Chapter 6: The Truth In The Basement
I drove back to the station with Daniel beside me.
Neither of us spoke.
Nine years of questions sat between us.
Too many to ask.
Too many to answer.
Finally, I broke the silence.
“Did you really choose Evan over me?””
Daniel stared out the window.
“That message was meant to hurt you.””
“That doesn’t answer my question.””
He closed his eyes.
“I chose to save a child.””
My grip tightened on the steering wheel.
“And left your brother behind.””
Daniel looked at me.
“I thought you were safe.””
I laughed quietly.
“Safe?””
I looked at him.
“I buried you.””
His face broke.
“I know.””
“No, you don’t.””
The words came out before I could stop them.
“You weren’t there when Mom stopped eating. You weren’t there when Dad sat outside your bedroom every night. You weren’t there when I searched every street in this city hoping to find one piece of you.””
Daniel looked down.
“I’m sorry.””
And for the first time, I believed he meant it.
But apologies didn’t erase missing years.
When we arrived at the station, Evan was asleep in the interview room.
Daniel stopped when he saw him.
Everything about him changed.
The fear disappeared.
Only love remained.
He walked closer.
“Evan.””
The boy opened his eyes.
For one second, he looked confused.
Then he sat up.
“Dad?””
Daniel nodded.
Evan ran into his arms.
And Daniel held him like he was afraid someone would take him away again.
I watched from the doorway.
Whatever secrets existed between them, one thing was clear.
Daniel loved that boy.
A few minutes later, Evan sat with us.
“Ryan wasn’t the worst person.””
I frowned.
“What do you mean?””
Evan looked at Daniel.
“He told me not to trust the woman.””
Daniel went still.
“What woman?””
“The woman who visited the basement.””
My blood ran cold.
“What woman?””
Evan whispered:
“My mom.””
Daniel looked at me.
“That’s impossible.””
Evan shook his head.
“No.””
His voice trembled.
“She came every month.””
Nobody spoke.
Then Daniel stood suddenly.
“We need to go.””
“Where?””
“To the farmhouse.””
I stared.
“Why?””
“Because Evan wasn’t the only person kept there.””
We returned before sunrise.
This time, Daniel led us straight to the basement.
He walked to the far wall.
Pressed his hand against the wood.
And pushed.
A hidden compartment opened.
Inside was a small metal box.
Daniel pulled it out.
My heart raced.
“What is that?””
He looked at me.
“The reason I disappeared.””
Inside were documents.
Photos.
And a journal.
I opened the first page.
The handwriting was Daniel’s.
But the date was from nine years ago.
The first line made my blood freeze.
*If Michael finds this, it means Rachel failed to stop him.*
I looked at Daniel.
“Failed to stop who?””
He didn’t answer.
Because he was staring at one photograph.
A photograph of our family.
My mother.
My father.
Me.
Daniel.
And one person standing behind us.
Someone I recognized immediately.
Someone who had comforted me through nine years of grief.
Someone who had helped me become a police officer.
Someone who had always told me Daniel was gone.
Daniel whispered:
“Your captain.””
I stared at the picture.
My hands went cold.
Because the man standing behind my family was my mentor.
The person who taught me everything about the badge.
May you like
And according to Daniel…
He was the reason my brother vanished.
