Chapter 5 - The Room Celeste Never Entered
Dad's private map room had been locked since his death.
Celeste hated it.
She called it his “war museum.”
I remembered something Dad once told me.
“If someone searches my life, they'll look inside safes. Smart people hide things where nobody sees value.”
I entered after midnight.
Old maps covered the walls.
Military books filled shelves.
Nothing.
Then I noticed Dad's chessboard.
The white king was missing.
Under the board was a key.
The key opened an old field-radio case.
Inside was a hard drive.
And a handwritten note.
CHECK THE FOUNDATION'S CHILDREN.
Children?
I took photographs and replaced everything.
The following morning, Celeste announced we were holding the formal will reading at the mansion.
She wanted witnesses.
I knew why.
She planned to destroy me publicly.
Grant squeezed my hand.
“Whatever happens, I'm with you.”
I smiled.
“I know.”
By then, lying to him had become easy.
What I didn't know was that Celeste had prepared a surprise of her own.
When Henry arrived for the will reading, two police officers entered behind him.
They weren't there for Celeste.
May you like
They were there for me.
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