my room.”
Ethan’s phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
No one spoke.
Then a man’s voice said:
“You should have stayed away from the blue folder.”
The call ended.
