Chapter 3 - The Guardian of the Woods
While Victoria sat trapped beneath the harsh lights of the interrogation room, thirty miles north of the city, a small wooden cabin nestled deep within the dense pine forests of the state park remained dark and quiet.
An elderly man with weathered hands and a thick gray beard sat on the front porch, rocking slowly in a wooden chair while listening to a police scanner crackle with static. His name was Thomas, and for the last two years, he had been Lily's sole guardian, protector, and surrogate grandfather.
The scanner suddenly squawked to life.
“Unit Four to Central. Suspect detained at precinct. Child currently in protective custody with Mr. Arthur Whitmore pending emergency guardianship verification.”
Thomas closed his eyes, letting out a long, shuddering breath that sounded like a prayer of profound relief. He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a small, worn leather journal—the very journal Clara Vance had handed to him the night she vanished, begging him to keep her daughter safe until the truth came to light.
He flipped open the cover to the last page Clara had written before she disappeared into the rainy night:
“If you are reading this, Thomas, it means the audit files reached the safe deposit box, but I couldn't outrun them. Victoria Langford will stop at nothing to protect her stolen empire. But Lily is strong. She has my heart. And she will never stop looking for the truth.”
May you like
Thomas stood up, walking inside the cozy, lamp-lit cabin. He packed a small canvas duffel bag, grabbed his rifle from the rack by the back door, and walked out to his rusted pickup truck.
It was time to bring the rest of the puzzle to the city.
