Chapter 13: The Last Lie Before the Truth
Daniel did not move.
The phone was still in his hand.
Detective Hill's warning repeated in his mind.
Get away from him.
But Thomas was standing only a few feet away, looking more exhausted than dangerous.
And that was the problem.
Danger did not always look like danger.
Sometimes it looked like a friend who knew exactly how to make you lower your guard.
Sometimes it looked like someone who had been beside you for twenty years.
Daniel looked at Thomas.
"Did you arrange Renata's escape?""
Thomas closed his eyes.
For a moment, he said nothing.
That silence was enough.
Daniel felt something break inside him.
Not anger.
Something worse.
Disappointment.
"Answer me.""
Thomas finally opened his eyes.
"I did.""
The confession was quiet.
Almost gentle.
And somehow that made it more painful.
Daniel stepped back.
"Why?""
Thomas looked toward the road.
"Because if Renata stayed, she would die.""
Daniel stared.
"What are you talking about?""
"You still don't understand.""
Daniel laughed bitterly.
"No, Thomas. I understand perfectly.""
"No.""
Thomas shook his head.
"You understand the pieces everyone wanted you to see.""
He pointed toward the recorder.
"You heard Elena's warning.""
"You showed it to me.""
"Yes.""
"But you didn't tell me everything.""
Thomas looked away.
"Because I couldn't.""
"Couldn't?""
Daniel's voice hardened.
"You always had a choice.""
Thomas looked at him.
"That is what Elena said.""
The words stopped Daniel.
"What?""
Thomas swallowed.
"She said the same thing to me.""
The road became silent.
"She told me I was hiding behind excuses. She told me protecting people from the truth was still a form of betrayal.""
Daniel looked down.
Because those words sounded exactly like Elena.
Thomas continued.
"And she was right.""
The admission surprised him.
"I failed her.""
Daniel studied him.
"Then why did you help Renata?""
Thomas shook his head.
"I didn't help Renata.""
"Detective Hill says you did.""
"Because I moved her.""
"Exactly.""
Thomas stepped closer.
"I moved her because someone was coming for her.""
"Someone?""
Thomas nodded.
"The same person who has been trying to erase every piece of evidence.""
Daniel's expression changed.
"Who?""
Thomas looked toward the trees.
"I don't know.""
That answer frustrated Daniel.
After everything, after all the secrets, Thomas still didn't know.
Or he wasn't telling.
"Then why should I believe you?""
Thomas reached into his pocket.
He pulled out a small key.
"I kept this for Elena.""
Daniel stared.
"What is it?""
"A safety deposit box.""
"Where?""
"She never told me.""
Daniel frowned.
"Then how do you know?""
"Because she left instructions.""
Thomas handed him the key.
"She said only you should open it.""
Daniel looked at the key.
Another secret.
Another hidden piece.
It felt endless.
Before he could speak, headlights appeared in the distance.
A car.
Moving fast.
Thomas's face changed.
"Get down.""
Daniel barely had time to react.
A loud crash echoed through the trees.
The vehicle stopped near them.
Someone jumped out.
Detective Hill's officers arrived seconds later.
But the person who stepped out of the vehicle was not an officer.
It was Daniel's brother.
Ethan.
Daniel froze.
Ethan looked older.
Tired.
But familiar.
"Daniel.""
The name felt strange coming from him.
They had not spoken in six years.
Not since their father's funeral.
"What are you doing here?""
Ethan looked at Thomas.
Then at the recorder.
"I came because you finally found the truth.""
Daniel stared.
"You knew?""
Ethan looked away.
"Yes.""
The anger came instantly.
"You knew about Elena?""
"I knew something was wrong.""
"Something?""
Daniel moved closer.
"You knew my wife was in danger.""
Ethan's face tightened.
"I tried to stop it.""
"How?""
"By destroying the evidence.""
The confession shocked everyone.
Detective Hill stepped forward.
"You destroyed evidence?""
Ethan nodded.
"But not because I wanted to protect them.""
"Then why?""
Ethan looked at Daniel.
"Because I found out our father was involved.""
Daniel went silent.
The same truth.
Coming from another person.
"But I didn't know Elena was going to die.""
Ethan's voice broke.
"I thought I was stopping a scandal.""
Daniel stared.
"You're saying you helped cover it up?""
Ethan looked ashamed.
"Yes.""
The weight of everything settled.
His family.
His marriage.
His father's legacy.
All built around lies.
Then Ethan said something that changed everything.
"But I didn't kill Elena.""
Daniel looked at him.
"Who did?""
Ethan looked toward Thomas.
Then whispered:
"The person who has been controlling all of us.""
A phone rang.
Everyone froze.
The sound came from Thomas's pocket.
Thomas looked confused.
He pulled it out.
Unknown number.
He answered.
A woman's voice came through.
Calm.
Cold.
"You're all finally together.""
Daniel's blood ran cold.
Renata.
"You should have left the past buried.""
Thomas tightened his grip on the phone.
"Where are you?""
She laughed softly.
"You still think this is about hiding.""
A pause.
"This is about finishing.""
The call ended.
Daniel looked around.
For the first time, everyone understood.
May you like
Renata was not running.
She was preparing.
