Chapter 13 - The Forgotten RoomDaniel refused to speak.
Not because he was hiding from me.
Because he was remembering.
We went upstairs.
He closed the bedroom door.
Then he said:
“I lied to you.”
My chest tightened.
“About what?”
“The crash.”
“What did you forget?”
He sat on the bed.
“I didn't just see your father after the crash.”
He swallowed.
“I saw who caused it.”
“Who?”
Daniel looked at me.
“Peter.”
My breathing stopped.
“What did he do?”
“He rammed your father's car.”
My hand covered my mouth.
“Then why did the police say it was an accident?”
“Because Peter controlled the report.”
“And you?”
“I was threatened.”
“By who?”
“Mom.”
I stared at him.
“She said if I told anyone, she'd blame me.”
“What could she blame you for?”
Daniel closed his eyes.
“Your father gave me the documents.”
“What documents?”
“The original evidence.”
“Where?”
“I hid them.”
I stared.
“Where?”
Daniel looked terrified.
“In this house.”
He took me to the basement.
There was a section behind the wine cellar.
A hidden door.
We opened it.
Inside was a small room.
Dusty shelves.
A metal box.
And a child's handwriting scratched into the wall.
D. C. 16
Daniel touched the letters.
“I wrote that.”
He opened the metal box.
Inside were bank statements.
Photographs.
A key.
And a letter.
My father's handwriting.
Daniel read it.
“Son, if you're reading this, trust no one.”
I took the letter.
The next sentence stunned me.
“Not even your mother.”
Daniel started crying.
He covered his face.
“I remember now.”
“What?”
“Your father gave me the key.”
“To what?”
Daniel looked at the key.
“The bank vault.”
My heart pounded.
“There's still a vault?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
He pointed to the key.
A number was engraved on it.
A bank branch.
A city.
One hundred miles away.
Before we could leave, the lights went out.
Darkness swallowed the basement.
Then came a sound.
Footsteps.
Slow.
Measured.
Someone was walking toward us.
Daniel grabbed my hand.
“Stay behind me.”
The door opened.
A figure stood in the darkness.
I couldn't see the face.
Then the emergency lights flickered on.
It was Richard.
He looked furious.
“What are you doing down here?”
Daniel raised the key.
“Looking for the truth.”
Richard's eyes fell on it.
He went pale.
“You found it.”
“What?”
“The vault.”
Richard stepped forward.
“You must not open it.”
I stared at him.
“Why?”
“Because Thomas didn't hide money there.”
He paused.
“He hid a person.”
My blood froze.
“A person?”
Richard nodded.
“Your father's final witness.”
“Who?”
Richard looked at Daniel.
Then me.
“Peter's wife.”
I blinked.
“But Peter is dead.”
Richard shook his head.
“No.”
May you like
He whispered:
“Peter is alive.”
