Chapter 7: The Brother Who Never Died
For several seconds, Danielle couldn't understand what Marcus had said.
The living room seemed to tilt around her. The white roses beside Aaliyah's portrait blurred through the tears gathering in her eyes, and the detective's expression became frighteningly still.
"Repeat that," Detective Walker said.
Marcus looked toward the front windows.
"My brother didn't die in that accident.""
Detective Brooks slowly closed her notebook.
"Mr. Reed, your brother's death was officially recorded seven years ago. Are you telling us that the death certificate was falsified?""
Marcus swallowed.
"I'm telling you Daniel was alive when I last saw him.""
Danielle gripped the back of a chair.
"You attended his funeral.""
"I know.""
"You identified his body.""
Marcus didn't answer.
"You stood beside me at the cemetery," she continued, her voice rising.
"You held my hand while they lowered his coffin. You told me Daniel was gone.""
"I had reasons.""
"Reasons?"" Danielle stared at him.
"You let an entire family mourn a man who was alive?""
Marcus rubbed his face.
"Danielle, you don't understand what happened.""
"Then explain it!""
He looked at the detectives.
"I'd rather speak privately.""
Walker shook his head.
"Given the circumstances, we're not going to arrange a private discussion about potentially relevant evidence. You can consult your attorney before answering further questions.""
Marcus nodded stiffly.
Then he turned toward Danielle.
"Daniel discovered something about the company. Something Graham and I had been trying to keep contained.""
"What did he discover?""
"Financial irregularities.""
Danielle gave a disbelieving laugh.
"That's what you're calling it?""
Marcus's jaw tightened.
"Daniel was the original accountant for Reed Development Group. He handled the books when we were small. He knew every account, every loan, every property we owned.""
"And?""
"He found money missing.""
"How much?""
Marcus looked down.
"Nearly four million dollars.""
Patricia, who had remained near the windows, stood abruptly.
"Four million?""
Marcus nodded.
"Daniel believed Graham was moving money through shell companies. He confronted him. A few days later, Daniel's car went off a bridge.""
Danielle remembered the funeral.
She remembered Marcus returning from the morgue with red eyes and shaking hands. She remembered him telling everyone that Daniel's injuries had made identification difficult, but that the authorities had confirmed his identity through dental records.
She had never questioned him.
Why would she?
He was her husband.
"And you knew he survived?"" she asked.
Marcus shook his head.
"I knew he might have.""
"That isn't what you just said.""
He closed his eyes.
"After the funeral, I received a letter. It was from Daniel. He said he'd escaped the accident and was hiding because Graham had threatened him.""
Detective Brooks stepped forward.
"Do you still have the letter?""
"No.""
"Where is it?""
Marcus hesitated.
"I burned it.""
Danielle stared at him.
"You burned evidence that your brother was alive?""
"I was afraid.""
"Of Graham?""
Marcus nodded.
"And you let us believe Daniel was dead because you were afraid?""
"I thought it would protect everyone.""
"Everyone except Daniel," Danielle whispered.
"And now Aaliyah.""
Marcus flinched.
For a moment, his face crumpled.
"I never wanted any of this to happen to her.""
Danielle turned away.
She couldn't bear to hear him say their daughter's name as though his intentions could undo his choices.
Detective Walker spoke into his radio, requesting confirmation of the original accident investigation and the records associated with Daniel Reed's death.
Then he turned back to Marcus.
"Do you have any recent contact information for your brother?""
"No.""
"Have you seen him in the past seven years?""
Marcus hesitated.
Danielle noticed.
"Marcus?""
He looked at his wife.
"Once.""
"When?""
"About a year ago.""
Her knees weakened.
"A year ago?""
"At a parking garage in Atlanta. He approached me after a business conference.""
"What did he want?""
"He said Graham was still moving money. He wanted me to help him expose it.""
"And you refused?""
Marcus said nothing.
Danielle's voice cracked.
"You refused to help your own brother?""
"I had a family to protect.""
"Your family!"" She pointed toward Aaliyah's portrait.
"You couldn't even answer your daughter's phone calls!""
Marcus's eyes filled.
"I know.""
"No, you don't. If you knew, you would have been there.""
A phone vibrated on the dining table.
Everyone turned.
It belonged to Patricia.
She glanced at the screen, frowned, and answered.
"Hello?""
A man's voice came through, distorted and low.
"Is Marcus there?""
Patricia looked toward her brother.
"Who's asking?""
"Tell him Daniel called.""
The color drained from Patricia's face.
"Daniel?""
Marcus crossed the room in two strides.
"Put it on speaker!""
Patricia obeyed.
For several seconds, there was only static.
Then the voice returned.
"Marcus, I know you're with the police. Listen carefully. Don't let them open the second file.""
Marcus grabbed the edge of the table.
"Daniel? Where are you?""
"I don't have much time.""
"Are you alive? Is this really you?""
A bitter laugh crackled through the speaker.
"You've known I was alive for years.""
Marcus closed his eyes.
"Daniel, I can explain.""
"No. You've done enough explaining.""
Danielle stepped toward the phone.
"Daniel, it's Danielle.""
The line went quiet.
Then the man spoke again, his voice softer.
"Danielle. I'm sorry.""
She began crying.
"Where have you been? We buried you.""
"I know.""
"We mourned you.""
"I know.""
"Aaliyah thought you were dead.""
A long silence followed.
Then Daniel whispered, "Aaliyah found me.""
Marcus's head snapped up.
"What?""
"She found me six weeks ago. She contacted me after discovering the documents in your office.""
Danielle covered her mouth.
"She knew you were alive?""
"Yes. She asked me to help her understand what she'd found. I told her to stay away from Graham.""
Marcus gripped the table so hard his knuckles turned white.
"Did you visit her at the hospital?""
"Yes.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
Daniel's voice hardened.
"Because the last time I trusted you, I ended up having to fake my death.""
Marcus staggered backward.
Danielle whispered, "What happened to Aaliyah?""
"I don't know everything. But I know she was afraid. She told me someone had accessed her medical records, and she believed they were trying to find out what she knew.""
Detective Brooks moved closer to the phone.
"Mr. Reed, this is Detective Brooks. We need your location.""
"No.""
"We're investigating your niece's death.""
"I know.""
"Then help us.""
Daniel's voice trembled.
"I will. But not until I know the second file is secure.""
Walker leaned toward the phone.
"What second file?""
"The original financial ledger. The one that proves Graham stole the money and Marcus helped him hide it.""
Marcus shook his head.
"Daniel, stop.""
"You told me the accounts were legitimate. You told me you would fix the records. Then you forged documents to transfer the Ashford property.""
Danielle turned slowly toward her husband.
Marcus said nothing.
Daniel continued.
"Aaliyah found the original ledger. She also found a recording of the meeting where you both discussed the property transfer.""
Brooks exchanged a glance with Walker.
"Where is this file?"" she asked.
"Somewhere Graham can't reach.""
"Where?""
Daniel took a shaky breath.
"Ask Marcus about the night our father died.""
Marcus went completely still.
Danielle stared at him.
Their father had died twelve years earlier after a sudden stroke. Marcus had handled the estate, explaining that their father had left behind debts that required the sale of several assets.
But there had always been one unresolved detail.
The family business's original deed book had disappeared.
Marcus had claimed it was lost during the estate settlement.
Now Danielle remembered Aaliyah's note.
Look where he keeps the things he says never existed.
"Marcus," she whispered, "what does your father's death have to do with this?""
Before he could answer, Daniel spoke again.
"One more thing. Graham knows about the greenhouse. He knows the drive is gone.""
Walker's expression sharpened.
"How do you know that?""
"Because I received a photograph of the house ten minutes ago.""
The call crackled.
"And the person who sent it was standing outside your front door.""
The line went dead.
Everyone turned toward the entrance.
Through the glass, a dark vehicle sat at the end of the driveway.
Its engine was running.
A man stepped out, raised a phone, and took a photograph of the house.
May you like
Then he looked directly at Marcus.
And smiled.
