Chapter 27 - The River House
The fragment of the map led investigators to an abandoned riverside property nearly forty miles outside the city.
According to county records, the small wooden house had belonged to a retired boat mechanic.
The owner had disappeared eighteen years earlier.
No sale.
No inheritance.
No explanation.
Michael studied the location.
"It doesn't fit Richard's business network."
Father Benjamin quietly answered,
"It wasn't his."
Everyone turned.
"It belonged to Gabriel."
Margaret felt another chill.
The forgotten engineer.
The man Richard once trusted like a brother.
The convoy reached the property shortly before sunset.
The house appeared deserted.
Paint peeled from every wall.
The dock had partially collapsed into the river.
Nature had almost erased every sign of human life.
Yet Michael noticed something unusual.
Fresh tire tracks.
Very recent.
Security officers spread through the trees.
Rebecca entered the house first.
Dust covered most furniture.
Except one chair.
Someone had been sitting there.
Recently.
On the old dining table rested a porcelain teacup.
Still warm.
Michael immediately drew his sidearm.
"We're not alone."
A floorboard creaked upstairs.
Security officers rushed toward the staircase.
The upper floor was empty.
Only one bedroom remained untouched.
Inside stood an old wooden wardrobe.
When they opened it...
No clothes were inside.
Instead, every wall of the wardrobe had been covered with photographs.
Hundreds of them.
Margaret.
Daniel.
Linda.
Thomas.
Victor.
Rebecca.
Michael.
Even Detective Nolan.
Some photographs had been taken only days earlier.
Pinned at the very center was the newest image.
It showed today's excavation at Richard's grave.
Someone had been watching them...
Even inside the closed cemetery.
Then a hidden speaker crackled to life.
A calm male voice echoed through the empty house.
May you like
"Welcome."
"I've been expecting you."
