Chương 7
"Why?"
Margaret's expression changed.
"Because Julian has spent years blaming himself for not protecting Eleanor."
She paused.
"If he thinks someone is responsible for what happened, he might do something without thinking."
Chloe remembered the old man's hands trembling as he held the letter.
The way he looked toward the field.
The way he carried guilt like a physical weight.
"He wouldn't hurt anyone."
"I didn't say he would."
Margaret looked at her.
"I said he might stop caring what happens to him."
The sentence stayed with Chloe.
She thanked Margaret and left with Lily before noon.
The drive back to the mountain felt longer.
Lily fell asleep in the back seat, one hand still resting on the globe.
Chloe kept glancing at the rearview mirror.
At her daughter.
At the object that had somehow pulled her into a story older than either of them.
When they reached the property, Chloe noticed Julian's truck immediately.
It was parked beside the shed.
She turned off the engine.
"Lily."
The child woke slowly.
"We're home?"
"Stay with me."
"Okay."
Chloe got out first.
The yard was quiet.
Too quiet.
She walked toward the shed.
The door was open.
"Julian?"
No answer.
She stepped inside.
The crate was empty.
The letter box was open.
Papers were scattered across the floor.
Her heart started beating faster.
"Julian?"
This time, she heard something.
A sound from behind the shed.
A heavy object falling.
Chloe grabbed Lily's hand.
"Stay here."
She moved toward the back door.
Then she stopped.
Because lying near the disturbed soil was Julian's old jacket.
And beside it was the yellowed letter from Eleanor.
Open.
The page covered in dirt.
But Julian was nowhere to be seen.
But beside it was the yellowed letter from Eleanor.
Open.
The page covered in dirt.
But Julian was nowhere to be seen.
Chloe felt the cold move through her before she understood why.
She grabbed the letter first.
Not because it was the most important thing.
Because it was the closest thing connected to him.
The paper was torn at one corner.
A streak of mud crossed the handwriting.
"Lily, stay inside the shed."
Her daughter looked frightened.
"Where is he?"
"I don't know."
Chloe hated saying it.
She hated that her voice sounded unsure.
She pulled out her phone and called Julian.
The call rang.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Then voicemail.
She hung up and called again.
Nothing.
A year ago, after losing her husband, Chloe had learned that panic could make people useless.
It made hands shake.
It made thoughts scatter.
It made every possible disaster arrive at once.
She forced herself to stop.
Look.
Listen.
Think.
The shed had not been destroyed.
Nothing looked broken.
The papers on the floor were scattered, but not ripped.
The old box remained open.
Whoever had been there had been searching.
Not stealing everything.
Searching for something specific.
Chloe stepped outside.
The disturbed soil behind the property looked different now.
There were fresh footprints near the edge of the trees.
Two sets.
One larger.
One smaller.
She crouched down.
The smaller prints looked like Julian's boots.
The larger ones were unfamiliar.
"Lily."
Her daughter appeared in the doorway.
"What?"
"Go back inside."
"Mom."
"Please."
Something in Chloe's voice made Lily obey.
She turned away and walked back into the shed.
Chloe followed the larger footprints.
Only a few yards.
Then they disappeared among the trees.
The mountain was quiet in a way that felt unnatural.
She heard branches moving.
The distant rush of wind.
The sound of her own breathing.
Then her phone rang.
She almost dropped it.
Margaret's name appeared on the screen.
"Margaret."
"Chloe?"
Her voice sounded urgent.
"Where are you?"
"At Julian's property."
A pause.
"Is Julian with you?"
"No."
The silence that followed told Chloe everything.
"You know something."
Margaret took a breath.
"Daniel came to my office because he wanted the notebook."
Chloe looked toward the trees.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I wasn't sure."
"About what?"
"About whether he was looking for it or warning me."
Chloe closed her eyes.
"Margaret, Julian is gone."
The line went quiet.
"What do you mean gone?"
"I found his jacket near the field."
"Is he hurt?"
"I don't know."
Margaret's voice changed.
The calm older woman disappeared.
"Call the sheriff."
Chloe looked back toward the shed.
Lily stood behind the glass window watching her.
"I don't know if I should."
"Why?"
"Because if Julian left willingly..."
"Chloe."
Margaret interrupted.
"Do not make the same mistake everyone made with Eleanor."
The words stopped her.
"What mistake?"
"Assuming you understand the whole situation before you know what happened."
Chloe looked at the trees again.
She knew Margaret was right.
She also knew waiting could be dangerous.
She ended the call.
Before she could dial, she heard an engine.
A truck appeared on the gravel road.
Chloe froze.
It was not Julian's truck.
It was Daniel Voss.
He parked near the shed and stepped out slowly.
His face changed when he saw her.
Not surprise.
Concern.
Almost convincing concern.
"What happened?"
Chloe did not answer.
She kept her phone in her hand.
Daniel noticed.
"You called someone?"
"Why are you here?"
His eyes moved toward the shed.
"I saw Julian's truck."
"That doesn't answer my question."
Daniel looked toward the trees.
For the first time, Chloe saw uncertainty on his face.
"I heard there was a problem."
"From who?"
He did not answer.
That was enough.
"You knew he was here."
"No."
"You followed him."
"No."
The speed of his denial made her suspicious.
Daniel rubbed his jaw.
"Listen to me."
"Why should I?"
"Because if Julian found what I think he found, he may have put himself in danger."
Chloe stared at him.
"What did he find?"
Daniel looked away.
A mistake.
A small one.
But she saw it.
"You know."
"I know there were old disputes about this land."
"That's not what I asked."
He sighed.
May you like
"Your husband died, didn't he?"
The sudden change made Chloe uncomfortable.
