Chapter 6: The Man Who Buried His Own Sister-in-Law
Daniel stepped out of the SUV wearing a charcoal suit.
He looked exactly as Marcus remembered him.
Silver at the temples. Expensive watch. Calm expression.
He even smiled.
“Marcus.””
For one terrible second, Marcus saw the funeral again.
Daniel standing beside him in the rain.
Daniel placing a hand on his shoulder.
Daniel telling him that Eleanor would want him to be strong.
Now the same man was standing in front of him, apparently expecting another conversation about family.
Marcus walked toward him.
“Don't come any closer.””
Daniel stopped.
His eyes moved briefly toward the pool.
Then toward the laptop.
“You've made quite a mess.””
Marcus laughed without humor.
“A mess?””
“Look at yourself. You're soaked, you're shouting, and the police are crawling all over the property.””
“You know she's alive.””
Daniel adjusted his cuff.
“I know many things.””
“Where is she?””
Daniel sighed.
“Marcus, this is not the place.””
“Eleven months. Eleven months, Daniel!””
The older man looked around at the officers.
“Can we speak privately?””
“No.””
“Then perhaps you should consider what you're doing before you destroy everything.””
Marcus stepped closer.
“You already destroyed everything.””
Daniel's expression hardened.
For the first time, the familiar smile disappeared.
“You have no idea what Eleanor did.””
“Then tell me.””
“She stole company records.””
Marcus frowned.
“What records?””
“Financial documents. Contracts. Internal communications. She was threatening to expose people who had nothing to do with her.””
“People?””
Daniel glanced at Collins.
“Investors. Partners. Government officials.””
The sergeant stepped forward.
“Mr. Hale, you're going to need to explain that statement.””
Daniel barely acknowledged him.
“My brother doesn't understand the situation.””
Marcus shook his head.
“I understand one thing. My wife is trapped under my swimming pool.””
Daniel looked directly at him.
“She put herself there.””
Marcus lunged forward.
Two officers caught his arms before he could reach his brother.
“YOU LOCKED HER IN!””
Daniel didn't resist.
He simply looked at Marcus with an expression of disappointment.
“Still emotional. Just like your father.””
Marcus went completely still.
“What did you say?””
Daniel tilted his head.
“Nothing.””
“No. Say it again.””
Collins stepped between them.
“Mr. Hale, I need you to calm down.””
Daniel straightened his jacket.
“Sergeant, I came here to help. The underground chamber was part of an experimental storage project. Eleanor entered it voluntarily. She had access to the controls.””
“Then why didn't you tell the police?”” Collins asked.
Daniel smiled.
“Because it was private property.””
“Someone was reported missing.””
“She wasn't missing. She was unstable and had left voluntarily.””
Marcus stared at him.
“You helped arrange her funeral.””
Daniel's smile vanished.
“I helped you through the worst period of your life.””
“You gave me a coffin.””
“I gave you closure.””
Marcus stepped forward again.
“You gave me a lie.””
Collins raised one hand.
“Mr. Daniel Hale, I need you to remain here while we investigate.””
Daniel glanced toward his vehicle.
“Am I being detained?””
“Not at this moment.””
“Then I believe I'm free to leave.””
He started walking toward the SUV.
Marcus watched him.
“Where's the black key?””
Daniel stopped.
His shoulders stiffened.
Marcus noticed.
“Eleanor told me you took it.””
Daniel slowly turned around.
“She's been talking to you?””
The question escaped before he could stop himself.
Collins immediately approached.
“You acknowledge that you've had contact with Eleanor?””
Daniel looked at him.
“I didn't say that.””
“You just asked whether she had been talking to Marcus.””
Daniel's jaw tightened.
“That's not an admission of anything.””
The sergeant gestured to the officers.
“Take him aside for questioning.””
Daniel raised his voice.
“You can't do this!””
“We're investigating a possible unlawful confinement and attempted homicide.””
The words seemed to drain the color from Daniel's face.
Marcus watched as the officers guided him toward the patio.
Then Daniel looked over his shoulder.
“Marcus, you really should ask your girlfriend what happened that night.””
Marcus's eyes narrowed.
“Vanessa?””
Daniel smiled faintly.
“She's not as innocent as you think.””
Before Marcus could respond, Daniel was placed in the back of a police vehicle.
But his final words remained.
Marcus turned toward Collins.
“Where is Vanessa?””
The sergeant looked at one of his officers.
“She hasn't been located yet.””
Marcus looked toward the house.
“Find her.””
A few minutes later, the rescue team returned from the pool.
Their lead diver approached Collins.
“Sergeant, we've examined the outer compartment.””
“Can it be opened?””
“Not with the red key.””
Marcus stepped forward.
“What do you mean?””
The diver showed him a photograph on a tablet.
It displayed the circular metal cover beneath the water.
There were two keyholes.
One red.
One black.
The diver pointed to the second.
“The red key releases the safety lock. The black key controls the inner mechanism.””
Marcus looked at the photograph.
“So we need Daniel's key.””
The diver nodded.
“Or another way to bypass the system.””
Collins turned toward the patrol vehicle.
“Bring Mr. Hale back.””
An officer returned a moment later.
“Sergeant, we have a problem.””
“What?””
“Daniel's vehicle is still here, but he isn't.””
Collins frowned.
“He was in the back seat.””
The officer shook his head.
“He wasn't there when we checked again.””
Marcus stared.
“How does someone disappear from a locked police vehicle?””
The officer looked uncomfortable.
“We're checking the rear camera.””
The footage was brought up on the laptop.
Daniel was sitting in the back seat.
At 6:42 p.m., the vehicle's interior lights flickered.
At 6:43, the rear door appeared to open slightly.
At 6:44, the camera went black.
When the image returned, the seat was empty.
Marcus stared at the screen.
Then his phone vibrated.
Another message.
This time, it came from Vanessa.
*I'm sorry. I tried to stop him.*
A second message followed.
*Daniel isn't the only one who has the black key.*
Marcus typed immediately.
Where are you?
Her reply came seconds later.
*Under the pool.*
Marcus stopped breathing.
A third message appeared.
*I am inside the chamber.*
Then another.
*And Marcus, there's something Eleanor hasn't told you.*
He stared at the words.
His fingers hovered over the screen.
What?
The response arrived.
*The woman you are trying to rescue is not the only person trapped down here.*
Marcus slowly raised his eyes toward the pool.
The water was still.
The rescue divers were preparing to descend again.
Then the laptop speakers crackled.
A new audio transmission began.
Eleanor's voice emerged, barely audible.
“Marcus, whatever Vanessa tells you, don't believe her.””
A second voice interrupted.
It was Lily's.
“Daddy?””
Marcus spun around.
His daughter was standing beside the police vehicle, holding her stuffed rabbit.
She looked terrified.
“Daddy, I remember something.””
He crouched immediately.
“What is it, sweetheart?””
Lily looked toward the pool.
Then she whispered:
“Mommy wasn't alone when they locked the door.””
Marcus's blood ran cold.
“Who was with her?””
Lily began to cry.
May you like
And then she said a name that made every officer in the garden turn toward him.
“Grandpa.””
