Chapter 5: The Mechanic Who Disappeared
Detective Collins took my phone and enlarged the photograph.
“Do you recognize the man beside Mr. Cole?”” he asked.
“Yes. His name is Raymond.””
“Raymond what?””
I tried to remember.
“Raymond Miller. He worked at Lakeside Auto Service. He inspected my car.””
The detective exchanged another glance with his partner.
“Do you know where he lives?””
“No.””
Vanessa suddenly spoke.
“He moved.””
Everyone turned toward her.
Detective Collins raised an eyebrow.
“When?””
“About two weeks after the accident.””
“How do you know?””
She hesitated.
“Adrian mentioned it.””
I watched her face.
“You've been in contact with Raymond?””
“No.””
“Then why would Adrian tell you where he moved?””
She looked down.
“I don't know.””
Detective Collins handed my phone back.
“Mr. Hale, can you forward that photograph to our department?””
“Of course.””
He gave me his card.
“We'll investigate the repair shop. In the meantime, don't contact Mr. Cole or attempt to confront him.””
I nodded.
But I already knew Adrian wasn't going to wait quietly.
My phone buzzed.
An incoming call.
Adrian Cole.
I looked at the detectives.
Detective Collins nodded.
“Put it on speaker.””
I answered.
“Hello, Adrian.””
His voice sounded strained.
“Marcus, we need to talk.””
“About what?””
“About Vanessa.””
I glanced at my wife.
“She seems to have a lot to say about you.””
“Don't listen to her. She's confused.””
I almost smiled.
“That's funny. She said the same thing about me.””
Adrian exhaled sharply.
“Listen carefully. I know you've been talking to Daniel and the police. You're making a serious mistake.””
“Am I?””
“You have no idea what's going on.””
“Then explain it.””
There was a pause.
Then Adrian lowered his voice.
“Your accident wasn't supposed to happen like that.””
My heart stopped.
Detective Collins immediately gestured for me to keep him talking.
I swallowed.
“What do you mean?””
“I mean the plan was supposed to scare you. Nothing more.””
The room went silent.
“What plan?””
Adrian cursed under his breath.
“Forget I said anything.””
“Adrian, did you arrange the brake failure?””
“Don't pretend you're innocent, Marcus.””
“What does that mean?””
“You've spent years making enemies. You think everyone admired your success? You think nobody wanted what you had?””
I tightened my grip on the phone.
“Did you pay someone to damage my car?””
He laughed nervously.
“You should ask your wife why she wanted you out of the way.””
Vanessa stood abruptly.
“Adrian, stop!””
He heard her.
“Vanessa?””
I looked at her.
She was shaking her head.
Adrian continued.
“You told me you wanted a different life. You told me Marcus was never going to recover.””
“That's not true!”” she cried.
“You told me everything would be easier once he was gone.””
I felt something break inside me.
“Adrian,” I said quietly, “did you intend to kill me?””
Silence.
Then he whispered:
“I didn't think you'd survive.””
The call ended.
Detective Collins immediately called for another unit.
Vanessa collapsed onto the sofa.
I stared at the phone.
I had spent eight months believing my accident had been a terrible stroke of bad luck.
Now the man who had been kissing my wife had practically admitted that someone had tried to murder me.
And Vanessa had apparently known enough to keep quiet.
Detective Miller approached her.
“Mrs. Hale, we'd like you to accompany us to the station.””
She looked at me.
“Marcus, please.””
I didn't respond.
“Please tell them I didn't know.””
I looked at her for a long moment.
“Did you know Adrian intended to hurt me?””
She began crying.
“I thought he only wanted to frighten you.””
“Why?””
“Because he said you would never agree to a divorce.””
I stared at her.
“So you agreed to let him damage my car?””
“No! I didn't know about the brakes until afterward!””
“Then why did you withdraw the complaint?””
She covered her mouth.
“I was afraid.””
“Of him?””
She nodded.
Detective Collins stepped forward.
“Mrs. Hale, we're going to need a complete statement.””
She slowly stood.
As the officers escorted her toward the front door, she turned around.
“Marcus?””
I looked at her.
“There's something else you need to know.””
“What?””
“Adrian wasn't the person who first suggested getting rid of you.””
I felt the room go cold.
“Who was?””
She glanced at Daniel.
Then she looked back at me.
“Your brother.””
I stopped breathing.
My younger brother, Ethan.
The boy I had raised after our father died.
The teenager whose college tuition I had paid.
The man who had stood beside my hospital bed and cried when the doctors told him I might never see again.
“No,” I whispered.
Vanessa nodded.
“Ethan introduced me to Adrian. He said Adrian could help us manage your business while you recovered.””
I shook my head.
“Ethan wouldn't do that.””
“He wanted control of your company.””
“Stop.””
“Marcus—”
“I said stop!””
My voice echoed through the room.
The detectives exchanged glances.
Vanessa lowered her eyes.
“I thought you deserved to know.””
Then she was gone.
Daniel moved closer.
“Marcus, we need to verify this before drawing conclusions.””
I nodded, although my mind was already racing.
Ethan had visited me every Sunday during the first two months after the accident.
He had brought flowers.
He had read me business reports.
He had promised that everything was under control.
I remembered one afternoon when he sat beside my bed and said, “Don't worry about the company, brother. I'll protect everything you've built.””
I had thanked him.
I had trusted him.
My phone rang.
Ethan.
I stared at his name.
Daniel noticed.
“Don't answer unless we record the conversation through the proper process.””
I declined the call.
A second later, a message appeared.
Brother, I heard your eyesight is coming back. We need to meet. There's something I've been hiding from you.
I read it aloud.
Daniel looked concerned.
“What does he want?””
Before I could answer, another message arrived.
Don't trust Vanessa. But whatever you do, don't let the police find the original accident report.
My fingers went cold.
“Daniel?””
“Yes?””
I showed him the message.
He read it carefully.
Then he asked a question that changed everything.
“Marcus, do you remember where your brother was the night of your accident?””
I closed my eyes.
I remembered the rain.
The highway.
The truck.
And one other detail.
A phone call from Ethan, just seven minutes before the crash.
He had told me to take the old highway home.
He said the main road was blocked.
May you like
I opened my eyes.
“Daniel, I think I need to see my brother.””
