Chapter 5: The Man Who Came Back From the Dead
Cole had spent fourteen years wondering whether his younger brother was dead.
Now he was standing above a hidden basement, staring at a metal door with his brother's initials carved beside it.
He wasn't going to walk away.
"Jace, stay with Mason.""
Jace nodded.
"You're not going down there alone.""
"I'm not asking you to.""
Duke released Travis just long enough to secure his wrists with a pair of heavy-duty restraints he carried in his motorcycle luggage.
Travis kicked against the floor.
"You idiots! You have no idea what you're getting into!""
Cole turned.
"Then start explaining.""
Travis shook his head.
"I can't.""
"Can't or won't?""
Before Travis could answer, the sound of a vehicle approaching made everyone look toward the front of the garage.
A dark green SUV rolled into the parking lot.
It stopped beside the old pickup.
A man stepped out.
He was tall, perhaps sixty years old, wearing a clean white shirt, dark trousers, and expensive leather shoes.
He carried a black duffel bag.
He looked completely out of place among the leaking oil drums and rusty equipment.
Mason immediately grabbed Jace's arm.
"That's him.""
Jace looked down.
"Who?""
"The man Travis talked to last night.""
The newcomer walked toward the garage.
He didn't hurry.
He didn't look surprised to see the motorcycles.
He simply adjusted his watch and smiled.
"Well," he said, "this is an unexpected reunion.""
Cole stepped out of the storage room.
The man's smile faded slightly.
"Hello, Cole.""
Cole stared.
He recognized the voice.
He recognized the narrow nose and the small scar near the man's chin.
"Frank?""
Frank Dillard had been his father's closest business associate.
He had attended Daniel's memorial service.
He had even stood beside Cole at the cemetery and told him that some losses never made sense.
Frank looked past him.
"Where is Travis?""
"Right here.""
Duke stepped into view.
Frank's eyes narrowed.
Then he noticed the open toolbox.
The photograph.
The letter.
His expression changed.
"Who opened that?""
Cole didn't answer.
Frank placed the duffel bag on the workbench.
"You shouldn't have done that.""
"Why?""
"Because some things are better left buried.""
Cole's fists tightened.
"Is that what you told my brother?""
Frank sighed.
"Daniel was a stubborn young man.""
"Where is he?""
Frank looked toward the hidden staircase.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then he said something Cole would remember for the rest of his life.
"Your brother was alive when I last saw him.""
Cole felt his knees weaken.
"When?""
"Fourteen years ago.""
"Where?""
Frank looked at Mason.
"That's complicated.""
Cole grabbed the front of his shirt.
"Don't you dare.""
Frank raised both hands.
"Your brother made a mistake. He thought he could expose your father and walk away untouched.""
"Did my father hurt him?""
Frank's eyes shifted.
"Raymond wanted the records destroyed. Daniel refused.""
"That's not what I asked.""
Frank lowered his voice.
"Your father ordered me to make sure Daniel disappeared.""
Cole released him.
The words hit harder than any punch.
His father had been dead for six years.
Cole couldn't ask him why.
Couldn't confront him.
Couldn't even hear him deny it.
Mason stepped out from behind Jace.
"Did you hurt my dad?""
Frank looked at him.
For the first time, his expression softened.
"You look just like him.""
Mason's eyes filled.
"Did you hurt him?""
Frank looked away.
"Your father was a good man, Mason.""
"Then where is he?""
Frank didn't answer.
Cole turned toward the basement.
"I'm opening that door.""
Frank suddenly grabbed the black duffel bag.
"No!""
He pulled out a small metal canister.
Jace immediately moved in front of Mason.
"What the hell is that?""
Frank backed toward the entrance.
"Something to make sure nobody ever finds what's down there.""
Cole stepped forward.
"Put it down.""
Frank looked at him.
Then he smiled.
"You still don't understand, do you?""
He pointed at the floor.
"Your brother isn't the only person who knew about the basement.""
A loud metallic bang came from below.
Everyone froze.
Then another.
Three slow knocks.
From the other side of the metal door.
Mason screamed.
"DAD!""
Cole rushed down the stairs.
The metal door had a small inspection window.
He wiped away the dust.
A face appeared behind the glass.
Older.
Thinner.
With a beard that had grown almost completely gray.
But the scar above the left eyebrow was unmistakable.
Cole stumbled backward.
"No...""
The man behind the door pressed his palm against the glass.
His lips moved.
Cole leaned closer.
Then he heard the words through the narrow opening.
"Brother?""
Cole's eyes filled.
"Daniel?""
The man nodded.
Behind him, Mason was crying.
"That's my dad!""
Cole grabbed the handle.
It wouldn't move.
He pulled harder.
Nothing.
The door was secured by a heavy electronic lock.
Jace appeared beside him.
"There's a control panel somewhere.""
Cole looked toward Frank.
The older man was already running.
Duke chased him.
But Frank reached the SUV first.
He threw himself inside and slammed the door.
The engine roared.
Duke jumped away as the vehicle reversed.
It sped toward the highway.
Jace shouted after him.
"He's getting away!""
Cole didn't move.
He was staring through the inspection window.
Daniel was still standing there.
Alive.
After fourteen years.
Cole placed his hand against the glass.
"Hold on, brother. I'm getting you out.""
Daniel shook his head desperately.
He pointed toward the back wall.
Then he raised two fingers.
Cole frowned.
"What?""
Daniel mouthed something again.
This time, Cole understood.
Two people.
Cole turned.
Mason was beside him.
Jace was behind them.
Duke was returning from the entrance.
There were four people in the room.
Who was the second person Daniel was warning them about?
Then a faint sound came from the darkness behind the basement door.
A second set of footsteps.
May you like
And a voice whispered:
"Daniel, stop talking.""
