Chapter 4 - The Brother Who Knew Too Much
Daniel’s hand tightened around the phone.
“What did you just say?”
Michael exhaled.
“I’m coming over.”
“No.”
“Daniel—”
“How do you know what Vanessa knows?”
Silence.
Officer Grant watched him.
Daniel put the call on speaker.
Michael finally said, “There are things Claire never told you.”
“Everybody keeps saying that.”
“Because it’s true.”
“What things?”
“Not over the phone.”
Daniel laughed once.
There was no humor in it.
“My children were attacked. I found what looks like my missing wife’s coat inside a wall. There’s a hidden room under my house with a chain bolted to the floor, and Claire left a message telling me not to trust you.”
Nothing.
“Michael?”
Then Daniel heard a car door slam on his brother’s end.
“Listen to me carefully,” Michael said.
Daniel stared at Grant.
“I’m listening.”
“Vanessa didn’t start this.”
“Then who did?”
“Claire.”
Daniel felt rage shoot through him.
“Watch your mouth.”
“I’m trying to keep you alive.”
The call ended.
Daniel immediately called back.
No answer.
Grant touched his shoulder.
“We need to secure the property.”
“What about my kids?”
“Keep them with officers upstairs.”
Daniel looked at the steel room.
The chain.
The pictures.
The recorder.
His whole life suddenly felt staged.
Built around secrets.
He and Grant returned upstairs.
Crime scene technicians were already moving through the hallway.
Vanessa sat handcuffed in a dining chair.
Sophie was wrapped in a blanket.
Ethan refused one.
Daniel walked straight to Vanessa.
“What tunnels?”
She smiled faintly.
“So Claire left you something.”
He leaned down.
“What tunnels?”
“You really don’t know?”
“No.”
“That’s almost funny.”
Daniel gripped the chair.
Officer Grant stepped closer.
Vanessa continued.
“This house was built during Prohibition. Your great-grandfather used underground passages to move liquor from the river.”
Daniel knew the family story.
He had always thought the tunnels had collapsed decades ago.
“You’ve been using them.”
“Not just me.”
“Michael?”
Vanessa looked toward the front windows.
“Ask your brother.”
Daniel leaned closer.
“Where is Claire?”
That finally changed her expression.
Something strange appeared in her eyes.
Not fear.
Jealousy.
“You still love her.”
Daniel almost laughed.
“My children’s mother disappeared. I’m asking where she is.”
“Same thing.”
“Where is she?”
Vanessa looked at Sophie.
The little girl shrank behind Ethan.
Daniel stepped between them.
“Look at me.”
Vanessa did.
“You found her coat,” she said.
“Yes.”
“You think that means she died in that wall?”
Daniel said nothing.
Vanessa smiled.
“Then why was I bringing food downstairs?”
His pulse jumped.
“You tell me.”
“She survived.”
The room seemed to tilt.
Daniel stared at her.
“What?”
“Claire survived that night.”
His knees almost failed him.
Ethan whispered, “Dad?”
Daniel didn’t move.
“Where is she?”
Vanessa looked toward the library.
“Maybe under your feet.”
Daniel stepped closer.
Grant blocked him from touching her.
“You’re lying.”
Vanessa’s smile returned.
“Then explain the food.”
Daniel’s phone buzzed.
A text from Michael.
One photograph.
Daniel opened it.
Claire.
Older.
Thin.
Alive.
Standing beside Michael.
The timestamp showed it had been taken just six months earlier.
May you like
Beneath the image was one sentence.
SHE MADE ME KEEP HER HIDDEN.
