(MALDIE POV)***************************The fog was a thick, wet blanket over the pier……I could barely see my own feet as I hurried toward the old boathouse. My heart was thumping against my ribs like a trapped bird. The note had promised the truth about my father, and I wasn't going to miss it for anything.I reached the heavy wooden door and pushed……. It creaked loudly."You're late, Maldie….."The voice didn't come from a stranger……. It was deep, smooth, and instantly recognizable. I stepped inside and squinted through the gloom……. He was there, sitting in a plush leather chair that looked far too expensive for this rotting shack………"Julian?" I gasped, slamming the door behind me to keep out the chill. "You sent the note? Why the mystery?""Because mystery gets your attention," he said. He didn't get up………He just sat there, the light from a single lantern carving out the sharp lines of his jaw. "And right now, I want all of it.""I thought this was about my father's files," I said
Last Updated : 2026-03-01 Read more