Chapter 28 - The Cinders of Whispering Pines
Three weeks later, the snow had begun to melt, turning the rolling lawns of Whispering Pines into thick, black mud.
Ethan and I stood hand-in-hand near the edge of the ruins. The charred timbers of the mansion had been cleared away by industrial excavators, leaving behind only the massive stone foundation and the blackened marble staircase that led up into empty, gray sky.
Richard walked over from the gatehouse, wearing jeans and a warm flannel coat. He looked ten years younger. The permanent shadow of fear that had haunted his eyes for four decades had completely vanished.
"The demolition crews will finish clearing the site by Friday," Richard said, leaning against a wooden fence post. "What do you want to do with the land, Ethan?"
Ethan looked down at me, squeezing my fingers gently. The faint yellow bruise that Victoria's hand had left on my cheek at Christmas was long gone, replaced by a calm, settled peace.
"What do you think, Claire?" Ethan asked me softly. "It’s Lily’s land now. What should we build here?"
"A park," I said without hesitation. "A public park and an animal sanctuary. No gates. No security codes. No walls to keep people out."
Ethan smiled, kissing the side of my temple. "A park it is."
"And Victoria?" Richard asked, his voice tightening slightly. "Arthur Vance tried to petition for bail this morning based on her medical condition."
"Denied," Ethan said coldly. "The judge revoked bail permanently. With the demolition contractor turning state's evidence, she’s facing forty years without the possibility of parole. She will die in a cell in Dwight Correctional."
Everything was supposed to be over. The monster was locked in a cage. The fortune was secured. Our daughter was safe.
Marcus suddenly hurried down the gravel path from the main gate, holding a heavy manila folder under his arm. His face was pale, his breath ragged.
"Ethan," Marcus said, his voice tense. "You need to see this. The excavators found something in the subterranean basement. Underneath the furnace room."
Ethan frowned. "What did they find? The vault was emptied thirty years ago."
May you like
"It wasn't a vault," Marcus said, handing Ethan the folder. "It was an auxiliary safe. Sealed with lead. It wasn't registered on any of the mansion's blueprints."
***
