Chapter 9: My Sister’s Final Lie
I refused to believe it.
I couldn’t.
Not after everything.
Not after fourteen months of searching.
Not after seeing my sister cry.
Not after watching her break down in front of police.
Elena had lied.
She had hidden things.
But planning everything?
No.
That was impossible.
“Reynolds.””
The detective looked at me.
“This could be fake.””
“It could.””
“Then prove it.””
He nodded.
“That’s what we’re doing.””
But the doubt had already entered my mind.
Because the evidence was there.
The folder.
The notes.
The connection.
I walked toward Elena.
She looked up when she saw me.
Her eyes immediately filled with fear.
“Daniel.””
“Why?””
She froze.
“What?””
“Why did you want me to find Leo?””
Her face changed.
A small moment.
But I saw it.
Recognition.
“You found something.””
I laughed quietly.
“You don’t even deny it.””
She looked around.
“Where is Leo?””
“With an officer.””
“Is he safe?””
“Yes.””
She closed her eyes.
“Good.””
“Good?””
I stepped closer.
“You have been saying that word a lot.””
“What word?””
“Safe.””
Her expression changed.
“Because he wasn’t.””
“No.””
My voice became colder.
“He wasn’t safe because of Marcus.””
Silence.
“Or because of you?””
Tears rolled down her face.
“Daniel…”
“Tell me the truth.””
She looked away.
“I wanted you to find him.””
“Why?””
“Because I couldn’t do it myself.””
The answer surprised me.
“What does that mean?””
She wiped her face.
“Marcus was watching me too.””
“You expect me to believe that?””
“Yes.””
“After everything?””
She nodded.
“I knew if I went to the police, he would know.””
“So you waited fourteen months?””
“No.””
She looked at me.
“I was searching too.””
I stared.
“What?””
She took a breath.
“Daniel, I left clues.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
“The coffee.””
“What?””
“The floor.””
I felt confused.
“What are you talking about?””
“The new hardwood.””
My heart slowed.
“What about it?””
She whispered:
“I told Marcus to renovate that hallway.””
The room went silent.
“Why?””
“Because I knew something was underneath.””
I stared at her.
“You knew Leo was there.””
“I suspected.””
The anger came back instantly.
“You suspected?””
She cried.
“I heard him.””
I stepped back.
“When?””
“Months ago.””
My hands curled into fists.
“And you did nothing?””
“I tried.””
“No.””
My voice broke.
“You hid.””
She nodded.
“Yes.””
The honesty hurt.
“Why?””
“Because Marcus threatened Maya.””
I looked toward my daughter.
“She wasn’t supposed to be involved.””
“What does that mean?””
Elena looked terrified.
“Marcus knew you would never stop searching.””
“So?””
“He needed someone you loved.””
A cold feeling spread through me.
“What did he plan?””
Before she could answer, Leo screamed from outside.
Not a normal scream.
A terrified one.
I ran.
Everyone ran.
Leo was standing near the ambulance.
Pointing at a parked car across the street.
“Daddy!””
I reached him.
“What happened?””
His face was white.
“That car.””
I looked.
An empty vehicle sat near the curb.
“What about it?””
Leo whispered:
“That’s the car Marcus used.””
Police rushed over.
The vehicle was locked.
An officer broke the window.
Inside was a phone.
A single photograph.
And a note.
Reynolds picked it up.
His expression changed.
“What?””
He handed it to me.
The photo showed Marcus.
But he wasn’t alone.
Standing beside him was another person.
Someone I recognized.
Someone who had been helping us search for Leo from the beginning.
Someone who had comforted me during the darkest days of my life.
Under the picture were six words:
*ASK YOUR FATHER WHAT HE HID.*
I looked at Reynolds.
“What does this mean?””
He stared at the photo.
Then at me.
“Daniel…”
“What?””
The detective lowered his voice.
“Your father was involved.””
I froze.
“My father has been dead for eight years.””
Reynolds looked back at the picture.
“I know.””
A chill moved through me.
“Then who is that standing beside Marcus?””
May you like
The detective didn’t answer.
Because the person in the photograph looked exactly like him.
