Reed's jaw tightened. I know what Thomas Blackwell did. I've seen the documentation, the financial records, the evidence of his theft. Evidence provided by your father. Evidence that stands on its own merits.
Reed snapped. Look, Brooks, I'm trying to be reasonable here. $200,000 is more than generous. Take it, walk away, and leave the past buried where it belongs. This is my home now, Ethan said firmly. My son's home.
Our legacy. Reed studied him for a long moment, then nodded as if coming to a decision. I see. Well, I won't take up any more of your time. He moved toward the door, pausing with his hand on the knob.
A word of advice, Mr. Brooks. Be careful digging into the past. You might not like what you uncover about your inheritance. The slight emphasis on the last word sent a chill down Ethan's spine.
Reed knew, or at least suspected, the true connection between Ethan and Thomas Blackwell. After Reed's sedan disappeared down the driveway, Ethan found Noah waiting at the top of the stairs. He knows who we are, doesn't he? " the boy asked perceptively. "I think he suspects," Ethan admitted. "Which means we need to find what Thomas hid before Reed does. " "The place where water meets stone," Noah recalled.
"Exactly. Let's go check out that riverbank. " The property extended behind the house for several acres, ending at a small river that wound through the countryside. They followed a neglected path through the overgrown gardens, past what had once been formal rose beds and sculptured hedges. Now wild and tangled with decades of unchecked growth. The river itself was narrow but swift, its clear waters flowing over a rocky bed.
Along one bank, a natural stone outcropping formed a small cliff face weathered by centuries of water. Noah spotted at first, a heart symbol similar to the one on their key carved subtly into the rock face just above the waterline. There, he pointed excitedly, the symbol. Ethan waited into the shallow water, studying the carving. It was weathered but unmistakable.
The work of skilled hands that understood how to make a mark last through decades of exposure to the elements. Near the heart was a small depression that looked exactly the right size for their new key. "Stand back a bit," Ethan instructed Noah. The current stronger than it looks. With careful movements, he inserted the wave patterned key into the depression.
It fit perfectly, as if made for this specific lock. When he turned it, a section of the rock face shifted inward with a grading sound of stone against stone. Behind the movable panel was a small cavity lined with metal to keep out moisture. Inside lay a waterproof container sealed against the elements. Ethan removed it carefully and carried it back to the bank where Noah waited eagerly.