Chapter 12: The Truth He Buried
Nia stared at the envelope.
She didn’t take it.
Not yet.
Because every person in that chapel had given her a reason not to trust them.
And every person claimed it was for her own good.
Calvin noticed her hesitation.
“Smart.””
Nia looked at him.
“You expect me to believe you?””
“No.””
That answer surprised her.
“I expect you to question everyone.””
Detective Brooks stepped forward.
“Calvin, you’re done.””
He smiled.
“Am I?””
The detective’s jaw tightened.
Nia noticed.
Everyone knew something.
Everyone except her.
She reached out and took the envelope.
Immediately, Evelyn spoke.
“Nia, don’t.””
Nia stopped.
Slowly looked at her.
“Why?””
Evelyn couldn’t answer.
That was enough.
Nia opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
Not recent.
Not from the funeral.
A picture from months earlier.
Marcus and Nia.
But standing beside them was another person.
Nia froze.
Because she recognized herself.
But she didn’t recognize the moment.
Behind the photo was a handwritten note.
*You asked me to protect you from the truth.*
Nia’s breathing changed.
“What is this?””
Calvin watched her carefully.
“Something Marcus left behind.””
Detective Brooks shook her head.
“Don’t listen to him.””
Nia looked at the detective.
“Why?””
“Because he’s manipulating you.””
“Is he?””
The question hurt.
Because nobody could answer.
Calvin stepped closer.
“Marcus knew he was running out of time.””
Nia looked at him.
“Why didn’t he tell me?””
“Because you asked him not to.””
The words hit her.
“What?””
Calvin nodded.
“You begged him.””
“No.””
“You told him you couldn’t handle the truth.””
Nia shook her head.
“I would remember that.””
Calvin’s expression softened.
“You remember what Marcus wanted you to remember.””
A silence.
Then Nia looked at the detective.
“Is that true?””
Detective Brooks didn’t answer.
Nia turned toward Evelyn.
“Is that true?””
Evelyn closed her eyes.
“Yes.””
The room disappeared for a moment.
Only that answer existed.
“Yes.””
Nia’s voice broke.
“What happened to me?””
Evelyn looked devastated.
“You witnessed something.””
“What?””
“A confrontation.””
“With who?””
Evelyn looked toward Calvin.
The entire room followed.
Calvin’s expression remained calm.
Too calm.
Nia whispered:
“Calvin.””
He didn’t deny it.
Marcus’s business partner.
The man who came to the funeral carrying her lost memories.
The man who somehow knew what Marcus wanted hidden.
Nia looked at the photo again.
A memory started forming.
Marcus arguing.
A loud voice.
A glass breaking.
Her own voice.
“Stop!””
Then darkness.
She grabbed the edge of a chair.
Daniel caught her.
“Nia.””
She looked terrified.
“I remember.””
Everyone became still.
She whispered:
“I was there.””
The detective stepped closer.
“What did you see?””
Nia closed her eyes.
The memory came back in pieces.
Marcus standing across from Calvin.
Papers scattered on the floor.
Evelyn crying.
And Marcus saying:
“You’re not taking anything else from me.””
Then Calvin’s voice.
“You don’t understand what happens when people refuse to cooperate.””
Nia opened her eyes.
“He threatened Marcus.””
Calvin’s smile disappeared.
Only for a second.
But Nia saw it.
“You threatened him.””
Calvin looked at her.
“You don’t remember everything.””
“No.””
She stepped forward.
“But I remember enough.””
The phone vibrated.
Everyone looked.
A new message.
From Marcus.
*Nia, if you remember Calvin, you’re close.*
Her heart raced.
Then another message appeared.
*But there is one more person you haven’t identified.*
A final line appeared.
*The person who helped him.*
Nia looked around.
Because the message didn’t say Calvin acted alone.
It said someone helped him.
Someone inside the chapel.
Someone who had been there the entire time.
Then the phone displayed one final clue.
A photograph.
Taken moments before Marcus died.
Nia stared at it.
And slowly raised her eyes.
Because the person standing beside Calvin in the picture…
May you like
Was someone she never expected.
It was Daniel.
