My Son Said, “Dad Is on the Floor”—But the Real Shock Was the Stranger Police Led From Our House 6101

I read the letter twice before I could speak.

Laura,

If you’re reading this, Mark finally failed to keep his promise to me.

Please don’t hate him for the wrong reason.

He didn’t make me disappear. I asked him to help me.

I knew Victor had people watching my father. I knew Rebecca was being followed. Nina was the only person who had a place no one connected to me.

Mark wanted to go to the police. I told him not to until I could recover the original ledgers from Warehouse 12.

If Victor knew Mark had helped me, he would go after you and Ethan.

Mark promised to protect my father from the truth until I was safe.

He kept that promise too long.

I stopped reading.

Daniel’s face broke.

“She asked him not to tell me?”

Mark nodded, tears in his eyes.

“She said you would come looking for her.”

“Of course I would.”

“She said that was exactly what Victor would expect.”

Daniel covered his face.

I continued.

Nina has a plan to move me again. If it works, I will contact Dad when the investigation is ready. If it doesn’t, the bluebird key leads to the evidence.

There was no signature.

Only one final line.

Tell Ethan I’m sorry his father had to become a liar to keep him safe.

I folded the letter slowly.

Mark looked at me.

“Laura—”

“You don’t get absolution from a dead woman’s letter.”

His face fell.

I hated saying it.

But it was true.

“Maybe Chloe asked you to lie. Maybe you had reasons. But you kept lying after Nina died. You kept lying when Rebecca left. You let me raise our son inside a threat I couldn’t see.”

“I know.”

“This time, don’t say that.”

He stopped.

Daniel took the letter from me.

His hands trembled.

Detective Owens examined the cash and documents in the locker.

Among them was a bus ticket purchased under the name Claire Sutton.

Destination: St. Louis.

Date: August 17.

One day before Nina died.

Daniel stared at it.

“She left Franklin.”