Chapter 7: The Brother Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
Marcus read the name again.
Daniel Hale.
His older brother.
Dead for seventeen months.
He looked at Detective Brooks, waiting for him to explain how a dead man could possibly be connected to his wife's imprisonment.
Brooks took the phone from Marcus and asked the nurse to preserve the letter.
“Don't let anyone touch that envelope,” he instructed.
“We'll be there shortly.””
Marcus grabbed his jacket.
“I'm going to the hospital.””
Brooks followed him.
“Mr. Hale, I need you to understand something. If your brother is involved, we may be dealing with a much larger operation.””
Marcus stopped.
“My brother is dead.””
“Then why did your wife write his name?””
“I attended his funeral.””
“Did you identify his body?””
Marcus opened his mouth.
Then stopped.
He remembered the accident.
Daniel's car had reportedly crashed into a ravine during a storm. The vehicle had burned badly. The authorities had identified him through dental records.
Marcus hadn't seen the body.
He had received a phone call from the police.
He had attended a funeral.
And Dr. Coleman had signed the medical documentation.
Marcus slowly turned toward the detective.
“Coleman.””
Brooks nodded.
“Exactly.””
They drove to the hospital with two officers following behind.
When Marcus entered Elina's room, she was sitting upright against the pillows. An oxygen tube rested beneath her nose. Her face was pale, but her eyes were alert.
Lily was asleep in a chair beside the bed, holding a stuffed rabbit.
Elina reached for Marcus.
“You came.””
He kissed her forehead.
“I'm here.””
She looked toward the door.
“Did you read the letter?””
“Yes.””
Her expression tightened.
“Then you know.””
“Tell me Daniel isn't alive.””
Elina closed her eyes.
“I wish I could.””
Marcus pulled a chair closer.
“What happened?””
Elina took a slow breath.
“Three weeks before I disappeared, I discovered Daniel had been transferring company money into offshore accounts. Vanessa was helping him.””
Marcus shook his head.
“Daniel was my brother. He wouldn't steal from us.””
“He did.””
“He died before you disappeared.””
Elina looked directly at him.
“That's what they wanted you to believe.””
Marcus leaned forward.
“Start from the beginning.””
Elina glanced at Lily to make sure she was still sleeping.
“Daniel and Vanessa had been working together for years. They used the company to purchase properties, then transferred ownership through shell companies. When I found the records, I confronted Daniel.””
“What did he say?””
“He told me I was making a mistake.””
“And you believed him?””
“I wanted to.””
Her voice cracked.
“He came to the house that night. He apologized. He said he would return the money and tell you everything.””
Marcus stared at her.
“What happened?””
Elina looked down at her hands.
“He gave me a glass of water.””
Marcus felt his stomach tighten.
“Was that when you were drugged?””
She nodded.
“When I woke up, I was in a private clinic. Vanessa was standing beside my bed. Daniel was sitting near the window.””
Marcus stood abruptly.
“He was there?””
“Yes.””
“What did he say?””
Elina swallowed.
“He said you had already been told I was dead.””
Marcus gripped the chair.
“And the funeral?””
“Daniel arranged it. He used another woman's body to convince you. They wanted you to stop searching.””
“Why keep you alive?””
“Because they needed me.””
“For what?””
Elina looked at him.
“Your company.””
She explained that Daniel had discovered something in the company's original incorporation documents. A hidden clause required both Marcus and Elina's approval for certain major asset transfers.
Without her signature, several valuable properties couldn't legally be sold.
So they kept her alive, drugged, and hidden.
But she had escaped the clinic.
And when Vanessa found her, she was brought to the underground chamber beneath the pool.
Marcus covered his face.
“Why didn't you tell me sooner?””
Elina's eyes filled with tears.
“I tried. They took my phone. They watched the house. Every time I found a chance to leave, someone was waiting.””
Marcus sat beside her.
“Who was watching you?””
“Daniel.””
A sudden sound came from the doorway.
A man's voice.
“You always were terrible at keeping secrets, Elina.””
Marcus turned.
Detective Brooks reached for his weapon.
A tall man stood in the doorway.
He wore a charcoal suit and carried a bouquet of white roses.
His hair was slightly longer than Marcus remembered, but his face was unmistakable.
Daniel Hale.
Alive.
Marcus couldn't move.
His brother smiled.
“Hello, little brother.””
Marcus stared at him.
“You're dead.””
Daniel placed the roses on the counter.
“Apparently, I missed my own funeral.””
Brooks stepped forward.
“Daniel Hale, put your hands where I can see them.””
Daniel raised both hands.
“Of course, Detective.””
Marcus moved toward him.
“You let me bury you.””
Daniel's smile disappeared.
“I gave you a chance to move on.””
“You let me mourn you!””
“You were always emotional, Marcus.””
Marcus punched him.
Daniel crashed into the wall.
Brooks and another officer immediately restrained Marcus.
“That's enough!””
Daniel wiped blood from his lip and laughed.
“You see? This is why I was always better at running the company.””
Elina pulled Lily closer.
“Stay away from my daughter.””
Daniel looked toward the little girl.
For the first time, his expression changed.
He smiled gently.
“Hello, Lily.””
The child woke.
She looked at him.
Then she began trembling.
“Mommy…”
Elina wrapped her arms around her.
“It's okay.””
Lily pointed at Daniel.
“That's the man who came to my bedroom.””
Marcus turned sharply.
“What?””
Lily began crying.
“He told me not to tell Daddy that Mommy was alive.””
Daniel's smile vanished.
Brooks tightened his grip.
“Daniel, you're under arrest.””
But Daniel didn't look at the detective.
He looked at Marcus.
“You still don't understand, do you?””
Marcus stepped closer.
“Understand what?””
Daniel leaned forward as the officers pulled him toward the door.
“I'm not the one who wanted your wife dead.””
He smiled again.
“Ask Vanessa who signed the original contract.””
Then he disappeared into the corridor.
Marcus turned toward Elina.
Her face had gone completely white.
“Marcus,” she whispered.
“What?””
She reached for his hand.
“The original contract wasn't signed by Daniel.””
“Then who signed it?””
Elina looked toward the hospital window.
May you like
And quietly answered:
“You.””
