Chapter 1: The Suit That Shouldn't Have Existed
My brother wore a bright red suit to Dad's funeral — I was furious until Dad's attorney asked where he got it.
My brother, Eric, arrived at Dad's funeral wearing a bright red suit.
Not burgundy.
Red.
Every other man in the chapel wore black or gray, and there was Eric stepping past Dad's casket looking like he was headed to a Christmas party.
I pulled him aside.
"What the hell are you wearing?"
Eric looked exhausted.
"Not now, Sarah."
"Dad would've hated this."
"No," he said softly.
"He wouldn't."
Before I could ask what that meant, the service began.
Afterward, Dad's attorney, Mr.
Lawson, joined us at the cemetery.
He'd handled our family's legal affairs for almost thirty years.
The moment he saw Eric, he stopped walking.
His eyes dropped to the red jacket.
"Where did you get that suit?"
Eric frowned.
"Why?"
"Just answer me."
Eric hesitated.
"It was in Dad's closet."
That made no sense.
I'd cleared out most of Dad's clothes myself after he passed.
There had been no red suit.
"Which closet?" I asked.
"The one downstairs."
I stared at him.
Dad's downstairs study didn't have a closet.
Eric explained that he'd found a narrow door hidden behind a bookcase while searching for Dad's military papers.
Inside were three suits hanging in garment bags.
Two black.
One red.
A note pinned to the red one had Eric's name on it.
Mr.
Lawson went pale.
"Did you check the pockets?"
Eric shook his head.
The attorney immediately pulled us away from the other mourners.
"Take off the jacket."
"What?"
"Eric, take it off."
Eric reluctantly removed it.
Mr.
Lawson searched the inside pockets.
Nothing.
Then his fingers stopped at the lining near the chest.
He pressed it.
Something crackled beneath the fabric.
Eric and I looked at each other.
The attorney turned the jacket inside out.
There was a section of lining that had been carefully stitched by hand.
Mr.
Lawson whispered, "Your father told me I'd know when it was time."
He reached into his briefcase and pulled out a tiny pair of scissors.
"Time for what?"
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May you like
What did Dad hide inside that lining — and why did only Eric know about the secret door?
Comment **"NEXT"** if you want Part 2.
