Chapter 8: The Call
Nobody touched the phone.
It kept ringing.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Andre stared at the screen as though looking at a ghost.
Marcus Hayes.
His younger brother.
Dead for three years.
Andre swallowed.
“Answer it.””
Calvin didn't move.
“Answer it.””
“I don't think that's a good idea.””
Andre stepped toward him.
“Give me the phone.””
Calvin handed it over.
Andre stared at the number.
It was unfamiliar.
But the caller ID was not.
His thumb hovered over the screen.
Then he answered.
“Hello?””
Silence.
Andre's breathing quickened.
“Who is this?””
A man's voice finally came through.
Older.
Rougher.
But unmistakable.
“Andre?””
Andre stopped breathing.
His knees nearly buckled.
“Marcus?””
Monica covered her mouth.
Jasmine looked frightened.
The voice on the phone gave a short laugh.
“You still recognize me.””
Andre pressed the phone against his ear.
“Where are you?””
“That's not the first question you should ask.””
“Where are you?””
“You haven't changed.””
“Marcus, you're dead.””
“I know what they told you.””
Andre looked at Calvin.
Calvin was staring at the floor.
“You knew.””
Calvin shook his head.
Andre's voice rose.
“You knew my brother was alive?””
“I didn't know he was alive.””
Marcus laughed softly through the phone.
“Calvin knew enough.””
Andre turned toward him.
“What's going on?””
Marcus said, “Ask Monica.””
Andre looked at his wife.
She was crying.
“Monica.””
She shook her head.
Marcus spoke again.
“She made a deal.””
Andre's face hardened.
“What deal?””
“To keep Jasmine alive.””
Monica whispered, “Marcus, stop.””
“You should have told him.””
“I was going to.””
“When?””
Monica couldn't answer.
Andre's grip tightened around the phone.
“Marcus, what happened six months ago?””
Silence.
Then:
“You remember the car accident?””
Andre closed his eyes.
“Yes.””
“The one they said killed me?””
“Yes.””
“It wasn't an accident.””
Monica's knees weakened.
Tasha caught her before she fell.
Andre stared at his wife.
“What does Monica have to do with it?””
Marcus's voice became quieter.
“She saw something.””
“What?””
“She saw who was in the car.””
Andre's face changed.
“Who?””
Marcus didn't answer.
“Marcus.””
“You need to leave the hospital.””
“Why?””
“Because Whitmore wasn't working alone.””
Andre looked toward the doctor.
Whitmore was being held by security.
He suddenly smiled.
Andre felt a chill.
“Who else?””
Marcus said, “The person standing closest to Jasmine.””
Everyone looked around.
Andre instinctively moved toward his daughter.
Tasha stood beside the bed.
Monica was against the wall.
Calvin stood near the door.
The administrator and two security officers were behind Whitmore.
Andre's eyes moved from one face to another.
“Which one?””
The call went silent.
“Marcus?””
No answer.
“Marcus!””
The line disconnected.
Andre stared at the phone.
Calvin spoke first.
“Call him back.””
Andre did.
The number immediately went to voicemail.
“Damn it.””
Monica suddenly whispered, “He knows.””
Andre turned.
“Who?””
“The person Marcus was talking about.””
“Who?””
Monica shook her head.
“I can't say.””
Andre grabbed her shoulders.
“You can.””
She flinched.
Andre immediately released her.
“I'm sorry.””
His voice cracked.
“But you have to tell me.””
Monica looked at Jasmine.
“I promised.””
“To who?””
“My brother.””
Andre froze.
“Your brother?””
“Yes.””
“You have a brother?””
Monica nodded.
“His name is Calvin.””
Andre slowly looked toward the man by the door.
Calvin Brooks.
He stared at Monica.
“No.””
Andre looked between them.
“You said your brother's name was Calvin?””
Monica nodded.
Calvin's expression was devastated.
Andre pointed at him.
“You two are siblings?””
Calvin answered.
“Yes.””
Andre stepped backward.
“You've known my family for years.””
Calvin nodded.
“You knew Marcus.””
“Yes.””
“You knew about Jasmine.””
“Yes.””
“And you knew about the test.””
“Yes.””
Andre's voice became colder.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
Calvin looked at Monica.
“Because she asked me not to.””
Andre looked at his wife.
“You brought your own brother into this.””
“I needed someone I trusted.””
“You trusted him more than me.””
“No.””
“Then why?””
Monica wiped her tears.
“Because Marcus came to me before the accident.””
Andre's eyes widened.
“What did he tell you?””
“He told me someone was trying to use Jasmine.””
“For what?””
“I don't know.””
“That's not good enough.””
Monica reached into her purse.
She pulled out a small key.
“I was supposed to give this to Marcus.””
Andre stared at it.
“What does it open?””
Monica shook her head.
“I never found out.””
Calvin suddenly looked alarmed.
“Where did you get that?””
“Marcus gave it to me.””
Calvin stepped closer.
“When?””
“Six months ago.””
He stared at the key.
“Monica…”
“What?””
“That isn't a key.””
Andre looked at it.
It was small.
Silver.
Flat.
With a black plastic head.
Calvin's voice dropped.
“It's a locker access token.””
Andre frowned.
“What locker?””
Calvin looked at the hospital administrator.
The administrator immediately shook his head.
“No.””
Andre turned.
“What?””
The administrator looked nervous.
“That token belongs to a restricted storage area.””
“Where?””
He didn't answer.
Andre stepped closer.
“Where?””
The administrator whispered:
“Basement records.””
Whitmore suddenly laughed.
Everyone turned.
“You're all looking in the wrong place.””
Andre glared at him.
“What does that mean?””
Whitmore smiled.
“The records aren't in the basement anymore.””
Calvin's face changed.
“Where are they?””
Whitmore looked directly at Jasmine.
“With the person who has been protecting her.””
Jasmine suddenly pointed at Tasha.
“Dad…”
Andre turned.
Tasha stood beside the bed.
Her face had gone completely pale.
May you like
Jasmine whispered:
“That's the woman Mom told me never to trust.””
