Chapter 7: The Brother Who Looked Like My Father
"Someone in this family has a twin.""
Daniel's words hung in the air.
Dad stared at him.
"What are you talking about?""
Daniel rubbed his forehead.
"Your father had another son before you were born. His name was Michael.""
Dad shook his head.
"No. My father had one son. Me.""
"That's what he told you.""
Daniel looked toward the detective.
"Michael and Marcus were identical twins. They were separated when they were children after their parents divorced. Michael was raised by relatives in another state. Your father never wanted anyone discussing him.""
Dad looked physically ill.
"You're telling me I have a twin brother I've never met?""
"Yes.""
"And you knew?""
Daniel nodded.
"I met him twenty years ago.""
Dad stepped toward him.
"When?""
"At our father's funeral.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because Michael asked me not to.""
Dad laughed bitterly.
"Of course he did. Everyone in this family seems to have a secret.""
Detective Harris interrupted.
"Does Michael have any connection to Vanessa?""
Daniel hesitated.
"Yes.""
Vanessa immediately stood.
"Don't.""
Daniel ignored her.
"Michael was the man who introduced Vanessa to our family.""
Dad turned sharply.
"What?""
"Before Marcus married her, Michael had already been seeing her.""
The room went silent.
I looked at Vanessa.
She wasn't crying anymore.
She was staring at Daniel with pure hatred.
Dad's voice became almost inaudible.
"How long?""
Daniel answered.
"Several months.""
Dad looked at his wedding ring.
"You married me while you were seeing my brother?""
Vanessa shook her head.
"It wasn't like that.""
"Then what was it like?""
"Michael and I were finished!""
"When?""
She didn't answer.
Dad looked toward the detective.
"That man impersonated me at the hospital?""
Detective Harris nodded.
"That's one possibility. We need identification records and additional evidence before drawing conclusions.""
Daniel reached into his jacket.
He removed an old photograph.
It showed two men standing beside each other.
They were identical.
One was Dad.
The other was a man wearing a dark leather jacket.
On the back, someone had written:
Marcus and Michael. Christmas, 1998.
Dad held the photograph with trembling fingers.
"Where is he now?""
Daniel looked at Vanessa.
"She knows.""
Vanessa laughed.
"You really are a pathetic man, Daniel.""
"Tell him.""
"Why should I?""
"Because he's already going to find out.""
Dad stepped closer.
"Where is my brother?""
Vanessa looked directly into his eyes.
"He's dead.""
Daniel shook his head.
"No, he isn't.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"What?""
Daniel explained that Michael had been living under another name for years. He'd worked in property development and maintained several business connections in Atlanta.
Three months before Mom died, Michael had approached him with an unusual offer.
He wanted access to my mother's investment accounts.
Daniel refused.
Michael then contacted Vanessa.
Together, they had allegedly begun planning a way to take control of the inheritance before I turned eighteen.
Dad listened without moving.
Finally, he asked, "Why would Michael want my wife's money?""
Daniel's answer was simple.
"Because he believed your wife had evidence that could destroy him.""
I touched the locket around my neck.
"Evidence of what?""
Daniel pointed toward the brass key.
"That's what your mother wanted you to discover.""
Detective Harris instructed Officer Lewis to photograph the documents and collect the original recordings.
Vanessa was asked to remain available for further questioning.
But before the officers could finish, my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
A man's voice spoke.
"Ethan Carter?""
"Who is this?""
"My name is Michael.""
My entire body went cold.
Dad heard the name.
He reached for the phone.
"Michael? Is that you?""
The voice chuckled.
"Hello, Marcus.""
Dad closed his eyes.
"Where have you been?""
"Somewhere your wife couldn't reach me.""
"Did you go to the hospital the night she died?""
Silence.
Then Michael answered.
"Your wife was a very stubborn woman.""
Dad tightened his grip on the phone.
"Did you pretend to be me?""
Michael laughed.
"You really haven't changed, brother.""
"Answer the question!""
"I think you should ask Daniel what happened after I left the hospital.""
Dad looked toward his brother.
Daniel's face had gone pale.
Michael continued.
"There's something else, Ethan. Your mother didn't leave you just eleven million dollars.""
I swallowed.
"What else did she leave?""
"A company.""
"What company?""
"One that your uncle and stepmother have been trying to sell for three years.""
Dad stared at Daniel.
Michael gave a final instruction.
"Go to the old Carter warehouse tomorrow morning. You'll find the second key there.""
Then he added:
"And Ethan? Don't trust the man who claims he saved your mother's life.""
The call ended.
Everyone turned toward Daniel.
He slowly lowered his head.
Dad's voice was barely recognizable.
"What did you do?""
Daniel didn't answer.
Then he reached into his pocket and placed a small photograph on the table.
It showed him standing beside my mother in her hospital room.
She was smiling.
May you like
But behind them, partially visible through the doorway, stood Michael.
And Daniel was holding a syringe.
