Chapter 9: The Brother Who Came Back From the Dead
For a moment, Peter forgot how to breathe.
The words didn't make sense.
They couldn't.
Aaron was alive.
Aaron was arrested.
Aaron was accused of murder.
Every thought in Peter's mind crashed into the next one.
His brother.
His dead brother.
His brother who had written letters, hidden clues, protected children, and apparently disappeared for three years.
Was now alive.
And being accused of killing the woman who had destroyed their family.
Peter looked at Thomas.
“You're lying.””
Thomas didn't react.
“I wish I was.””
“Where is he?””
“County police station.””
Peter stepped forward.
“Take me there.””
Thomas shook his head.
“You don't understand what you're walking into.””
Peter's voice became dangerous.
“My brother is alive.””
“And if you go there without knowing the truth, you may help bury him again.””
Peter stared at him.
“Explain.””
Thomas looked toward the recording device on the floor.
“The truth is exactly what Aaron was afraid of.””
Peter clenched his fists.
“You keep saying that.””
“Because it's true.””
“You were his attorney.””
“Yes.””
“You controlled his documents.””
“Yes.””
“You disappeared.””
“Yes.””
“You were connected to Reena.””
Thomas didn't deny it.
Peter moved closer.
“So why should I listen to anything you say?””
Thomas looked at him.
“Because I know where Aaron has been.””
The room became silent.
Hale stepped forward.
“Start talking.””
Thomas glanced at him.
“You still work with him?””
Hale's expression hardened.
“Answer the question.””
Thomas sighed.
“Aaron disappeared because he wanted people to believe he was dead.””
Peter stared.
“What?””
“He planned it.””
“No.””
“Yes.””
Peter shook his head.
“My brother wouldn't abandon his children.””
“He didn't.””
Thomas looked toward the photographs.
“That was the entire point.””
Peter looked confused.
“Then why?””
“Because Aaron discovered something.””
“What?””
Thomas's face became serious.
“Reena wasn't the only person trying to destroy him.””
Peter felt cold.
“Who else?””
Thomas looked at Hale.
The detective immediately stepped forward.
“Don't.””
Thomas ignored him.
“Someone inside the investigation.””
Peter turned toward Hale.
“What does that mean?””
Hale's jaw tightened.
Thomas continued.
“Aaron knew he couldn't trust the police. He knew he couldn't trust the courts. He knew he couldn't trust his own attorney.””
Peter looked at Thomas.
“You mean you.””
Thomas nodded.
“Yes.””
That answer surprised Peter.
“You admit it?””
“I made mistakes.””
“Mistakes?””
Peter's anger returned.
“My brother lost three years of his life because of your mistakes.””
Thomas looked away.
“I know.””
Hale interrupted.
“You're avoiding the important part.””
Thomas looked at him.
“The person who wanted Aaron gone was someone who had access to everything.””
Peter looked between them.
“Who?””
Thomas said nothing.
Then a siren sounded outside.
Everyone froze.
Hale moved toward the window.
“Police.””
Peter looked at Thomas.
“Did you call them?””
“No.””
“Then why are they here?””
Thomas looked afraid.
Not pretending.
Actually afraid.
“They found Aaron.””
Peter stepped toward the door.
“We're going.””
Hale grabbed his arm.
“Wait.””
“No.””
“Peter.””
“My brother is alive.””
“And if this is a trap?””
Peter looked at him.
“I've spent three years burying him.””
His voice cracked.
“I am not standing here while someone else decides what happens to him.””
Hale released him.
They left the farmhouse.
Outside, several police vehicles were approaching.
Thomas stayed behind.
Peter noticed.
“You're not coming?””
Thomas shook his head.
“No.””
“Why?””
“Because Aaron will tell you what I can't.””
Peter frowned.
“What?””
Thomas looked at him.
“He'll tell you why he left.””
The drive to the station felt endless.
Peter sat silently.
His mind kept returning to memories.
Aaron teaching him how to ride a bike.
Aaron bringing him food after their parents died.
Aaron promising he would always protect him.
And then the last years.
The silence.
The distance.
The funeral.
Peter had stood beside a coffin believing he had lost his brother.
But maybe Aaron had been somewhere else.
Watching.
Waiting.
Suffering.
When they arrived, officers rushed around the station.
A crowd had gathered outside.
News cameras were already appearing.
Peter frowned.
“How did this get out so fast?””
Hale looked concerned.
“It shouldn't have.””
They entered.
A detective approached.
“Mr. Calder?””
“Yes.””
“You need to wait here.””
“Where is my brother?””
The detective hesitated.
“He's being processed.””
“Processed?””
“He was taken into custody.””
“For what?””
The detective looked uncomfortable.
“Murder.””
Peter felt the room go quiet.
“Whose murder?””
The detective didn't answer.
Peter already knew.
“Reena.””
“Yes.””
Peter shook his head.
“No.””
The detective looked surprised.
“You don't believe it?””
“I know my brother.””
The detective gave him a strange look.
“Everyone says that.””
Peter stepped closer.
“My brother spent three years hiding because he was protecting children.””
The detective didn't respond.
Hale appeared beside him.
“Who arrested him?””
The detective looked at Hale.
“Why?””
“Answer.””
“Two officers found him near Reena's property.””
Peter frowned.
“Near her house?””
“Yes.””
“When?””
“Early this morning.””
Peter's eyes narrowed.
“That doesn't make sense.””
The detective looked at him.
“Why?””
“Because we were just there.””
The detective became quiet.
Peter looked at Hale.
“You know what I'm thinking.””
Hale nodded.
Someone wanted Aaron found now.
Not earlier.
Not later.
Now.
Right after Peter uncovered the truth.
A door opened.
A man stepped out.
Peter stopped.
For three years, he had imagined this moment.
But never like this.
Aaron stood there.
Older.
Thinner.
His face carried years of exhaustion.
But it was him.
Peter couldn't move.
Aaron looked at him.
And for a second, neither brother spoke.
Then Aaron whispered:
“Peter.””
The sound of his name almost broke him.
Peter walked forward.
Slowly.
Then faster.
He grabbed his brother.
Aaron froze.
Then hugged him back.
For a few seconds, they were not surrounded by police.
They were not surrounded by secrets.
They were just brothers.
Peter pulled away.
His eyes filled.
“You're alive.””
Aaron looked down.
“I know.””
“You let me think you were dead.””
Aaron looked away.
“I had to.””
“No.””
Peter's voice broke.
“You chose to.””
Aaron closed his eyes.
“I was trying to protect you.””
“You destroyed me.””
The words came out before Peter could stop them.
Aaron looked hurt.
“I know.””
Peter shook his head.
“You don't know.””
Aaron looked at him.
“I heard your voicemail after I disappeared.””
Peter froze.
“What?””
“The one you left after the funeral.””
Peter swallowed.
“What voicemail?””
“The one where you said you wished you had answered my call.””
Peter felt tears forming.
“You heard that?””
“Yes.””
“Then why didn't you come back?””
Aaron looked at him.
“Because I was afraid.””
Peter stared.
“Of what?””
Aaron glanced toward Hale.
Then back at him.
“Of who I had become.””
Peter frowned.
“What does that mean?””
Aaron looked exhausted.
“Because I wasn't only running from Reena.””
“Who else?””
Aaron lowered his voice.
“Myself.””
Peter remembered Thomas's words.
The same phrase.
But from Aaron's mouth, it sounded different.
“What did you do?””
Aaron looked away.
“Things I thought I had to do.””
Peter's stomach tightened.
“What things?””
Aaron didn't answer.
Instead, he looked toward the police station doors.
“Are Drew and Lily safe?””
Peter's expression changed.
“They were taken.””
Aaron immediately went pale.
“What?””
“Ava too.””
Aaron stepped backward.
“No.””
Peter stared.
“You know where they are.””
Aaron's face changed.
Fear.
Real fear.
“Who took them?””
Peter didn't answer.
Aaron grabbed his shoulders.
“Peter. Who took them?””
“Thomas said—”
Aaron's grip tightened.
“Thomas?””
“Yes.””
Aaron closed his eyes.
“No.””
“What?””
“He wasn't supposed to find you.””
Peter stared.
“Why?””
Aaron looked at him.
“Because Thomas is not the person you need to fear.””
Peter's heart sank.
“Then who?””
Aaron's eyes moved toward the station entrance.
Toward the police officers.
Toward the people walking through the hallway.
Then he whispered:
“The person who arrested me.””
Peter looked around.
“What?””
Aaron's voice dropped.
“He's the one who has the children.””
A cold silence fell.
Peter looked at Hale.
The detective looked back.
And suddenly Peter realized something.
The entire investigation had been happening around one person.
Someone who always arrived first.
Someone who always knew more.
Someone who always had an explanation.
Aaron looked at Hale.
“You never changed.””
Hale's face went pale.
Peter turned.
“You know him?””
Aaron laughed softly.
Not happily.
Painfully.
“Yes.””
Peter looked between them.
“How?””
Aaron stared at the detective.
“Because Marcus Hale was the first person who betrayed me.””
Hale took a step back.
“That isn't true.””
Aaron's eyes hardened.
“It is.””
Peter felt the room spinning.
“No.””
Aaron looked at him.
“I wanted to tell you.””
“Tell me what?””
Aaron whispered:
“Marcus wasn't investigating Reena.””
A pause.
“He was helping her.””
Hale shook his head.
“No.””
Aaron continued.
“He was the reason I disappeared.””
Peter stared at the man beside him.
The man who had helped.
The man who had guided.
The man who had claimed to search for the truth.
Then Hale's phone rang.
Everyone looked at it.
He slowly pulled it out.
A message.
His face changed.
Peter saw it.
Only three words.
BRING HIM BACK.
Peter looked at Aaron.
“Who sent that?””
Hale didn't answer.
Aaron did.
His voice was barely audible.
“The person who has been controlling all of us from the beginning.””
Peter waited.
Aaron looked at the message.
Then whispered:
“Reena isn't the mastermind.””
The lights in the station suddenly flickered.
Every phone in the room buzzed at the same time.
A broadcast message appeared.
One sentence.
ONCE AGAIN, AARON CHOSE THE WRONG FAMILY.
Peter looked at Aaron.
Aaron looked terrified.
Because he recognized the sender.
He whispered one name.
A name Peter had never heard before.
May you like
And a name that would change everything.
“Evelyn.””
