Chapter 7: The Name She Left Behind
“Mom.””
The word left Andre’s mouth before he could stop it.
The elevator doors were already closed.
He hit the call button once.
Nothing.
Again.
“Come on.””
Tasha hurried into the hallway behind him.
“Andre, where did she go?””
He turned toward the stairs.
“She said my mother caused Daniel’s crash.””
Tasha stared at him.
“Your mother?””
“She’s been dead for three years.””
Marcus appeared at the far end of the hallway.
He had followed them.
“What did she say?””
Andre looked at him.
“She blamed my mother.””
Marcus went completely still.
For the first time, Andre saw genuine fear on his face.
“You need to get Jasmine out of here.””
“Why?””
“Because if Monica said that name, someone is going to know she talked.””
Andre grabbed his jacket.
“Who?””
Marcus walked toward him.
“Your mother's name wasn't supposed to come up.””
“What does that mean?””
“It means your brother was right.””
“About what?””
Marcus lowered his voice.
“Your family didn't lose Daniel.””
Andre stared.
“Someone removed him.””
Tasha looked between them.
“That's enough. We need security.””
Marcus nodded.
“Yes.””
Andre pointed toward the elevators.
“Tell me everything.””
“I don't know everything.””
“Then tell me what you know.””
Marcus hesitated.
“My father found records showing someone had been using his identity after his death.””
“That makes no sense.””
“Exactly.””
“What kind of records?””
“Insurance claims. Prescription records. Bank transfers.””
Andre looked down at the bottle still in his hand.
“Monica's medical records were mixed into them.””
Marcus nodded.
“She started investigating.””
“And my mother?””
“Your mother was listed as an emergency contact on one of the accounts.””
Andre's stomach dropped.
“My mother?””
“Yes.””
“She couldn't have done that. She didn't even know about Marcus.””
“She knew about Daniel.””
“Everyone knew about Daniel.””
“Not like this.””
Marcus reached inside his jacket and pulled out his phone.
“I have something.””
Andre looked at the screen.
A photograph.
It showed Daniel standing outside a hospital.
Beside him was Andre's mother, Evelyn.
Andre recognized her immediately.
But the date beneath the photograph made his blood run cold.
*October 13.*
The day before Daniel died.
Andre stared.
“My mother told me she hadn't seen Daniel in months.””
Marcus nodded.
“She lied.””
“Why?””
“I don't know.””
Andre looked at the photo again.
Daniel appeared tense.
Evelyn was holding a folder.
“What was in that folder?””
Marcus shook his head.
“That's what my father was trying to find out.””
A sound came from the examination room.
Jasmine screamed.
Andre ran.
He pushed through the door.
“Jasmine!””
She was sitting upright, tears running down her cheeks.
Tasha stood beside her.
“What happened?””
“She woke up crying,” Tasha said.
Andre rushed to her.
“Baby, I'm here.””
Jasmine grabbed his shirt.
“Dad, Mom called.””
Andre froze.
“What?””
“Her phone.””
“Where?””
Jasmine pointed beneath the bed.
Andre reached down and found Monica's phone.
The screen was still lit.
A call was active.
No name.
No number.
Just *UNKNOWN*.
Andre answered.
“Monica?””
Static.
Then a man's voice.
“You should have left the bottle alone.””
Andre's blood ran cold.
“Who is this?””
“You weren't supposed to see any of it.””
“Where is my wife?””
A quiet laugh.
“Ask yourself why Monica knew where your brother would be that night.””
Andre clenched his jaw.
“If you hurt her—”
“She's not the one you should worry about.””
Andre looked at Jasmine.
“What does that mean?””
Silence.
Then:
“Your daughter knows more than she realizes.””
The call ended.
Andre stared at the phone.
Jasmine whispered, “Dad?””
He turned.
“What did the man say?””
Jasmine's face went pale.
“He said…”
She stopped.
“What?””
“He said Mom wasn't the one.””
Andre crouched beside her.
“Not the one what?””
Jasmine looked toward Marcus.
Then Tasha.
Then Andre.
“The one who put the bottle in my bag.””
Andre slowly stood.
He looked at Marcus.
Marcus shook his head.
“I didn't.””
Andre believed him.
That scared him more.
Because someone else had been close enough to Jasmine to put a prescription bottle inside her backpack.
Someone who knew exactly what it would look like.
Someone who knew Andre would find it.
Tasha suddenly looked at Jasmine's backpack.
“Where did you get this bag?””
Jasmine frowned.
“Mom gave it to me.””
“When?””
“This morning.””
Andre's eyes narrowed.
“Did you use it yesterday?””
“No.””
“Was it empty?””
Jasmine nodded.
“Yes.””
Tasha exchanged a look with Marcus.
Andre saw it.
“What?””
Tasha spoke carefully.
“Then whoever put the bottle inside had access to the bag between this morning and now.””
Andre's phone buzzed.
A message.
No number.
Just a photograph.
He opened it.
His hand began shaking.
It was a picture of Jasmine sleeping in her bedroom.
Taken from inside the house.
Andre looked at the timestamp.
*2:14 A.M.*
Underneath the photograph were five words:
*Your mother wasn't working alone.*
Andre's eyes lifted.
“Marcus.””
Marcus stepped closer.
“What?””
Andre showed him the screen.
Marcus stared at the photograph.
Then his expression changed.
“You need to leave this hospital.””
“Why?””
“Because whoever took that picture…”
May you like
He looked toward Jasmine.
“…was inside your house last night.””
