Chapter 13: The Friend Who Knew Too Much
The photograph slipped from Nia’s fingers.
It landed on the polished chapel floor.
Nobody moved.
Nobody spoke.
Because everyone had seen it.
Daniel.
Standing beside Calvin.
The same Daniel who had comforted her.
The same Daniel who had held her arm when she almost collapsed.
The same Daniel who had claimed he wanted the truth.
Nia looked at him.
Slowly.
Like she was seeing a stranger wearing a familiar face.
“Tell me it’s fake.””
Her voice was quiet.
Almost pleading.
Daniel didn’t answer.
That was the worst part.
If he had shouted.
If he had gotten angry.
If he had denied it immediately.
Maybe she could have believed him.
But he just stood there.
Silent.
Detective Brooks reached down and picked up the photograph.
Her expression changed as she examined it.
“When was this taken?””
Nia looked at the phone.
The image details appeared.
The time.
The date.
The location.
Her face went pale.
“The night Marcus died.””
Everyone turned toward Daniel.
He finally spoke.
“Nia…”
She stepped back.
“No.””
“Nia, listen.””
“No.””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“You knew.””
Daniel looked broken.
“I knew something.””
“You knew everything was happening.””
“No.””
“You were there.””
“Yes.””
The admission shattered the room.
Evelyn closed her eyes.
Terrence looked away.
Detective Brooks immediately moved between Daniel and Nia.
“Stay where you are.””
Daniel raised his hands.
“I’m not here to hurt her.””
Nia laughed bitterly.
“That’s what everyone says.””
Daniel looked at her.
“I know how this looks.””
“How does it look?””
He swallowed.
“Like I betrayed you.””
“Because you did.””
The words hurt him.
She saw it.
But she didn’t care anymore.
Too many people had hidden things.
Too many people had decided she was too fragile to handle the truth.
“You were my friend.””
“I know.””
“You were there when Marcus proposed.””
“I know.””
“You helped me pick my wedding dress.””
Daniel’s eyes lowered.
“I know.””
“And you were standing next to the man who destroyed everything?””
Daniel looked toward Calvin.
Then back at her.
“I was trying to stop him.””
Nobody believed him.
Not even himself.
Nia shook her head.
“No.””
She pointed at the photo.
“You were with him.””
Daniel took a breath.
“I was investigating him.””
Detective Brooks looked suspicious.
“You?””
Daniel nodded.
“Marcus asked me to.””
Nia froze.
“What?””
Daniel looked at her.
“Marcus didn’t trust Calvin. He needed someone close enough to watch him.””
“Why you?””
A painful smile crossed Daniel’s face.
“Because Marcus trusted me.””
The words hurt.
Because she realized something.
Everyone had pieces of Marcus.
Everyone had conversations with him.
Everyone had secrets with him.
Everyone except her.
Daniel continued.
“Marcus knew he couldn’t tell you.””
Nia’s expression hardened.
“Why?””
“Because he knew you would put yourself in danger.””
She looked away.
The same excuse.
Always the same excuse.
“You all decided for me.””
Daniel looked ashamed.
“Yes.””
The honesty stopped her.
“Yes?””
He nodded.
“We were wrong.””
Silence.
Then Calvin laughed softly.
Everyone turned.
“You’re all pretending you’re better than me.””
His voice was calm.
“That’s the funniest part.””
Detective Brooks glared.
“You murdered him.””
Calvin smiled.
“No.””
The room froze.
“I didn’t kill Marcus.””
Nia stared.
“Then who did?””
Calvin looked at Daniel.
And Daniel’s face changed.
Only slightly.
But enough.
Nia noticed.
“Daniel?””
Daniel stepped back.
“No.””
Calvin smiled.
“Tell her.””
“Shut up.””
“Tell her what happened that night.””
Daniel looked terrified.
Not guilty.
Terrified.
Nia felt a cold wave move through her.
“What aren’t you telling me?””
Daniel closed his eyes.
Then whispered:
“I wasn’t the one who found Marcus.””
A pause.
“I found you.””
The chapel went silent.
Nia felt her stomach drop.
“What?””
Daniel looked at her.
“You were unconscious.””
The memory fragments returned.
The dark room.
Marcus’s voice.
A hand on her shoulder.
Someone saying she would never remember.
Daniel continued.
“You were there when everything happened.””
Nia shook her head.
“No.””
“You saw Calvin threaten Marcus.””
“No.””
“You saw Marcus get hurt.””
“No!””
Her voice broke.
Daniel looked devastated.
“And then you collapsed.””
Nia stared at him.
“Why don’t I remember?””
Daniel looked at Evelyn.
Then at the phone.
“Because Marcus made me promise.””
Nia whispered:
“Promise what?””
Daniel looked at the coffin.
“To protect you from the memory.””
A terrible silence followed.
Then the phone vibrated.
A new message appeared.
Not from Marcus.
From the unknown number.
*Daniel is telling the truth.*
Nia stared.
Another line appeared.
*But he is still hiding the worst part.*
Daniel’s face went pale.
Because he knew exactly what came next.
May you like
The final message appeared.
*Ask him who was holding the knife.*
