Chapter 5 - The Brother Who Didn’t ExistDaniel hung up only because Detective Ross took the phone from his hand.
“You okay?”
“No.”
Ross studied him.
“She said you have a brother.”
“I don’t.”
“You sure?”
Daniel laughed once.
“I think I’d know.”
Ross did not smile.
“Family secrets happen.”
Daniel looked at Rebecca’s necklace.
Five years dead.
A prescription in her name three months ago.
A hidden room.
His supposedly dead daughter waking inside a coffin.
He no longer trusted the word impossible.
“My parents had one child.”
“Both deceased?”
“My father died when I was seventeen. My mother died three years ago.”
“Any adoption?”
“No.”
“Half siblings?”
“Not that I know.”
Ross nodded.
“We’ll verify.”
Daniel hated how reasonable that sounded.
He opened his phone and searched Madeline’s recent activity.
Most financial accounts were frozen.
Her car remained at the cemetery.
She had disappeared.
Police were searching.
Ross asked:
“Did Madeline ever talk about Rebecca?”
“Sometimes.”
“How?”
“She said Emma was lucky to have had two mothers who loved her.”
“Did she ask details about Rebecca’s death?”
“Yes.”
“How often?”
Daniel thought.
Too often.
Madeline wanted to know which road Rebecca had taken.
Which hospital handled the body.
Who identified her.
Daniel had assumed curiosity.
Concern.
Maybe insecurity about his first wife.
Now every conversation felt contaminated.
Ross led him upstairs.
Investigators were collecting electronics.
Daniel entered Emma’s bedroom.
Nothing had changed.
Stuffed animals.
Drawings.
White curtains.
A photograph of Ghost beside her pillow.
Then he saw something.
The photo was tilted.
Daniel lifted it.
Behind the frame was a folded piece of paper.
Child handwriting.
EMMA’S SECRET LIST.
Daniel’s heart tightened.
He opened it.
Madeline watches me when Dad is gone.
She asks if I remember Mommy.
She says Mommy knew bad people.
She told me not to tell Dad.
Daniel swallowed.
Ghost doesn’t like the basement.
I hear noises under the floor.
Madeline said if I ever go downstairs alone I will disappear like Mommy.
Daniel stopped.
Ross took the note carefully.
“When was this written?”
“I don’t know.”
Daniel looked at the final line.
If something happens, find Noah.
Daniel stared.
“Noah?”
Ross frowned.
“Emma knew him.”
Daniel’s pulse jumped.
“Noah said he found her by accident.”
“Maybe he lied.”
Daniel felt betrayal before reminding himself Noah had saved Emma.
But why lie?
They drove back to the hospital.
Noah was asleep in a chair.
Ghost beside him.
Daniel woke him.
“Noah.”
The boy opened his eyes immediately.
“What happened?”
Daniel held up a photo of Emma’s note.
“You knew her.”
Noah looked away.
“Answer me.”
“Yes.”
“How long?”
“Two months.”
Daniel’s chest tightened.
“How?”
“Emma found me.”
“What?”
“I was behind the shed.”
“And?”
“She brought food.”
Daniel imagined his daughter sneaking sandwiches outside.
That sounded exactly like Emma.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“She made me promise.”
“Why?”
“Because Madeline couldn’t know.”
Daniel sat.
“Emma was scared of her.”
Noah nodded.
“What did Emma tell you?”
The boy looked toward Ghost.
“She said Madeline was watching her.”
“Anything else?”
“She kept asking Emma questions about her mom.”
“Rebecca?”
Noah nodded.
“What questions?”
“Whether Emma remembered anyone coming to the house before the car crash.”
Daniel frowned.
Emma had been three.
“What could she remember?”
Noah shrugged.
“Emma said she remembered a man with a scar.”
“What scar?”
“Across his neck.”
Daniel felt cold.
“Did she know his name?”
“No.”
“Why did Madeline care?”
Noah hesitated.
“Because she knew him.”
Daniel leaned closer.
“How do you know?”
“Emma said one night Madeline was on the phone.”
“With who?”
“She didn’t know.”
“What did she hear?”
Noah swallowed.
“Madeline said, ‘Daniel can never know what his brother did.’”
Daniel stared.
Again.
Brother.
Ross stepped closer.
“Did Emma say anything else?”
Noah nodded.
“She said Madeline was scared too.”
“Scared of who?”
“The man.”
Daniel frowned.
“If Madeline was scared of him, why hide Emma?”
Noah looked at him.
“Maybe she wasn’t trying to hurt Emma.”
Daniel’s jaw tightened.
“She drugged her.”
“I know.”
“She put her in a coffin.”
“I know.”
“She told everyone she was dead.”
“I know.”
“Then don’t defend her.”
“I’m not.”
Noah’s voice rose.
“I’m saying maybe she was trying to hide Emma from someone worse.”
Daniel froze.
Ghost lifted his head.
Then the hospital elevator opened.
A man stepped out.
Tall.
Dark coat.
Gray at the temples.
A scar crossed the left side of his neck.
Noah went white.
Ghost stood.
A low growl came from his throat.
Noah whispered:
“That’s him.”
The man looked directly at Daniel.
May you like
And smiled.
“Little brother.”
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