The church was silent except for the soft murmurs of mourners—until Bella’s frantic barking shattered the solemn atmosphere. Ryan had left his loyal German Shepherd in the car, but somehow she’d burst into the funeral service and was now pawing at his father’s coffin with unusual urgency.
Something was wrong. Ryan could feel it in his bones.
Against protests from family and the funeral director, Ryan pried open the casket—only to find it completely empty. Where was his father’s body? The funeral home claimed they’d received Arnold’s remains from the coroner, but clearly, someone was lying.
As Ryan dug deeper, the mystery only grew stranger. His father’s office computer had been wiped clean. The expensive figurines Arnold collected were missing. And then there was the life insurance policy—made out to his father’s secretary, Miss Pearson, for a staggering $7 million.
The pieces came together in a shocking revelation: Arnold had faked his own death. With help from a corrupt coroner and his mistress, he’d staged an elaborate disappearance to start a new life abroad. But he hadn’t counted on two things—his son’s determination, and one very observant dog.
In the end, it was Arnold’s own prized figurine collection that led to his downfall. Ryan used the rare artifacts as bait, forcing his father out of hiding at a high-profile auction. As police led Arnold away in handcuffs, Ryan realized the man who’d taught him about honor had betrayed every principle he’d claimed to value.
