Chapter 4: The Call From a Dead Man
The phone kept ringing.
Damian stood in his mother's bedroom, holding the hospital record in one hand and his phone in the other. Denise was frozen beside the doorway, staring toward the hallway as though she had just heard a ghost call her name.
“Mom,” Damian said slowly.
“You told me Marcus was dead.””
Denise didn't answer.
The phone rang again.
“Mom!””
She finally moved, walking toward the dresser where an old black telephone sat beneath a framed family photograph.
“Don't answer it,” Damian warned.
Denise reached for the receiver.
“It's been twenty-nine years,” she whispered.
“He knows.””
Damian stepped between her and the telephone.
“Who knows what?””
The phone stopped.
For three seconds, the house was silent.
Then Damian's cell phone vibrated.
Unknown number.
He answered.
“Where is my daughter?””
A familiar voice responded.
“Which one?””
Damian felt his blood turn cold.
Daniel.
“Where is Ruby?””
“She's safe.””
“Put her on the phone.””
“Not yet.””
Damian clenched his jaw.
“If you've touched that child—”
“Don't threaten me, brother. You don't even know what you're threatening.””
“I'm going to find you.””
Daniel chuckled.
“You've spent thirty-six years believing you were the only son. You really think finding me is going to solve anything?””
“Tell me where Ruby is.””
“Ask Mother why she chose you.””
The call ended.
Damian stared at the screen.
Denise had started crying.
“What did he mean?”” Damian demanded.
She covered her mouth.
“Your father wanted one of you to inherit everything.””
“Everything what?””
“The family.””
“What family?””
Denise sank onto the edge of the bed.
“Marcus came from a wealthy family. His father owned medical facilities, research laboratories, and several private clinics. When Marcus inherited the business, he wanted an heir who would carry his name and continue his work.””
“And he couldn't have children?””
“He could. But he wanted control.””
Damian paced the room.
“You're telling me my father separated twins because he wanted to decide which one would inherit his company?””
“That's not all.””
Denise looked at him.
“Daniel was born with a medical condition. Your father believed he would be weaker. He wanted you raised as the only son, while Daniel would be raised elsewhere.””
Damian stared.
“Where?””
Denise shook her head.
“I was told he was going to live with relatives. I didn't know where. Your father made me sign papers. He threatened to take you away, too.””
“And you believed him?””
“I was twenty-three, Damian. I had just given birth to two babies. I was terrified.””
“You let me grow up thinking I had no brother.””
“I thought Daniel was dead.””
“Then why did Olivia know?””
Denise looked down.
“Because she found the records.””
Damian remembered Olivia sitting at their kitchen table months before she disappeared, surrounded by papers.
He remembered asking what she was doing.
She had smiled and said she was researching an old family story.
He had believed her.
Now he wondered how many nights she had spent searching for answers while he slept beside her.
“What exactly did Olivia discover?”” he asked.
Denise wiped her cheeks.
“She found out Daniel had been living under another name. She also discovered that Marcus had never died.””
Damian stopped pacing.
“What?””
“Your father is alive.””
The words seemed to suck the air out of the room.
“Where is he?””
“I don't know.””
“Don't lie to me again.””
“I'm not lying!””
Denise stood.
“Your father disappeared from our lives, but he never stopped watching us. He paid people to follow you. He knew when you got married. He knew when Ava was born.””
Damian looked at her.
“Did he know Olivia?””
“Yes.””
“Did he hurt her?””
Denise's silence answered before her mouth did.
Damian stepped backward.
“Oh, my God.””
“I tried to warn her.””
“When?””
“The week before she disappeared. I told her to stop looking.””
“And she refused?””
Denise nodded.
“She said she had found something that would destroy Marcus's entire operation.””
Damian's phone vibrated again.
This time, a video appeared.
He opened it.
Ruby was sitting in the back seat of a car.
She looked frightened but unharmed.
Beside her was a folded lavender blanket.
A man's voice came from behind the camera.
“Tell Damian we're waiting.””
Ruby looked directly into the lens.
“Mr. Damian?””
Damian leaned closer.
“Ruby, sweetheart, can you hear me?””
The video ended.
A message appeared beneath it.
Come alone. Harbor Street warehouse. Midnight.
Damian checked the time.
11:18 p.m.
He immediately called Nora.
“I'm coming home.””
“Damian, the police are here.””
“Keep Ava inside. Don't let anyone near her.””
“Where are you?””
“I'm going to get Ruby.””
“No! You can't go alone.””
“Daniel specifically asked for me.””
“That's exactly why you shouldn't go!””
Damian looked at his mother.
“Do you know where Marcus is?””
Denise nodded slowly.
“His old research facility is near the harbor.””
“What's the address?””
She hesitated.
“Damian, if you go there, you'll find things you can't undo.””
He stepped toward her.
“My daughter is missing. I don't have the luxury of being afraid of the truth.””
Denise reached into the dresser and pulled out a small brass key.
“Your father kept a private office there. Olivia found something inside it.””
“What?””
“A file with your name on it.””
Damian took the key.
“And Daniel's?””
Denise shook her head.
“No. Yours, Ava's, and Olivia's.””
He looked at her.
“Why is my daughter in that file?””
Denise's eyes filled again.
“Because your father believed the family needed another generation.””
Damian felt something inside him break.
He left without another word.
At 11:47 p.m., Damian pulled into the driveway of his house.
Police lights flashed against the brick walls.
Nora stood on the porch, wrapped in a cardigan, her face streaked with tears.
Ava was beside a female officer.
The moment she saw Damian, she ran toward him.
“Daddy!””
He dropped to his knees and caught her.
“I'm here, baby.””
“Where's Ruby?””
Damian hugged her tighter.
“I'm bringing her home.””
Ava held his face.
“Promise?””
He swallowed.
“Promise.””
Nora approached.
“Damian, the officer found something.””
She handed him a clear evidence bag.
Inside was a silver bird pendant.
Identical to Ruby's.
Damian turned it over.
A tiny inscription was engraved on the back.
O.B. — 2019.
He looked at Nora.
“What does that mean?””
Nora's face crumpled.
“It belonged to Olivia.””
Damian frowned.
“You told me Ruby had her necklace.””
“She did.””
“Then why is there another one?””
Nora took a shaky breath.
“Because Olivia bought two.””
“Why?””
Nora looked at Ava.
“Because she knew there would be two girls.””
Before Damian could ask what she meant, his phone rang.
A text appeared.
Midnight. Come alone.
Then a second message.
And Damian? Bring the key. Your wife left something for you.
He looked toward the dark street.
For the first time, he understood that Daniel wasn't simply trying to frighten him.
May you like
Someone had been arranging the pieces of his life long before he knew they existed.
And Olivia had known exactly where the game would end.
