Chapter 7
Arthur dropped the stuffed rabbit onto the table.
“Where did Maya get this?”
Ethan looked worried.
“Victoria gave it to her.”
“When?”
“Her birthday.”
Six months earlier.
Arthur felt sick.
Daniel had not merely watched them from outside.
He had listened inside their home.
Every conversation.
Every argument.
Every private moment.
Arthur called Detective Harris.
Police arrived within twenty minutes.
They searched every item the children had received from Victoria.
Two more listening devices were found.
One inside Ethan’s alarm clock.
Another inside a picture frame.
Ethan stared at them.
“She heard everything?”
Arthur put a hand on his shoulder.
“Victoria probably did.”
“And Uncle Daniel?”
“Maybe.”
Ethan became angry.
“He’s not my uncle.”
Arthur looked at his son.
“No. Not anymore.”
The next morning brought another revelation.
Arthur’s father had known Daniel survived.
Bank records showed secret payments for years.
Harris believed Daniel had blackmailed him.
But nobody knew why.
Then Arthur remembered something.
A safe.
His father had kept one at the old family cabin.
The property had been abandoned after his death.
Arthur told Harris.
Police reached the cabin that afternoon.
Inside the safe, they found letters.
Arthur was allowed to review scanned copies.
The first letter was from Daniel.
You know what happened the night Mom died.
The second was from their father.
Leave Arthur out of this. He remembers nothing.
Arthur’s hands shook.
He read further.
Their father had paid Daniel to stay away.
Not because Daniel needed money.
Because Daniel had threatened Arthur.
One letter contained the sentence:
If you return near your brother, I will tell the police what your mother told me before she died.
Arthur stopped.
“What did she tell him?”
Harris turned another page.
The answer was not there.
But one final note had been hidden at the bottom of the safe.
It was addressed to Arthur.
Son,
If you are reading this, I failed to protect you from the truth.
Arthur continued.
Your mother did not die in a simple accident.
Arthur’s breathing changed.
Daniel followed her that night.
He confronted her.
She called me from the road.
She was frightened.
Then the call ended.
Minutes later, her car went off the bridge.
Arthur lowered the letter.
Harris remained silent.
Arthur continued reading.
I could never prove Daniel touched her car or forced her off the road.
But I knew what your mother feared.
And I knew what Daniel became after she died.
Arthur felt tears burning his eyes.
His father had carried this alone for years.
He had paid Daniel to disappear because he believed it protected Arthur.
It had only delayed the danger.
Arthur reached the last paragraph.
There is one thing Daniel wants more than money.
Arthur read faster.
He wants you to admit that the life you have should have been his.
Arthur stared at the words.
Then his phone rang.
Unknown number.
Daniel.
Arthur answered immediately.
“You killed Mom.”
Daniel was silent.
Arthur stood.
“Say something.”
“You’ve been reading Dad’s lies.”
“Where were you when her car went off the bridge?”
Another silence.
Then Daniel laughed softly.
“She always chose you too.”
Arthur’s blood went cold.
“You followed her.”
“She was leaving.”
“Because she was afraid of you.”
“She was going to destroy everything.”
Arthur looked at Harris.
The detective was recording.
Arthur continued.
“What did you do?”
Daniel breathed slowly.
“I tried to stop her.”
“How?”
“I only wanted her to listen.”
Arthur’s hand tightened around the phone.
Daniel suddenly changed the subject.
“Bring Ethan and Maya back home.”
“Never.”
“Then you won’t see Victoria alive again.”
Arthur stared toward Harris.
“What are you talking about?”
Daniel sent a photograph.
Victoria was tied to a chair.
Bruised, frightened, but alive.
Behind her was a wall Arthur recognized.
His childhood home.
May you like
A property sold fifteen years ago.
Daniel whispered, “Come home, little brother.”
