Chapter 11: The Last Night of Alana
The message remained on Marcus’s phone.
Nobody spoke.
The words sat there like a threat.
Only one of you knows what happened to Alana.
Marcus looked at Vanessa.
Then Adrian.
Then Daniel.
Everyone had information.
Everyone had hidden something.
But one person knew the entire truth.
And Marcus intended to find out who.
“Marcus: Nobody leaves this house.””
Adrian looked at him.
“Good.””
Marcus turned.
“You agree?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because whoever sent that message wants us separated.””
Daniel nodded.
“He’s right.””
Marcus looked at him.
“You’ve known all of this for years.””
Daniel accepted the accusation.
“Yes.””
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
Daniel looked at Maya.
“Because Alana asked me not to.””
Marcus’s expression changed.
“She trusted you?””
Daniel nodded.
“She trusted very few people.””
The answer hurt.
Because Marcus had been her husband.
Yet someone else knew more.
Marcus walked into the security room.
Everyone followed.
He opened the files again.
“Adrian, you said our father wanted evidence.””
“Yes.””
“Where is it?””
Adrian looked at Vanessa.
She shook her head.
“No.””
Marcus turned.
“What?””
Vanessa stepped forward.
“Some truths destroy more than lies.””
Marcus stared.
“You still believe that?””
She looked at him sadly.
“I believe some people are not prepared for what they find.””
Marcus looked at Maya.
Then back at her.
“I’m prepared.””
Vanessa knew she couldn’t stop him.
She nodded.
“Eight years ago, Alana found records.””
“What kind of records?””
“Financial records.””
Daniel added:
“Illegal transactions.””
Marcus looked at Adrian.
“Our father was involved?””
Adrian nodded.
“He used the family company to hide things.””
Marcus felt sick.
The company he inherited.
The business that made him wealthy.
The reputation he protected.
Built on something darker.
“Why did Alana get involved?””
Adrian answered.
“Because she found out your father planned to use Maya.””
Marcus clenched his fists.
“How?””
Adrian looked at Maya.
“Your father believed Alana had taken something from him.””
“What?””
“A file.””
Marcus frowned.
“A file?””
Daniel nodded.
“A file containing names.””
Marcus understood.
People.
Powerful people.
People who would do anything to stay protected.
“And Maya knew where it was?””
“No.””
Adrian looked down.
“She was with Alana when she hid it.””
Marcus looked at Maya.
A memory.
A child’s memory.
Buried.
Maya suddenly spoke.
“The box.””
Everyone turned.
Marcus knelt.
“What box?””
Maya looked confused.
“I don’t know.””
“Tell me.””
She closed her eyes.
“I remember Mommy putting something in a box.””
Marcus held his breath.
“Where?””
“I don’t know.””
“Maya.””
She started crying.
“I was little.””
Marcus immediately hugged her.
“I know.””
She whispered:
“She told me not to tell anyone.””
Vanessa looked shocked.
“Alana never told me that.””
Marcus looked at her.
“She trusted a four-year-old more than you?””
The words were cruel.
But Vanessa accepted them.
“Yes.””
The room went silent.
Then Adrian spoke.
“She knew someone was listening.””
Marcus looked around.
“The house?””
Adrian nodded.
“Your father had people watching.””
Daniel moved closer.
“That’s why Alana disappeared.””
Marcus looked at him.
“Tell me exactly what happened.””
Daniel hesitated.
Then finally answered.
“The night she left, she called me.””
“What did she say?””
“She said someone was coming.””
“Who?””
Daniel looked at Adrian.
“Your brother.””
Marcus turned.
Adrian’s face was full of guilt.
“No.””
Marcus stared.
“You went there?””
Adrian nodded.
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because I was trying to help her.””
Marcus stepped closer.
“Then why did she disappear?””
Adrian looked away.
“Because I failed.””
Silence.
The answer was devastating.
Marcus’s voice lowered.
“What happened that night?””
Adrian closed his eyes.
“I arrived too late.””
Rain.
The word immediately made Maya look up.
Adrian continued.
“Alana was outside. She had Maya.””
Marcus listened.
“She told me she knew who was behind everything.””
“Who?””
Adrian’s face tightened.
“She never got to tell me.””
Marcus stared.
“What happened?””
Adrian whispered:
“A car came.””
Maya grabbed Marcus’s arm.
“The black car.””
Everyone looked at her.
Adrian nodded.
“Yes.””
Maya’s breathing changed.
“I remember.””
Marcus turned.
“What?””
She looked terrified.
“The person inside.””
Marcus’s heart raced.
“Who?””
Maya looked at the floor.
Then whispered:
“It was someone who came to our house all the time.””
Nobody moved.
Marcus looked at Adrian.
“Who?””
Maya slowly lifted her eyes.
“It was…”
The security alarm suddenly screamed.
Everyone jumped.
The monitors flashed.
A new camera feed appeared.
The hallway outside Maya’s room.
A person was standing there.
Marcus’s blood froze.
Because the figure was holding something.
A small box.
The same kind Maya had just described.
Adrian whispered:
“No.””
Marcus stared.
“Who is that?””
The camera zoomed.
The person lifted their face.
And Marcus recognized them.
Someone he never expected.
Someone who had been helping him search for answers.
May you like
Someone who had been inside the mansion all morning.
Daniel.
