Chapter 8: The Brother Who Had Been Watching
I reached the waiting room in less than ten seconds.
Daniel was still sitting in the same chair.
Sophie was asleep against his chest, her little hand wrapped around his shirt.
I stopped in front of him.
“Daniel, stand up.””
He looked confused.
“What?””
“Put Sophie down.””
His expression changed.
“Michael, what's going on?””
“Just do it.””
He carefully placed Sophie on the couch.
I checked her breathing, touched her forehead, and examined her arms.
She was fine.
Then I showed Daniel the message.
*Your brother isn't who you think.*
He read it twice.
“Someone's trying to turn us against each other.””
“Who sent it?””
“I don't know.””
“Then explain something to me. Why does the message mention you?””
Daniel looked genuinely offended.
“Are you seriously questioning me?””
I hated myself for asking.
But after everything I'd discovered, trust had become dangerous.
“Where were you the night Emily died?””
His expression went still.
“What?””
“You heard me.””
Daniel stared at me.
“I was at home.””
“Can anyone confirm that?””
He took a step backward.
“Michael, I was with my wife. I remember that night because you called me from the hospital.””
I remembered the call.
I remembered crying so hard that I couldn't finish a sentence.
Daniel had driven to the hospital and stayed beside me until sunrise.
But there was something else.
The photograph Thomas had shown me.
My father.
Richard.
David Bennett.
And another figure standing in the background.
A man wearing a dark jacket.
I had looked at that photograph for less than a minute.
Now I remembered the face.
Daniel's.
I pulled the photograph from my jacket.
“Were you at my father's office in September 2009?””
Daniel stared at it.
For a moment, he didn't speak.
Then he rubbed his forehead.
“Where did you get this?””
“Answer me.””
He looked toward Sophie.
“Not here.””
I felt my heart sink.
“Daniel.””
He sat down.
“I was eighteen. Dad had asked me to deliver some paperwork to Richard's office.””
“What paperwork?””
“I don't know. A folder.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because Dad told me not to discuss his business.””
I stared at him.
“What else aren't you telling me?””
Daniel's eyes filled with tears.
“I saw Uncle David there.””
I felt the floor shift beneath me.
“What was he doing?””
“He was arguing with Dad.””
“About what?””
“Money. Property. I didn't understand it at the time.””
“Did you tell the police?””
“No.””
“Why?””
Daniel looked down.
“Because Dad made me promise.””
I stepped closer.
“Daniel, my father died a week later.””
“I know.””
“And you kept this from me for seventeen years?””
“I was scared!””
His voice cracked.
“I was a kid, Michael. Dad told me if I said anything, David would make sure Mom lost everything. He said our family would be destroyed.””
I looked away.
My brother hadn't been part of Richard's scheme, at least not knowingly.
But he had hidden something enormous.
And now I needed to know why.
Before I could ask, a nurse approached.
“Mr. Bennett?””
I turned.
“Yes?””
“Your daughter is awake. She asked for you.””
I immediately went to Sophie.
She was sitting on the hospital-style couch, rubbing her eyes.
“Daddy!””
I picked her up.
“I'm here, sweetheart.””
She wrapped both arms around my neck.
Then she whispered:
“Where's Uncle Danny?””
“He's right outside.””
Sophie shook her head.
“No. The other Uncle Danny.””
I froze.
“What other Uncle Danny?””
She pointed toward the hallway.
“The man Mommy called Uncle Danny.””
I looked at Daniel.
He was standing in the doorway.
His face had gone pale.
“Michael,” he whispered.
“What did she just say?””
I turned back to Sophie.
“Sweetheart, can you tell Daddy what you mean?””
She nodded.
“The man with the brown shoes. Mommy said he was Uncle Danny, but he wasn't our Uncle Daniel.””
My mouth went dry.
“Where did you see him?””
“At the blue house.””
I remembered the cottage.
The hidden box.
The old photograph.
Sophie continued.
“He gave Mommy a paper. Then Mommy told him to leave.””
I looked at Daniel.
He was no longer looking at me.
He was staring at Sophie.
“Did you see his face?”” I asked.
Sophie nodded.
“He had a little mark here.””
She touched the skin beneath her left ear.
Daniel slowly raised his hand to the same spot.
There was a small crescent-shaped scar beneath his ear.
I stared at him.
“Daniel?””
He shook his head.
“No. Michael, listen.””
I stepped backward.
“Don't come closer.””
He looked devastated.
“It's not what you think.””
“Then tell me what it is!””
Daniel glanced toward the hallway.
Then he lowered his voice.
“Dad had another son.””
I felt like I'd been punched.
“What?””
“Before he married Mom. He had a relationship with another woman. Her son was named Daniel too.””
I stared at my brother.
“That's impossible.””
“He came looking for Dad after the funeral. He told me everything. I thought he was lying until he showed me photographs.””
“Where is he now?””
Daniel shook his head.
“I don't know.””
I looked toward Sophie.
“Was the man at the cottage the same man you saw?””
She nodded.
“Same brown shoes.””
My brother sat down heavily.
“Michael, if that's true, then someone has been using my identity.””
I wanted to believe him.
But then Detective Morgan entered the room.
She held a printed photograph.
“Mr. Bennett, I need both of you to look at this.””
It showed a man leaving the cottage three days earlier.
He was wearing a dark jacket and brown shoes.
His face was turned toward the camera.
I recognized the scar.
It was Daniel's face.
Not my brother's.
The other Daniel.
Detective Morgan placed the photograph on the table.
“We've identified him. His legal name is Daniel Hayes. He's been using your brother's identity in several financial transactions.””
My brother covered his mouth.
Detective Morgan continued.
“And there's something else. We found his fingerprints on the original property transfer documents.””
I looked at Sophie.
She was holding her stuffed rabbit.
“Daddy?””
“Yes, sweetheart?””
“Can we go home?””
I hugged her.
“Soon.””
Then Detective Morgan's phone rang.
She answered, listened, and immediately stood.
“What do you mean the custody application has been approved?””
I felt the blood drain from my face.
She turned toward me.
“Michael, there's an emergency hearing scheduled for tomorrow morning.””
“Who requested it?””
“Amanda Reed.””
I stared at her.
May you like
Then the detective delivered the final blow.
“She has submitted a sworn statement claiming Sophie has been living in an unsafe environment and that you abandoned her during the wedding.””
