The car smelled faintly of rain and old leather.<\/p>\n
Nobody spoke for several blocks.<\/p>\n
Rachel drove with both hands fixed on the steering wheel. Maya sat beside her, scrolling through messages and making notes. Caroline and I were in the back seat, separated by a narrow space that felt strangely formal.<\/p>\n
Jessica's last sentence remained between us.<\/p>\n
I chose you because my father told me to marry you.<\/p>\n
I looked at Caroline.<\/p>\n
She was staring through the window.<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you know?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n
She shook her head.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
I believed her.<\/p>\n
For the first time that day, I was grateful for one uncomplicated answer.<\/p>\n
My phone rang again.<\/p>\n
Jessica.<\/p>\n
I let it go.<\/p>\n
Then another call.<\/p>\n
Nathan.<\/p>\n
I answered.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
His voice was low.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou shouldn't be with Rachel.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe'll turn this into a case before you understand what happened.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt already is a case.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don't know what you're holding.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know my wife married me because your father told her to.\u201d<\/p>\n
There was silence.<\/p>\n
Then Nathan said, \u201cThat's not the whole reason.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI'll tell you when you're alone.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEthan\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don't get to keep asking me to trust people who have spent years lying to me.\u201d<\/p>\n
He exhaled.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen listen carefully. Samuel didn't choose Jessica because he wanted her to spy on you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen why?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe wanted access to something Arthur had.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe birth certificate?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
Nathan hesitated.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe trust.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rachel glanced at me in the rearview mirror.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat trust?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe one Margaret created before you were born.\u201d<\/p>\n
Caroline leaned forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy mother created a trust?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFor Daniel?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFor you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her voice caught.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat was in it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLand.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow much?\u201d<\/p>\n
Nathan gave a humorless laugh.<\/p>\n
\u201cEnough that my father believed your son would eventually control it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The call ended.<\/p>\n
I stared at the phone.<\/p>\n
Rachel said, \u201cDon't call him back yet.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause he just gave you a motive.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFor Samuel.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd possibly for himself.\u201d<\/p>\n
Maya turned around.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is another issue.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe company that received the eighteen thousand dollars is not registered to Nathan personally.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen who owns it?\u201d<\/p>\n
She showed me the corporate filing.<\/p>\n
The owner was a trust.<\/p>\n
The beneficiary was listed as Samuel Hayes.<\/p>\n
I read the name twice.<\/p>\n
\u201cHayes?\u201d<\/p>\n
Nathan's surname was different.<\/p>\n
So was Jessica's.<\/p>\n
Rachel looked at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cSamuel isn't her biological father.\u201d<\/p>\n
The car went silent.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
Maya nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe assumed the name because of the records, but the company documents use Samuel Hayes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Caroline looked at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cArthur's surname.\u201d<\/p>\n
I felt a chill.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy would he use my father's name?\u201d<\/p>\n
Nobody answered.<\/p>\n
Then Rachel said, \u201cThat's what we need to find out.\u201d<\/p>\n
We returned to the hospital.<\/p>\n
Dad was awake.<\/p>\n
His breathing had improved, but his face looked exhausted.<\/p>\n
When he saw Caroline, he gave the smallest smile.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou came back.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI wasn't going anywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n
He looked at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cGood.\u201d<\/p>\n
I pulled a chair closer.<\/p>\n
\u201cDad, I need to ask you something.\u201d<\/p>\n
His eyes moved toward Rachel.<\/p>\n
\u201cWho is Samuel Hayes?\u201d<\/p>\n
His expression changed.<\/p>\n
Not surprise.<\/p>\n
Recognition.<\/p>\n
Fear.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou found him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWho is he?\u201d<\/p>\n
Dad swallowed.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe used my name.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause he wanted to hide.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom whom?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone.\u201d<\/p>\n
I sat down.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs he your brother?\u201d<\/p>\n
Dad shook his head.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy father had a second family.\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at Caroline.<\/p>\n
Dad continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cSamuel was born to my father's first wife.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rachel leaned closer.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo he is Arthur's half-brother.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
The room seemed to shift.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen why did he become involved with Caroline's family?\u201d<\/p>\n
Dad closed his eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause he wanted what my father left me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe trust.\u201d<\/p>\n
Caroline whispered, \u201cMy mother created it for Daniel.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dad nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe did.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause she knew her family was fighting over the land.\u201d<\/p>\n
He looked at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe wanted it protected for you.\u201d<\/p>\n
I felt my throat tighten.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd Samuel wanted it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy did you never tell me?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause I didn't know how deep it went.\u201d<\/p>\n
I thought of Jessica.<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you know she was involved?\u201d<\/p>\n
Dad looked at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cI knew she was Samuel's daughter.\u201d<\/p>\n
I froze.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour earlier answer said Samuel wasn't her biological father.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dad frowned.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
Rachel showed him the company filing.<\/p>\n
He stared at it.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat isn't the same Samuel.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen who is he?\u201d<\/p>\n
Dad shook his head.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don't know.\u201d<\/p>\n
Maya stepped forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cCould there be another man using the name?\u201d<\/p>\n
Dad stared at the paper.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
He looked frightened.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSamuel's son.\u201d<\/p>\n
I felt a knot form in my stomach.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat's his name?\u201d<\/p>\n
Dad hesitated.<\/p>\n
\u201cDaniel.\u201d<\/p>\n
Caroline went completely still.<\/p>\n
My birth name.<\/p>\n
Daniel.<\/p>\n
The same name she had given me.<\/p>\n
Dad noticed her expression.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat's why they used it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUsed what?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe name.\u201d<\/p>\n
He struggled to sit higher.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe adoption records were altered after you disappeared.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTo create another Daniel.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rachel's eyes narrowed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy would anyone do that?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo if you ever came looking, there would be another person with the same name.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stared at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cA decoy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dad nodded.<\/p>\n
The word felt absurd.<\/p>\n
Until I remembered the investigator's search.<\/p>\n
The mismatched birthday.<\/p>\n
The false lead.<\/p>\n
Jessica telling the investigator to contact her first.<\/p>\n
Someone had been building confusion around my identity.<\/p>\n
Not just hiding me.<\/p>\n
Replacing me.<\/p>\n
Caroline covered her mouth.<\/p>\n
\u201cI named him Daniel because it was my father's name.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dad reached for her hand.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd they knew that.\u201d<\/p>\n
She looked at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYour family records.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rachel wrote quickly.<\/p>\n
\u201cArthur, who had access to those records?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSamuel.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnyone else?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe attorney.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnyone in Jessica's family?\u201d<\/p>\n
Dad's eyes closed.<\/p>\n
\u201cHer mother.\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at Caroline.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy wife's mother knew?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
The room was quiet.<\/p>\n
Then Dad whispered, \u201cThere is something else.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJessica wasn't the first person Samuel sent.\u201d<\/p>\n
I felt my stomach tighten.<\/p>\n
\u201cWho was?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSomeone who worked for the attorney.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTo make sure I never searched for you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did he do?\u201d<\/p>\n
Dad looked at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe told me you were dead.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was Samuel.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dad shook his head.<\/p>\n
\u201cSamuel arranged it. But someone else delivered the lie.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n
He looked toward Caroline.<\/p>\n
\u201cHer brother.\u201d<\/p>\n
Caroline stood abruptly.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy brother?\u201d<\/p>\n
Dad nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe came to me with the papers.\u201d<\/p>\n
She sat again.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy brother was twenty-two.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was young.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was also scared.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cScared of Samuel?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Caroline stared at the floor.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe told me my brother had betrayed me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dad's voice softened.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe regretted it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid he ever tell you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe tried.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYears later.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was killed before he could finish.\u201d<\/p>\n
Caroline's face went pale.<\/p>\n
\u201cKilled?\u201d<\/p>\n
Dad nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe official report said it was an accident.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rachel looked at Maya.<\/p>\n
Maya was already writing.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you know what happened?\u201d<\/p>\n
Dad's voice became weaker.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know Samuel was there.\u201d<\/p>\n
The monitor beside him beeped.<\/p>\n
I stood.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat's enough.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dad caught my wrist.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
He looked directly at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou need to know why Jessica stayed.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause she believed she could control Samuel.\u201d<\/p>\n
My chest tightened.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe couldn't.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dad's eyes filled.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe was trying to keep you alive.\u201d<\/p>\n
I thought about the lies.<\/p>\n
The money.<\/p>\n
The stolen letters.<\/p>\n
The hospital photograph.<\/p>\n
I wanted to reject the sentence.<\/p>\n
But something about his expression stopped me.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe did terrible things,\u201d Dad whispered.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut Samuel did worse.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rachel stepped toward the bed.<\/p>\n
\u201cArthur, did Samuel ever threaten Ethan directly?\u201d<\/p>\n
Dad nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cMany times.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you have proof?\u201d<\/p>\n
Dad looked toward the door.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnder the floorboard.\u201d<\/p>\n
I frowned.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhich floorboard?\u201d<\/p>\n
He gave a weak smile.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe one you always complained squeaked.\u201d<\/p>\n
I remembered his hallway.<\/p>\n
One board near the study.<\/p>\n
The one he had never allowed me to repair.<\/p>\n
I squeezed his hand.<\/p>\n
\u201cI'll find it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDon't.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stopped.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause Jessica already knows where it is.\u201d<\/p>\n
The room went silent.<\/p>\n
My phone vibrated.<\/p>\n
A message from Jessica.<\/p>\n
You finally understand why I stayed.<\/p>\n
Another followed.<\/p>\n
Please don't open the floor.<\/p>\n
The third came immediately after.<\/p>\n
Because your father isn't the only person who knows what's underneath.<\/p>\n
I stared at the screen.<\/p>\n
Rachel took a breath.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe're not going there tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n
I nodded.<\/p>\n
Then another message appeared.<\/p>\n
If you want the truth about why Samuel chose you, come alone.<\/p>\n
The location was my father's house.<\/p>\n
And the time was midnight.<\/p>\n
The car smelled faintly of rain and old leather. Nobody spoke for several blocks. Rachel drove with both hands fixed on the steering wheel. Maya sat beside her, scrolling through … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6649,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6658","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-insightdrama"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6658","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6658"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6658\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6674,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6658\/revisions\/6674"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/6649"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6658"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6658"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6658"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}