Chapter 9: The Second Key
We left the reception estate shortly after midnight.
Nobody spoke during the drive.
Mom sat in the passenger seat holding the brass key. Patricia followed us in another car, while Vanessa remained behind.
I hadn't forgiven her.
I wasn't even sure I wanted to see her again.
But the letter she'd given me changed everything.
My father had apparently been alive after the date everyone believed he died.
And someone had forged or manipulated the records surrounding his death.
I couldn't stop thinking about that sentence.
Ask Richard where he buried the second key.
“Mom,” I said quietly, “why did Dad give you the keys?””
She looked down at the pouch.
“He told me that if anything happened to him, I should never hand them to Richard.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I didn't know what they opened. And after the accident, Richard told me your father had left the keys as part of a business arrangement.””
I glanced at her.
“You believed him?””
“I was twenty-four years younger, Marcus. I'd just lost my husband. I was trying to raise a seventeen-year-old boy without knowing how to pay the mortgage.””
Her voice trembled.
“Richard handled everything. He told me he was helping us. I didn't realize he was controlling what we were allowed to know.””
I reached over and squeezed her hand.
“I'm sorry.””
She looked at me.
“For what?””
“For not asking more questions.””
Mom gave me a sad smile.
“You were a child.””
We reached the private medical facility around one in the morning.
The entrance was locked, but a security guard recognized Patricia's car and approached us.
“Can I help you?””
Patricia stepped forward.
“We need to speak with Rebecca Bennett.””
The guard checked his tablet.
“I'm sorry. Mrs. Bennett has been transferred.””
My heart dropped.
“When?””
“About forty minutes ago.””
“Transferred where?””
He shook his head.
“I wasn't given that information.””
I pulled out my phone.
“Who authorized it?””
“Mr. Cole.””
Mom grabbed my arm.
“Richard.””
I turned toward the guard.
“Did you see him?””
“Yes, sir. He came with two men. They had the necessary paperwork.””
Patricia stepped forward.
“What paperwork?””
The guard looked uncomfortable.
“An emergency transfer authorization.””
I felt anger rising in my chest.
“Was Rebecca conscious?””
He hesitated.
“I believe so.””
“Did she agree to leave?””
“I don't know.””
Mom's voice became sharp.
“Then you have no idea whether she was taken against her will.””
The guard lowered his eyes.
“I'm sorry, ma'am.””
I took a picture of the facility's name and wrote down the guard's details.
We weren't going to get Rebecca back by arguing with someone who had no authority to help us.
But we had another lead.
Room 314.
According to the key, the archive was connected to the hospital.
Patricia looked at the address on the old document.
“There was a medical records building near downtown Atlanta. The facility used to store archived patient files there before moving everything online.””
“Can we get inside?””
She shook her head.
“Not without authorization.””
I examined the brass key.
Its shape was unusual. It was longer than an ordinary door key, with a small circular notch near the end.
Mom turned it over.
“Your father said this one was for the archive. The other one was for the cabin.””
“Where's the cabin key?””
She stared at me.
“I gave it to Richard after the funeral. He told me it belonged with your father's business papers.””
I closed my eyes.
Of course.
Richard had taken the second key.
And he had probably been searching for the same evidence ever since.
My phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
“Hello?””
A man's voice spoke.
“Marcus, it's Richard.””
I motioned for everyone to remain quiet.
“What do you want?””
“I want to prevent you from making a terrible mistake.””
“You've already made enough mistakes for one lifetime.””
He sighed.
“Your father was not the man you remember.””
“Then why are you so desperate to hide what happened?””
“Because the truth is more complicated than you understand.””
“Where is Rebecca?””
“She's receiving medical attention.””
“Bring her back.””
“That's not possible.””
I gripped the phone.
“Did you forge her transfer documents?””
He ignored the question.
“Listen carefully. Your father left you a trust. A considerable amount of money. You have no reason to destroy your future by digging into the past.””
I laughed.
“You think I care about the money?””
“I think you care about your mother.””
My smile disappeared.
Richard continued.
“Elaine has already suffered enough. Do you really want her dragged through another investigation?””
I looked at Mom.
She was listening.
Then Richard said something that made my blood run cold.
“Ask her what happened to the second key on the night Daniel disappeared.””
I looked at Mom.
She began shaking her head.
“Richard, stop.””
He laughed softly through the phone.
“You should ask her why she was the last person to see your father alive.””
The call ended.
I stared at Mom.
“Is that true?””
She looked away.
“Marcus…”
“Were you the last person to see Dad?””
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
“Yes.””
My chest tightened.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
She reached into her purse and removed a folded photograph.
It showed my father standing beside her outside the old lakeside cabin.
On the back, in his handwriting, were the words:
*September 30, 2002. Elaine knows the truth.*
I looked at her.
“What happened that night?””
Mom began crying.
“Your father came home four days after everyone told us he was dead.””
I couldn't breathe.
“He was alive?””
She nodded.
“And he was terrified.””
“Where is he now?””
Mom closed her eyes.
“I don't know.””
Then she handed me another piece of paper.
It was a handwritten message from my father.
Elaine, if Richard finds out I survived, he will come for Marcus. Keep our son away from the cabin. And whatever happens, never let him learn who helped me escape.
I read the last line again.
Then I looked at my mother.
“Who helped Dad escape?””
She whispered a name.
May you like
And when I heard it, I realized the person we'd been trusting all along might have been part of the deception.
*It was my mother herself.*
