Chapter 9: The Truth Daniel Buried
The police took my father away at 4:20 p.m.
My wedding had been postponed.
The guests had received a message from Sarah explaining that a family emergency had occurred.
Nobody knew the full story.
Not yet.
My mother was taken to the hospital for examination. Michael went with her.
I stayed at the estate with Daniel because I needed answers.
Real answers.
Not another promise.
Not another carefully edited version of the truth.
I stood in the old dining room, looking at the family photographs on the wall.
There was one of Ethan and me at the beach when we were teenagers.
He had his arm around my shoulders.
I was laughing.
We looked invincible.
Daniel stood several feet away.
"Emily.""
I didn't turn.
"Tell me what happened three years ago.""
He was silent.
I faced him.
"My father said I should ask you what happened the night Ethan died.""
Daniel rubbed his hands together.
"I should have told you.""
"Yes.""
He looked toward the window.
"That night, Ethan called me at 10:17 p.m. He sounded terrified.""
"What did he say?""
"He told me he had found the original financial records. He said your father was planning to transfer everything before the investigation began.""
"What did you tell him?""
"I told him to go to the police.""
Daniel paused.
"But Ethan said he couldn't. He believed someone in the department was working with your father.""
I swallowed.
"Then what?""
"He asked me to meet him at an abandoned gas station outside Charleston.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Did you go?""
Daniel nodded.
"Yes.""
"What happened?""
"Ethan arrived carrying a small metal case. He said it contained the documents that could destroy your father.""
Daniel took a breath.
"Then a black SUV pulled into the parking lot.""
I stepped closer.
"Who was inside?""
"I couldn't see the driver. Ethan told me to leave.""
"Why?""
"He said if I stayed, both of us would be in danger.""
I shook my head.
"You left him?""
Daniel closed his eyes.
"Yes.""
The word hit harder than I expected.
"You left my brother alone?""
"I was scared, Emily.""
I stared at him.
"He trusted you.""
"I know.""
"He called you because he thought you would help him.""
Daniel's eyes filled with tears.
"I know.""
I turned away.
For a moment, the only sound in the room was the grandfather clock ticking in the hallway.
Then Daniel continued.
"The next morning, your father called me. He told me Ethan had been involved in an accident. He said if I told anyone about the meeting, he'd make sure you and your mother suffered.""
I wiped my cheeks.
"And you believed him?""
"I saw photographs from the accident. I saw Ethan's car. I thought he was dead.""
"But you never told the police about the gas station.""
"No.""
"Why?""
"Because your father sent me a photograph of you leaving your office. Someone had been following you.""
I sat down.
Daniel approached but didn't touch me.
"I spent the next three years trying to find out what happened. I hired investigators. I searched for Ethan. I couldn't find him.""
"And the letter?""
"Three weeks ago, someone left it at my office. Then I received another message.""
He took out his phone.
A photograph appeared.
It showed a man sitting inside a small restaurant.
The face was partially hidden beneath a baseball cap.
But I knew him.
"Ethan.""
Daniel nodded.
"That was taken three weeks ago.""
I stared at the screen.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because the message said he was watching us. It warned me that telling you could put you in danger.""
I stood up.
"Then why did you agree to marry me?""
Daniel looked at me.
"Because I love you.""
I shook my head.
"You can't use love to excuse keeping secrets.""
"I know.""
Before he could say anything else, my phone rang.
It was Michael.
"Emily, Mom's awake.""
I immediately answered.
"Is she okay?""
"She's stable. But there's something she needs to tell you.""
"What?""
Michael lowered his voice.
"She says Ethan contacted her yesterday.""
My heart began racing.
"Yesterday?""
"Yes. He told her he was coming back.""
I gripped the phone.
"Where is he now?""
Michael hesitated.
"That's the problem. He never arrived.""
I looked at Daniel.
"Did Mom say anything else?""
Michael paused.
"She asked me to tell you that Ethan left something for you at the hospital. Something he wanted you to have before your wedding.""
"What is it?""
"A key.""
I closed my eyes.
"What key?""
"I don't know. But there's a message written on the envelope.""
"Read it.""
Michael took a breath.
"He wrote, 'Emily, the truth is inside the box Dad buried beneath our childhood home.''"
I looked at Daniel.
His expression changed.
He knew something.
"Daniel?""
He didn't answer.
I lowered the phone.
"What's inside that box?""
Daniel slowly sat down.
"Three years ago, before Ethan disappeared, he told me he had made a backup of every document your father had hidden.""
"Where?""
Daniel looked at me.
"In the old house where you grew up.""
I felt a strange chill.
That house had been sold after my father's supposed death.
It was now occupied by another family.
But my brother had left something there.
Something important enough to risk his life.
I looked at the wedding ring on my finger.
Then I removed it.
Daniel stared at me.
"Emily?""
I placed the ring on the table.
"I can't marry you until I know everything.""
He nodded slowly.
"I understand.""
I picked up my handbag.
"Then we're going to find that box.""
Before we could leave, another message appeared on my phone.
It came from an unknown number.
There was no photograph this time.
Only one sentence.
*Unknown:* Don't go to the old house. Ethan isn't the only person who knows what's inside that box.
A second message followed.
*Unknown:* And Emily, if you want to see your brother alive, come alone.
I stared at the screen.
Then I noticed the final detail.
The message had been sent from a number registered to my mother.
But my mother was lying in a hospital bed.
May you like
Someone had her phone.
And whoever it was knew exactly where we were going next.
