Chapter 5: The Man Outside
Andre moved in front of Jasmine.
Tasha stepped toward the door but stopped when Jasmine grabbed her sleeve.
“Don't open it.””
The voice came again.
“Jasmine, it's Marcus.””
Andre's heart pounded.
He stared at the door.
“How does he know she's here?””
Monica backed toward the wall.
“I told him.””
Andre turned sharply.
“You told him?””
“I called him.””
“When?””
“Last night.””
“You said you didn't know who sent the message.””
“I lied.””
The knock came again.
This time harder.
“Monica?””
Her face crumpled.
Andre whispered, “What did you tell him?””
“That Jasmine was sick.””
“And?””
“That I needed to know whether Daniel had really died because of—”
She stopped.
“Because of what?””
The door handle moved.
Tasha stepped forward.
“Sir, this is a patient room. You need to wait outside.””
Silence.
Then the man answered.
“I just want to talk to my family.””
Andre's eyes widened.
“Family?””
The voice was calm.
Too calm.
Jasmine buried her face against the pillow.
Andre looked at Monica.
“Is that him?””
Monica nodded.
“Yes.””
Andre approached the door.
“Marcus.””
Silence.
Then:
“Yes?””
“I'm Andre Hayes.””
“I know.””
“You've been watching my daughter.””
“I've been protecting her.””
“You put something in her backpack.””
“I put something in her backpack because your wife wouldn't listen.””
Andre's hand tightened into a fist.
“You don't get to come near my daughter.””
“I never touched her.””
“You're standing outside her hospital room.””
“Because she's in danger.””
Andre glanced at Jasmine.
“What danger?””
No answer.
“Marcus?””
A long pause.
Then the man said:
“Ask Monica.””
Andre looked over his shoulder.
Monica was crying.
“What does he mean?””
She shook her head.
“I don't know.””
Marcus spoke again.
“You know exactly what I mean.””
Monica's face went white.
Andre opened the door.
Tasha immediately said, “Mr. Hayes—”
But Andre stepped into the hallway.
A man stood several feet away.
Black.
Early thirties.
Tall.
Dark jacket.
His face was strikingly familiar.
Andre stopped.
The same deep-set eyes.
The same narrow scar above the right eyebrow.
Daniel had had that scar.
Andre hadn't seen it since he was twenty-nine years old.
He whispered, “Oh my God.””
Marcus stared back.
“You see it now.””
Andre couldn't move.
“How?””
Marcus slowly pulled a photograph from his pocket.
He held it out.
Andre took it.
The picture showed Daniel standing beside a young Black woman.
She was pregnant.
Daniel's hand rested gently on her stomach.
Andre looked at Marcus.
“You're his son.””
“Yes.””
Andre's eyes hardened.
“You knew who I was.””
“From the moment I saw you.””
“And you came near my daughter.””
“I came near Jasmine because Monica refused to tell you the truth.””
Monica appeared in the doorway.
“Marcus, stop.””
He looked at her.
“You had twelve years to tell him.””
“I didn't know you existed.””
“You found the letters.””
“I didn't know they were real.””
Marcus laughed bitterly.
“My mother kept every one.””
Andre looked at him.
“Why did Daniel die?””
Marcus's expression changed.
“You really don't know?””
“No.””
“Your family told you it was a drunk driver.””
“That is what the police report said.””
“Then the police report was wrong.””
Monica whispered, “Marcus…”
He looked directly at her.
“Tell him.””
“Tell me what?””
Marcus reached into his jacket.
Andre immediately stepped between him and the room.
“Don't.””
Marcus stopped.
He slowly removed a sealed envelope.
“No weapon.””
Andre didn't relax.
“What is that?””
“The last thing my father sent before he died.””
Andre stared at the envelope.
“Why would he send something to you?””
“Because he knew he was going to die.””
Monica covered her mouth.
Andre looked at her.
“You knew about this?””
“No.””
Marcus held the envelope toward him.
“You should read it.””
Andre didn't take it.
“Why?””
“Because your brother wrote your name on the front.””
Andre's breath caught.
“What?””
Marcus nodded.
“And there's something else.””
He looked past Andre toward Jasmine.
“She was never supposed to have that bottle.””
Andre turned.
“What do you mean?””
Marcus's face hardened.
“The medication wasn't meant for Jasmine.””
Andre looked at the prescription bottle in his hand.
“Then why was it in her backpack?””
Marcus looked at Monica.
“Because someone wanted you to think it was.””
Monica whispered, “No.””
Marcus took one step backward.
“And that person isn't me.””
Andre's eyes moved between them.
“Then who?””
Marcus's expression became grim.
“That's what your brother was trying to tell you.””
Andre looked down at the envelope.
His hands trembled as he turned it over.
There, written in faded black ink, was a name.
*ANDRE.*
Underneath it were four words.
*DON'T TRUST YOUR WIFE.*
Andre looked up.
May you like
Monica was staring at the envelope.
And Marcus was already walking away.
