Chapter 6: The Recording That Changed Everything
Detective Brooks sealed the photograph and ordered the house searched from top to bottom.
Marcus barely noticed.
He was still holding the letter.
His father's handwriting.
The warning.
The reference to the accident.
Everything he had believed about his childhood was collapsing.
"Mr. Reed.""
Brooks stood beside him.
"Are you listening?""
Marcus looked up.
"Yes.""
"We need to discuss the person who entered this house.""
"I don't know who it was.""
"Your brother may be involved.""
Marcus gave a bitter laugh.
"May be?""
Brooks didn't respond.
She understood.
A police officer approached with a small evidence bag.
"Detective, we found this under the desk.""
Inside was the digital recorder from the safe.
Brooks looked at Marcus.
"Do you know what this is?""
"An old voice recorder.""
"Does it belong to your father?""
"Yes.""
She examined the device.
"It's switched on.""
Marcus frowned.
"Still?""
"Apparently.""
The officer connected it to a portable speaker.
A faint clicking sound filled the room.
Then Richard Reed's voice emerged.
"November twenty-first. Private recording.""
Marcus froze.
He hadn't heard his father's voice in four years.
Not a recording.
Not a voicemail.
Nothing.
Richard sounded exactly as Marcus remembered.
Strong.
Impatient.
Certain.
"If anyone finds this, then Daniel has probably gone too far.""
There was a pause.
A chair scraped.
Then Richard continued.
"Gregory Shaw has confirmed that the money was transferred through three separate accounts. Vanessa arranged the final transactions. Daniel signed the authorizations.""
Marcus looked at Brooks.
The recording continued.
"I confronted Daniel this morning. He denied everything. He said I was confused and that Claire had manipulated me.""
Richard gave a tired sigh.
"I should have listened to Marcus when he first questioned Vanessa.""
Marcus closed his eyes.
Then his father's voice became quieter.
"Daniel threatened to expose the accident.""
A sharp sound followed.
As if something had fallen onto a desk.
"He knows what happened to Ethan. He knows I paid to keep the investigation from destroying Marcus's life. But he doesn't know the full truth.""
Marcus opened his eyes.
"What full truth?"" he whispered.
The recording continued.
"Ethan wasn't supposed to die.""
A long silence.
Then Richard said:
"Daniel intended to scare him. He wanted the photographs. He wanted the evidence. But he changed the brakes because he believed Ethan would be driving alone.""
Marcus grabbed the edge of the desk.
"Stop.""
Brooks paused the recording.
"Are you okay?""
"No.""
He looked at the device.
"My father knew?""
Brooks nodded.
"Let's continue.""
Marcus shook his head.
"Play it.""
The recording resumed.
"I made a terrible mistake covering this up. I told myself I was protecting my son. I was protecting the family name. But Ethan's mother lost her child, and Marcus has spent every year believing he caused it.""
Richard's voice cracked.
"If I have the courage to do one thing before I die, it will be to tell the truth.""
Then came a new voice.
Daniel.
"You're not going to do that.""
Marcus's head snapped up.
The recording was still running.
Richard replied, "Get out of my office.""
Daniel laughed.
"You can't send me away. Half the company belongs to me.""
"Not if I have anything to say about it.""
"You think Marcus will forgive you when he finds out what you did?""
"I don't care.""
"You should.""
There was a loud thud.
Then Daniel spoke again.
"Where are the documents?""
Richard's voice was strained.
"Somewhere you will never find them.""
"Give them to me.""
"No.""
A chair scraped violently.
Then a sound Marcus couldn't identify.
The recording ended.
Nobody moved.
Detective Brooks stared at the device.
"That could be extremely important evidence.""
Marcus looked at the speaker.
"Play the last part again.""
Brooks did.
The sound of the thud.
The chair.
Daniel's voice.
Marcus recognized the anger.
He had heard it many times growing up.
His brother had always become violent when he couldn't get what he wanted.
But hearing him threaten their father was different.
"Was that the night Dad died?"" Marcus asked.
Margaret nodded.
"Yes.""
Marcus turned.
"You were there?""
"I was in the house.""
"What happened?""
Margaret looked down.
"I heard them arguing. Then I heard a crash.""
"And?""
"I ran to the office. Daniel was standing over Richard.""
Marcus swallowed.
"Was Dad alive?""
Margaret began crying.
"Yes.""
"Then what?""
"Daniel told me he had fallen. He said he would call an ambulance.""
"Did he?""
Margaret shook her head.
"No.""
Marcus felt sick.
"He didn't call?""
"He told me to get out.""
"Why didn't you call?""
Margaret looked directly at him.
"Because he showed me a photograph.""
"What photograph?""
"Your car. The one from the accident. He told me that if I went to the police, he would tell them your father had paid Ethan's family to stay quiet. He said he would make sure you went to prison.""
Marcus stepped backward.
"So you let him...""
"I was terrified.""
"You let him leave my father there?""
Margaret broke down.
"I thought Richard was already dead. I thought there was nothing I could do.""
Brooks intervened.
"Mrs. Ellis, did you see Daniel leave?""
Margaret nodded.
"Yes.""
"Did he have anything with him?""
"A small black bag.""
"Do you know what was inside?""
Margaret looked toward the safe.
"The original documents.""
Marcus stared at her.
"Then how did they end up here?""
Margaret shook her head.
"I don't know.""
Brooks looked at the officers.
"Preserve the recording. We're going to need a warrant for Daniel's records, vehicle, and property.""
One officer hurried away.
Marcus walked toward the window.
The garden outside was dark.
For four years, he had blamed himself for Ethan's death.
For four years, he had believed his father had died naturally.
For three years, he had believed Claire was a thief.
And for fourteen months, he had trusted Vanessa.
The people he had loved had built a wall of lies around him.
His phone vibrated.
A message from an unknown number.
STOP LISTENING TO DEAD MEN.
Marcus stared at it.
Another message appeared.
YOUR FATHER WASN'T THE ONLY ONE WHO COULD DIE IN THAT OFFICE.
Then a photograph arrived.
Marcus opened it.
It showed Ava.
She was sitting in a hospital waiting room, holding her stuffed rabbit.
The picture had been taken from behind a glass partition.
Someone had been inside the hospital.
Marcus's blood turned to ice.
He called Daniel.
No answer.
He called the hospital.
A nurse answered.
"Charleston Memorial, how may I help you?""
"This is Marcus Reed. My daughter Ava is in the pediatric waiting area. Is she still with my brother?""
"One moment, sir.""
He waited.
Then the nurse returned.
"Mr. Reed, I'm sorry. The child isn't here.""
Marcus felt the floor disappear beneath him.
"What?""
"Your daughter left approximately ten minutes ago.""
"With whom?""
"The gentleman who identified himself as her uncle.""
Marcus turned toward Brooks.
"Daniel has Ava.""
The detective immediately grabbed her radio.
"All units, emergency child abduction. Six-year-old female, Ava Reed. Last seen at Charleston Memorial Hospital with Daniel Reed.""
Marcus ran toward the door.
Brooks caught his arm.
"Wait for backup!""
"That's my daughter!""
"I know. But if Daniel is involved in this, you cannot approach him alone.""
Marcus pulled free.
"He's already taken her!""
Brooks ran beside him.
They reached the parking area.
Marcus's car was still there.
He climbed behind the wheel.
Brooks got into the passenger seat.
"Drive.""
The hospital security team sent the footage to the detective's tablet.
Daniel was clearly visible.
He had approached Ava carrying a pink gift bag.
He had crouched beside her, spoken to her, and shown her something inside the bag.
Then Ava had taken his hand.
Marcus stared at the screen.
"What did he show her?""
The detective zoomed in.
Ava was holding a photograph.
Marcus recognized it.
It was a picture of Claire.
But someone had written something across the bottom.
YOUR MOMMY WANTS YOU TO COME WITH ME.
Marcus slammed his hand against the steering wheel.
"He lied to her.""
Brooks made another call.
"Track Daniel's vehicle. Immediately.""
The officer on the other end responded.
"His phone is switched off.""
"Any known destinations?""
Marcus answered.
"The old family boathouse.""
Brooks turned.
"Where is that?""
"Twenty miles south. Near the marsh.""
"Why would he take her there?""
Marcus remembered the old property.
A small wooden building beside the water.
His father had kept boats there.
Daniel had spent countless afternoons fishing with him.
"There was a basement.""
Brooks looked at him.
"Under a boathouse?""
"Not exactly. A storage room built into the foundation.""
"Is there another entrance?""
Marcus nodded.
"Through the water.""
Brooks immediately called for backup.
As they drove, Marcus kept calling Ava.
Straight to voicemail.
He sent messages.
Daddy is coming.
Stay close to Uncle Daniel.
Don't go near the water.
No response.
Twenty minutes later, they reached the marsh road.
The boathouse appeared between the trees.
A single light was glowing inside.
Marcus stopped the car before the entrance.
Brooks drew her weapon.
"Stay behind me.""
They approached quietly.
Through the window, Marcus could see Daniel standing near the old wooden table.
Ava sat in a chair.
Her stuffed rabbit rested in her lap.
She looked frightened.
Marcus stepped toward the door.
Then he heard Daniel speaking.
"Your father has always been selfish, Ava.""
Ava shook her head.
"That's not true.""
Daniel smiled sadly.
"He's going to make a lot of people angry.""
"I want my daddy.""
"Your daddy made a mistake.""
"I want Mommy.""
Daniel crouched in front of her.
"Your mommy made a mistake too.""
Ava began crying.
"You're not supposed to talk about Mommy like that.""
Daniel's expression hardened.
"Listen to me, little girl. I need you to be brave.""
He reached into his jacket.
Marcus saw something metallic.
A key.
Daniel unlocked a small wooden cabinet.
Inside was a stack of documents and a photograph.
Then he pulled out a second object.
A small black handgun.
Marcus's heart stopped.
Brooks raised her weapon.
"Police!""
Daniel spun around.
The gun came up.
Marcus shouted.
"DANIEL! DON'T!""
Ava screamed.
And in the chaos that followed, the boathouse lights suddenly went out.
A single gunshot shattered the silence.
Then Marcus heard his daughter cry out.
May you like
"DADDY!""
*End of Chapter 6.*
