Chapter 4: The Man Behind the Hospital Door
"Don't open it.""
Claire's fingers tightened around Marcus's wrist.
He stared at the door.
Three seconds earlier, he had believed his brother was standing outside.
Now he wasn't sure who was waiting on the other side.
"Marcus?"" Daniel called again.
"Open the door.""
Claire shook her head.
"Please.""
Marcus moved between her bed and the entrance.
"Daniel, what do you want?""
"To talk to you.""
"Then talk.""
There was a pause.
"I know Claire told you something.""
Marcus glanced at his former wife.
"How would you know that?""
"Because she's been lying to you for years.""
Claire's face went pale.
Daniel continued.
"Open the door, Marcus. We don't have much time.""
Marcus reached for his phone and silently sent Detective Brooks a message.
Need immediate assistance. Daniel outside ICU room. Claire says he may be involved.
Then he stepped closer to the door.
"What did Dad leave in the safe?""
Silence.
Finally, Daniel answered.
"Something that belongs to me.""
Marcus frowned.
"Why would our father leave something that belongs to you?""
"Because he knew what was coming.""
"You're not making sense.""
"Marcus, listen carefully. Claire has been manipulating you since the day you met her. She's using this situation to destroy what's left of our family.""
Behind him, Claire whispered, "He's lying.""
Daniel heard her.
His voice changed.
"Claire, I know you're awake.""
Marcus's blood ran cold.
"How?""
"Because I saw you moving when the nurses changed your medication.""
Marcus turned toward the bed.
Claire looked terrified.
"What medication?"" Marcus asked.
Daniel gave a short laugh.
"Ask her.""
Marcus looked back at the door.
"What did you give her?""
"Nothing. I'm trying to protect her.""
"Then why won't you explain what happened at the wedding?""
Another silence.
Then Daniel said something that made Marcus step away from the door.
"Because Vanessa wasn't supposed to push her into the pool.""
Marcus felt his stomach drop.
"What?""
"I told Vanessa to frighten Claire. That's all. She was supposed to take the documents and leave.""
Claire began crying.
Marcus stared at the door.
"You knew she was going to the pool?""
"Yes.""
"And you knew there was a chain?""
Daniel didn't answer.
Marcus's voice rose.
"YOU KNEW?""
"Keep your voice down.""
"My daughter's mother almost died!""
"Your daughter was never supposed to be there.""
Marcus clenched his fists.
The sentence revealed more than Daniel intended.
"You knew Ava was at the wedding.""
"I didn't know she'd wander away.""
"She saw everything.""
"Then we have a problem.""
Marcus stepped closer to the door.
"What did you just say?""
Daniel's voice dropped.
"Marcus, I don't want to hurt you. But if Ava tells the police what she saw, none of us gets out of this.""
Marcus felt something inside him break.
"You stay away from my daughter.""
"I am your brother.""
"You're nothing to me right now.""
The door handle moved again.
Then a nurse appeared at the far end of the corridor.
"Sir? You can't stand here. Visiting hours are over.""
Daniel's footsteps moved away.
Marcus waited until he heard the elevator.
Then he turned toward Claire.
"Tell me everything.""
Claire wiped her cheeks.
"Your father discovered that Daniel and Vanessa were working together.""
Marcus shook his head.
"Daniel said he wanted to protect me.""
"That's what he wants you to believe.""
"Why would he kill Dad?""
Claire looked at the ceiling.
"Because your father planned to report him.""
She explained that Richard had discovered several unauthorized transfers from Reed Commercial Holdings. At first, he suspected Gregory Shaw, the financial adviser.
But when Richard confronted Gregory, the adviser produced documents showing that Daniel had approved the transactions.
Richard was furious.
He gave Daniel forty-eight hours to return the money and resign.
Daniel refused.
Instead, he approached Vanessa.
She had been working for Richard's private investment office and knew where the records were kept.
Together, they began moving money through companies that appeared to own properties in three different states.
"Your father found out," Claire whispered.
"He told me because he trusted me.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"I tried.""
Marcus looked away.
"I know.""
"You didn't believe me.""
"I know.""
Claire swallowed.
"The night before he died, Richard called me. He said he had evidence that would put Daniel in prison. He asked me to make copies.""
"Did you?""
"Yes.""
"Where are they?""
Claire looked toward her bedside table.
"They aren't here.""
Marcus followed her gaze.
"Where did you hide them?""
"I didn't hide them. I gave them to someone I trusted.""
"Who?""
Claire hesitated.
"Your mother.""
Marcus froze.
His mother, Eleanor Reed, had died two years before Richard.
He remembered her as a quiet woman who spent most of her time in the family garden.
"That's impossible.""
Claire shook her head.
"Not your mother. Your father's second wife.""
Marcus stared.
"Richard remarried?""
Claire closed her eyes.
"Yes.""
He struggled to process the information.
His father had never mentioned another marriage.
There had been no funeral announcement, no family gathering, no photographs.
"Who was she?""
Claire whispered a name.
"Margaret Ellis.""
Marcus's eyes widened.
Mrs. Ellis.
The housekeeper.
"She was married to my father?""
Claire nodded.
"Secretly. They married six months before he died.""
Marcus sank into the chair.
"Why would he hide that?""
"Because Daniel threatened to expose her past.""
Before Marcus could ask another question, the door opened.
Detective Brooks entered with two uniformed officers.
"Mr. Reed, are you all right?""
Marcus stood.
"Daniel was just here.""
Brooks immediately looked toward the corridor.
"Where is he?""
"He left.""
"Did he threaten you?""
Marcus glanced at Claire.
"He admitted he knew Vanessa was going to attack her.""
Brooks took out her notebook.
"Did he say anything else?""
"He said Vanessa wasn't supposed to push Claire into the pool.""
The detective exchanged a look with one of the officers.
"That's an admission of prior knowledge.""
Marcus nodded.
"And Claire says my father secretly married Margaret Ellis.""
Brooks stopped writing.
"Margaret Ellis, the housekeeper?""
"Yes.""
The detective looked at Claire.
"Is that true?""
Claire nodded weakly.
"Richard married me as a witness," she whispered.
"I have a copy of the marriage certificate.""
Brooks leaned forward.
"Where is it?""
Claire looked at Marcus.
"At the house.""
"Which house?""
"Richard's old house. Behind the clock in his office.""
Marcus remembered the key.
The safe.
The detective straightened.
"Nobody is going near that property without police supervision.""
A phone vibrated.
One of the officers checked his screen.
"Detective, we've got a problem.""
"What?""
"The security team at the Reed property reports someone has entered the house.""
Brooks looked at Marcus.
"Who?""
The officer swallowed.
"Margaret Ellis.""
Marcus frowned.
"She's supposed to be there?""
"Not according to the officers. She was seen leaving the property thirty minutes ago carrying a metal box.""
Claire suddenly grabbed Marcus's hand.
"That's it.""
"What?""
"The evidence.""
Brooks turned toward her.
"What evidence?""
Claire's eyes filled with tears.
"Richard kept the original records in that box.""
The detective immediately picked up her radio.
"All units, locate Margaret Ellis. Possible removal of evidence connected to attempted murder and financial fraud.""
Marcus reached for his jacket.
"I'm coming.""
Brooks blocked him.
"Absolutely not.""
"That's my father's house.""
"And this is an active criminal investigation.""
Marcus looked at Claire.
She was trembling.
"Marcus," she whispered, "if Margaret has that box, you need to find out what Daniel knows.""
"Why?""
Claire's answer came softly.
"Because Richard didn't die before he could expose your brother.""
May you like
She paused.
"He died because he already had.""
Related Stories
