Chapter 9 The Hollow Book

The policemen took Tom away in handcuffs, but the victory felt hollow.

In the remains of the bookstore stormed by her feelings, Lena turned to kneel in the ruin. Her fingers traced the spine of a first edition Wuthering Heights Ryan had almost managed to ruin on their first meeting. Something rattled inside.

She pried it open-and gasped.

Tucked between the pages was a slim leather diary, embossed with her grandmother's initials on the cover. The first entry sent a shiver down her spine:

"James came by the shop today. He worries about the Calloways' waterfront project . . . says the foundations are unsafe. If he refuses to sign the permits, they'll ruin him. I told him to be careful. Men like Charles Calloway don't take no for an answer."

The date? One week before Ryan's father died.

Lena's hands shivered as she flipped the page-and found a folded land deed stamped with a bloody fingerprint.

The door creaked open.

Ryan stood silhouetted in the dawn, with the hospital bracelet dangling from his wrist. He took one look at the diary and froze. "You found it."

Lena's breath caught. "You knew about this?"

"Not the diary." He limped forward, winced while crouching, "But my father's last journal entry mentioned your grandmother. Said she had 'insurance.'" His finger brushed the bloody print. "Guess we just found it."

A car screeched to a halt outside.

In a flurry, Ryan shoved the diary into Lena's hoodie pocket just before the door burst open. Charles Calloway filled the doorway, his tailor-made suit incongruous with the rubble. Tom's smirk was visible through the broken passenger-seat window.

"Lena," Charles said, oozing false sympathy. "Terrible about the storm damage, but my offer still stands-I'll buy this place, no hard feelings because of my son's... misunderstanding."

Ryan stiffened. "Get out."

Charles ignored him, stepping closer. "That diary belongs to my family. Hand it over, and I'll make sure no one presses charges for assault."

Lena's veins were thundering in her ears. She stood slowly-then grabbed a broken chair leg. "Try taking it."

Charles laughed. And pulled out a lighter.

"Burn it all," he told the men behind him.