Chapter 9: My Brother's Secret
Daniel called Ben immediately.
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
His chest tightened.
"Call dispatch," Harris told the officer beside him.
"Send a unit to Carter's residence.""
Daniel grabbed his jacket.
"My kids are there.""
"We're going.""
The drive back felt endless.
Daniel called six more times.
No answer.
Then, finally:
"Daniel?""
Ben sounded breathless.
"Are Lily and Noah okay?""
"They're fine.""
Daniel closed his eyes.
"Why weren't you answering?""
"I was upstairs.""
"Police are coming.""
"What?""
Daniel looked at Harris.
"Do you know Rebecca Shaw?""
Silence.
Daniel's fear changed into something else.
"Ben.""
"Where are you?""
"Answer me.""
Another silence.
Then Ben said quietly, "Yes.""
Daniel felt betrayed all over again.
"How?""
"Come here.""
"Tell me now.""
"Not over the phone.""
"Why does Rachel have a note saying the original will is with you?""
Ben inhaled sharply.
"So you found the cabin.""
Daniel stared ahead.
"You knew about it.""
"Yes.""
"How long?""
"Daniel—"
"HOW LONG?""
Harris glanced at him.
Daniel lowered his voice.
"How long, Ben?""
"Since before Rachel died.""
Daniel ended the call.
When they reached Ben's house, two police cars were already outside.
Daniel ran in.
"Lily?""
She appeared from the living room.
"Daddy!""
He dropped to his knees and caught her.
Noah was safe in his portable crib.
Daniel kissed Lily's forehead.
"Are you okay?""
She nodded.
"Uncle Ben made pancakes.""
Daniel almost laughed from relief.
Then he saw his brother standing in the kitchen doorway.
"Office," Daniel said.
Ben nodded.
Harris followed them.
Inside, Ben closed the door.
Daniel didn't sit.
"Start talking.""
Ben opened a small safe behind a cabinet.
He removed a sealed envelope.
Rachel's handwriting was on the front.
Daniel's name.
"Rachel gave me this four days before she went to the hospital.""
Daniel stared at him.
"You've had this for three years?""
"Yes.""
"Why?""
"Because she made me promise.""
"Promise what?""
"Not to give it to you unless someone tried to remove Lily from your home or access the trust.""
Daniel's anger exploded.
"Someone did both!""
"I didn't know.""
"You saw Lily every week!""
"And every time I saw her, she looked healthy. She laughed. She played with my kids. I didn't know what happened when you were at work.""
Daniel turned away.
That part hurt because it was true.
He hadn't known either.
"Why didn't Rachel trust me with it?""
Ben's face softened.
"She trusted you more than anyone.""
"Then why you?""
"Because she thought you would confront Martin immediately.""
"She was right.""
"Exactly.""
Daniel stared at him.
Ben continued.
"Rachel believed Martin had people helping him. She wanted proof preserved somewhere he couldn't reach.""
"Rebecca Shaw?""
"Rebecca prepared the documents.""
"But she's dead.""
"Cancer. Two years ago.""
Daniel rubbed his forehead.
"So what is in that envelope?""
Ben placed it on the desk.
"The original trust instructions. Rachel's will. A letter.""
Daniel looked at Harris.
The detective nodded.
They documented the envelope before opening it.
Daniel unfolded Rachel's letter.
He recognized every curve of her handwriting.
He began reading silently.
Then stopped.
His eyes filled.
Ben asked softly, "What?""
Daniel read aloud.
"Daniel, if you're reading this, someone has tried to use Lily to control you.""
His voice broke.
He continued.
"Please don't blame yourself. People who deceive families survive by making ordinary trust feel foolish. Loving someone is not evidence against your intelligence.""
Daniel had to stop.
He pressed the letter against the desk.
Then continued.
"Martin has been moving money through accounts connected to several clients. Lily's trust is only one of them.""
Harris immediately leaned closer.
Daniel read on.
"I discovered transfers connected to elderly clients, children's trusts, and estates.""
Ben whispered, "My God.""
"Melissa Grant helped Martin identify vulnerable accounts.""
Daniel swallowed.
"She approached our family after overhearing Dad discuss Lily's inheritance at the Mercer dinner.""
Harris wrote rapidly.
Then Daniel reached the next paragraph.
His hands began trembling.
"I confronted Melissa. She admitted Martin had promised her a share if she helped gain access to account holders through personal relationships.""
Daniel lowered the letter.
"Personal relationships.""
Ben understood.
"She married you for access.""
Daniel nodded.
Then he kept reading.
"But I believe Melissa is afraid of Martin. She knows more than she understands. If something happens to me, do not assume she acted alone.""
Harris looked up.
Daniel continued.
"The person you must fear is the person you already trust.""
Daniel stared at the sentence.
Martin.
It had to mean Martin.
Then he read the final paragraph.
"I have placed the complete financial evidence with Rebecca. Ben has the legal originals. There is one more copy hidden where Lily will eventually find it.""
Daniel thought of the stuffed dog.
Rachel had built layers.
One copy led to another.
The final line read:
"Protect our daughter. And Daniel, if Martin ever tells you I died before I could identify his partner, don't believe him.""
Daniel stopped.
Harris leaned forward.
"His partner?""
Daniel searched the envelope.
Another sheet was folded behind the will.
A list of names.
Account holders.
Businesses.
Transfer amounts.
At the bottom was a handwritten note.
"Primary beneficiary of diverted funds.""
Beside it was a company name Daniel recognized.
Carter Development Holdings.
His construction company.
Daniel stared.
"That's impossible.""
Ben looked over his shoulder.
"What?""
"That's my company.""
Harris took the page.
"Could someone else have access to its accounts?""
"My business partner.""
Daniel's voice faded.
Ben's face changed.
"Who?""
Daniel thought of the man who had hired Martin.
The man who encouraged Daniel to let Melissa handle household finances.
The man who had called that afternoon saying the storm had shut down the construction site.
The man Daniel had trusted since college.
"Eric Wallace.""
At that exact moment, Daniel's phone rang.
The screen showed Eric's name.
Daniel looked at Harris.
Harris nodded.
Daniel answered.
"Eric?""
His business partner sounded perfectly calm.
"Hey, Dan. Heard you had some family trouble.""
Daniel's blood ran cold.
He hadn't told Eric anything.
"Who told you?""
A pause.
Then Eric laughed softly.
"That's not important.""
Daniel looked through the office window.
Lily sat on the couch hugging her stuffed dog.
Eric continued.
"What matters is that you have something that belongs to me.""
Daniel gripped the phone.
"What?""
"Rachel's letter.""
The room went completely silent.
May you like
Then Eric said:
"Give it back, and maybe your children never have to know how their mother really died.""
