The Cabin
Chapter 10 - The Cabin
They reached northern Wisconsin shortly after sunrise.
The cabin sat beside a quiet lake surrounded by pine trees.
Adrian had never seen it before.
Marcus unlocked the door.
Inside, dust covered most surfaces.
But one coffee mug in the sink was clean.
Someone had been there recently.
Noah wandered toward the fireplace.
Above it hung an old photograph.
Two teenage boys stood beside their father.
Adrian.
Ethan.
Noah looked at Adrian.
"That's you."
"Yes."
"And that's my dad?"
Adrian nodded.
Noah smiled.
For the first time, Adrian saw Ethan in the boy's face.
The same crooked smile.
The same eyes.
Adrian turned away before Noah saw him cry.
Then Rachel found something.
A wall covered with documents.
Victor's companies.
Shell corporations.
Insurance payments.
Old flight-maintenance records.
Ethan had spent years investigating.
Marcus pointed toward one file.
"This is why Victor wanted him gone."
The documents suggested that Victor had secretly taken control of millions from the Cole estate after their father's death.
But there was more.
A mechanic responsible for the Cole family's private plane had received a huge payment two days after the crash.
The money came from a company linked to Victor.
Adrian felt sick.
Then Noah called from the bedroom.
"Uncle Adrian?"
It was the first time he had used the word.
Adrian rushed in.
Noah stood beside an open closet.
Someone was inside.
A man stepped slowly from the shadows.
Thin.
Bearded.
Holding a small handgun pointed at the floor.
Rachel gasped.
"Ethan."
The man looked at her.
Then at Noah.
Finally, he looked at Adrian.
Eighteen years disappeared in one breath.
Adrian whispered:
May you like
"Brother?"
Ethan Cole began to cry.
