Chapter 5: The Friend Who Held The Knife
I stared at the message for almost a full minute.
The words on the screen didn’t change.
They didn’t disappear.
They didn’t become easier to understand.
*“Daniel, if you want the truth about your wife’s death, come alone.””*
My fingers tightened around the phone.
Marcus.
The same Marcus who brought me food when I forgot to eat.
The same Marcus who sat beside me at the hospital when my wife took her final breath.
The same Marcus who told me, “You’re going to get through this,” when I was too broken to believe it.
Could that same man have destroyed my life?
“Daniel?””
Olivia’s voice pulled me back.
I looked up.
She was watching my face carefully.
“What happened?””
I locked my phone.
“Nothing.””
She frowned.
“Daniel.””
I had forgotten how observant Olivia was.
She could read people the way engineers read code.
“You’re lying.””
I looked away.
“Someone wants to meet me.””
“Who?””
I hesitated.
Then I said the name.
“Marcus.””
The room went silent.
Ethan looked confused.
“Marcus?””
I nodded.
“My friend.””
Olivia’s expression changed.
“Your friend Marcus Hill?””
I looked at her.
“You know him?””
She slowly sat down.
“Daniel… Marcus worked with Richard.””
The air seemed to disappear.
“No.””
Olivia didn’t argue.
She simply opened another file.
“Look.””
Inside were old documents.
Emails.
Transaction records.
Communication logs.
I scanned the pages.
And there it was.
Marcus Hill.
Meeting Richard Whitmore.
Three months before my company collapsed.
My stomach turned.
“No.””
Ethan looked at the documents.
“Dad knew him?””
Olivia nodded.
“Marcus wasn’t just a friend. He was one of the people who had access to Daniel’s research.””
I stood.
“You don’t understand.””
My voice became defensive.
“He was there for me.””
Olivia looked at me sadly.
“That’s what makes betrayal painful.””
I grabbed my jacket.
“Where are you going?””
“To get answers.””
Ethan stood.
“I’m coming with you.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
“Daniel—”
“I said no.””
Everyone became quiet.
I looked at Ethan.
“This is something I need to face myself.””
Maybe it was foolish.
Maybe I was walking directly into a trap.
But there was one thing I needed to know.
Why?
Why would Marcus do this?
Why would someone who knew my pain become the person who caused it?
The old Carter Systems building stood abandoned on the edge of the city.
Ten years ago, it had been my dream.
A place filled with engineers, ideas, and endless possibilities.
Now the windows were broken.
The sign above the entrance was covered in rust.
I parked outside and sat there for several minutes.
Memories flooded back.
My first successful project.
My wife bringing me coffee during late nights.
Marcus celebrating with me when we landed our biggest contract.
Everything felt so far away.
I stepped inside.
The building smelled like dust and old paper.
“Daniel.””
I froze.
His voice came from the darkness.
Marcus stepped forward.
Older.
Tired.
Different.
But still familiar.
“Why?”” I asked.
That was the only word I could say.
Marcus looked down.
“I knew you would come.””
“You sent the message.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
He swallowed.
“Because you deserve the truth.””
I laughed bitterly.
“The truth?””
I stepped closer.
“You destroyed my life.””
His eyes filled with regret.
“I know.””
The answer shocked me.
“You know?””
He nodded.
“I know everything.””
My fists tightened.
“Then explain.””
Marcus walked toward an old conference table.
“I never wanted it to happen this way.””
“That’s what everyone says after they ruin someone.””
He closed his eyes.
“You think I don’t hate myself?””
I stared at him.
“Try me.””
Silence.
Then Marcus spoke.
“Ten years ago, Richard found out about your technology.””
“I know.””
“No, Daniel. You don’t.””
He looked at me.
“You think Richard wanted your company.””
“He did.””
“No.””
Marcus shook his head.
“He wanted something bigger.””
I frowned.
“What?””
“Your invention.””
I waited.
Marcus continued.
“The algorithm you created wasn’t just valuable for finance. It could predict human behavior patterns.””
I felt cold.
“That’s impossible.””
“You thought you were building a business tool.””
He stepped closer.
“Richard knew it could become something much bigger.””
I looked around the abandoned building.
“What does that mean?””
Marcus looked away.
“It means your technology was never stolen because of money.””
“Then why?””
His voice became quiet.
“Because powerful people wanted control.””
I laughed.
“You expect me to believe that?””
Marcus reached into his pocket.
He pulled out a small USB drive.
“Watch this.””
I didn’t move.
“What is it?””
“Proof.””
He placed it on the table.
“Everything.””
I looked at the drive.
Then at him.
“Why now?””
Marcus’s face broke.
“Because I found out Richard was willing to hurt you again.””
My eyes narrowed.
“What do you mean?””
Marcus looked terrified.
“Daniel… your wife wasn’t supposed to die.””
The world stopped.
I couldn’t breathe.
“What did you say?””
He looked at me.
“The accident.””
My heart started pounding.
“You’re saying it wasn’t an accident?””
Marcus looked down.
“No.””
A sound escaped my throat.
A mixture of anger and disbelief.
“Who?””
Marcus didn’t answer.
“Who?””
He looked at me.
And whispered:
“The person who ordered it is still alive.””
My phone suddenly rang.
Unknown number.
I looked at Marcus.
He looked equally afraid.
I answered.
“Hello?””
A familiar voice spoke.
A voice I hadn’t heard in ten years.
A voice that made my blood run cold.
“Daniel.””
I froze.
Because the person calling me…
Was my wife’s doctor.
May you like
And he said only one sentence:
“You need to know what really happened the night she died.””
