Chapter 5: My Brother Was Never on My Side
“Where is Vanessa?””
Sergeant Collins turned toward the garden entrance.
Two officers immediately moved to check the driveway.
Marcus stood beside the laptop, unable to take his eyes off the screen.
“Eleanor?”” he whispered.
The speakers crackled.
“Marcus, please listen.””
He grabbed the microphone.
“I'm here. I'm here, sweetheart. I'm getting you out.””
A weak breath came through the speakers.
“Don't trust Daniel.””
Marcus closed his eyes.
“I saw the footage.””
“Then you know.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
There was a long silence.
Then Eleanor answered.
“Because he was watching us.””
Marcus looked at Collins.
The sergeant motioned for him to keep talking.
“Watching us where?””
“In the house. In the office. Everywhere.””
Marcus remembered the security cameras installed throughout the property.
Daniel had recommended the company.
He had personally arranged the installation.
“Eleanor, how long have you been down there?””
“I don't know anymore.””
Marcus felt his knees weaken.
“Eleven months?””
A faint sob came through the speaker.
“Marcus, I thought you would find me.””
He pressed his hand against his mouth.
“I thought you were dead.””
“I know.””
“I buried you.””
“I know, sweetheart.””
The sound of her voice nearly broke him.
For eleven months, he had carried flowers to a grave that might not even contain her.
For eleven months, he had told Lily that her mother was watching over her from heaven.
And all that time, Eleanor had been beneath their own home.
“I'm coming,” he promised.
“Wait.””
“What?””
“Daniel has another key.””
Marcus looked at the small red key in his hand.
“What other key?””
“The black one. He took it before he locked me inside.””
Collins leaned toward the microphone.
“Mrs. Hale, this is Sergeant Collins. Can you tell us whether you're injured?””
A weak response followed.
“My leg. I can't stand properly.””
The sergeant immediately signaled the rescue team.
“We're going to get you out. Stay with us.””
Marcus looked at the technician.
“Can you keep the connection open?””
“I'm trying.””
The technician pressed several keys.
A diagram appeared on the screen.
It showed the underground chamber, two access points, and a secondary compartment.
Marcus recognized the layout.
The second compartment was directly beneath the pool's filtration room.
But something else caught his attention.
There was a third room connected by a narrow passage.
“What is that?”” Marcus asked.
The technician zoomed in.
“Looks like an auxiliary access tunnel.””
Collins leaned closer.
“Can someone enter through there?””
The technician nodded.
“Possibly. But we'd need the original construction plans.””
Marcus stared at the diagram.
“Daniel has them.””
Collins looked at him.
“Your brother?””
Marcus nodded.
“He owns the construction company that renovated this property.””
The sergeant immediately requested additional officers.
Then Marcus's phone vibrated.
An incoming message.
Unknown number.
He opened it.
A photograph filled the screen.
It showed Lily standing beside the garden chair, holding a small stuffed rabbit.
The photograph had clearly been taken that evening.
Below it were six words.
*Stop digging. Your daughter comes next.*
Marcus's blood turned cold.
“Collins.””
The sergeant took the phone.
His expression hardened.
“Where is your daughter?””
Marcus turned toward the umbrella.
The female officer was still beside Lily.
“She's safe.””
“For now,” Collins replied.
He handed the phone to another officer.
“Trace that number. And get the child into a secure vehicle.””
Marcus crouched in front of Lily.
“Sweetheart, we're going for a little drive.””
“Are we going to Mommy?””
He hesitated.
“Yes.””
Her eyes widened.
“Really?””
Marcus nodded.
“Really.””
She hugged him tightly.
“Can I bring Mr. Rabbit?””
“Of course.””
As the officer escorted Lily toward the patrol car, Marcus noticed something unusual.
The little white music box was sitting on the back seat of the vehicle.
He had left it upstairs.
“Who brought that?””
The female officer looked confused.
“It was already there when we arrived.””
Marcus walked closer.
The music box was open.
The ballerina was still turning.
And the red velvet lining had been lifted.
Beneath it was another piece of paper.
He unfolded it.
Only one sentence was written there.
The key you found opens the door Daniel wants you to open.
Marcus stared.
The red key suddenly felt heavier.
Collins approached.
“What is it?””
Marcus handed him the note.
The sergeant read it twice.
“Don't use that key.””
“But Eleanor said it opens the outer compartment.””
“Your wife also warned you about another lock.””
Marcus looked toward the pool.
“What if she needs it?””
“Then we find another way.””
The technician suddenly called out.
“Sergeant! The connection is changing.””
Everyone rushed back to the laptop.
The image flickered.
For a second, the underground chamber appeared again.
Eleanor was sitting against the wall, her head lowered.
Then a shadow crossed behind her.
A man's shoes appeared at the edge of the frame.
Marcus recognized them immediately.
Black leather.
A small silver buckle near the heel.
Daniel wore the same shoes at Eleanor's funeral.
The man crouched beside the camera.
His face remained outside the frame.
But his voice was clear.
“Marcus, if you're listening, stop wasting everyone's time.””
Marcus leaned toward the speakers.
“Daniel?””
The man laughed softly.
“You always were too sentimental.””
“Where are you?””
“Somewhere you shouldn't be.””
Marcus clenched his fists.
“What did you do to Eleanor?””
Daniel ignored the question.
“Listen carefully. The chamber is unstable. If you open the wrong door, the whole system floods.””
“Then tell me how to open it safely.””
“You don't.””
“She's my wife!””
“And she's been dead to the world for eleven months. Perhaps you should leave things that way.””
Marcus slammed his fist against the table.
“You're a monster.””
Daniel laughed again.
“No, little brother. I'm the person who kept this family from falling apart.””
Then his voice changed.
“By the way, Marcus, have you ever wondered why Eleanor was declared dead without a body?””
Marcus froze.
Daniel continued.
“Because someone needed you to stop asking questions.””
The connection crackled.
Then the screen went dark.
Collins immediately ordered the technical team to preserve the recording.
Marcus stared at the blank screen.
“Get me my brother's address.””
The sergeant nodded.
But before he could respond, another officer came running from the driveway.
“Sergeant! We've got a problem!””
“What now?””
“The security camera at the main gate just captured a vehicle entering the property.””
“Who?””
The officer looked at Marcus.
“Daniel Hale.””
Marcus turned toward the driveway.
May you like
A black SUV was approaching slowly.
And Daniel was sitting in the passenger seat.
