Chapter 4 - The Dates
Noah slept in Mark's bed that night with the hallway light on.
Mark did not sleep at all.
At four in the morning, he sat at the kitchen table with the paddle sealed in an evidence bag and stared at the dates carved into the handle.
March 12.
April 9.
May 18.
He opened his work calendar on his phone.
Dallas. Chicago. Denver.
Every date matched a trip.
Noah appeared in the doorway wearing an oversized hoodie.
"You okay?"
Mark almost laughed at the question.
"I should be asking you that."
Noah sat across from him.
For a while neither spoke.
Finally Mark said, "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
Noah looked at the table.
"I tried."
Mark's chest tightened.
"When?"
"Last year. I told you Mom scared me when you were gone. You said she was stressed."
Mark remembered. An airport call. Noah's small voice. Mark juggling a laptop bag and a boarding pass.
He had said, Be good for your mom. I'll be home Friday.
He covered his face.
"I am so sorry."
Noah shrugged, but his eyes were wet.
"You were busy."
"That's not an excuse."
"She said it was."
Mark lowered his hands.
Noah nodded toward the evidence bag.
"She carved the date after."
"Why?"
"She said if I ever lied about her, she'd show everyone I was the one keeping score because I hated her."
Mark stared at him.
Linda had been building her defense while hurting him.
Not losing control.
Planning.
At sunrise, June came into the kitchen using a borrowed walker. Mark pulled out a chair for her.
"You should be resting."
"I've rested enough for one lifetime."
She looked at Noah.
"Did you tell him about the notebook?"
Noah froze.
Mark turned. "What notebook?"
Noah hesitated, then went upstairs.
He returned carrying a battered blue composition book from inside his backpack.
"I wrote things down."
Mark opened it.
Pages of dates. Times. Exact words Linda had said. Notes about June. Notes about the basement lock.
And names.
One appeared again and again.
C. SHAW.
"Who's Shaw?" Mark asked.
June's mouth tightened.
"Calvin Shaw. Your mother's lawyer."
Mark knew the name. Calvin had handled the sale of Mark's childhood home, June's estate planning, even Daniel Carter's probate after Mark's father died.
Noah tapped one entry.
JUNE 7 - MOM SAID MR. SHAW WILL FIX THE PAPERWORK BEFORE DAD GETS HOME.
Mark looked at June.
"What paperwork?"
June stared at the silver key in his hand.
"The kind that can steal a house without ever breaking a window."
Then Mark's phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
May you like
He answered.
A man's voice said, "Mr. Carter, this is Calvin Shaw. We need to talk before you make a mistake you can't undo."
