Chapter 7: Michael
Daniel couldn't move.
The man standing at the end of the corridor looked like a memory that had learned how to breathe.
Same dark hair.
Same gray eyes.
Same crooked smile Daniel remembered from childhood photographs.
But there was something different now.
The softness was gone.
Michael looked older than his thirty-eight years should have allowed. A thin scar ran from beneath his left ear toward his jaw. His suit was plain and dark, and his hands were empty.
That somehow made him more frightening.
Daniel whispered, “Michael?””
His brother smiled.
“You finally remembered me.””
Evelyn stepped between them.
“Michael, please.””
Michael's eyes shifted toward her.
“You're the one who should be asking for forgiveness.””
Daniel looked at Evelyn.
“What is he talking about?””
Michael walked closer.
Police officers raised their weapons.
“Don't move!”” one officer shouted.
Michael stopped.
“I'm not here to hurt anyone.””
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“You just told my wife she should have let me drink poison.””
Michael looked at him.
“I said what she deserved to hear.””
Evelyn's voice cracked.
“I didn't know what else to do.””
Michael stared at her.
“You always say that.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“Enough.””
Michael looked at him again.
“You want the truth?””
“Yes.””
“Then stop defending her.””
“I haven't defended anyone.””
“You've spent your entire life doing it.””
Daniel frowned.
“What does that mean?””
Michael's expression softened for the first time.
“You were seventeen when they told you I died.””
Daniel nodded.
“I remember.””
“You cried for three days.””
Daniel's throat tightened.
“I was a kid.””
“I know.””
“You were my brother.””
“I know.””
Michael looked down.
“I watched your funeral from a car parked two streets away.””
Daniel stared at him.
“What?””
“I watched you stand beside our parents.””
His voice became quieter.
“You were holding Mom's hand.””
Daniel remembered it.
He had forgotten the color of the flowers.
He had forgotten who spoke.
But he remembered his mother's hand trembling around his.
Michael continued.
“I wanted to walk over to you.””
“Why didn't you?””
“Because Dad told me that if I came back, you'd die too.””
Daniel's face went pale.
“My father said that?””
Michael nodded.
“He told me Victor had people everywhere. He told me they were watching our family.””
Marcus stepped forward.
“He wasn't lying about Victor.””
Michael looked at him.
“You still work for him?””
“No.””
“You always did have trouble choosing the right side.””
Marcus flinched.
Daniel turned toward Marcus.
“What does he mean?””
Marcus took a slow breath.
“I worked for your father. Then Victor. Then I realized both men were using everyone around them.””
Michael nodded.
“That part is true.””
Daniel looked at his brother.
“Then why did you disappear for four years?””
“Because disappearing was the only reason you survived.””
“You could have called me.””
“I did.””
Daniel froze.
“When?””
“Dozens of times.””
“I never received anything.””
Michael's eyes hardened.
“Because Mom intercepted them.””
Daniel shook his head.
“My mother?””
“She was alive when I disappeared.””
Daniel looked toward the note on the floor.
The handwriting.
His mother's handwriting.
“But she died twelve years ago.””
Michael nodded.
“Yes.””
“Then how could she have written that?””
“She didn't.””
Daniel looked at Marcus.
“You said it was hers.””
Marcus slowly shook his head.
“I said it looked like hers.””
Michael stepped closer.
“Someone learned to imitate it.””
Daniel's eyes moved toward Evelyn.
She was crying.
“Who?””
Michael answered.
“Your father.””
Daniel felt the room tilt.
“My father died eight years ago.””
“I know.””
“Then why are we talking about him?””
“Because death didn't stop his plans.””
Michael reached inside his jacket.
The police immediately raised their weapons.
Michael slowly removed a small envelope.
He placed it on the floor.
“Read it.””
Daniel approached cautiously.
He picked it up.
Inside was a letter.
The handwriting was unmistakably his father's.
Daniel read the first paragraph.
Then the second.
His face changed.
“What is this?””
Michael said nothing.
Daniel continued.
The letter described a contingency plan.
If Michael ever returned, Daniel was to be convinced that Michael had become unstable and dangerous.
If that failed, Daniel's estate would be transferred to a trust controlled by Evelyn.
Daniel looked up.
“Evelyn.””
She covered her mouth.
Michael nodded.
“She knew.””
Daniel turned toward his wife.
“Did you know?””
Evelyn shook her head.
“I knew about the trust.””
“That's not what I asked.””
She began crying.
“I knew your father wanted me to control the estate if something happened to you.””
“And you agreed?””
“I was terrified.””
“Of my father?””
“Of Victor.””
Michael laughed.
“You still blame Victor.””
“Because he threatened me!””
“He threatened everyone.””
“He threatened to kill Daniel.””
Michael's smile disappeared.
“And you believed him?””
“Yes!””
“Then why did you poison Daniel?””
Evelyn stared at him.
“I didn't know it would kill him.””
Daniel looked at her.
“What?””
She swallowed.
“I didn't know what was in the powder.””
Michael's eyes narrowed.
“You knew enough to put it in his drink.””
“I thought it would make him sick.””
Daniel stared.
“You expected me to get sick?””
“I needed you in the hospital.””
“Why?””
“So I could access the emergency trust.””
Daniel's expression went blank.
Evelyn wiped her cheeks.
“I needed the money.””
“For Victor?””
She nodded.
“He told me he would kill Daniel if I didn't pay him.””
Michael looked at her.
“Victor wasn't asking for money.””
Evelyn froze.
“What?””
“He was asking for the records.””
Daniel looked at Michael.
“What records?””
Michael pointed toward the basement.
“The ones your father hid.””
Daniel suddenly understood.
“The safe.””
Michael nodded.
“Your father didn't hide money.””
“Then what?””
“Names.””
Daniel's stomach tightened.
“Whose names?””
Michael looked at the police.
“People who disappeared because they knew too much.””
One officer lowered his weapon slightly.
“Can you prove that?””
Michael nodded.
“Yes.””
He reached into his jacket again.
This time, he pulled out a small flash drive.
“I have copies.””
Marcus stared.
“Where did you get those?””
Michael smiled.
“From the man who has been calling you.””
Daniel's eyes narrowed.
“Victor.””
Michael nodded.
“Victor is alive.””
Evelyn whispered, “Where is he?””
Michael looked at her.
“You've been asking the wrong question too.””
“What question?””
“Why would a dead man need to hide?””
Before anyone could answer, a gunshot exploded from outside.
The window beside Daniel shattered.
Police dragged him to the floor.
Evelyn screamed.
Another shot struck the wall.
Michael pulled Daniel behind the stone column.
“Stay down!””
Daniel stared at him.
“You knew this would happen?””
“No.””
“Then how—”
“Because they found me.””
Another gunshot.
The officers rushed toward the entrance.
Marcus crouched beside them.
Michael looked at Daniel.
“There's a tunnel beneath this house.””
Daniel stared.
“What?””
“Your father built it.””
“Where does it lead?””
Michael pointed toward the basement.
“To the old greenhouse.””
Daniel looked toward Noah.
The young gardener was already standing.
“I know the greenhouse.””
Michael nodded.
“Then you're coming with us.””
Noah hesitated.
“Why me?””
Michael looked at him.
“Because you're the only person here who wasn't part of their plan.””
Daniel looked at his brother.
“What plan?””
Michael's face became grim.
“The plan to make you disappear.””
Then the basement door slammed shut behind them.
And from the other side came a voice Daniel hadn't heard in years.
May you like
His father's voice.
“Daniel.””
