Chapter 10: The Death Certificate from Tomorrow
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Nancy stared at Thomas as if she hadn't understood the words.
“Tomorrow?””
Thomas nodded.
“The certificate lists Walter Miller as deceased tomorrow, November first.””
Mack looked at the document Thomas had received on his phone.
“That's impossible. Today is October thirty-first.””
“Exactly.””
Daniel slowly lowered himself into a chair.
“Richard knows,” he whispered.
Thomas turned toward him.
“Knows what?””
Daniel looked at Nancy.
“Walter planned to come back tomorrow.””
Nancy felt the room tilt.
“Come back where?””
“To you.””
She grabbed the edge of the desk.
“Don't play games with me, Daniel. I've spent six years believing my husband was dead. I've buried him.
I've visited his grave. I've spoken to his photograph every night. If you know something, tell me.””
Daniel lowered his head.
“I wish I could tell you everything.””
“Then start somewhere!””
Mack stepped between them.
“Daniel, what did Walter arrange?””
Daniel looked toward the warehouse door.
“He contacted someone who could help him disappear. After the accident, Richard's men believed Walter was dead. Walter had been badly injured, but he survived.””
Nancy covered her mouth.
“Where is he?””
Daniel shook his head.
“I don't know.””
“You just told me he was coming back tomorrow!””
“He left instructions. He didn't tell me where he would be staying.””
Thomas examined the certificate again.
“Who issued this?””
“That's the strange part,” Daniel replied.
“It's not a legitimate certificate. It's a prepared document. Someone wants us to believe Walter is going to die tomorrow.””
Mack frowned.
“Why?””
Daniel looked at Nancy.
“Because tomorrow is the day the original property records become public.””
Thomas immediately understood.
“Walter's evidence.””
Daniel nodded.
“If those records are released, every person involved in the fraud can be identified. Richard, Dawson, the shell companies, the people who signed the transfers. Everything.””
Nancy looked at the clock.
It was 4:36 p.m.
“Then we have less than a day.””
Thomas put his phone away.
“First, we need to secure the evidence we already have.””
He turned toward the investigators.
“Take Richard into custody. Separate him from the others. I want every vehicle connected to this warehouse checked.””
One investigator nodded.
Richard, who had been sitting silently near the wall, suddenly laughed.
“You're wasting your time.””
Thomas faced him.
“What's funny?””
“You think Walter is coming back because of a piece of paper?””
Richard leaned forward.
“Ask Nancy what happened to her husband after the accident.””
Nancy stared at him.
Richard smiled.
“Ask her why the hospital returned a wedding ring when the man wearing it wasn't identified.””
Mack grabbed the edge of the desk.
“Enough.””
Richard ignored him.
“Your husband made a deal, Mrs. Miller. He traded something very valuable to stay alive.””
“What did he trade?””
Richard leaned closer.
“His family.””
Nancy felt a cold wave pass through her.
Then an investigator pulled Richard away.
But the words remained.
An hour later, Nancy sat in Thomas's office with Emily beside her.
Her daughter had barely spoken since the warehouse.
Finally, Emily reached for her mother's hand.
“Mom?””
Nancy didn't look at her.
“I'm listening.””
“I want to tell you what happened that night.””
Nancy turned.
Emily wiped her eyes.
“Dad called me at 9:30. He said he needed to see me. When I arrived, he had papers spread across the kitchen table.””
“What papers?””
“Property records. Names. Bank transfers. He told me the company I was working for was involved in stealing people's homes.””
Nancy closed her eyes.
Emily continued.
“I told him I already knew some of it. I admitted I'd signed documents. He became furious.””
“What did he say?””
“He said I had to go to the police. I told him Richard had threatened to expose me.””
Nancy's voice softened.
“What did your father do?””
“He said he would take responsibility for everything. He said he wouldn't let them destroy my life.””
Emily began crying again.
“I thought he was going to meet Richard to negotiate.””
“And instead?””
“I gave Richard the location.””
Nancy withdrew her hand.
“You told them where your father would be.””
Emily nodded.
“I didn't know they would hurt him.””
Nancy stood.
“Your father trusted you.””
“I know.””
“He trusted you enough to believe you would do the right thing.””
“I know, Mom!””
Emily's voice broke.
“I have hated myself every day since.””
Nancy stared at her daughter.
For a long time, she said nothing.
Then she quietly replied:
“Feeling sorry doesn't bring your father home.””
Emily lowered her head.
“No.””
“But telling the truth might help us find him.””
Emily nodded.
“I'll tell them everything.””
Nancy sat down again.
For the first time, she looked at her daughter not as the little girl she had raised, but as an adult who had made a terrible choice.
Forgiveness would take time.
Truth would have to come first.
At 8:52 p.m., Mack received a message.
It came from an unknown number.
There was no greeting.
Only an address and a photograph.
The photograph showed Walter's blue Ford parked outside an abandoned roadside motel.
Beneath it were six words:
*He has until midnight to disappear.*
Mack showed Thomas.
“That's the old Cedar Motor Lodge.””
Thomas examined the photograph.
“It's been closed for years.””
Daniel slowly stood.
“That's where Walter used to meet me.””
Nancy grabbed her purse.
“Then we're going.””
Thomas shook his head.
“Not without backup.””
Mack picked up his helmet.
“Then call everyone.””
As they hurried outside, Nancy's phone buzzed.
A message appeared.
This time, it came from a number she recognized.
A number she had once saved under a name she never expected to see again.
*Walter.*
The message contained only one sentence.
Nancy, sweetheart, if you still have my blue jacket, bring it tomorrow.
Nancy stared at the screen.
May you like
Then another message arrived.
And please don't tell Mack what I found in the truck.
