Chapter 10: The Brother They Told Me Was Dead
"Are you telling me my brother might still be alive?""
Detective Bennett didn't answer immediately.
She placed both hands on the table and looked directly at me.
"I'm telling you that the records don't match. Daniel Brooks was transported to a medical facility after the accident. However, the original accident report states he was pronounced dead at the scene.""
"Which hospital?""
"Vanderbilt University Medical Center.""
I stared at her.
"Then why wasn't he there when I arrived?""
She opened another folder.
"According to the hospital's archived records, a patient matching Daniel's description was admitted under a different name.""
Sarah gasped.
"Someone changed his identity?""
"We don't know that yet.""
I stood up.
"Then take me there.""
"Mr. Carter, we need to establish the facts first.""
"My brother could have been alive this entire time!""
Detective Bennett raised her voice.
"And if we rush into this without proper evidence, we could jeopardize the investigation. I understand what this means to you, but I need you to cooperate.""
I sat down slowly.
Emily reached for my hand.
"Michael, we'll find out what happened.""
I nodded.
But my mind was already somewhere else.
Daniel's funeral.
The closed casket.
The night I stood beside his grave, promising him I'd look after Emily.
Had I buried an empty coffin?
Had someone deliberately kept me from seeing my brother one last time?
Detective Bennett made several calls.
An hour later, she returned with a printed hospital record.
"There's a patient admitted at 10:26 p.m. on the night of the accident. The patient had severe head injuries and required emergency surgery.""
"Was it Daniel?""
"The name on the admission form was Thomas Reed.""
Sarah shook her head.
"Thomas?""
The detective nodded.
"Here's the important part. The attending physician recorded that the patient identified himself as Daniel Brooks after regaining consciousness.""
My hands began trembling.
"What happened afterward?""
"He was transferred to a private rehabilitation facility three days later.""
"Where?""
The detective slid a paper across the table.
A facility in northern Georgia.
I looked at Sarah.
"Why would they take him there?""
She whispered, "To keep him away from us.""
Detective Bennett stood.
"We have investigators contacting the facility now. We need you to remain available.""
Then she turned toward Emily.
"There's something else. The records show that a woman visited the patient several times.""
Emily frowned.
"Who?""
The detective looked at the document.
"Sarah Carter.""
My wife stopped breathing.
I slowly turned toward her.
"What?""
Sarah's eyes filled.
"Michael, I can explain.""
I stood.
"You visited Daniel?""
She nodded.
"Three times.""
"And you never told me?""
"He was alive, but he wasn't well.""
I felt something break inside my chest.
"How long have you known?""
"Eleven months.""
Emily began crying.
"Mom, you knew Uncle Daniel was alive?""
Sarah covered her face.
"I didn't know whether he'd recover. Richard told me that Daniel had suffered serious brain injuries. He said the doctors didn't expect him to regain his memory.""
"Why didn't you tell me?"" I demanded.
"Because Richard said he'd make sure Daniel never received proper treatment if I contacted you.""
I stared at her.
"So you visited my brother in secret while I mourned him?""
Sarah nodded.
"Yes.""
I couldn't look at her anymore.
Detective Bennett interrupted.
"Mrs. Carter, did you see Daniel conscious during any of those visits?""
Sarah wiped her cheeks.
"During the last visit, yes.""
"What did he say?""
She looked at me.
"He asked for you.""
My knees nearly gave way.
"What?""
"He kept asking where Michael was. He couldn't remember everything, but he knew he had a brother.""
I gripped the back of my chair.
"What did you tell him?""
Sarah began sobbing.
"I told him you were safe. I told him I would bring you the next time.""
"But you didn't.""
"No.""
"Why?""
She looked down.
"Because Richard called me afterward. He said if I brought you there, he would destroy the only evidence Daniel had against him.""
Detective Bennett stepped closer.
"Did Richard ever visit the facility?""
Sarah nodded.
"Almost every week.""
The room fell silent.
Emily looked at her mother in disbelief.
"He visited Uncle Daniel?""
"Yes.""
"And he still came to my graduation pretending to be a loving father?""
Sarah couldn't answer.
Detective Bennett's phone rang.
She listened, then looked up.
"We've reached the facility.""
My heart pounded.
"What did they say?""
"There's a patient registered under the name Daniel Brooks. He's currently receiving long-term neurological care.""
I covered my mouth.
Eleven months.
Eleven months of believing my brother was gone.
"Can I see him?""
The detective nodded.
"We'll arrange it.""
Then her phone rang again.
This time, she listened longer.
Her expression became serious.
"What?""
She turned away from us.
"You're certain?""
A pause.
Then she ended the call.
"Mr. Carter, there's a problem.""
I stood.
"What now?""
"The facility reports that Daniel was discharged three days ago.""
"Discharged?""
"Yes.""
"Who signed the paperwork?""
Detective Bennett looked at Sarah.
"Richard Hayes.""
Sarah staggered backward.
Emily grabbed her arm.
"Why would he take Uncle Daniel?""
The detective opened the latest record.
"Because the facility received a private payment to transfer him to another location.""
"Where?""
She shook her head.
"They're checking.""
My phone vibrated.
A text message appeared from an unknown number.
*Michael, if you want to see your brother alive, come alone to the old Riverside Motel. Room 214. Midnight.*
A second message arrived immediately.
*Don't bring Sarah. She already knows what happened to Daniel.*
I looked up.
Detective Bennett read the screen.
"You're not going anywhere alone.""
But I was already staring at the name beneath the message.
Thomas Reed.
And then Sarah whispered something that made the situation even worse.
"Michael, don't go to that motel.""
I turned toward her.
"Why?""
May you like
Her face crumpled.
"Because that's where Richard took Daniel the night he disappeared.""
