Chapter 5
I stared at the message until my hands went numb.
My brother.
Daniel Carter.
Thirty-seven years old.
My younger brother.
The man who had been standing beside me at the altar as my best man.
The man who helped organize our bachelor dinner.
The man who hugged me that morning and said he was proud of me.
I couldn't believe it.
I didn't want to believe it.
Detective Jackson noticed my expression.
"Marcus?"
I handed her the phone.
She read the message.
Then she looked at me.
"Who's your brother?"
"Daniel Carter."
"Where is he now?"
I swallowed.
"I don't know."
She immediately asked another officer to begin checking his location and recent contacts.
I stood.
"I need to call him."
"Marcus, wait."
I turned toward her.
"He might know where Nia is!"
"And if he does, confronting him without preparation could put her at risk."
I hated hearing that.
But I knew she was right.
I sat down.
My entire body trembled.
Detective Jackson asked me to explain my relationship with Daniel.
I told her everything.
We grew up in the same small house outside Atlanta.
Our father died when Daniel was twelve.
Our mother worked two jobs to support us.
I became the responsible older brother.
Daniel became the charming younger one.
He was funny.
Popular.
Always surrounded by friends.
But he struggled with money.
He started businesses that failed.
Borrowed from people he couldn't repay.
Made promises he rarely kept.
I helped him whenever I could.
When he lost his apartment three years earlier, I paid his rent.
When his car broke down, I helped replace it.
When he wanted to start a consulting company, I invested fifteen thousand dollars.
I never asked for repayment.
He was my brother.
I believed that meant something.
Detective Jackson listened carefully.
"Did Daniel know about Nia's father?"
I nodded.
"He knew Samuel Whitmore had died."
"Did he know about the inheritance?"
"Not that I'm aware of."
She looked at her notes.
"Did he ever mention Victor Hale or Peter Lawson?"
I hesitated.
Then I remembered something.
At the charity event where I met Peter Lawson, Daniel had introduced us.
My stomach dropped.
"Oh, my God."
The detective leaned forward.
"What?"
"Daniel introduced me to him."
Her expression sharpened.
"Are you certain?"
"Yes."
I remembered the exact moment.
Daniel had placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Marcus, this is Peter. He's connected to some serious investors."
Peter smiled.
We shook hands.
Daniel laughed and said I was too cautious about money.
I hadn't thought about the conversation since.
Now it felt like the beginning of a nightmare.
Detective Jackson asked another question.
"Did Daniel help arrange any part of the wedding?"
I nodded slowly.
"He recommended the venue."
"Anything else?"
"The wedding coordinator."
My heart stopped.
Rochelle Bennett.
The woman who disappeared through the service corridor.
Daniel had introduced her to Nia.
He said she'd worked with a friend.
I pressed my hands against my face.
Every connection led back to my brother.
The detective's voice softened.
"Marcus, I know this is difficult."
I shook my head.
"You don't understand."
She waited.
"My brother knew how much I loved Nia."
My voice cracked.
"He watched me propose. He helped me choose the ring."
I looked at the photograph on my phone.
Nia was alive.
But she was frightened.
And someone I trusted might have helped put her there.
I began crying.
For several minutes, I couldn't speak.
Then the detective said something that steadied me.
"We don't know whether the message is truthful. It could be an attempt to manipulate you."
I nodded.
That was possible.
Victor had already used deception repeatedly.
He might be trying to turn me against my own family.
But I couldn't ignore the connections.
An hour later, investigators located Daniel.
He was staying at a hotel near the airport.
He agreed to speak with them.
I waited at the station.
The hours dragged.
Every time a door opened, I looked up.
Finally, Detective Jackson returned.
Her expression was serious.
"Daniel admitted knowing Victor."
My stomach tightened.
"What else?"
"He says Victor approached him about an investment opportunity."
I stared at her.
"What opportunity?"
"A company connected to the Whitmore estate."
I felt sick.
"Did he know Nia would be kidnapped?"
The detective hesitated.
"He denies that."
I closed my eyes.
"What did he admit?"
"He helped arrange the wedding venue and introduced Rochelle."
I stared at her.
The room seemed to tilt.
"Why?"
"He says Victor promised him a significant payment if certain documents were signed after the ceremony."
I covered my face.
My brother had sold access to my wedding.
To my fiancée.
To our future.
For money.
Detective Jackson continued.
"Daniel claims he believed the arrangement involved a legitimate investment transaction."
I looked at her.
"Do you believe him?"
"We're evaluating the evidence."
I nodded slowly.
Then I asked, "Can I see him?"
She hesitated.
"That may not be advisable right now."
I looked down.
I understood.
But understanding didn't make the pain disappear.
That evening, I returned to my apartment.
Danielle was waiting.
Lily had fallen asleep on the sofa, still wearing her pink cardigan.
I sat beside my sister.
She looked at me.
"Any news?"
I nodded.
Then I told her about Daniel.
Her face drained of color.
"No."
"I know."
"Daniel wouldn't."
I looked at her.
"He admitted introducing Victor and Rochelle."
She covered her mouth.
Tears filled her eyes.
For several minutes, we sat silently.
Then Lily stirred.
She opened her eyes and saw me.
"Uncle Marcus?"
I smiled weakly.
"Hey, sweetheart."
She sat up.
"Did you find Aunt Nia?"
"Not yet."
She looked at my face.
Then she reached for my hand.
"Don't cry."
I tried to smile.
"I'm okay."
She shook her head.
"No, you're not."
The honesty nearly broke me.
I pulled her close.
"You're right."
She rested her head against my chest.
Then she whispered, "Aunt Nia always says brave people can cry."
I closed my eyes.
Nia had said that to Lily when she was frightened before a school performance.
I remembered standing beside them.
Lily was crying because she didn't want to walk onstage.
Nia knelt and told her courage didn't mean being fearless.
It meant doing something important even while afraid.
Now I understood those words differently.
I was terrified.
But I couldn't stop.
My phone vibrated again.
Another unknown message.
This one contained no photograph.
Only an address.
And a sentence.
"COME ALONE IF YOU WANT HER BACK."
I stared at it.
Then I looked at Lily sleeping against my chest.
I knew exactly what Victor wanted.
He wanted me frightened.
Isolated.
Desperate enough to obey.
But I had already learned what happened when people tried to solve dangerous secrets alone.
I gently lifted Lily from my lap and carried her to Danielle.
Then I called Detective Jackson.
"I received another message."
She listened carefully.
I read the address.
There was a pause.
Then she said something that made my heart race.
"Marcus, that's not a residential address."
I swallowed.
"What is it?"
"A commercial storage facility."
My grip tightened.
"Could Nia be there?"
"We're checking."
I looked toward the window.
Outside, the city lights glowed against the night.
Somewhere beyond them, Nia was waiting.
And for the first time since the wedding, I had a location.
May you like
But I didn't know whether it was a rescue opportunity.
Or another trap.
