Chapter 6: The Woman Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
The words hung in the room long after the gunfire stopped.
“She’s alive.””
Arthur stared at Victoria.
His mother had been dead for nine years.
He had watched doctors cover her body.
He had signed the death certificate.
He had stood beside her grave.
“You’re lying,” he whispered.
Victoria shook her head.
“I wish I were.””
Michael grabbed Arthur’s shoulder.
“Listen to me.””
Arthur jerked away.
“No. No more secrets.””
Michael stopped.
Arthur pointed at Victoria.
“She says my mother is alive.””
Then he pointed at Daniel.
“You knew my brother survived.””
Then at Thomas.
“You knew my father had enemies.””
His voice broke.
“And somehow I’m the only person in this house who knew nothing.””
Nobody answered.
Arthur laughed bitterly.
“Perfect.””
Detective Collins rose from behind the dining table.
“Everybody stay down until we know who fired that shot.””
An officer moved carefully toward the shattered window.
“No visible shooter,” he said.
“Check the perimeter,” Collins ordered.
Another officer rushed toward the front hallway.
Arthur pulled Lily closer.
“Are you okay?””
She nodded, though her eyes were huge.
“Daddy…”
“It’s okay.””
“Is Grandma really alive?””
Arthur looked at Victoria.
“I don’t know.””
Victoria whispered, “Yes.””
Lily’s face tightened.
“But Grandma died.””
“I know.””
“Then how can she be alive?””
Arthur had no answer.
Michael crouched beside Lily.
“Your grandmother didn’t die.””
Arthur snapped toward him.
“Don't talk to her about this.””
Michael nodded.
Arthur suddenly noticed the brass key still lying on the table.
He picked it up.
“This ends tonight.””
Thomas looked at him.
“What are you going to do?””
“Find that vault.””
Michael shook his head.
“Not yet.””
Arthur stared at him.
“Why?””
“Because they know we have the key.””
“So?””
“So the vault may be watched.””
Arthur looked around the house.
“How much more dangerous can this get?””
Thomas gave him a grim look.
“Much more.””
A police radio crackled.
“Detective?””
Collins turned.
An officer stood near the front door.
“We found tire tracks outside.””
“What kind?””
“Black SUV. Recent.””
Arthur frowned.
“Any plates?””
The officer shook his head.
“But there's something else.””
He held up a small object in a plastic bag.
A silver pendant.
Arthur stared at it.
“That belongs to my mother.””
Victoria closed her eyes.
Arthur took a step forward.
“How did you get that?””
The officer answered.
“It was hanging from a tree branch near the driveway.””
Arthur took the bag.
His fingers trembled.
He remembered the pendant.
His mother had worn it every Sunday when he was a child.
A tiny silver locket.
Inside was a photograph of Arthur and Michael as boys.
Arthur opened it.
His breath caught.
There was something inside the locket.
A folded strip of paper.
Detective Collins carefully opened it.
Three words were written in black ink.
*COME ALONE, ARTHUR.*
Beneath them was an address.
Arthur recognized it instantly.
The old lake house.
His father's abandoned property.
The same place where his family used to spend summers.
Michael saw the address.
“No.””
Arthur looked at him.
“What?””
“You can't go there.””
“Why?””
“Because that’s where everything started.””
Arthur stared.
“What happened there?””
Michael looked toward Thomas.
Thomas answered.
“Your father took me there the night before he disappeared.””
Arthur’s heart pounded.
“My father disappeared?””
“I thought he died,” Arthur said.
Thomas nodded.
“That was the story.””
“And the truth?””
Thomas hesitated.
“He went into hiding.””
Arthur’s eyes widened.
“Why?””
“Because he realized someone inside the family had betrayed him.””
Arthur looked at Victoria.
She shook her head.
“It wasn’t me.””
“Then who?””
Thomas’s answer came quietly.
“Your mother.””
Arthur stopped breathing.
“No.””
Michael closed his eyes.
Arthur looked at him.
“You knew.””
“I suspected.””
“You knew.””
“I didn't have proof.””
Arthur backed away.
“My mother betrayed my father?””
Thomas nodded.
“She was moving money.””
Arthur shook his head.
“She loved him.””
Thomas looked at him.
“People can love each other and still keep terrible secrets.””
Arthur thought about the insurance policy.
His mother's forged signature.
The hidden accounts.
The five million dollars.
“Why fake her death?””
Michael looked down.
“That wasn't her idea.””
Arthur's voice dropped.
“Then whose?””
“Dad's.””
Arthur stared.
“My father made everyone believe she died?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because he thought she was in danger.””
Arthur suddenly felt dizzy.
His entire family history had become a maze of lies.
“What happened to her after that?””
No one answered.
Arthur’s eyes moved from face to face.
“What happened to my mother?””
Victoria whispered,
“She ran.””
“Where?””
“I don't know.””
“You said she was alive.””
“I know she was alive three years ago.””
Arthur froze.
“Three years ago?””
Victoria nodded.
“She contacted me.””
“When?””
“The night I found Michael.””
Arthur stared.
“You met them both?””
“Yes.””
“Together?””
Victoria nodded.
Arthur looked at Michael.
“You knew she contacted Victoria?””
Michael said nothing.
Arthur’s voice hardened.
“Answer me.””
“Yes.””
Arthur turned away.
For the first time that night, his anger disappeared.
Only exhaustion remained.
“You should have told me.””
Michael looked heartbroken.
“I wanted to.””
“When?””
“Before we knew who was watching you.””
Arthur looked down at Lily.
She was staring at him.
He knelt.
“Baby, listen to me.””
She nodded.
“You are not leaving my side.””
“Okay.””
“No matter what happens.””
“Okay.””
Arthur stood.
Detective Collins watched him.
“You’re thinking about going to that address.””
“Yes.””
“You’re not going alone.””
Arthur shook his head.
“The note says alone.””
“That’s not going to happen.””
Thomas stepped forward.
“Detective, if the person behind this believes Arthur is coming alone, sending a convoy could get him killed.””
Collins stared at him.
“And sending him alone could get him killed.””
Arthur looked at both of them.
“I’m going.””
Michael stepped forward.
“I’m coming.””
“No.””
“I’m your brother.””
“Exactly.””
Arthur’s voice softened.
“I've already lost you once.””
Michael swallowed.
“You didn't lose me.””
“I thought I did.””
Arthur looked toward the shattered window.
“I’m not risking it again.””
Michael nodded.
“But I can’t let you walk into a trap alone.””
Arthur looked at him.
“You said the vault was being watched.””
“It might be.””
“Then take me somewhere else.””
Michael frowned.
Arthur held up the key.
“We won't use the vault.””
“Where will we go?””
Arthur looked at Daniel.
“You said my father left instructions.””
Daniel nodded.
“Then you know another location.””
Daniel hesitated.
“Yes.””
“Take us there.””
“It may not be safe.””
“Nothing is safe anymore.””
Daniel took out his phone.
“I know a place.””
Before he could explain, his phone vibrated.
Everyone went silent.
Daniel looked at the screen.
No caller ID.
He answered.
“Hello?””
A distorted voice spoke.
Daniel’s face changed.
The voice was faint but clear enough for Arthur to hear.
“Tell Arthur not to trust his brother.””
Arthur looked at Michael.
Michael went pale.
Daniel said,
“Who is this?””
The voice ignored him.
“Tell him the girl knows.””
Daniel’s eyes moved toward Lily.
Arthur stepped forward.
“What does that mean?””
The voice continued.
“Ask your daughter what she saw in the basement.””
Lily suddenly began crying.
Arthur froze.
“What basement?””
She shook her head.
“Lily?””
“I don't want to tell.””
Arthur knelt.
“It's okay.””
She looked at Victoria.
Then Michael.
Then the phone.
“I saw Uncle Michael.””
Michael stared.
“What?””
Lily wiped her tears.
“Before tonight.””
Arthur felt the air leave his lungs.
Michael shook his head.
“That’s impossible.””
Lily pointed toward the hallway.
“He came to our house before.””
Arthur looked at Michael.
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
“I wasn't here.””
Lily nodded.
“You were.””
Michael went silent.
Lily continued.
“You stood outside Daddy’s bedroom.””
Michael’s face turned white.
“And you were holding something.””
Arthur’s voice became very quiet.
“What were you holding?””
Lily looked at him.
“A picture.””
“What picture?””
“One of Grandma.””
Arthur looked at Michael.
Michael whispered,
“That wasn't me.””
Lily shook her head.
“It was.””
Arthur stepped back.
Michael stared at Lily.
“How old were you?””
“Seven.””
“That was a year ago.””
Michael looked horrified.
“I wasn't in this country a year ago.””
Arthur stared.
“Then who was?””
The call suddenly disconnected.
Daniel lowered the phone.
Nobody moved.
Arthur looked at Michael.
His brother’s face was full of shock.
Then a thought struck Arthur.
A thought so frightening that he almost refused to say it.
“There are two people.””
Michael frowned.
“What?””
“One of you is lying.””
Thomas immediately reached for his weapon.
Arthur looked at him.
“Why?””
Thomas pointed toward the rear hallway.
“Because somebody just opened the basement door.””
Everyone turned.
The basement entrance stood at the end of the hall.
Its door was slowly swinging open.
A soft yellow light spilled onto the floor.
Arthur whispered,
“We don't have a basement light.””
Michael stared.
“Exactly.””
The light flickered.
Then a woman's voice came from downstairs.
Arthur knew it instantly.
The voice from childhood.
The voice from every birthday.
The voice he had cried for at a grave.
“Arthur…”
He stopped breathing.
“Mom?””
The voice answered.
“Yes, sweetheart.””
Arthur took one step toward the stairs.
Victoria grabbed his arm.
“Don't.””
He looked at her.
“Why?””
Victoria's face was filled with terror.
“Because that's not your mother.””
Then a second voice came from the basement.
This one belonged to someone Arthur knew even better.
His dead father.
“Arthur, come downstairs.””
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And in that moment, Arthur realized the most terrifying possibility of all.
Someone had been inside his family’s secrets long enough to imitate the voices of the dead.
