Chapter 17: The Brother They Buried
"Everyone downstairs!""
Daniel pushed Marcus toward the staircase.
Robert grabbed the envelope and shoved it into Marcus's jacket.
"Don't lose that.""
Another gunshot struck the upstairs railing.
Samuel fired once toward the window.
The SUV's headlights swung toward the house.
"There's more than one of them," Samuel shouted.
Marcus reached the bottom of the stairs.
Elizabeth and Margaret were crouched behind the kitchen counter.
Ethan held his phone.
"Police are on the way.""
Daniel looked at him.
"How far?""
"Ten minutes.""
"We don't have ten minutes.""
Robert pointed toward the back door.
"There's a storm cellar behind the shed.""
Marcus stared at him.
"You've been living here?""
"Not continuously.""
"Then how long have you known Richard was coming?""
Robert didn't answer.
They ran through the kitchen and out the back.
The cellar door was hidden beneath a pile of old boards.
Samuel pulled them aside.
"Go!""
Elizabeth climbed down first, followed by Margaret and Ethan.
Daniel helped Helen's family friend into the cellar.
Marcus stayed outside with Robert.
"Move!"" Robert shouted.
Marcus turned toward him.
"Not without you.""
Robert grabbed his shoulder.
"I've already lost enough years with you.""
A figure appeared around the corner of the house.
Marcus recognized him immediately.
Gregory Vale.
The lawyer raised a handgun.
"Robert!""
Robert shoved Marcus toward the cellar.
The shot went wide.
Daniel fired back from behind a tree.
Gregory ducked.
Marcus dropped into the cellar.
Robert followed and slammed the door.
The darkness smelled of damp earth and old wood.
Above them, footsteps crossed the floor.
Then a voice.
Richard.
"You can't hide forever, Robert.""
No one moved.
Richard continued.
"Come out, and I'll make this easy.""
Robert whispered:
"He always says that.""
Marcus looked at him.
"Why does he want you?""
"Because I have the original death records.""
Samuel shifted in the darkness.
"You have more than that.""
Robert looked at his brother.
"Yes.""
"What?""
Robert removed a small metal case from inside his coat.
Inside were photographs, a cassette tape, and a folded document.
"The real partnership agreement.""
Samuel shook his head.
"I thought James had it.""
"He did. Before he died, he gave it to me.""
Marcus stared at the document.
"Why didn't you give it to Helen?""
"Because Richard was watching the farm. Anyone who carried those papers could have led him straight to her.""
Elizabeth looked toward Robert.
"Why did you let my mother suffer in that nursing home?""
Robert's face tightened.
"I didn't know she was there until recently.""
"That's convenient.""
"I know.""
Elizabeth looked away.
Above them, a door slammed.
Then silence.
Ethan checked his phone.
"No signal.""
Daniel listened.
"Maybe they've gone.""
Robert shook his head.
"Richard won't leave without the case.""
Samuel looked toward the back of the cellar.
"There's another exit.""
He moved a wooden shelf aside, revealing a narrow tunnel.
Marcus stared.
"Where does it go?""
"Under the old storage shed. It comes out near the creek.""
Robert looked at Samuel.
"You remember.""
"I helped build it.""
Marcus stepped toward the tunnel.
"Then let's go.""
They crawled through the narrow passage.
The air grew colder as they approached the exit.
Samuel pushed the hatch upward.
A flashlight beam swept across the ground.
Someone was waiting outside.
"Don't move.""
Deputy Benson stood above them.
His weapon was aimed at Samuel.
Marcus froze.
Benson smiled.
"Thought you could sneak away?""
Daniel emerged behind Marcus.
"You're supposed to be in custody.""
Benson shrugged.
"Things changed.""
He gestured toward the woods.
"Richard wants Robert. The rest of you are unnecessary.""
Robert climbed out slowly.
"Then let them go.""
Benson laughed.
"You don't get to make demands.""
A second figure appeared behind him.
Gregory Vale.
He carried a leather folder.
"Mr. Brooks. We need the original agreement.""
Robert stared at him.
"You've spent years forging my wife's signature. Why would I hand you anything?""
Gregory smiled.
"Because the truth is about to become much worse for your family.""
He opened the folder.
Inside were photographs.
One showed James Reed standing beside a hospital bed.
Another showed a newborn baby.
Marcus recognized the hospital bracelet from the warehouse.
But there was something else.
A second bracelet.
It carried a different name.
*DANIEL REED.*
Marcus looked at Robert.
"What is this?""
Robert's face turned pale.
Gregory smiled.
"Perhaps you should ask the man standing beside you.""
Marcus turned.
Daniel had gone completely still.
Robert whispered:
"No.""
Samuel stared at Daniel.
"That's impossible.""
Daniel lowered his eyes.
Gregory continued.
"James Reed had two sons. One biological. One adopted. But Richard wanted the partnership's bloodline preserved.""
Daniel finally spoke.
"Shut up.""
Gregory ignored him.
"The child everyone believed was James's son was actually Richard's. The other child was given to James's brother.""
Marcus stared at Daniel.
"Are you saying you're my brother?""
Daniel nodded slowly.
"Yes.""
Marcus felt as though the ground had disappeared beneath him.
Robert stepped forward.
"Daniel, I can explain.""
Daniel looked at him.
"Don't.""
Benson raised his weapon.
"Enough family drama. Hand over the case.""
Robert tightened his grip on the metal box.
Then a siren sounded in the distance.
Benson glanced toward the road.
Gregory cursed.
Richard's voice came from the trees.
"Do it now!""
Benson turned.
But Samuel moved first.
He struck the deputy's arm, sending the weapon into the dirt.
Daniel tackled Gregory.
Marcus grabbed the metal case and ran toward the creek.
A shot rang out.
Robert staggered.
"Robert!""
Marcus turned.
His father was clutching his side.
Richard stepped from behind a tree, holding a gun.
"You should have stayed buried.""
Marcus dropped beside Robert.
Daniel shouted.
"Marcus, move!""
But Marcus couldn't.
Robert grabbed his wrist.
"Listen to me.""
His breathing was shallow.
"The real James is buried under the old oak. Don't let Richard change the records again.""
Marcus looked at him.
"You're not dying.""
Robert tried to smile.
"Not this time.""
Then his eyes shifted toward Daniel.
"Tell him what I couldn't.""
Daniel knelt beside them.
Robert whispered something Marcus couldn't hear.
Daniel's face changed.
Then Robert closed his eyes.
Marcus shook him.
"Robert?""
No answer.
A siren grew louder.
Richard disappeared into the woods.
May you like
And as Marcus held the man who had been missing for twenty years, Daniel leaned close and whispered:
"There's one more thing. I wasn't the only child James took from that hospital.""
