My Twin Sister Whispered “Come Pick Me Up” at 3 A.M.—By Sunrise, Her Husband Would Regret Ever Touching Her

I was already moving before Laura finished speaking.

“Get security to Emma's room. Now.””

“I'm trying,” Laura replied.

“The officer told the nurses he was authorized to transfer her.””

“What's his name?””

“He showed them a badge, but nobody has confirmed his identity.””

Marcus grabbed his coat.

“I'm contacting hospital security and the responding officers.””

I followed him out of Margaret's office, my phone pressed against my ear.

“Laura, don't let anyone move Emma.””

“I won't.””

“Stay with her.””

The call ended.

We drove through the city with Marcus contacting the hospital and Natalie alerting the financial crimes team. I sat rigid in the passenger seat, watching traffic lights blur past.

Daniel had escaped custody.

Robert had helped him.

And now someone was standing outside my sister's hospital room wearing a police uniform.

When we arrived, two hospital security officers were stationed near the elevators. One recognized Marcus and immediately approached us.

“Detective, the room is on the seventh floor. We locked down the corridor.””

“Did anyone leave?””

“Not that we know of.””

I ran toward the elevator.

Marcus caught my arm.

“Claire. Let the security team go first.””

I forced myself to stop.

He was right.

I couldn't rush into an unknown situation simply because Emma was my sister.

We reached the seventh floor.

A nurse stood beside the station, pale and visibly shaken.

“He said he was from the department,” she explained.

“He had a badge and told us Detective Reed had requested a transfer.””

Marcus looked at her.

“I never requested one.””

“I know that now.””

“Did he give a name?””

“Officer Bennett.””

My stomach dropped.

“Bennett?””

She nodded.

“He said he was a relative of the patient.””

Marcus looked at me.

Someone had used my surname.

A man in a dark uniform appeared at the far end of the corridor.

He was walking toward the stairwell.

Marcus immediately called out.

“Police. Stop where you are.””

The man turned.

For a fraction of a second, I saw his face.

Then he ran.

Security moved in from the opposite side. Marcus pursued him, shouting for him to stop.

The man reached the stairwell door.

A security guard tackled him before he could disappear.

His cap fell off.

He was younger than I expected, perhaps thirty, with a narrow face and a small scar above his eyebrow.

Marcus handcuffed him.

“Name.””

The man said nothing.

“Show me your identification.””

He looked toward the elevator.

Then he smiled.

“You're too late.””

Marcus tightened his grip.

“Too late for what?””

The man laughed.

“Ask Daniel.””

I hurried toward Emma's room.

A nurse was standing outside with another security guard.

“Is she okay?””

“She was frightened, but she's safe.””

I entered.

Emma was sitting upright, gripping the blanket with both hands.

Her face had gone pale.

“Claire.””

I crossed the room and took her hand.

“I'm here.””

“He said Daniel sent him.””

“Did he touch you?””

“No. He came in and told me I was being moved to another hospital.””

“Did he show you anything?””

Emma nodded.

“He had a paper with your name on it. He said you had signed the transfer order.””

I closed my eyes.

Another forged document.

“Did you believe him?””

“For a second.””

Her voice broke.

“He knew your badge number.””

I looked at Marcus, who had entered behind me.

“Did he say anything else?””

Emma swallowed.

“He said Daniel wanted me to remember that Saturday was coming.””

Marcus pulled a chair closer.

“Did he mention where Daniel was?””

“No. But he gave me something.””

Emma reached toward the bedside table.

A folded piece of paper lay beneath her water cup.

I opened it.

There were six words written in black ink.

*Ask your father about the second deed.*

I looked at Emma.

“What second deed?””

“I don't know.””

Marcus examined the note.

“Did the man say who gave it to him?””

“He said he was following instructions from someone who had helped Daniel for years.””

I felt the room tighten around me.

“Robert?””

Emma nodded.

“I think so.””

Marcus stepped into the hallway to contact the investigators.

I remained beside my sister.

“Emma, we need to understand what this means.””

She stared at the ceiling.

“Daniel told me once that Dad had signed two sets of property documents.””

“Why didn't you tell us?””

“I didn't understand what he meant. He said one was for the bank and one was for the family.””

I leaned closer.

“Did he say where they were?””

Emma shook her head.

“Only that the second deed was somewhere nobody would think to look.””

My phone rang.

Dad.

I answered.

“Dad, I need you to tell me everything about Grandpa's property.””

He sounded frightened.

“What's happened?””

“Someone tried to remove Emma from the hospital. She's safe. But we found a note asking about a second deed.””

There was a long silence.

Then Dad whispered:

“Your grandfather had another property.””

I sat upright.

“What?””

“Not another piece of land. A second deed for the same industrial property.””

“Why?””

“Because the first deed was only part of the arrangement. Your grandfather created a separate document protecting the access road and the underground utility rights.””

Marcus returned and heard the last sentence.

“Mr. Bennett, can you explain that?””

Dad continued.

“The property is worth more because it includes access to a railway spur and an underground service corridor. Without those rights, the land is worth much less.””

“How much less?”” Marcus asked.

“Maybe half.””

I looked at him.

“So Daniel could have tried to acquire the main property while someone else acquired the access rights?””

“That's what I think.””

Dad's voice cracked.

“Your grandfather told me never to separate the two deeds. He said whoever controlled both would control the entire development.””

Marcus asked, “Where is the second deed now?””

Dad hesitated.

“I thought it was in the study.””

“It's not there,” I said.

“Then I don't know.””

A new voice interrupted.

It was Mom.

“Wait.””

I heard her moving around.

“Your father kept a small metal box in the basement. He said it belonged to your grandfather.””

Dad sounded confused.

“I thought that was empty.””

“No,” Mom said.

“Daniel asked about it last year.””

I closed my eyes.

“Did you give it to him?””

“No. I told him I didn't know where the key was.””

Marcus immediately contacted the search team at my parents' house.

Before he could finish, Natalie called.

“Marcus, we've got a major development.””

“What is it?””

“The man arrested at the hospital has been identified as a former private security contractor. He worked for a company connected to Northbridge Consulting.””

“Who hired him?””

Natalie paused.

“His most recent payment came from an account registered to Alan Whitmore.””

I looked at Marcus.

Whitmore was still missing.

And Daniel had escaped.

Then Natalie added:

“We also found a payment scheduled for tomorrow morning.””

“To whom?””

She read the name.

“Margaret Ellis.””

I felt my blood run cold.