Chapter 4 - THE BODYI drove to Daniel’s office despite his warning.
Police cars filled the street.
Blue lights reflected off the windows.
An officer blocked the entrance.
“You can’t go in.”
“I’m Ethan Carter.”
His expression changed.
“Mr. Carter, I need you to step away from the building.”
“Why?”
“Your attorney is being questioned.”
I looked through the glass doors.
Daniel sat at his desk.
Two detectives stood behind him.
Then I saw the body bag.
Vanessa.
My legs almost gave out.
“No…”
A detective approached.
“Mr. Carter?”
“Yes.”
“I’m Detective Miles.”
He held up a photograph.
“Do you recognize this woman?”
I stared.
Vanessa.
“She was my employee.”
The detective raised an eyebrow.
“Employee?”
I realized my mistake too late.
I had lied.
He noticed.
“Interesting.”
“What happened?”
“She was found dead in her apartment.”
“How?”
“We’re waiting for the medical examiner.”
I swallowed.
“Was anyone else there?”
“No.”
Then he showed me another photograph.
A glass on Vanessa’s kitchen counter.
“You were at her apartment tonight?”
I said nothing.
Detective Miles understood.
“You touched this glass?”
I looked at him.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“She was helping me find my wife.”
The detective stared.
“Your wife?”
“Claire Carter.”
“You mean the woman reported missing?”
“She took our son.”
“Did she kidnap him?”
“No.”
“Then why did you report her missing?”
Because my wife had vanished after discovering I was cheating.
Because I was terrified.
Because I didn't understand what was happening.
But I couldn't say that.
So I told another lie.
“I was worried.”
The detective studied me.
Then he said,
“Your wife wasn't the only person worried.”
He handed me a second photograph.
It showed Claire.
Entering a parking garage.
Beside a man.
I couldn't see his face.
But I recognized his coat.
Daniel’s.
My stomach turned.
“That's my attorney.”
“Yes.”
“Why was he with Claire?”
“That’s what we'd like to know.”
Daniel was released two hours later.
We stood in the parking lot.
“What aren't you telling me?”
He looked exhausted.
“Too much.”
“Claire was here.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I advised her.”
“Against me?”
Daniel looked away.
“You were destroying your family.”
“So you helped her disappear?”
“I helped her survive.”
I stepped toward him.
“Where is my son?”
“I don't know.”
“You're lying.”
Daniel sighed.
Then he said,
“Claire gave me one instruction.”
“What?”
“If anything happened to her…”
He reached into his coat.
A key.
A small brass key.
“She told me to give this to you.”
“What does it open?”
Daniel looked straight at me.
“The place where you buried the truth.”
I stared at the key.
“I don't understand.”
“You will.”
Then Daniel walked away.
I stood alone beneath the flashing police lights.
I turned the key over.
An address was scratched into the metal.
I knew the address.
Everyone in my family knew it.
The old Carter estate.
The house where my mother died.
The house my father had forbidden anyone to enter.
My phone buzzed.
A message from Claire.
Go to the basement.
May you like
A second message arrived.
But don't trust the man waiting there.
