Chapter 2 - The Red Folder
Michael reached St. Matthew’s twenty-three minutes later.
Mason was sitting outside the operating room wrapped in a blue hospital blanket.
His small sneakers were stained with Emily’s blood.
Michael stopped several feet away from him.
“Mason.”
The boy looked up.
His eyes were swollen from crying.
Michael crouched.
“Come here.”
Mason did not move.
Michael’s chest tightened.
“Mason, please.”
“You hit Mom.”
Michael closed his eyes.
“I know.”
“She told the truth.”
“I know.”
“You didn’t listen.”
Every word landed harder than the last.
Michael sat on the chair opposite his son.
“I made a terrible mistake.”
Mason looked toward the operating-room doors.
“What if the baby dies?”
Michael had no answer.
Mason lowered his head.
“Mom said Aunt Sophia was dangerous.”
Michael looked up sharply.
“When?”
“Last week.”
“What exactly did she say?”
“She told me never to open the office door if Aunt Sophia came over when you weren’t home.”
Michael leaned forward.
“Why?”
Mason hesitated.
“Because of the red folder.”
Michael felt his pulse accelerate.
“Did your mom tell you what was inside?”
“No.”
“Then how did you know where she hid it?”
Mason looked toward the hallway.
“Because I saw her move it.”
“Where?”
Mason whispered.
“Grandpa’s clock.”
Michael froze.
There was an antique grandfather clock in his study.
It had belonged to Emily’s father.
Michael had never liked it.
Emily refused to remove it.
He suddenly remembered something else.
The clock had been repaired two weeks earlier.
Sophia had arranged the repair.
Michael stood.
“Stay here.”
Mason grabbed his sleeve.
“Don’t leave Mom.”
Michael stopped.
The fear on his son’s face cut through him.
He sat back down.
“You’re right.”
He pulled out his phone.
He called Thomas Grant, the head of security at Carter Dynamics.
Thomas answered immediately.
“Mr. Carter.”
“Go to my house.”
“What am I looking for?”
“The grandfather clock in my study.”
Michael glanced at Mason.
“There may be a red folder hidden inside.”
Thomas paused.
“And if someone else is there?”
Michael thought about Sophia.
Then Daniel.
“Call the police before you enter.”
Thomas’s voice changed.
“Understood.”
Michael ended the call.
Thirty-eight minutes passed.
Then the operating-room doors opened.
Dr. Holden approached them.
Michael stood so quickly the chair fell backward.
“Emily?”
“She’s stable.”
Michael nearly collapsed.
“And the baby?”
Dr. Holden hesitated.
“The baby is alive.”
Mason began crying.
Michael covered his mouth.
But the doctor was not smiling.
“There was significant trauma.”
Michael’s relief disappeared.
“What does that mean?”
“The baby’s heart rate became dangerously unstable.”
Dr. Holden looked toward Mason.
“We performed an emergency cesarean section.”
Michael stared at him.
“Is my daughter okay?”
“Your son.”
Michael blinked.
Emily had wanted the sex to remain a surprise.
Dr. Holden continued.
“He is in the neonatal intensive care unit.”
“Can I see Emily?”
“Not yet.”
Michael nodded.
His phone vibrated.
Thomas.
He answered.
“Tell me you found it.”
Thomas was breathing heavily.
“I found the compartment.”
Michael stood straighter.
“And the folder?”
“Gone.”
Michael’s stomach dropped.
“What?”
“The clock has been opened recently.”
“How do you know?”
“Fresh scratches around the locking plate.”
Michael looked at Mason.
Thomas lowered his voice.
“But I found something else.”
“What?”
“A flash drive taped beneath the compartment.”
Michael closed his eyes.
“Bring it to me.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Why?”
“Because someone broke into your house approximately four minutes before I arrived.”
Michael went silent.
Thomas continued.
“They knew exactly where the study was.”
“Did they take anything?”
“I don’t know yet.”
Michael clenched his jaw.
“Who was it?”
Thomas paused.
“The police caught someone leaving through the rear garden.”
Michael expected Sophia’s name.
May you like
Instead Thomas said something impossible.
“It was Daniel Reeves.”
