Clay ignored him.
"What was Arthur afraid of?"
His father answered carefully.
"That his brother would attempt to gain control of the property after his death."
Megan stared at Thomas.
Clay felt the story changing beneath his feet.
This wasn't simply opportunism after a brother's death.
Arthur had expected it.
"Why?"
Clay asked.
Another pause.
"Because Thomas had already tried once."
Thomas bolted toward his car.
Clay didn't chase him.
He didn't have to.
"Thomas."
The man stopped beside the driver's door.
Clay held up the photographed document.
"The firm has this now."
Thomas turned.
"You think that scares me?"
"It should."
Clay's voice remained calm.
"Because you didn't just threaten a widow. You apparently manufactured a court document using a law firm's letterhead and the seal of a notary already under investigation."
Thomas stared at him.
Clay continued.
"And if you forged Arthur's signature on a property transfer, that makes your evening significantly worse."
Thomas's bravado disappeared.
"You can't prove anything."
"Maybe."
Clay glanced toward Megan.
"But now somebody's going to look."
For the first time, Thomas looked genuinely frightened.
Then Megan spoke.
"There's something else."
Thomas's head snapped toward her.
"Megan."
She ignored him.
"Arthur left me a box."
Thomas went completely still.
Clay noticed.
"What box?"
"He told me never to open it unless Thomas tried to take the house."
Thomas stepped away from his car.
"Megan, don't."
Clay positioned himself between them.
"Where is it?"
Megan looked toward the house.
"Hidden beneath the floorboards in Arthur's study."
Thomas's face drained of color.
And in that instant, Clay knew.
Whatever was inside that box frightened Thomas more than the forged documents.
More than the lawyers.
More than the police.
"There's nothing in there," Thomas said quickly.
Megan looked at him.
"I never said what was in it."
Thomas realized his mistake.
Nobody spoke.
Danny looked between the adults, confused.
Clay's father remained on the phone.
"Clay?"
"Yeah?"
"Do not let anyone touch that box."
Thomas opened his car door.
Clay watched him.
"Running?"
Thomas stared back at him.
For a few seconds, hatred replaced fear.
"You have no idea who these people are."
Clay almost smiled.
"Funny. You said the same thing when I got here."
Thomas climbed into his car.
Before shutting the door, he looked directly at Megan.
"This isn't finished."
Clay took one step forward.
"It is for tonight."
Thomas started the engine.
He backed rapidly out of the driveway and disappeared down the road.
Silence returned.
But it no longer felt peaceful.
It felt like the silence before something much larger began.
Megan sat on the porch steps with Danny wrapped in her arms.
The sun had nearly disappeared.
Clay stood several feet away, still holding his phone.
His father hadn't hung up.
"Clay."
"What?"
"Are they safe?"
Clay looked at Megan and Danny.
"For now."
"Then call the police."
"I will."
"And Clay?"
He waited.
"I'm glad you called."
Clay didn't know what to say.
Nine years of anger couldn't be repaired in a driveway.
Maybe it never would be.
But something inside him loosened.
"Yeah."
He ended the call.
Megan looked up.
"Your father knew Arthur?"
"Apparently better than I did."
"You really studied law?"
"A long time ago."
"What happened?"
Clay gave a tired smile.
"That's a different family secret."