Chapter 7: The Man Behind The Voice
The hallway went silent.
Too silent.
I stood frozen in the middle of my apartment, phone pressed against my ear, my weapon raised toward the door.
Andre’s breathing was the only sound.
“Tiana,” he whispered.
I didn’t answer.
Because I was listening.
Waiting.
The person outside didn’t knock again.
They didn’t call my name.
They didn’t try to force the door.
They just waited.
Like they knew patience was more frightening than violence.
Andre spoke again.
“Do not open it.””
My eyes stayed on the door.
“But it sounds like Reed.””
“No.””
His answer came instantly.
Too instantly.
“How do you know?””
“Because Reed would never announce himself like that.””
I frowned.
“What?””
“Marcus Reed is careful. He’s suspicious. He doesn’t trust anyone.””
I thought about the diner.
The folder.
The way he watched every person who entered.
Andre continued.
“He wouldn’t stand outside your apartment and tell someone inside exactly who he is.””
A cold feeling moved through me.
He was right.
The man outside knew Reed’s name.
But that didn’t mean he was Reed.
I stepped closer to the door.
“Then who is it?””
Andre didn’t answer.
That scared me more.
“Tiana.””
I heard movement outside.
A slow step.
Then another.
Whoever was there was walking away.
I waited.
Five seconds.
Ten.
Then I looked through the peephole.
The hallway was empty.
My heart didn’t relax.
It got worse.
Because standing in front of my door was a small envelope.
I opened the door just enough to grab it.
Inside was a photograph.
My hands shook before I even looked.
I already knew.
Another picture.
Another piece of my father’s past.
I turned it over.
The back had writing.
*YOU’RE LOOKING FOR THE WRONG PERSON.*
Below it:
*ASK REED WHY HE NEVER TOLD YOU ABOUT YOUR BROTHER.*
I stopped.
My entire body went still.
My brother.
The word felt foreign.
Because I didn’t have a brother.
I had grown up as an only child.
My father had one daughter.
Me.
I looked at the picture.
And my blood ran cold.
A young boy stood beside my father.
The boy couldn’t have been older than ten.
And around his neck was the same silver pendant.
A matching necklace.
My phone slipped slightly in my hand.
Andre heard my silence.
“What did you find?””
I couldn’t speak.
“Tiana.””
I finally whispered:
“My father had another child.””
The silence on the other end was immediate.
Andre knew.
That hurt more than anything.
“You knew.””
“Tiana—”
“You knew.””
“I knew there was a possibility.””
“A possibility?””
My voice cracked.
“You knew my entire life was a lie.””
“I was trying to protect you.””
“Everyone says that.””
I stared at the photograph.
“Everyone says they’re protecting me while they hide everything.””
Andre didn’t argue.
Because he knew he deserved that.
“Who is he?””
I asked.
A long pause.
Then:
“His name is Noah.””
I closed my eyes.
“Noah Brooks.””
“Yes.””
“How?””
Andre exhaled.
“Your father never told anyone because he was afraid.””
“Afraid of what?””
“Of what would happen if people knew.””
I looked at the picture again.
The boy.
The necklace.
The secret.
“My father had another child, and nobody told me?””
“Tiana…”
“No.””
My voice became harder.
“No more secrets.””
I ended the call.
Then immediately called Reed.
He answered after one ring.
“Tiana?””
“Where are you?””
A pause.
“On my way to you.””
“Did you come to my apartment?””
“No.””
My stomach dropped.
“Are you sure?””
“Yes.””
“Someone was here.””
His voice changed.
“What?””
“Someone pretending to be you.””
Silence.
Then:
“Are you inside?””
“Yes.””
“Lock everything.””
I looked at the door.
“It already is.””
“Good.””
I heard his breathing.
“Tiana, listen carefully.””
“What?””
“Do not trust anyone who shows up there.””
The words bothered me.
“Anyone?””
“Yes.””
“Even you?””
A pause.
Then Reed said:
“Especially me.””
I froze.
“What does that mean?””
Before he answered, there was a loud crash outside.
Not my door.
The window.
I turned.
The glass cracked.
A small object landed on the floor.
I immediately moved away.
“Tiana?””
“Someone threw something through my window.””
“Leave.””
I grabbed the object carefully.
It was a flash drive.
My heart stopped.
No.
Not possible.
I stared at it.
The same thing everyone had been searching for.
The thing my father died protecting.
“Tiana?””
I didn’t answer.
Because another message appeared on my phone.
Unknown number.
*YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES BEFORE THEY ARRIVE.*
Below it:
*OPEN THE DRIVE.*
I looked at the flash drive.
Then at the door.
Then at the necklace.
Everything was connected.
I ran to my laptop.
“Tiana, what are you doing?””
“Finding out the truth.””
I plugged the drive in.
The screen lit up.
One folder.
No password.
No security.
Just one file.
A video.
Created seven years ago.
The date of my father’s death.
My hand hovered over the mouse.
Then I clicked.
The screen went black.
A few seconds later, a familiar face appeared.
My father.
I stopped breathing.
He looked older than I remembered.
Tired.
Scared.
But alive.
The recording was clearly made in a hurry.
“If you’re watching this,” he said, “then something happened to me.””
My eyes filled instantly.
I hadn’t heard his voice in seven years.
Not like this.
Not real.
He continued.
“I need you to understand something.””
He looked directly into the camera.
“Tiana, I never abandoned you.””
A tear slipped down my face.
“I know what people will tell you.””
He paused.
“They will say I made mistakes.””
Another pause.
“They will say I was involved.””
My chest tightened.
“But you need to know the truth.””
He leaned closer.
“I was trying to expose the people who killed innocent people.””
The video glitched.
Then continued.
“Derek Vale is only one part of this.””
My heart raced.
“Someone inside the department has been protecting him for years.””
I looked toward the door.
My father’s voice continued.
“And the person you trust most may be the person you should fear.””
The screen flickered.
Then his final words appeared.
“If something happens to me, find Noah.””
I froze.
The video ended.
No explanation.
No answer.
Just one name.
Noah.
My brother.
The laptop suddenly shut off.
Not powered down.
Disconnected.
The lights in my apartment went dark.
Someone had cut the electricity.
I grabbed my weapon.
My phone flashlight turned on.
Then I heard it.
A key turning in my front door.
Impossible.
I had locked it.
Someone outside whispered.
“Tiana.””
My blood froze.
Because this time, I recognized the voice.
It wasn’t a fake.
It wasn’t a trick.
It was Reed.
“Open the door.””
I didn’t move.
“Tiana.””
His voice sounded desperate.
“I know what you found.””
My grip tightened.
“How?””
Silence.
Then:
“Because I was the one who put the flash drive there.””
My heart stopped.
The door handle moved.
Slowly.
And Reed whispered the words that destroyed the last bit of trust I had left.
“I know about Noah because he’s not your brother.””
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A pause.
“He’s mine.””
