Chapter 10 – The Last Dawes

Back at Maya’s kitchen table, Ronny spread out both maps—the one from Margie’s buried box and the one left ominously in the barn. The contrast between them was stark. One was a quiet plea for help; the other, a warning in black ink and jagged lines. They studied the second map again. No names. No legend. Just a crude “X” and that unsettling message:

YOU’RE NOT THE ONLY ONES LOOKING.

Maya took a sip of coffee and set the mug down harder than she meant to. “We’re missing something.”

Ronny nodded. “Like who exactly we’re up against.”

“Or what they’re after.”

She stood and grabbed her laptop, opened it, and started typing. “Let’s see if any of the Dawes family is still around. There’s got to be a public record somewhere—voting rolls, tax data, obituaries…”

Ronny leaned back. “There was a ‘Dawes’ named in the photo, right? One of the five men?”

“Yeah. Josiah Dawes. He was the one on the far left. I ran the name earlier. Born 1902, died 1966. No surviving children listed in the obituary.”

“But maybe grandchildren?”

Maya scanned through a genealogy forum. Then she paused. “Here. A family tree posted by a user called G.Dawes84. Claims to be the grandson of Josiah Dawes. Lives in Evansville.”

“Indiana?” Ronny asked.

“Yep. Not far—maybe forty-five minutes west.”

She clicked through to a profile and found a first name: Gideon. There was a generic Gmail address attached. “Worth a shot?”

“Definitely,” Ronny said. “Send him a message. Brief, but enough to raise curiosity.”

Maya typed quickly:

Hello, Mr. Dawes.
My name is Maya Caldwell. I’m a local historian in Henderson, Kentucky. I’m researching a property once owned by your grandfather, Josiah Dawes, and came across some documents that may relate to your family. Would you be willing to speak with us—by phone or in person?
Best regards,
Maya Caldwell

She hit send.

Ronny stood and stretched. “We’ll be lucky if he responds.”

Less than ten minutes later, her phone buzzed.

New email from: G.Dawes84@gmail.com
Subject: Dawes Property Inquiry

Hi Maya,
You’re actually the second person to contact me about my grandfather this week.
I’d be willing to talk, but I’d rather do it in person.
I don’t want anything going through email that someone else can read.
I’m free tomorrow morning.
Meet me at Maxwell’s Café, corner of 3rd and Vine, Evansville. 10 a.m.
—Gideon Dawes

Maya and Ronny stared at each other.

“The second person this week,” she said slowly.

Ronny’s jaw tightened. “We’re not the only ones asking questions.”