Chapter 10 - MARIA’S SECRET
Arthur reached the hospital before sunrise.
Maria’s room was empty.
The IV line lay on the floor.
A chair had been overturned.
No blood.
No sign of a struggle beyond one broken lamp.
Security footage showed a man in medical scrubs entering at 3:12 A.M.
His face was hidden by a mask.
At 3:19, he left pushing a wheelchair.
Maria sat in it.
Unconscious or pretending.
Arthur couldn’t tell.
Warren paused the video.
“You recognize him?”
“No.”
“Could it be Daniel?”
Arthur stared at the man’s height.
Build.
Walk.
“Maybe.”
“But you watched Daniel go into the water.”
“I watched him disappear.”
Warren nodded.
“Fair.”
Arthur looked through Maria’s personal effects.
Her purse.
Wallet.
House keys.
A small notebook.
Inside were grocery lists, Noah’s school schedule, medication reminders and little drawings Noah had made for her.
Arthur turned another page.
A name was written at the bottom.
LUCAS SANTOS.
Below it:
CALL IF ANYTHING HAPPENS.
Arthur looked at Warren.
“Who is Lucas?”
They searched.
Lucas Santos.
Thirty-four.
Former federal financial-crimes investigator.
Now working as a private forensic accountant.
Maria’s older brother.
Arthur stared at the screen.
“Maria never told me.”
Warren dialed the number.
Lucas answered immediately.
“Where is my sister?”
Arthur took the phone.
“This is Arthur Vance.”
A pause.
“I know who you are.”
“Maria is missing.”
“I know.”
Arthur’s jaw tightened.
“How?”
“Because she called me last week.”
Arthur looked at Warren.
“About what?”
“Your wife.”
Arthur felt another piece of the puzzle drop into place.
Lucas continued.
“Maria noticed Elena receiving packages addressed to Epsilon Ridge. She thought it was strange, so she asked me to check the company.”
“And you discovered Daniel.”
“Eventually.”
“Why didn’t she tell me?”
Lucas gave a bitter laugh.
“She tried.”
Arthur froze.
“When?”
“Three weeks ago.”
Arthur remembered.
Maria had knocked on his study door one night.
He had been on a conference call.
She’d said, “Mr. Vance, I think there’s something important you need to know.”
He had barely looked up.
“Tomorrow, Maria.”
Tomorrow never came.
Arthur closed his eyes.
Lucas spoke more softly.
“My sister knew Elena was Noah’s mother. She didn’t want to destroy your family over a suspicion.”
“So she investigated.”
“She collected evidence.”
“What evidence?”
“Enough to put Daniel away.”
Arthur opened his eyes.
“Where?”
“I don’t know.”
“You’re her brother.”
“And she didn’t tell me because she thought my phone might be compromised.”
Warren took the phone.
“Mr. Santos, where would Maria go if she needed to hide something?”
Long silence.
Then Lucas said, “There’s one place.”
Twenty minutes later, Arthur and Warren were driving toward a small Catholic church on the south side.
Maria volunteered there twice a month.
They entered through the side door.
The priest recognized her photograph.
“Yes. Maria left something here.”
Arthur’s heart jumped.
“What?”
“A sealed envelope.”
The priest returned with it.
On the front, written in Maria’s handwriting:
FOR ARTHUR — IF I CAN’T TELL HIM MYSELF.
Arthur opened it.
Inside was a key.
And a short note.
Arthur,
If you’re reading this, Daniel knows I found the second ledger.
Do not trust anyone at Vance Development.
The proof is in Safe Deposit Box 417.
And Arthur…
Elena and Daniel are not the only ones involved.
Arthur looked up.
Warren’s face tightened.
“Who else?”
Arthur unfolded the final line.
His hands went cold.
There was a name.
Someone Arthur had trusted his entire life.
May you like
His attorney.
Richard Cole.
