Chapter 7: The Brother Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
My father read the name at the bottom of my mother's letter three times.
Then he whispered something I had never heard him say before.
"Anthony.""
His older brother.
The man Dad had always described as the most charming person in their family. The man who had supposedly died in a construction accident nearly twenty years earlier, before I was born.
I looked at the photograph again.
Anthony was standing beside my mother outside a hospital entrance. He looked healthy, smiling, and very much alive.
"That's your brother?"" I asked.
Dad nodded slowly.
"I buried him.""
Nobody spoke.
Daniel Reynolds carefully took the letter from my father's hand.
"Marcus, your brother's death was never properly verified.""
Dad turned toward him.
"What are you talking about?""
"The records I found years ago showed inconsistencies. The death certificate was issued in another state, and the identification procedure was never completed.""
Dad stepped backward.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I didn't know he was alive. I only knew the records didn't match.""
Denise suddenly laughed.
It was a short, nervous sound.
"You're all chasing ghosts. Anthony has nothing to do with this.""
Dad turned toward her.
"Then why is his name in my wife's letter?""
Denise looked away.
Brianna was standing beside the filing cabinet, staring at the photograph.
"Mom," she whispered, "you told me Uncle Anthony was dead.""
Denise's head snapped toward her.
"Don't.""
"But you told me he died before I was born.""
"Enough, Brianna.""
Dad stepped between them.
"How do you know Anthony?""
Denise remained silent.
Daniel opened his briefcase and removed a second envelope.
"Marcus, your wife left me instructions to deliver this if the original trust documents were ever compromised.""
He placed it on the desk.
My father opened it.
Inside was a handwritten statement dated six weeks before my mother's death.
As he read, his expression changed.
"What did she write?"" I asked.
Dad swallowed.
"She says Anthony contacted her after years of silence.""
"Why?""
"Because he claimed he had information about the original ownership of this house.""
I looked around the basement.
The house had always been described as Dad's property. He had purchased it years before marrying Denise, and I had grown up believing that was the entire story.
But Mom's letter suggested something different.
Dad continued reading.
"Your mother says Anthony believed our father had established a family property trust before he died.""
Daniel nodded.
"That's correct. Your grandfather's estate included provisions that were never fully resolved.""
Dad looked at him.
"Why have I never heard about this?""
"Because the original documents were missing.""
Denise suddenly stepped toward the desk.
"These papers are old. They don't prove anything.""
Daniel closed the folder.
"They prove enough to justify an investigation.""
Dad turned toward his wife.
"Did you know Anthony was alive?""
She stared at the floor.
"Marcus, listen to me.""
"Answer the question.""
"I met him.""
"When?""
"Years ago.""
Dad's voice dropped.
"Before or after my wife died?""
Denise hesitated.
"Before.""
My father looked physically sick.
"While I was grieving?""
She started crying.
"I didn't plan for any of this to happen.""
He stared at her.
"You met my brother while I was burying my wife?""
Denise shook her head.
"It wasn't what you think.""
"Then what was it?""
She looked at Brianna.
"I was trying to secure our future.""
Dad let out a bitter laugh.
"Our future?""
He pointed toward the boxes.
"You hid my daughter's college letters. You forged my signature. You moved money out of her trust. And now you're telling me you were working with my brother?""
Denise finally raised her voice.
"I was trying to make sure Brianna wasn't left with nothing!""
I looked at her.
"What about me?""
She didn't answer.
Daniel removed a photograph from the envelope.
It showed Anthony standing beside Denise in front of a small office building.
The date was printed in the corner.
Two years earlier.
Dad took it.
"Where was this taken?""
Daniel pointed to the address.
"An office belonging to Carter Property Holdings.""
The same company that had received money from my mother's trust.
Dad closed his eyes.
For a moment, I thought he might collapse.
Then Brianna spoke.
"I've seen him.""
Everyone turned.
"What?"" Dad asked.
Brianna wiped her cheeks.
"The man in the pictures. I've seen him with Mom.""
Denise grabbed her daughter's arm.
"Don't you dare.""
Brianna pulled away.
"He came to our house last Christmas. You told me he was an investor.""
Dad stared at her.
"Did he come inside?""
"Yes.""
"Did you speak to him?""
Brianna nodded.
"He asked me whether Maya still slept in the blue bedroom.""
My skin went cold.
"Why would he ask that?""
Brianna shook her head.
"I don't know. I thought he was just making conversation.""
Dad looked at the photograph of my mother.
"She knew.""
Daniel nodded.
"Your wife suspected that Anthony wanted something connected to the property. She believed he was using Denise to gain access to the trust records.""
My father looked toward the office door.
"Then where is he now?""
Daniel took out his phone.
"I've been trying to locate him.""
His phone suddenly vibrated.
He checked the screen.
Then he looked at Dad.
"Marcus, I believe we may have found him.""
He turned the screen toward us.
It showed a recent photograph of a man leaving a private office building.
The man had gray hair now, but I recognized the face immediately.
It was Anthony.
Alive.
And standing beside him was someone I recognized even more clearly.
My stepmother.
Dad stared at the screen.
Then another message appeared.
Daniel read it silently.
His expression changed.
"What?"" Dad demanded.
Daniel looked up.
"Anthony knows you've opened the hidden compartment.""
My father grabbed his jacket.
"Then he can come here and explain himself.""
But Daniel shook his head.
"Marcus, there's a problem.""
"What?""
"He's already on his way.""
May you like
A car door slammed outside.
Then the doorbell rang.
