Chapter 7: The Red X
“Someone drew a red X across Noah’s face?””
Alexander’s voice cracked.
Detective Ruiz was already moving toward the door.
“Yes.””
“I’m coming with you.””
“No.””
“That’s my brother’s house.””
“And potentially a crime scene.””
“My son’s photograph is there.””
Ruiz stopped.
“Your son is in a secured hospital room with medical staff, private security, and police nearby. Stay with him.””
Alexander looked ready to argue.
Then Noah made a small sound from the hospital crib.
That stopped him.
Ruiz left.
For several seconds, Alexander stood motionless.
Then he turned to Laura.
“I want security on every entrance.””
“Already arranged.””
“Double it.””
“Alexander—”
“Double it.””
Laura nodded and stepped into the hallway.
I looked at my phone.
The threatening message was still there.
ASK ALEXANDER WHAT HAPPENED TO HIS FIRST WIFE.
Whoever sent it knew about Emily.
And they knew where I lived.
“Rachel.””
I looked up.
Alexander was watching me.
“You’re not going home tonight.””
“I can stay at a hotel.””
“No.””
His answer came instantly.
“Whoever sent that message photographed your apartment. A hotel reservation can be traced.””
“I can’t stay here forever.””
“You won’t.””
He glanced toward Noah.
“When he’s discharged, you’re coming back to the estate.””
I almost laughed.
“The estate where Vanessa tried to blame me for hurting your baby?””
“She won’t be there.””
His certainty surprised me.
“What happened with her?””
“Police took her in for questioning.””
“Arrested?””
“Not yet.””
Alexander’s jaw tightened.
“But she’s not coming near Noah.””
My phone buzzed.
I jumped.
Unknown number again.
A video attachment.
Alexander saw it.
“Don’t open it.””
Laura returned just as I handed her the phone.
She photographed the screen first, then forwarded the information to Detective Ruiz.
“Now?””
I nodded.
Laura opened the video.
Darkness.
Heavy breathing.
Then an image appeared.
A man sat tied to a chair.
Blood ran from his eyebrow.
Marcus.
Alexander grabbed the phone.
“Marcus!””
Of course, Marcus couldn’t hear him.
The camera moved closer.
Marcus lifted his head.
“Alex…”
His voice was weak.
Alexander’s hand tightened around my phone.
A distorted voice spoke from behind the camera.
“Tell him.””
Marcus closed his eyes.
“Alex, I’m sorry.””
“For what?”” Alexander whispered.
Onscreen, someone struck the back of Marcus’s chair.
“Tell him everything.””
Marcus breathed hard.
“I knew Vanessa before Emily died.””
Alexander stopped moving.
“I met her at a private investment event. She was using another name.””
The distorted voice asked, “What name?””
Marcus looked at the camera.
“Victoria Hale.””
Laura immediately began typing on her laptop.
Marcus continued.
“She knew who our father was. She knew about the Whitmore estate.””
Alexander’s face hardened.
“What did you do, Marcus?””
As if answering him, Marcus whispered, “I gave her information.””
The camera shifted closer.
“About what?””
“The family trust.””
Alexander closed his eyes.
Marcus’s voice broke.
“I was angry. Dad had structured everything around Alex and his future children. I thought I deserved more.””
The person behind the camera said, “And Emily?””
Marcus began crying.
“I didn’t know she would die.””
Alexander opened his eyes.
“What?””
Marcus looked directly into the lens.
“I swear to God, Alex. I didn’t know.””
The video ended.
“No.””
Alexander replayed it.
The same ending.
“I didn’t know she would die.””
Black screen.
Alexander immediately called the number.
Disconnected.
Again.
Nothing.
Laura looked up from her laptop.
“I found Victoria Hale.””
Alexander turned.
“Who is she?””
“Or who was she.””
Laura rotated the laptop.
A Texas driver’s-license record appeared.
The photograph was unmistakable.
Vanessa.
Different hair.
Different name.
Same woman.
“Victoria Hale disappeared from public records approximately four years ago,” Laura said.
“Then Vanessa Cole appears.””
“Fake identity?””
“Possibly.””
Alexander stared at the screen.
Laura kept searching.
“Wait.””
“What?””
“There’s a marriage record.””
Alexander’s face tightened.
“Vanessa was married?””
“Victoria Hale was.””
“To whom?””
Laura clicked.
Then froze.
“Laura?””
She turned the laptop slowly.
Marriage certificate.
Victoria Hale.
Marcus Whitmore.
Alexander stepped backward.
“No.””
I read the date.
Six years earlier.
One year before Emily’s death.
“They were married?”” I whispered.
Laura nodded.
“No divorce record.””
Alexander stared at his brother’s name.
“That means…”
“Depending on whether this record is valid,” Laura said carefully, “Vanessa may still be legally married to Marcus.””
Alexander’s face emptied.
“Our marriage…”
“Could be invalid.””
His phone rang.
Detective Ruiz.
He answered instantly.
“Did you find Marcus?””
“No,” Ruiz said.
“But we found something else.””
“What?””
“A hidden room in his basement.””
Alexander gripped the phone.
“What was inside?””
“Files.””
“What files?””
“Your family. Your father. Emily. Noah.””
Ruiz paused.
“And Rachel.””
My stomach dropped.
“Me?””
Alexander put the phone on speaker.
Ruiz continued.
“There are photographs of Rachel entering the Whitmore estate, leaving grocery stores, going to her apartment.””
I stopped breathing.
“How long?””
“Some are dated nearly eight months ago.””
Eight months.
Long before the hot iron.
Long before today.
“Why was Marcus watching me?””
Ruiz didn’t answer immediately.
“We also found a handwritten list.””
Alexander asked, “What list?””
“Four names.””
“Whose?””
“Emily Whitmore. Alexander Whitmore. Noah Whitmore.””
A pause.
“And Rachel Carter.””
My hands went cold.
“What was beside the names?””
Ruiz’s voice became quieter.
“Dates.””
Alexander stared at me.
“What dates?””
“Emily’s has the date of her fatal accident.””
Silence.
“Alexander’s has tomorrow’s date.””
His face changed.
“Noah’s?””
“The same.””
I almost couldn’t ask.
“And mine?””
May you like
Ruiz inhaled.
“Tonight.””
