Chapter 4

“Final confirmation. Everyone, step back.”

Captain Hayes stood in the storage room doorway, battered and bruised, his voice raspy and harsh.

Mr. Brooks held a pen, ready in front of the reporters' cameras.

“I’m willing to sign. I’ll stake my thirty years of professional experience on this—the basement under this house was illegally excavated by the owner.”

The forensics team and crime scene investigators ignored the flashing cameras, steadily following protocol as they cross-checked their sample numbers.

Captain Hayes shot Mr. Brooks a sharp look. “Your report stays limited to technical findings. You don't get to declare criminal liability.”

Mr. Brooks sneered, clearly annoyed. “Captain Hayes, I know where the line is.”

Then, David walked up to me, shoving the agreement back into my space.

“Karen, stop dragging this out,” he spat, “Sign this, and I’ll tell my parents to stop raising hell. Plead guilty, and I’ll even ask the judge for leniency.”

My eyes dropped to the sandalwood prayer beads wrapped around his wrist.

Years ago, when Claire went missing, he had paced back and forth while rubbing those exact same beads, telling me that a missing child could always be found, but lost company shares were gone forever.

Veronica stood glued to his side, her voice dripping with sickly sweet concern.

“Karen, David is only doing this out of the goodness of his heart. Anyone else would’ve left you to rot.”

I stared at her. “Do you enjoy playing mom that much?”

A flash of cold fury flickered across Veronica’s eyes. “At least I wouldn’t lock a child in a basement.”

In her wheelchair, the young girl suddenly began to tremble violently. “Mommy, please don’t yell at Aunt Veronica. She bought me my medicine...”

The second she said it, every camera lens swung toward Veronica.

A staff member cast the livestream’s comment section onto a nearby display screen:

[What a saint of a stepmom.]

[How is Karen still alive? How does she show her face?]

[Fifty million people are online, waiting for the verdict.]

David shoved the pen into my hand. “Sign it.”

I didn't take it.

He leaned in close to whisper, “You think Captain Hayes can shield you? You don’t sign today, and the internet will tear you apart alive tomorrow.”

Veronica leaned into my ear, her breath warm against my skin. “I actually know where Claire’s bones are buried.”

My fingers froze.

Her laugh was barely a whisper. “Too bad you don't deserve to ask.”

Captain Hayes sensed something wrong and stepped in immediately. “Mrs. Caldwell, step back.”

Veronica looked up, her eyes brimming with hurt. “I was just trying to talk some sense into her.”

Taking advantage of the chaos, David slammed the paper hard against my chest.

“Karen, you owe everyone an explanation! You owe Claire more than you can ever repay!”

I looked down at the white sheet of paper.

The living room was choked with media crews. Outside the house, a mob was howling for my blood.

Inside the storage room lay the entrance to the so-called basement.

The handcuffs cut deep into my wrists, the dried blood crusting over my skin.

Suddenly, I snapped my hands up and tore the agreement straight down the middle.

David froze in shock.

I ripped it again.

Paper scraps rained down over him. He flinched, taking a step back in pure shock.

Veronica’s cool composure finally shattered. “Are you out of your mind?!”

I locked eyes with her. “Only a lunatic digs up someone else’s house to build their own grave.”

Mr. Brooks frowned, his forehead creasing deeply. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

I didn't give him an answer.

Reaching inside the inner lining of my jacket, I pulled out a secure, tamper-evident document folder. Printed across its front was nothing but a serial number and a bold, red security seal.

The moment Captain Hayes caught sight of that seal, his pupils shrank to pinpricks.

He raised his hand instantly. “Everyone, turn off the cameras! Stop recording right now!”

Several officers surged forward, blocking the lenses with their bodies.

The reporters refused to yield.

“Why can’t we film?!”

“Is the police department covering for Karen?!”

Captain Hayes’ voice roared across the room, booming with authority. “This involves classified government intelligence! Turn off your equipment immediately!”

I held up a hand, stopping him. “Cover the core technical parameters. Let them see whatever can be made public.”

Captain Hayes looked at me, his voice pitching up with unmistakable shock. “Karen, are you sure about this?”

David let out a harsh bark of laughter. “Forging government documents now? Karen, you’ve lost your mind.”

Veronica slipped back into her fragile, innocent act. “Captain Hayes, a woman like her will pull anything. Don’t let her trick you.”

I handed the secure folder to Captain Hayes, flipping it open only to the structural layout page.

Then I spun around and faced Mr. Brooks.

“Mr. Brooks,” I said, every word dripping with cold precision, “You didn't even check the actual geological classification of this plot of land, yet you dared to stake your entire career on it?”

Mr. Brooks’ face turned an ugly shade of ash gray. “What are you talking about?”

I pointed directly at the smashed-open wall inside the storage room.

“Officers, take a long, hard look at the master architectural plans for this building. There’s no physical way I could’ve dug out that basement.”

David lunged forward to grab the file, but Captain Hayes shoved him back violently.

I scanned the room, looking into the eyes of every single person waiting for me to confess, and spoke my final words, cold and clear, “Because this house doesn't have a basement at all!”