Chapter 13: The Brother Sarah Hid
Nobody spoke after Daniel read the message.
“Sarah’s brother remembers everything.””
I looked at Daniel.
“Who is he?””
Daniel didn’t answer.
That was the answer.
My mother looked confused.
“Daniel, what is she talking about?””
He ran a hand over his face.
“This is not what you think.””
I almost laughed.
Those words.
Again.
Every time Daniel was cornered, he said the same thing.
Not what you think.
But Sarah’s entire final plan was built around proving that people had been thinking the wrong thing for years.
Mr. Collins looked at Daniel.
“Who is Sarah’s brother?””
Daniel stared at the floor.
Then Rachel quietly spoke.
“His name was Noah.””
My mother looked at her.
“Noah?””
Her face changed.
Because she knew the name.
But not the story.
I turned toward her.
“Mom?””
She looked away.
“Sarah never talked about him.””
“Why?””
My mother swallowed.
“Because he left.””
Mr. Collins frowned.
“Left where?””
My mother shook her head.
“We don’t know.””
Daniel suddenly interrupted.
“Because Noah was unstable.””
Everyone looked at him.
The way he said it bothered me.
Like he had been waiting years to use that explanation.
“Unstable?””
I repeated.
Daniel nodded.
“He had problems. Sarah knew that.””
Rachel stepped forward.
“That’s not true.””
Daniel looked at her.
“You weren’t there.””
“No.””
Rachel’s voice became stronger.
“But Sarah told me everything.””
The room became quiet.
“She said Noah discovered something about Daniel.””
My heart raced.
“What?””
Rachel looked at Daniel.
“He discovered the forged documents.””
Daniel’s expression changed.
“He was lying.””
Rachel ignored him.
“He found out Daniel was trying to transfer Sarah’s property without her knowledge.””
My mother covered her mouth.
“No…”
Mr. Collins looked at the documents.
“That explains why Sarah kept investigating.””
I felt sick.
My sister wasn’t paranoid.
She wasn’t imagining danger.
She had been uncovering a plan.
Daniel stepped toward the door again.
“I’m done with this.””
Mr. Collins blocked him.
“You’re not leaving.””
“You can’t hold me here.””
“No.””
The lawyer stayed calm.
“But I can ask questions.””
Daniel stared at him.
“What questions?””
Mr. Collins picked up the forged document.
“Why did you have a transfer agreement prepared months before Sarah died?””
Daniel said nothing.
“Why was Richard Parker listed as a witness?””
Silence.
“And why did Sarah’s missing brother suddenly become a concern?””
Daniel looked angry.
“You’re trying to build a story.””
I looked at him.
“No.””
I held up Sarah’s letter.
“She built the story.””
My phone suddenly vibrated.
Everyone looked.
Unknown number.
Again.
My heart jumped.
I answered.
“Hello?””
A man’s voice spoke.
“Emily?””
I froze.
The voice sounded tired.
Older.
But familiar.
“Who is this?””
There was a pause.
Then:
“I’m Noah.””
Everyone went silent.
My mother stood.
“Noah?””
The man on the phone breathed heavily.
“Mom?””
My mother started crying.
“Oh my God.””
Daniel’s face went pale.
Noah continued.
“Emily, Sarah told me if anything happened to her, I needed to contact you.””
I gripped the phone.
“Where are you?””
“I can’t tell you yet.””
“Why?””
“Because Daniel knows what I found.””
The room became completely still.
Daniel shook his head.
“That’s a lie.””
Noah continued.
“He knows because he tried to take it from me.””
My heart pounded.
“What did you find?””
Silence.
Then Noah answered.
“Proof that Sarah’s death wasn’t an accident.””
Nobody breathed.
Mr. Collins stepped closer.
“Can you send the evidence?””
Noah hesitated.
“I can.””
Then his voice lowered.
“But there’s something you need to know first.””
“What?””
“The person who helped Daniel…”
A pause.
“It wasn’t just Richard.””
My stomach dropped.
“Who else?””
Noah whispered:
“Someone who was at Sarah’s funeral.””
The call ended.
I stared at the phone.
May you like
Slowly, everyone looked around the room.
Because suddenly, every person there was a possibility.
