Chapter 13: The Original Beneficiary
For one second, nobody moved.
Then I heard a voice through Lily's phone.
“Daniel?””
My father went completely still.
Sarah looked at him.
“Who is that?””
He didn't answer.
I grabbed Ethan by the collar.
“You're opening that vault.””
He shook his head.
“You don't understand what's behind that door.””
“Then explain it.””
“I can't.””
“Why?””
“Because I never put that person there.””
My stomach tightened.
“What person?””
Ethan looked toward the phone.
“Lily shouldn't have found that room.””
I shoved him toward the basement stairs.
“Move.””
He resisted.
I twisted his arm behind his back.
“Now.””
We descended into the lower level of the mill.
The air became colder with every step.
At the bottom, Ethan stopped beside an old concrete wall.
“There.””
I saw a narrow metal door.
No handle.
Only a keypad.
Ethan entered six numbers.
The lock clicked.
Before I opened it, my father grabbed my shoulder.
“Daniel.””
I turned.
“If you see someone inside, don't believe everything they tell you.””
Sarah stared at him.
“What are you hiding now?””
He looked at her.
“More than I can forgive myself for.””
I opened the door.
The room beyond was barely lit.
Shelves lined the walls.
Boxes filled every corner.
And in the center sat a man in a wheelchair.
His hair was gray.
His face was thinner than I remembered.
But I knew him.
My breath disappeared.
“Michael?””
My father closed his eyes.
Sarah stared at me.
“Who is that?””
I couldn't answer.
The man lifted his head.
“Danny.””
I stepped forward.
“You're dead.””
He smiled sadly.
“So is Dad.””
My father walked into the room.
Michael looked at him.
“You finally came back.””
My father whispered, “I'm sorry.””
Michael laughed.
“That's all you've got?””
I looked between them.
“You told me Michael died.””
My father's face collapsed.
“He was supposed to.””
Michael rolled closer.
“Seven years ago, I found the account.””
Sarah stepped forward.
“You found Vivian's account?””
Michael nodded.
“I found everything.””
“Then why did your father say you died?””
Michael looked at him.
“Because he needed the world to believe everyone who knew the truth was gone.””
I stared at my father.
“You let me mourn my brother.””
“I thought it would protect you.””
“It destroyed me.””
Michael looked at me.
“And then Dad made one more mistake.””
My father lowered his head.
“What?””
Michael pointed toward Sarah.
“He told Vivian that Sarah had the evidence.””
Sarah's eyes filled with tears.
“So the crash…”
Michael nodded.
“Was ordered.””
My father whispered, “I never ordered them to kill her.””
Michael's voice hardened.
“You ordered them to stop her.””
“I thought they would scare her.””
“They put her in a car and drove her off a cliff.””
My father had no answer.
Sarah turned away.
I could barely look at him.
Then Michael said something that made the room go silent.
“The worst part wasn't the crash.””
I looked at him.
“What was?””
“Vivian didn't want Sarah dead.””
Sarah turned.
“Then why?””
“Because she wanted Sarah's identity.””
Michael reached behind his wheelchair and pulled out a folder.
“After the crash, Vivian arranged for Sarah to disappear.””
Sarah stared at the folder.
“She wanted to become me?””
“No.””
Michael shook his head.
“She wanted to use you as proof that the insurance claim was legitimate.””
He opened the folder.
Inside were medical records, photographs, and documents.
Then I saw one page.
A life insurance application.
The beneficiary wasn't Rebecca.
It was Vivian.
Rebecca had only been the temporary signature.
I looked at Ethan.
“You knew.””
He nodded.
“I was trying to get out.””
Michael looked at him.
“You helped them.””
“I know.””
“And you watched Lily grow up.””
Ethan looked away.
“I didn't touch her.””
“Until tonight.””
He said nothing.
Suddenly, Sarah's phone rang.
Vivian.
Sarah answered.
“Where is Rebecca?””
Vivian's voice was calm.
“Still alive.””
“What do you want?””
“The folder.””
Michael looked at me.
“Don't give it to her.””
Vivian laughed.
“I know Michael is there.””
Everyone froze.
“How?””
“I can see your cameras.””
Michael looked toward the ceiling.
A tiny red light blinked.
Vivian continued.
“Daniel, you have ten minutes.””
“Or?””
“Or Rebecca dies.””
I heard Rebecca crying through the speaker.
Then Vivian added,
“And after that, I come for Lily.””
The call ended.
Michael rolled toward an old monitor.
He switched it on.
The screen showed the exterior of the mill.
Vivian stood beside Rebecca.
But someone else was standing behind them.
A man in a police uniform.
My father's face went pale.
“That's the detective who handled Sarah's crash.””
Michael nodded.
“And he's not working for Vivian.””
He zoomed in.
The detective wasn't holding Vivian's sidearm.
He was holding a badge.
May you like
Then Michael whispered,
“He's here for us.””
