Chapter 13: The Woman They Tried to Bury
I called the police before I left the café.
Robert was already contacting the hospital, demanding the name of the person who had signed my mother out.
Emily stood beside me, holding the photograph of the underground door.
"Marcus, we need to get to the house.""
"Not without the police.""
"Richard won't wait.""
I looked at her.
"What do you know that you're not telling me?""
She hesitated.
Then she reached into her handbag and pulled out a folded piece of paper.
"I received this three days ago.""
I unfolded it.
It was a handwritten note.
*The original recording is still missing. Find it before November 4, or your daughter will pay for what her grandfather knew.*
I looked at the date.
Today was November 3.
"Why didn't you show me this earlier?""
"Because I didn't know whether I could trust you.""
I stared at her.
"After eleven years, you still think I would hurt you?""
Her eyes filled.
"No. I was afraid someone was listening.""
My phone rang again.
An unfamiliar number.
I answered.
"Marcus Reed?""
"Yes.""
"This is Detective Harris. We received the report concerning your mother.""
"Have you found her?""
"We're tracing the vehicle used to transport her from the hospital. The staff member who approved the discharge says the person presented legal authorization.""
"Was it Daniel?""
"We're investigating.""
"Detective, my mother is medically vulnerable. She cannot be moved without proper supervision.""
"We understand. We have officers checking the addresses associated with your brother.""
I glanced at Emily.
"There's an underground storage room beneath my mother's property. Someone may be holding her there.""
The detective paused.
"Explain.""
I gave him the location and described the hidden entrance.
"Do not enter the property yourself," he warned.
"Wait for our officers.""
I agreed.
But I knew something the detective didn't.
Richard had threatened my daughter.
And I wasn't going to wait until eleven o'clock to find out what he intended to do.
We drove to the family property with Robert following behind us.
Two police vehicles were already approaching when we arrived.
I stepped out.
The front door was open.
Inside, several drawers had been pulled out, and papers were scattered across the living-room floor.
"Mom?"" I shouted.
No answer.
I rushed toward the workshop foundation.
The metal plate was gone.
The cavity stood open.
Someone had removed the container.
I looked at the concrete slab.
There were fresh scratches around the edge.
"They found it," Emily whispered.
Robert examined the opening.
"Or they wanted us to believe they did.""
I turned.
"What?""
He pointed toward the ground.
A small strip of blue fabric was caught beneath the metal frame.
I recognized it.
My mother's hospital blanket.
"Mom!""
I dropped to my knees.
A narrow metal door had been exposed beneath the concrete.
I pulled at its handle.
It didn't move.
One of the officers approached.
"Sir, step away.""
He examined the door and called for assistance.
After several minutes, they managed to open it.
A narrow staircase descended into darkness.
The air smelled of damp wood and old metal.
A flashlight illuminated the steps.
I heard something.
A faint sound.
Three knocks.
Then two more.
"Mom?""
A weak voice answered.
"Marcus?""
I rushed down.
My mother was sitting on an old wooden chair.
Her hands were trembling, and a blanket covered her shoulders.
A plastic water bottle sat beside her.
"Mom!""
I knelt and took her hands.
She began crying.
"I knew you'd come.""
"Are you hurt?""
She shook her head.
"Where's Daniel?""
Her expression changed.
"He left.""
"When?""
"About twenty minutes ago.""
"What did he want?""
My mother looked toward the back of the room.
"Your father.""
I frowned.
"What about Dad?""
She pointed to a metal cabinet.
"Richard wanted the original documents.""
I opened the cabinet.
Inside were several folders, a locked metal box, and an old cassette recorder.
The documents were untouched.
But the recorder was missing its cassette.
I looked at Robert.
"Where's the original recording?""
He examined the machine.
"Someone removed it.""
My mother suddenly grabbed my sleeve.
"Marcus, listen.""
I turned.
"Yes?""
"Daniel came here before Richard.""
"Why?""
"He wanted to take the documents and give them to you.""
I stared at her.
"Then why didn't he?""
"Richard arrived.""
She swallowed.
"They argued. Richard said Daniel had already done enough damage and that he would never be forgiven.""
I looked at the locked metal box.
"What's inside?""
My mother shook her head.
"Your father told me it was for Lily.""
I carefully examined the box.
There was a small combination lock.
Four numbers.
I tried Lily's birthday.
The lock clicked.
Inside were several certificates, a letter, and a small photograph.
The first document was an original company ownership certificate.
The controlling shares had been transferred into a trust for Lily.
The second document was a declaration signed by my father.
It named an independent trustee and stated that no family member could withdraw or sell the shares without Lily's written consent after she reached adulthood.
The final document was a handwritten letter.
I opened it.
To my granddaughter,
If you ever receive this, remember that your grandfather believed you deserved a future that nobody could take away.
The people who love you will never ask you to prove your love by surrendering what belongs to you.
If anyone tells you that family means obedience, remember this: family is supposed to mean protection.
I lowered the letter.
My mother was crying.
"He knew," she whispered.
"He knew what?""
"Your father knew Richard would eventually come for Lily.""
I looked at the documents.
Then I heard footsteps above us.
A voice called down.
"Marcus?""
Daniel.
I stood.
He appeared at the top of the stairs.
His suit was wrinkled, his face pale.
Behind him stood Detective Harris.
"Marcus, please. Let me explain.""
I stared at him.
"You left Mom down here?""
Daniel shook his head.
"I didn't know Richard had brought her here.""
"You signed the paperwork that allowed him to take her from the hospital.""
"I was trying to protect her.""
I laughed bitterly.
"From whom? Me?""
Daniel looked at our mother.
"Mom, I'm sorry.""
She turned away.
He stepped down.
"Marcus, I have something for you.""
He held out a small black cassette.
My father's original recording.
I stared at it.
"Where did you get that?""
"Richard.""
"Why would he give it to you?""
Daniel's eyes filled.
"Because he knows I'm done protecting him.""
Before I could respond, a loud crash sounded outside.
Detective Harris turned.
"Stay here!""
He rushed up the stairs.
Then we heard a car engine.
A police officer shouted.
And Daniel suddenly grabbed my arm.
"Marcus, there's something you need to know before they catch Richard.""
I pulled away.
"What?""
He looked directly at me.
"Vanessa didn't disappear.""
My stomach tightened.
"Where is she?""
May you like
Daniel swallowed.
"She's with Lily.""
