Chapter 12: The Last Person On The List
The name stayed on the page.
Richard Cole.
Vanessa stared at it like she had never seen it before.
“My father…”
The officer looked at her.
“Your father was involved?””
She shook her head.
“No.””
But her voice lacked certainty.
Marcus leaned back.
For the first time, he looked almost relieved.
“You finally found him.””
I turned toward him.
“What does that mean?””
Marcus didn’t answer.
The officer slammed the notebook closed.
“Mr. Hale, you’re not controlling this conversation.””
Marcus smiled.
“You think I’m the villain because that’s the easiest story.””
My mother stared at him.
“Isn’t it?””
He looked at me.
“Lena, your mother is right about one thing.””
I hated that he said my name so calmly.
“You were never supposed to know.””
“Know what?””
He looked at Vanessa.
Then at the notebook.
Then at me.
“The truth about Richard Cole.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“Leave my father out of this.””
Marcus laughed.
“Your father was never out of this.””
The officer looked at Vanessa.
“What does he mean?””
Vanessa stepped back.
“I don’t know.””
But I could tell she was lying.
Not like Marcus.
Not smoothly.
Like someone protecting a painful memory.
“Vanessa.””
She looked at me.
“Tell us.””
Her face collapsed.
“My father worked with Marcus.””
My mother’s expression changed.
“How?””
Vanessa looked down.
“He handled legal issues.””
The officer nodded.
“The same way he handled yours?””
Marcus smiled.
“Exactly.””
My blood ran cold.
“What legal issues?””
Vanessa whispered:
“People disappearing.””
Nobody moved.
The words felt impossible.
But nobody laughed.
Because at this point, impossible was normal.
My mother looked at me.
“Lena, Richard helped Marcus erase evidence.””
“Evidence of what?””
Vanessa answered.
“Evan.””
The room froze.
Daniel’s voice came through the phone.
“What about Evan?””
Vanessa looked toward the speaker.
“I’m sorry.””
Daniel went silent.
“I’m sorry because I know the truth.””
My heart pounded.
“What truth?””
Vanessa looked at me.
“Evan didn’t disappear.””
Daniel’s breathing stopped.
“What?””
Vanessa started crying.
“He escaped.””
Everyone froze.
My mother whispered:
“No.””
“Yes.””
Vanessa nodded.
“He escaped the night Marcus took him.””
Daniel’s voice broke.
“Where is he?””
Vanessa looked terrified.
“I don’t know.””
Marcus suddenly stood.
“You’re lying.””
The officer pushed him back.
But Vanessa kept going.
“He left evidence behind.””
“What evidence?”” I asked.
She looked at Marcus.
“The evidence Marcus has spent eleven years trying to destroy.””
My father’s face changed.
Pure fear.
Not anger.
Fear.
The officer grabbed the notebook again.
“Where is this evidence?””
Vanessa hesitated.
Then she said:
“In a place Marcus never thought anyone would search.””
My mother stepped closer.
“Where?””
Vanessa looked at me.
And my heart sank.
Because she wasn’t looking at my mother.
She wasn’t looking at the police.
She was looking at me.
“Your childhood home.””
I froze.
“My house?””
She nodded.
“Evan hid something there before he disappeared.””
Marcus went pale.
“No.””
The officer noticed.
“What?””
Marcus said nothing.
The officer moved closer.
“What is in that house, Mr. Hale?””
My father stared at me.
And for the first time in my entire life…
he looked afraid of me.
Then his phone rang.
Nobody moved.
The officer looked at the screen.
“Unknown number.””
Marcus stared at it.
Like he already knew who was calling.
The officer answered.
A voice came through the speaker.
A young man’s voice.
Weak.
Shaking.
Alive.
“Lena?””
My heart stopped.
The voice continued:
“I know you don’t know me.””
A pause.
“But I’m your brother.””
The room disappeared.
May you like
Then he whispered:
“And I’m calling because Marcus just found out where I hid the evidence.””
