Chapter 5: The Man Who Helped Bury Her
“MOVE!””
Marcus grabbed Evelyn's arm as water surged across the concrete floor.
Vanessa ran toward the staircase.
“Vanessa!”” Marcus shouted.
“Stop!””
She didn't look back.
Within seconds, she disappeared through the maintenance door.
Marcus turned toward Evelyn.
“Can you walk?””
She nodded, but her legs trembled.
“I think so.””
He wrapped an arm around her waist.
“Lean on me.””
They struggled toward the stairs as water continued pouring through the lower passage.
Behind them, the steel door slammed shut.
A warning buzzer began sounding.
Evelyn stumbled.
Marcus caught her before she fell.
“Come on. Just a little farther.””
She looked at him with frightened eyes.
“Lily?””
“She's upstairs. I'll get her.””
“Promise me.””
“I promise.””
They reached the staircase.
Marcus pushed open the maintenance door and helped Evelyn climb into the garden.
The afternoon sunlight felt almost unreal after the darkness underground.
He looked toward the pool.
Lily was still standing beside the marble steps.
The moment she saw Evelyn, she dropped her little toy rabbit.
“Mommy?””
Evelyn stopped.
Her lips trembled.
“Lily?””
The little girl ran.
She crossed the grass as fast as her small legs could carry her and threw herself into her mother's arms.
“Mommy! Mommy!””
Evelyn fell to her knees and held her daughter tightly.
“Oh, my baby. My beautiful baby.””
Lily buried her face against her mother's neck.
“I told Daddy! I told him you were there!””
Evelyn kissed her forehead.
“You did, sweetheart. You saved me.””
Marcus stood a few feet away.
He wanted to join them.
But he couldn't stop thinking about the recording.
His own voice.
His own words.
The possibility that he had somehow been involved in the disappearance without remembering it.
His phone vibrated.
A message appeared.
<text color="secondary" size="xs" weight="semibold">UNKNOWN NUMBER</text>
*STOP ASKING QUESTIONS. YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOUR BROTHER IS CAPABLE OF.*
Marcus immediately called Daniel.
The phone rang twice.
“Marcus?””
His brother sounded unusually cheerful.
“Hey, little brother. Everything okay?””
“Where are you?””
“At the office. Why?””
“Did you know Evelyn was alive?””
Silence.
Only for a second.
But it was enough.
Daniel cleared his throat.
“What are you talking about?””
“Don't lie to me.””
“Marcus, you've had a difficult day. Maybe you should—”
“DID YOU KNOW?””
Daniel sighed.
“Where is Vanessa?””
Marcus closed his eyes.
That wasn't an answer.
“Why are you asking about her?””
“Because she's supposed to be with you.””
Marcus looked toward the garden entrance.
“She ran.””
Daniel's voice changed.
“Listen carefully. Don't let Evelyn leave the property.””
Marcus stared at the phone.
“What?””
“You heard me.””
“Why?””
“Because she's dangerous.””
Marcus laughed bitterly.
“That's exactly what Vanessa said.””
Daniel lowered his voice.
“Marcus, I need you to understand something. Evelyn wasn't kidnapped because of the money.””
“Then why?””
“Because she found out what happened to your father.””
Marcus went still.
His father had died five years earlier in a car accident.
At least, that was what the family had always believed.
“What does Dad have to do with this?””
Daniel exhaled.
“Come to the office. Alone.””
“No.””
“Marcus, please. You need to hear the whole story.””
“Tell me now.””
Daniel hesitated.
Then he said something that made Marcus's hands go cold.
“Your father didn't die in an accident. He was murdered.””
The call ended.
Marcus stared at the screen.
Behind him, Evelyn had heard enough to understand.
“Marcus?””
He turned.
“Did you know?””
She slowly shook her head.
“I suspected something.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I didn't have proof. And because Vanessa told me she would hurt Lily if I ever tried to contact you.””
Marcus looked at his daughter.
Lily was holding Evelyn's hand, her little face pressed against her mother's arm.
“What happened to my father?””
Evelyn glanced toward the mansion.
“Your father discovered that Daniel and Vanessa were stealing from the family business. He threatened to expose them.””
Marcus swallowed.
“And the night I disappeared?””
Evelyn's eyes filled.
“You had been drinking. You called me and asked me to meet you at the old boathouse. When I arrived, you were already there with Daniel.””
Marcus frowned.
“I don't remember that.””
“You were arguing. Daniel said your father had left something behind. Something that could send him to prison.””
“What something?””
“A recording.””
Marcus looked at the recording device in Evelyn's hand.
She nodded.
“Your father had recorded a conversation before he died. He knew someone was planning to kill him.””
Marcus felt the world tilt.
“Where is it?””
“I don't know. But Daniel believed I had found it.””
A car engine suddenly roared outside the property.
Marcus turned.
A black SUV had stopped beyond the garden gate.
Two men stepped out.
One carried a briefcase.
The other held a tablet.
Marcus recognized the first man immediately.
It was Daniel's personal lawyer, Richard Hayes.
He had handled every major legal matter involving the Bennett family for nearly fifteen years.
Richard approached the gate.
“Marcus! We need to talk.””
Marcus didn't move.
“What do you want?””
Richard adjusted his tie.
“Your brother is concerned about your mental state. He's asked me to arrange an emergency medical evaluation.””
Marcus laughed.
“You came all the way here to have me evaluated?””
Richard opened his briefcase.
“Given the events of today, it's necessary to protect the interests of the family.””
Evelyn stepped forward.
“Don't let him inside.””
Richard looked at her.
For the first time, his professional expression cracked.
“Mrs. Bennett.””
Evelyn raised her chin.
“Still pretending you don't know me?””
Richard ignored her.
He handed Marcus a document.
“Your brother has already filed a request for temporary guardianship over Lily.””
Marcus looked at the papers.
There was a signature at the bottom.
His.
He stared.
“What is this?””
“An authorization signed by you two years ago, should you become unable to care for your daughter.””
Marcus shook his head.
“I never signed this.””
Richard tapped the signature.
“It appears to be yours.””
Evelyn looked at the document.
Then her eyes widened.
“Marcus, look at the date.””
He did.
It was dated three days before she disappeared.
His hands began trembling.
Because he remembered those three days.
He remembered Daniel bringing him paperwork after their father died.
He remembered signing dozens of documents while barely sleeping.
And now Richard was telling him that one of those signatures had authorized his own brother to take custody of Lily.
A siren sounded in the distance.
Richard smiled faintly.
“The police are on their way.””
Marcus looked at him.
“Who called them?””
Richard closed his briefcase.
“Your brother.””
May you like
Then he leaned closer and whispered:
“And he has a confession from Evelyn that could put you both in prison.””
