Chapter 5 - The voice belonged to Charles Howard.Adrian's father.
Dead for six years.
Ruiz replayed the recording repeatedly.
The tone was unmistakable.
But there was another possibility.
Someone was impersonating him.
“Where was Charles buried?”
Elena answered.
“St. Andrew's Cemetery.”
“Did you ever see the body?”
She hesitated.
“No.”
Ruiz looked up.
“What?”
“Elena?”
She rubbed her temples.
“My husband said his father died overseas.”
Ruiz stared at her.
“That's not the official record.”
He pulled out his phone.
A few minutes later, he returned with a file.
Charles Howard's death certificate listed a hospital in another state.
Cause of death:
Cardiac arrest.
But there was no autopsy.
No photographs.
No verified identification.
Ruiz became very still.
“Did your husband ever bring you to the funeral?”
“No.”
“Did anyone?”
“No.”
Elena's pulse quickened.
“Are you saying Charles might be alive?”
“I'm saying your husband's family has been lying about his death.”
Before Ruiz could continue, the hospital lights flickered.
Elena looked toward the door.
A nurse walked in.
“Mrs. Howard?”
“Yes?”
“Your husband is here.”
Elena's expression changed.
“Adrian?”
The nurse nodded.
“He says he needs to see you.”
Ruiz stood.
“I'll stay.”
Adrian entered.
His face was exhausted.
He walked toward the bed.
“Elena.”
She looked at him.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Tell you what?”
“That your father might be alive.”
Adrian stopped.
Ruiz stepped forward.
“Mr. Howard, your father's death records raise questions.”
Adrian stared at him.
“You don't know what you're talking about.”
“I know his body was never independently identified.”
Adrian's expression hardened.
“My father is dead.”
Elena watched him.
“Then why did Vanessa receive a call from him?”
Adrian went pale.
“What?”
Elena didn't blink.
“She spoke to someone using your father's voice.”
Adrian's jaw tightened.
Ruiz studied every reaction.
Then Adrian laughed.
A dry, nervous sound.
“She fabricated it.”
“Maybe.”
Ruiz held up the recording.
Adrian listened.
The voice spoke again.
“Vanessa, you promised me she would be gone tonight.”
Adrian closed his eyes.
When he opened them, something was different.
Fear.
Not surprise.
Fear.
“You need to leave this alone.”
Ruiz stepped closer.
“Why?”
Adrian looked at Elena.
“Because you don't understand what you're dealing with.”
Elena whispered.
“Then explain it.”
Adrian shook his head.
“I can't.”
“You can.”
“No.”
“Are you protecting Vanessa?”
Adrian didn't answer.
Elena looked away.
“Then you're protecting someone else.”
Adrian moved closer to the bed.
“You were never supposed to find out.”
“Find out what?”
He lowered his voice.
“The baby isn't the reason Vanessa wants you dead.”
Ruiz stared at him.
“Then what is?”
Adrian looked at Elena.
“You are.”
Elena froze.
“Why?”
Adrian stepped backward.
“Because you already inherited something.”
“What?”
“Something my father hid.”
Ruiz's phone suddenly rang.
He answered.
His expression changed.
“Yes?”
Silence.
Then:
“Where?”
He listened.
“Don't touch anything.”
He hung up.
Elena knew immediately.
“What happened?”
Ruiz looked at her.
“We found a hidden room beneath the Howard estate.”
Adrian's face went white.
May you like
Ruiz continued.
“And the door has your name on it.”
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