CHAPTER 79: GRAYSON

While waiting for a new journal to arrive, Grayson studies Sheffield Grayson’s handwriting in minute detail and practices copying it with Sheffield’s fountain pen. Once the hotel delivers the blank journal, Grayson painstakingly transcribes the numbered entries, creating a convincing duplicate that ends shortly after the girls’ grandmother’s funeral.

Grayson places the duplicate journal inside the puzzle box and hides the fake USB in the outer layer. His goal is to let Gigi and Savannah solve the box and learn part of the truth about their father, while withholding the most dangerous information: the full truth of Sheffield’s death and the threat the journal poses to Avery.

Grayson gives the original journal to Nash and tells him to hide it at Hawthorne House, then gives Xander the notebook containing his decoded transcription. He also instructs his brothers to burn the practice notepad, eliminating evidence of the forgery.

Nash questions whether Grayson expects his brothers to leave him behind, but Grayson insists that he wants to stay for a few weeks. Grayson believes Gigi and Savannah still need him: Gigi needs supervision, Savannah is burdened, Acacia’s finances and offshore accounts must be handled, the FBI must be dealt with, and Trowbridge must be watched.

Nash and Xander accept Grayson’s decision and leave. Grayson texts Gigi, who replies with rapid updates and cat pictures: Acacia has not slept, the house is in chaos, Savannah has locked herself in her room, and Gigi is already outside Grayson’s hotel. A final message says that Gigi likes Grayson’s friend.