Chapter 7: The Brother Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
“Uncle Daniel is here!””
Ava's scream echoed through the underground corridor.
I stared at the staircase.
My brother had been dead for seven years.
I had identified his body myself.
I had attended his funeral.
I had watched his casket lowered into the ground.
And now someone was claiming he was standing upstairs.
“That's impossible,” I whispered.
Dr. Shaw smiled.
“Is it?””
I turned toward her.
“What have you done?””
“Nothing Marcus couldn't have discovered himself, had he been more curious.””
Danielle grabbed my arm.
“Don't listen to her.””
But my attention was fixed on the staircase.
Detective Bennett had moved toward the corridor entrance, weapon raised.
“Everyone stay behind me!””
A man's footsteps approached.
Then a figure appeared.
He was taller than I remembered, with a thick beard and a scar running from his left eyebrow to his cheek.
But his eyes were unmistakable.
Daniel.
My older brother.
He looked at me and smiled sadly.
“Hello, little brother.””
My legs nearly gave way.
“Daniel?””
He nodded.
“It's been a long time.””
I rushed toward him.
Then stopped.
“How?””
Daniel glanced at Dr. Shaw.
“She can explain.””
The doctor folded her arms.
“Your brother's death was staged.””
I stared at Daniel.
“Why would you do that?””
He looked down.
“Because I was involved in something I couldn't escape.””
“What something?””
Daniel sighed.
“Four years ago, I helped Danielle.””
I turned toward my wife.
She was crying silently.
“Helped her do what?””
“Escape from Evelyn.””
Dr. Shaw laughed.
“That's a generous description of betrayal.””
Daniel ignored her.
“When Danielle discovered what Evelyn was doing, she contacted me. She knew I had worked with the clinic before. She thought I could get her out.””
I felt my stomach tighten.
“You worked with this woman?””
“For a while.””
“Doing what?””
Daniel looked at me.
“Building the underground facility.””
The words struck me like a punch.
My brother had helped construct the rooms beneath my house.
The same rooms where my wife had been imprisoned.
“You knew about Danielle?””
“Yes.””
“And you let me believe she was dead?””
Daniel lowered his head.
“I was trying to keep you alive.””
I laughed bitterly.
“That's your excuse?””
He stepped closer.
“Marcus, listen. The night Danielle disappeared, I helped her escape from the hospital. We planned to take Ava and leave Savannah.””
“What happened?””
“Evelyn found us.””
Dr. Shaw interrupted.
“Your brother is leaving out the important part.””
Daniel turned sharply.
“Shut up.””
The doctor smiled.
“He wasn't helping Danielle because he suddenly developed a conscience. He was protecting his own investment.””
I looked between them.
“What investment?””
Daniel's jaw tightened.
Then he reached into his jacket and removed a small photograph.
It showed a newborn baby.
Ava.
But something was written on the back.
*SUBJECT 07 — BIOLOGICAL FATHER: DANIEL REED.*
I stared at the words.
My brother was Ava's biological father.
The room became unbearably quiet.
I looked at Danielle.
She covered her face.
“Marcus, I can explain.””
I couldn't move.
“You and Daniel?””
She shook her head violently.
“Not like that. It was before you and I got married.””
Daniel looked down.
“We were together years ago. Before you met her.””
My mind struggled to process the information.
“You told me you barely knew him.””
Danielle began sobbing.
“Evelyn made me sign documents. She threatened to expose everything and destroy both our families.””
I looked at Daniel.
“You knew Ava was yours?””
He nodded.
“I found out after she was born.””
“And you let me raise her?””
Daniel's eyes filled with tears.
“You were the only father she had ever known. I wasn't going to take that away from you.””
For a moment, I wanted to hit him.
I wanted to scream.
Instead, I looked toward the staircase.
My daughter was upstairs.
She was frightened.
She needed her father.
Whatever blood test said, whatever secrets these people had buried, I was still the man who had held her through nightmares.
“Where is Ava?”” I demanded.
Daniel pointed toward the exit.
“She's with Harold's replacement guard. A woman named Vanessa arranged for her to be moved.””
My stomach dropped.
“Vanessa is in custody!””
Daniel shook his head.
“Not the woman you arrested.””
I turned toward Dr. Shaw.
The doctor was smiling.
“There are two Vanessas.””
Danielle suddenly stood.
“Marcus, don't let him take Ava!””
Daniel looked at her.
“I'm trying to save her.””
“Then why did you bring her here?””
He didn't answer.
Instead, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small remote.
A red light blinked.
Dr. Shaw stepped aside.
A section of the corridor wall began sliding open.
Behind it was a narrow passage leading deeper underground.
Daniel looked at me.
“There's someone you need to meet.””
“Who?””
He swallowed.
“The real Vanessa.””
Then he pressed the remote.
And a woman's voice came through the darkness.
“Marcus? Is that you?””
I recognized the voice immediately.
It was the woman I had been preparing to marry.
But the voice that answered next made me realize something even worse.
May you like
“Don't believe him,” Danielle whispered.
“Your brother is the reason I disappeared.””
