Chapter 6: Daniel's Letter
“Marcus!””
Andre ran after him.
The hallway was bright and nearly empty.
Marcus didn't stop.
Andre caught up and grabbed his arm.
“You don't get to drop that on me and walk away.””
Marcus pulled free.
“I gave you what you needed.””
“You gave me a letter telling me not to trust my wife.””
“Because your brother wrote it.””
“You expect me to believe everything you say?””
“No.””
Marcus looked directly into his eyes.
“I expect you to read what Daniel wrote.””
Andre held up the envelope.
“Why didn't you open it?””
“I tried.””
“And?””
“It wasn't mine.””
Andre frowned.
Marcus's voice softened.
“My father addressed it to you. My mother told me to leave it sealed.””
Andre stared at him.
“Your mother knew about me?””
“She knew Daniel wanted to contact you.””
“Then why didn't he?””
“Because he was afraid.””
“Of me?””
“No.””
Marcus looked toward the examination room.
“Of what would happen to everyone if he did.””
Andre's jaw tightened.
“Who was he afraid of?””
Marcus didn't answer.
Andre stepped closer.
“You want me to trust you? Start talking.””
Marcus took a breath.
“Daniel discovered someone was using his identity.””
“What?””
“Bank accounts. Insurance records. Medical records.””
Andre's face tightened.
“How?””
“I don't know.””
“You expect me to believe that?””
“My father was a mechanic, Andre. He wasn't a criminal mastermind.””
“Then who was?””
Marcus looked at him.
“That is what he was investigating.””
Andre glanced at the envelope.
“What does Monica have to do with it?””
Marcus hesitated.
“She found the same records I did.””
Andre went still.
“When?””
“Months ago.””
“You said she found the letters six months ago.””
“She found more than letters.””
Andre's eyes narrowed.
“What?””
Marcus lowered his voice.
“Your wife's medical information.””
Andre looked down at the prescription bottle.
“So the document in Jasmine's backpack…”
“Wasn't supposed to be there.””
“Who put it there?””
“I don't know.””
“Then why did you say someone wanted me to think you put it there?””
Marcus looked toward the room.
“Because whoever did it knew you'd blame me.””
Andre felt a chill.
“Someone knows you.””
“Yes.””
“Someone knows Monica.””
“Yes.””
“Someone knows Jasmine.””
Marcus nodded.
“And someone knew Jasmine would bring that backpack to this hospital.””
Andre's face hardened.
“That means they were watching us.””
“Yes.””
A scream came from the examination room.
Andre spun around.
“Jasmine!””
He ran back.
The door was open.
Tasha stood beside the bed.
Monica was gone.
Andre rushed inside.
“Where is my wife?””
Tasha pointed toward the hallway.
“She said she needed air.””
“When?””
“Less than a minute ago.””
Andre looked toward the door.
Then at Jasmine.
“Are you okay?””
Jasmine nodded.
Her eyes were wide.
“Dad…”
“What?””
“Mom took the paper.””
Andre's stomach dropped.
“What paper?””
“The one you opened.””
He checked his hand.
The envelope was still there.
But the folded medical document was gone.
He looked at the bed.
Then the chair.
Then the floor.
“Where did she take it?””
Jasmine shook her head.
“She said she had to give it back.””
“To who?””
“I don't know.””
Tasha looked at Andre.
“Mr. Hayes, you need to stay with your daughter.””
Andre nodded.
He couldn't leave her.
Not now.
He walked back to the bed and sat beside her.
“Jasmine, I need you to tell me everything.””
She stared at the floor.
“I was scared Mom would get mad.””
“She won't.””
“She will.””
“Not if I'm here.””
Jasmine looked at him.
“She told me not to tell you.””
“What?””
“She said if you found out about the medicine, you'd hate her.””
Andre's voice softened.
“Did she say why?””
Jasmine shook her head.
Then she reached underneath her pillow.
She pulled out a small folded piece of paper.
Andre stared.
“What's that?””
“I took it before Mom saw.””
His heart began pounding.
He unfolded it.
There were only three lines.
The handwriting looked old.
*Andre,*
*If you're reading this, Monica already knows I failed.*
*Ask her what happened on October 14.*
Andre's eyes locked onto the date.
October 14.
He knew that date.
It was the day Daniel died.
He looked at Jasmine.
“Where did you get this?””
She pointed toward the red backpack.
“It was inside the front pocket.””
Andre stood.
“Dad?””
He looked at her.
“I'll be right back.””
Tasha stepped in front of him.
“Where are you going?””
“To find my wife.””
“Andre, you're not thinking clearly.””
“No.””
He looked down at the note.
“For twelve years, I thought my brother died because a stranger made one bad decision.””
His eyes lifted.
“Now I think someone made a very deliberate one.””
He stepped into the hallway.
At the far end, Monica stood beside the elevators.
She was holding the missing medical document.
Andre walked toward her.
“Monica.””
She turned.
Her eyes were red.
“You read the letter.””
“Yes.””
She looked down.
“Then you know.””
“No.””
Andre stopped a few feet away.
“I know Daniel wanted me to ask you about October 14.””
Monica's face collapsed.
“And I know you took the document.””
She said nothing.
“What happened that day?””
Monica looked at the elevator doors.
Then back at Andre.
“I wasn't supposed to be there.””
Andre's voice was barely a whisper.
“Where?””
Monica swallowed.
“At the crash.””
The elevator chimed.
The doors opened.
Monica stepped inside.
Andre stared at her.
“You saw Daniel die?””
She pressed the button.
“No.””
Her voice broke.
“I saw who caused it.””
The doors began to close.
Andre lunged forward.
“Who?””
Monica looked directly at him.
May you like
And just before the doors shut, she whispered a name Andre had not heard in twelve years.
His mother's name.
