Chapter 4 - MASON’S STORY
The officers entered through the front and back at the same time.
Paramedics came in behind them.
Frank still did not open the closet until an officer told him it was clear enough to do so.
When the door finally opened, Mason stumbled out and threw himself against Frank’s chest so hard the old man nearly fell backward.
“Grandpa.”
“I’ve got you.”
Mason shook uncontrollably.
Lily was being checked by a paramedic now, wrapped in a blanket, her small face turned toward her brother.
“She tried to help me,” Mason said.
His voice was hoarse.
“She kept trying.”
Frank looked at him.
“Who locked you in there?”
Mason’s eyes moved toward the kitchen.
“Grant.”
The name went through Frank like ice.
Grant Keller.
Megan’s boyfriend.
The man who was supposed to be out of town.
The man who had spent months asking about trusts, insurance, and the house.
One officer immediately asked, “Where is Grant now?”
Mason shook his head.
“I don’t know. He came in from the garage.”
“At what time?”
“I was asleep.”
The officer crouched so he would not tower over him.
“Tell me only what you remember.”
Mason swallowed.
“I heard a noise. I thought it was Mom.”
Lily whispered from the floor, “I did too.”
Mason continued.
“I saw Grant in the hallway. He had Mom’s laptop bag.”
Frank’s hands tightened around Mason’s shoulders.
“What else?”
“He told me Mom sent him.”
“Did she?”
Mason shook his head.
“I asked why he was looking in the closet.”
That was the hallway closet.
The same one Mason had been locked inside.
“What was he looking for?” the officer asked.
Mason looked at Frank.
“Dad’s black box.”
Frank closed his eyes.
Adam’s black document box.
After Adam died, Megan had put some of his personal papers in a small fireproof case. Insurance documents. House records. Letters for the kids. Copies of trust papers.
Frank thought it was in Megan’s bedroom.
Apparently, it had been moved.
“Then what happened?” the officer asked.
“Grant told me not to wake Grandpa.”
Mason’s voice cracked.
“I tried to go to Lily’s room. He grabbed my arm and pushed me in the closet.”
Frank’s jaw tightened.
No shouting.
No movement.
Just a cold, focused rage that settled behind his ribs.
Lily began crying.
“He told me Mason was bad.”
Frank looked at her.
“He said if I woke you up, he’d take Mason somewhere until Mom came home.”
The paramedic glanced at the officer.
Frank kept his face steady for the children.
“And you came to get me anyway?”
Lily nodded.
“I tried.”
She had made it to the closet.
Not the guest bedroom.
Not all the way to Frank.
But close enough to knock.
Close enough to be found.
Close enough to save her brother.
Frank kissed the top of her head.
“You did exactly right.”
Then an officer returned from the basement.
His expression had changed.
“We didn’t find him.”
Frank looked up.
The officer held out a black leather glove.
“But we found this by the back door.”
Frank recognized it.
Grant had worn those gloves at Thanksgiving while carrying firewood.
May you like
He had been in the house.
And he had escaped.
