Chapter 13: The Passenger in the Car
"Your groom was in the car.""
Sarah's words echoed through the hotel corridor.
I looked at Daniel.
He didn't deny it.
He didn't even look surprised.
He simply closed his eyes, as though he had been waiting for this moment for three years.
"Daniel," I whispered.
"Tell me she's lying.""
He opened his eyes.
"Emily, I can explain.""
"Then explain.""
The police officers exchanged uncomfortable glances. Michael stepped beside me, his jaw clenched.
Sarah adjusted the clipboard under her arm.
"She deserves to know everything.""
Daniel turned toward her.
"Don't.""
Sarah laughed bitterly.
"You're still protecting yourself? After everything?""
I grabbed Daniel's sleeve.
"Did you see Ethan the night he disappeared?""
He nodded.
"Yes.""
"Did you see the car?""
Another pause.
"Yes.""
"Then why did you let me believe he died in an accident?""
Daniel looked down.
"Because I was afraid.""
I pulled away.
"Of what?""
"Your father. The people working for him. Everything I had helped him build.""
Sarah interrupted.
"That's not the whole story.""
An officer told her to remain quiet, but she continued.
"Daniel wasn't just at the gas station. He was in the car that followed Ethan that night.""
I stared at him.
"Is that true?""
Daniel nodded slowly.
"Yes.""
My knees weakened.
Michael caught my arm.
Sarah continued.
"Your father had arranged for Ethan to be intercepted. Daniel was supposed to retrieve the metal case. He was promised that nobody would get hurt.""
Daniel's face tightened.
"I didn't know what Robert intended.""
"You knew enough," Sarah snapped.
Daniel looked at me.
"Ethan had the documents. Your father wanted them back. I was supposed to convince him to hand them over.""
"And when he refused?""
Daniel's voice broke.
"Robert's driver followed him.""
I could barely breathe.
"What happened?""
"Ethan got into his car and drove away. The SUV followed. I was in the passenger seat.""
I stared at him.
"You watched?""
Daniel shook his head.
"I told the driver to stop.""
"Did he?""
"No.""
"Then what?""
Daniel covered his face.
"We reached the road where the accident happened. Ethan lost control when the SUV forced him toward the shoulder.""
I stepped backward.
The man I had planned to marry had been there when my brother's life supposedly ended.
"You watched him crash.""
"I got out of the car.""
"Did you help him?""
Daniel's eyes filled.
"I ran toward the wreck. But Robert's driver pulled me away. He said Ethan was dead and that we had to leave.""
"And you listened.""
Daniel nodded.
I slapped him.
The sound cracked through the corridor.
Nobody moved.
"Three years," I whispered.
"You let me mourn my brother for three years.""
Daniel didn't defend himself.
"I deserve that.""
"No. You deserve to answer for what you did.""
An officer stepped forward.
"Mr. Carter, we need you to accompany us.""
Daniel nodded.
Before the officers took him away, he turned toward me.
"Emily, there's something else you need to know. Ethan wasn't in that car when it went over the embankment.""
I froze.
"What?""
"I heard someone screaming. But when I reached the wreck, the driver's seat was empty.""
My heart started pounding.
"Then where was he?""
Daniel looked at Sarah.
"She knows.""
Sarah's expression changed.
For the first time, she looked frightened.
"That's not true.""
Daniel continued.
"Robert's driver told me later that Ethan had escaped through the passenger side. He had been injured, but he was alive.""
I grabbed Sarah's arm.
"Where is my brother?""
She pulled away.
"I don't know.""
"Stop lying!""
Sarah looked at the police officers.
Then she whispered:
"He's in Savannah.""
Michael immediately took out his phone.
"Give us the address.""
Sarah shook her head.
"I don't have an address. Vanessa does.""
I stared at her.
"Where is Vanessa?""
Sarah looked toward the elevator.
"She was supposed to meet Robert at the storage facility tonight.""
"Which facility?""
"An old shipping warehouse near the river.""
Michael asked the officer to contact the Savannah police.
But Sarah suddenly grabbed my wrist.
"Emily, listen. There's a reason Vanessa kept your brother hidden.""
"What reason?""
"She wasn't only helping your father recover the documents. She was trying to negotiate something with Ethan.""
"Negotiate what?""
Sarah looked directly into my eyes.
"Your life.""
My blood ran cold.
She explained that Robert had offered Vanessa a fortune if she could persuade Ethan to surrender the original evidence. Vanessa had agreed, but she wanted something else in return.
Daniel's company.
The wedding.
And a promise that she would become part of the Mitchell family.
"She thought if you disappeared from Daniel's life, everything would fall into place," Sarah said.
I looked at her.
"And you helped her.""
Sarah lowered her head.
"Yes.""
"Why?""
"Your father promised to erase my debts. I owed him more than two hundred thousand dollars.""
I stepped away.
"You're all the same.""
Sarah began crying.
"I'm sorry.""
I looked at the officers.
"Take her.""
As they escorted Sarah away, Michael received a call from the Savannah police.
He listened for several seconds.
Then his expression changed.
"Emily, they've found the warehouse.""
"Is Ethan there?""
Michael swallowed.
"They found Vanessa.""
"And?""
He looked at me.
"She's unconscious. There's blood on the floor.""
I grabbed his arm.
"What about Ethan?""
Michael slowly shook his head.
"He wasn't there.""
Then another notification appeared on my phone.
A video message.
It showed Vanessa sitting inside a car, her face bruised, her eyes filled with fear.
She looked directly into the camera.
"Emily, if you're watching this, I need you to listen. Your brother is alive, but he's in terrible danger.""
She glanced over her shoulder.
Then whispered:
"Your father found him first.""
The video ended.
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And beneath it was a location.
The old Mitchell family cemetery.
