Chapter 7: The Woman in the Front Row
Marcus stared through the rain.
The figure lowered the umbrella.
It was Evelyn Carter.
His father's younger sister.
His aunt.
She had sat in the front row at the wedding, dressed in a navy-blue suit, crying during the ceremony like every other proud relative.
Now she stood twenty feet away from his father's grave.
Marcus's voice came out cold.
“You.””
Evelyn didn't move.
“I was hoping you'd find the message.””
Marcus stepped toward her.
“You sent them.””
“Yes.””
“You were the one warning me.””
“Yes.””
“Then why were you sitting in that church?””
Evelyn's face tightened.
“Because Vanessa asked me to.””
Marcus stopped.
“Where is she?””
Evelyn looked at the phone in his hand.
“You saw the video.””
“Where is she?””
“I don't know.””
Marcus grabbed her arm.
“Don't lie to me.””
Evelyn pulled free.
“I'm not lying.””
“You knew about Derrick.””
“I knew enough.””
“You knew he was my brother.””
Evelyn looked toward the grave.
“Your father told me three months before he died.””
Marcus's eyes burned.
“And you never told me?””
“I tried.””
“When?””
“Twice.””
“When?””
“The first time, your father stopped me. The second time, Derrick threatened to kill you.””
Marcus went still.
“Derrick threatened my life?””
Evelyn nodded.
“He said if you ever learned who he was, you'd become a problem he couldn't control.””
Marcus looked down at the USB.
“Why did Dad leave this here?””
“Because he knew Derrick would search the house.””
“He knew he was going to die?””
Evelyn hesitated.
“He knew he was in danger.””
Marcus's jaw tightened.
“That isn't an answer.””
“No.””
She took a breath.
“He didn't know he'd die that night.””
Marcus stared at her.
“Then who knew?””
Evelyn looked at him.
“Vanessa.””
His stomach twisted.
“What?””
“She knew Derrick planned to confront your father.””
“She tried to stop him.””
“I know.””
“She called 911.””
“I know.””
“Then why did she hide everything from me?””
“Because Derrick had something you didn't know about.””
Marcus waited.
Evelyn's eyes filled with tears.
“Your daughter.””
Marcus froze.
“Lily?””
“Yes.””
“What about her?””
“Derrick wasn't threatening to hurt Lily.””
Evelyn swallowed.
“He was threatening to take her.””
Marcus's face hardened.
“He can't.””
“He had documents.””
“What documents?””
“Custody papers.””
Marcus shook his head.
“He's not Lily's father.””
“No.””
“Then he has no claim.””
Evelyn looked away.
“Not as her father.””
Marcus's voice dropped.
“Then how?””
“Your father adopted Lily before you ever met Vanessa.””
Marcus stared.
“That doesn't make sense.””
“Your father adopted her legally.””
“Why?””
Evelyn's silence lasted too long.
Marcus stepped closer.
“Why?””
“Because Lily's mother was someone your father was protecting.””
Marcus's heart hammered.
“Who?””
Evelyn looked directly at him.
“Vanessa's sister.””
Marcus couldn't speak.
His aunt continued.
“Her name was Rachel.””
Marcus shook his head.
“I've never heard of her.””
“Exactly.””
“Why would my father hide Vanessa's sister?””
“Because Rachel was a witness.””
“To what?””
“To the same thing Derrick was trying to bury.””
Marcus looked toward the cemetery gates.
“Where is Rachel now?””
Evelyn's expression changed.
“Dead.””
The word landed heavily.
“When?””
“Six years ago.””
“How?””
“Car accident.””
Marcus stared at her.
“Was it an accident?””
Evelyn didn't answer.
That was answer enough.
Marcus stepped back.
“This family has been lying to me for years.””
“Your father was trying to protect you.””
“By hiding my own family from me?””
“He believed ignorance was safer.””
Marcus laughed bitterly.
“It wasn't.””
“No.””
Evelyn looked at the USB.
“And now it's too late.””
A car engine suddenly roared somewhere beyond the cemetery.
Marcus turned.
Headlights appeared between the trees.
A black SUV accelerated toward them.
Evelyn grabbed Marcus's arm.
“Move!””
They jumped aside.
The SUV tore past, splashing muddy water over the grave.
Marcus stumbled.
The passenger window was down.
He saw a face.
Derrick.
Marcus ran after the vehicle.
“Derrick!””
The SUV disappeared through the cemetery gate.
Evelyn pulled out her phone.
“We have to go.””
Marcus turned.
“Where?””
“To find Vanessa.””
“You said you didn't know where she was.””
“I don't.””
“Then how do we find her?””
Evelyn stared at the road.
“Derrick always takes people to the same place.””
Marcus's blood ran cold.
“Where?””
“Your father's old lake house.””
Marcus froze.
“My father sold that.””
“No.””
Evelyn shook her head.
“He transferred it.””
“To whom?””
She looked at him.
“Vanessa.””
Marcus stared.
“When?””
“The day before your wedding.””
His phone buzzed.
A location appeared.
No name.
Just coordinates.
Then a message.
*COME ALONE, MARCUS.*
A second message appeared.
*YOUR AUNT KNOWS WHAT HAPPENED TO RACHEL. ASK HER WHO WAS DRIVING.*
Marcus slowly raised his eyes.
Evelyn's face had gone white.
Marcus whispered, “You know.””
May you like
Evelyn began crying.
“I was in the car.””
