Evelyn looked at the papers.
“Walter knew.”
“He knew everything.”
A noise came from above.
They froze.
Footsteps.
Someone entered the diner.
Bear motioned everyone to remain silent.
A voice called out.
“Mrs. Harper?”
Kane.
Bear whispered, “Stay here.”
He climbed the stairs.
Kane stood near the kitchen.
“You're trespassing.”
Bear smiled.
“It's her property.”
Kane looked past him.
“You found the cellar.”
Bear said nothing.
Kane's expression changed.
“You have no idea what you're holding.”
“Then explain.”
Kane stepped closer.
“Those records could destroy people.”
“That's why you want them.”
Kane shook his head.
“I want the land.”
“Why?”
“Because the development contract is already signed.”
“By who?”
Kane smiled.
“People above me.”
Bear understood.
Kane wasn't the top.
He was a messenger.
Then the floor shook.
A loud crash came from the front.
The bikers outside shouted.
Someone had thrown a bottle through the window.
Another hit the wall.
Kane looked alarmed.
“This wasn't supposed to happen.”
Bear stared.
“Who did you bring?”
“I didn't.”
Another crash.
Kane backed away.
Bear realized something.
Kane might be guilty.
But he wasn't controlling everyone.
The real threat had arrived.
Bear grabbed Evelyn's hand.
“Stay close.”
They moved toward the cellar.
The bikers formed a line outside.
The confrontation lasted only minutes.
No one wanted a fight.
They wanted to protect the diner.
Eventually the attackers fled.
But one of them dropped a phone.
Bear picked it up.
The screen showed a message.
Get the box before midnight.
Bear looked at the time.
11:37
They had twenty-three minutes.
The phone contained only a few messages.
Most had been deleted.
One remained.
If Harper's people find the cellar, burn everything.
Bear stared at it.
“They knew.”
Frank nodded.
“How?”
“Someone told them.”
Evelyn looked frightened.
“Could it be someone from the county?”
“Maybe.”
Bear looked at Kane.
The developer stood silently near the doorway.
“Were you going to burn the diner?”
Kane shook his head.
“No.”
“Then who?”
“I don't know.”
Bear believed him.
Not because Kane was innocent.
Because fear had replaced arrogance on his face.
“You'd better start talking.”
Kane hesitated.
Then said, “The development company isn't mine.”
“Who owns it?”
“An investment group.”
“Names.”
“I don't know all of them.”
“Who gave you the orders?”
Kane looked at Evelyn.
“Your husband knew one of them.”
Evelyn whispered, “Who?”
“Thomas Bell.”
She gasped.
Bear looked at her.
“Who is he?”
“Walter's old business partner.”
Kane explained that Bell had been involved with the Silver Star decades earlier.
After Walter discovered the illegal property scheme, he ended their partnership.
Bell became wealthy.
Walter became poor.
The diner survived until Walter's death.
Now Bell wanted the land.
“Why?” Bear asked.
Kane swallowed.
“Because the storm cellar isn't the only thing underneath it.”