Chapter 9: My Brother's Final Warning
Naomi read Daniel's handwriting until the words stopped looking like words.
She must never know why.
The notebook photograph was grainy, but the handwriting was unmistakable. Daniel's letters had always leaned slightly to the right, and he crossed his sevens with a short horizontal stroke.
She had teased him about it when they were children.
Now those familiar marks made her hands shake.
She forwarded the email and attachment to Simone without replying to the sender.
Then she called her attorney.
“Don't contact the sender,” Simone instructed.
“Don't click any additional links, and don't delete the email. I'll have our technical specialist preserve the message and examine the attachment.””
“Can you find out where the notebook is?””
“We can try to determine what the message reveals, but I don't want you attempting to locate anyone yourself.””
Naomi stared at the photograph.
“That's my brother's notebook.””
“I understand.””
“He was carrying it the day he died.””
“Then the photograph may be significant. But we need to establish who took it, when it was taken, and whether the notebook is authentic.””
Naomi closed her eyes.
Five years earlier, she had stood beside Daniel's casket and promised herself she would keep his memory alive for her children. She had told them stories about his terrible singing, his ridiculous jokes, and the way he always arrived at family dinners with a dessert nobody had asked him to bring.
She had never imagined that his death might conceal a secret involving her husband.
“Simone,” she whispered, “what if Marcus knew something about Daniel's accident?””
“Then we need evidence that establishes what he knew. Not assumptions, and not a confrontation that gives anyone an opportunity to destroy records.””
Naomi took a slow breath.
“Tell me what to do.””
“Stay where you are. Keep the children with Denise if that makes you feel safer. I'll contact the appropriate authorities about the threat and the possible connection to the existing financial investigation.””
After the call, Naomi went into the kitchen.
Denise was preparing lunch, chopping vegetables with quick, practiced movements. She looked up and immediately noticed Naomi's expression.
“What happened?””
Naomi showed her the email.
Denise read the message and stared at the photograph.
“Oh, Naomi.””
“I don't understand why my name is in his notebook.””
“Maybe he was trying to protect you.””
“From what?””
Denise put down the knife.
“I don't know. But Daniel loved you. Whatever he wrote, don't assume it means he did something terrible.””
Naomi wanted to believe that.
Yet the notebook contained Marcus's name, Richard's name, Victor's name, and her own.
Four people connected by an agreement she had never seen.
An agreement linked to the property her father had left behind.
And a false declaration that she was dead.
That afternoon, Simone contacted the investigator assigned to the property complaint. She arranged for the threatening email and the notebook photograph to be preserved as potential evidence.
Naomi also provided the photographs of Marcus and Daniel outside the warehouse, along with the public records she had obtained.
The investigator asked whether Naomi knew why Daniel had been at the building.
She didn't.
He asked whether Marcus had mentioned any financial dealings with her brother.
He hadn't.
He asked whether she had seen the notebook after the accident.
She explained that she had last seen it in Daniel's car before the crash, but that it had not been among the belongings returned to her family.
The investigator made notes.
“We'll need to verify the chain of custody for the notebook and review the accident file. The photograph alone doesn't tell us who possesses it or how they obtained it.””
Naomi nodded.
“Will you investigate the names?””
“We'll examine any evidence that connects them to the financial transaction. If the evidence supports a broader inquiry, that will be addressed through the appropriate process.””
When the interview ended, Naomi felt exhausted.
Nothing had been resolved.
But for the first time, the questions were being recorded by someone who could pursue answers without relying on Marcus's version of events.
That evening, Brielle called.
“Naomi, I need to tell you something about Marcus.””
Naomi sat at Denise's dining table.
“What is it?””
“He came to my mother's house this afternoon.””
Naomi straightened.
“Did you let him in?””
“No. My mother spoke to him through the front door. He wanted the tablet and the wedding documents.””
“Did he threaten you?””
“Not directly. But he said I was making a mistake by cooperating with you.””
Naomi's jaw tightened.
“What exactly did he say?””
Brielle paused.
“He told me that if I handed over the files, I would become part of a criminal investigation.””
“You might be asked to provide evidence. That doesn't mean you've done anything wrong.””
“I know. My attorney explained that.””
“Did you give Marcus anything?””
“No.””
Naomi released a breath.
“Good.””
Brielle's voice softened.
“He looked terrible, Naomi. He hadn't shaved. His eyes were red. For a moment, I wanted to open the door and ask him what was happening.””
“What stopped you?””
“Then I remembered him standing at the altar, looking at your children like they were strangers.””
Naomi said nothing.
“I loved that man,” Brielle continued.
“I thought we were building a life together. But every time I remember something he told me, I wonder whether it was true.””
“I'm sorry.””
“Don't be. You didn't do this to me.””
The silence between them was no longer hostile.
They had both been deceived by the same man, although in different ways. Naomi had lost her home, her security, and the life she thought she understood. Brielle had lost the future she had planned.
Neither woman could undo what Marcus had done.
But they could refuse to help him hide it.
Before ending the call, Brielle told Naomi that her attorney had secured the tablet and preserved the files already discovered.
“There's another document,” she added.
“One I didn't understand when I first saw it.””
Naomi felt her stomach tighten.
“What document?””
“It was in a folder labeled 'Contingency.'' It refers to a meeting scheduled for the day after the wedding.””
“Where?””
“An office building downtown. The address is in the file.””
Naomi forwarded the information to Simone.
Her attorney responded that she would share it with the investigator and would not advise Naomi to attend any meeting or approach the address herself.
Naomi agreed.
For once, she would let the evidence lead the way.
The following morning, Simone called with an update.
“The investigator has obtained additional records relating to the property transfer. There are inconsistencies in the supporting documents, and the matter is being reviewed.””
“Have they found the original death certificate?””
“Not yet. The reference number is being checked. We also have a request pending for records related to Daniel's accident.””
Naomi sat on the edge of the bed.
“And the notebook?””
“The sender hasn't been identified. Our technical specialist is examining the email, but we can't guarantee that the sender's identity will be established.””
Naomi looked toward the hallway.
Her children were getting ready for school. Caleb was complaining that his shoes were too tight, while Jordan was reminding Amara to put her homework into her backpack.
Their ordinary routine seemed impossibly fragile.
“Simone, I need to know whether Marcus was involved in Daniel's death.””
“I understand. But we don't have evidence to answer that question yet.””
Naomi ended the call and went to help Amara with her shoes.
She bent down, tied the laces, and kissed her daughter's forehead.
“Have a good day, sweetheart.””
Amara smiled.
“Will Daddy pick us up today?””
Naomi froze.
She had not expected the question.
“No, baby. Aunt Denise will pick you up.””
“Is Daddy still mad at us?””
Naomi cupped her daughter's face.
“Your daddy's choices are not your fault. Not one of them.””
Amara nodded, but her eyes remained sad.
Naomi watched the children leave for school, then returned to the dining table.
A new email had arrived.
This one came from Simone.
The subject line read: *URGENT — RECORDS REVIEW UPDATE.*
Naomi opened it.
The message contained a scanned copy of a document recovered from an archived transaction file. Simone had requested that it be preserved and forwarded to the investigator.
It was a letter from Richard Vale to an unnamed financial representative.
The date was five years earlier.
Two days before Daniel's death.
Naomi read the first paragraph.
The beneficiary's family has not been informed of the proposed settlement. Mr. Hayes has confirmed that the necessary authorization will be obtained.
Her heart began to pound.
She continued reading.
The transaction must be completed before any questions arise regarding the collateral. Once the family status is updated, the transfer can proceed without further delay.
Naomi stopped.
Family status updated.
The phrase appeared again and again, linking the old agreement to the recent property transfer.
At the bottom of the page, a handwritten note had been added.
*If Daniel refuses to cooperate, proceed through Marcus. Naomi must remain unaware.*
Naomi stared at the sentence.
The letter didn't prove what had happened to Daniel.
It didn't establish that Marcus had caused the accident, or even that he knew it was coming.
But it proved that someone had been planning a financial transaction involving her family while deliberately keeping her in the dark.
And the plan had existed before Daniel died.
She called Simone immediately.
“Did the investigator see this?””
“Yes. The document has been provided to them. They're working to authenticate it and determine who received it.””
“Who wrote the note?””
“We don't know yet.””
Naomi looked at the signature at the bottom of the letter.
Richard Vale.
She could almost hear his calm voice in the wedding ballroom, insisting that everything was a misunderstanding.
Now his own handwriting appeared to contradict that claim.
Her phone rang.
Marcus.
Naomi answered, but she said nothing.
“Naomi,” he began, his voice rough.
“Please don't read any more of those documents without talking to me.””
She felt a cold stillness settle over her.
“How do you know what documents I've seen?””
Silence.
“Marcus?””
He exhaled.
“Because I know what's in the file.””
“What file?””
“The original settlement file.””
Naomi stood.
“You told me you didn't know who was involved.””
“I said I didn't know everyone.””
“Did you know Richard was planning this five years ago?””
“Naomi, I was trying to keep Daniel out of trouble.””
“By keeping me unaware?””
“He made me promise.””
“Promise what?””
Marcus's voice broke.
“That if anything happened to him, I would make sure you never learned the truth.””
Naomi's hand went numb around the phone.
“What truth?””
Marcus didn't answer.
“Tell me what happened to my brother.””
A long silence followed.
Then Marcus spoke so quietly that she almost missed the words.
“Daniel wasn't supposed to die that night.””
Naomi stopped breathing.
Before she could ask another question, the line went dead.
May you like
And a second later, a message arrived from the unknown sender.
*ASK MARCUS WHO WAS DRIVING THE CAR THAT FOLLOWED DANIEL.*
