Chapter 8: The Man Who Knew Angela’s Secret
Thomas stood in the doorway like he belonged there.
That was the most disturbing part.
He wasn’t rushing.
He wasn’t angry.
He wasn’t acting like someone breaking into a home.
He looked like someone arriving for a meeting.
His expensive jacket was perfectly pressed.
His expression was calm.
Almost gentle.
That made him more dangerous.
“Marcus,” he said.
I kept one hand on Eli.
The other held the flashlight tightly.
“Thomas.””
His eyes moved to the safe.
Then to the photograph on the desk.
Then back to me.
“You found it.””
I felt something inside me break.
Not fear.
Disappointment.
Because Thomas was the last person I expected to betray us.
After Angela died, he was there.
He sat beside me at the hospital.
He helped arrange the funeral.
He told me, “She loved you more than anything.””
Now he was standing in my office demanding the secrets she left behind.
“Why are you here?”” I asked.
Thomas sighed.
“Because Angela made a mistake.””
My jaw tightened.
“Don’t talk about my wife like that.””
“She trusted the wrong people.””
“You?””
His eyes moved slightly.
A tiny reaction.
But I saw it.
“Marcus…”
“No.””
I stepped forward.
“You don’t get to say her name.””
Thomas looked at Eli.
“Eli, come here.””
My entire body went rigid.
“No.””
The boy immediately moved closer to me.
Thomas’s expression changed.
“You think I’m the enemy.””
“I think you came into my house looking for something my dead wife hid.””
“I came to stop something worse.””
“Then why lie?””
Silence.
That was enough.
I looked at Vanessa.
She was watching Thomas carefully.
Not like she trusted him.
Like she feared him.
“Vanessa,” I said.
She looked at me.
“You knew he was involved.””
Her eyes dropped.
Thomas answered for her.
“She was never supposed to tell you.””
My head turned.
“What?””
Vanessa closed her eyes.
Thomas stepped inside.
“Angela left instructions.””
“Instructions?””
“Yes.””
“About what?””
Thomas looked at the photograph.
“About the day you found out.””
I felt a chill.
“The day?””
He nodded.
“She knew eventually you would discover the truth.””
“Why?””
“Because Angela knew you.””
I laughed bitterly.
“You’re telling me my wife planned all this?””
“No.””
Thomas looked directly at me.
“She planned how to protect you.””
The room went quiet.
I looked at the photograph.
At Angela’s handwriting.
At the documents.
At the safe.
For years, I thought Angela’s death was the end of everything.
Now it felt like she had left a trail behind.
A trail leading me somewhere I didn’t want to go.
Thomas extended his hand.
“Give me the folder.””
I didn’t move.
“No.””
“Marcus.””
“No.””
His expression hardened.
“Those documents are dangerous.””
“You keep saying that.””
“Because it’s true.””
“Then tell me what they are.””
He looked at Vanessa.
Then at Eli.
Then back at me.
“I can’t.””
I almost smiled.
Another person.
Another secret.
Another excuse.
“You all keep protecting me by lying to me.””
Thomas’s face changed.
“You think the truth saves people?””
“Yes.””
“No.””
He stepped closer.
“Sometimes the truth destroys the only things keeping people alive.””
The words hung in the room.
Then my phone buzzed.
Everyone looked.
A new message.
From Daniel.
I opened it.
Marcus, Thomas is not the one you should fear.
My eyes moved upward.
Thomas watched me.
Vanessa watched me.
Eli watched me.
Then another message appeared.
This one included a photograph.
A picture taken from inside the house.
I opened it.
My stomach dropped.
It showed the office.
It showed all of us.
Taken moments ago.
Someone had been watching us.
Thomas saw my face.
“What did you receive?””
I slowly turned the phone around.
His expression changed for the first time.
Real fear.
Because he recognized the photo.
May you like
And he whispered:
“He’s already here.””
