Chapter 2: The Warning in the Night

Lucy handed me a folded piece of paper.

I recognized Ben’s handwriting immediately.

“Read the last lines,” she whispered.

My hands shook as I read:

“If anything happens on this trip, don’t believe Aaron.

He warned me to stay quiet about what I saw near the cabin.

The proof is under the loose floorboard beneath the boys’ beds.”

I stared at Lucy.

“Why would your father hide this in your bear?”

“Because Aaron gave it to me,” she said.

“The day after Dad and the boys never came home.

He told me to keep the bear safe and never open it.”

A chill went through me.

Before I could speak, my phone lit up on the nightstand.

Aaron was calling.

“At this hour?” Lucy whispered.

I answered and put him on speaker.

“Aaron?”

For several seconds, there was only silence.

Then he spoke in a low, unsteady voice.

“You and Lucy need to stay home tonight.”

My heart pounded.

“How do you know Lucy is here?”

Aaron ignored me.

“Whatever she found,” he said, “don’t go to that cabin.”

The call ended.

Then Lucy pointed toward the bedroom window.

A parked car across the street suddenly turned on its headlights.