Chapter 5
I read the document again.
Then again.
My wife had supposedly died on a rainy Thursday afternoon.
I had attended a memorial service.
Held Lily as she cried.
Accepted the hospital's explanation.
Yet the paper in my hand showed Amara had been transferred to another medical facility fourteen days later.
"She's alive," I whispered.
Evelyn Carter looked at the form.
"We don't know that yet."
I stared at her.
"What else could this mean?"
"It could be evidence of a falsified record."
I shook my head.
"Or it could mean she's alive."
Evelyn didn't argue.
She studied the document carefully.
"The receiving facility is listed as Briarwood Rehabilitation Institute."
I frowned.
"I've never heard of it."
She photographed the page.
Then called a contact.
While she spoke, I sat on the wooden chair.
My legs felt weak.
For three years, I had grieved a woman who might have been breathing somewhere in the world.
I remembered telling Lily her mother was in heaven.
I remembered watching her release balloons on Amara's birthday.
I remembered lying awake at night, whispering apologies into the darkness.
What if Amara had been trying to come home?
What if I had been searching for answers in the wrong places?
Evelyn ended the call.
"Briarwood closed eighteen months ago."
My stomach dropped.
"Why?"
"Financial problems. Several licensing complaints."
"Where did the patients go?"
"That's what we're going to find out."
I looked at the recording device.
"What about this?"
Evelyn placed it inside an evidence sleeve.
"We should preserve the original and make a forensic copy."
I nodded.
"Whatever is on there, I want it heard."
Charles, who had joined us at the facility, spoke gently.
"Marcus, we need to be careful."
I turned toward him.
"My wife might be alive."
"I know."
"Then why are we standing here?"
"Because if Nathan and Victor were involved, they may already know you're investigating."
I hated that he was right.
We left the facility with the evidence secured.
I called Andre and instructed him to keep Lily and Malik somewhere safe.
Both children were staying with Rose temporarily, with professional security nearby.
Lily had refused to leave Malik.
I understood.
For the first time since the accident, she had someone her own age who remembered who she had been before it happened.
That evening, Evelyn called.
She had recovered an audio file from the recorder.
I listened with Charles beside me.
At first, there was static.
Then Amara's voice.
I covered my mouth.
It was the first time I'd heard her speaking in three years.
"Victor, you can't keep taking money meant for sick children."
A man's voice answered.
"Lower your voice."
Dr. Price.
I recognized him immediately.
Amara continued.
"I've seen the invoices. The patients don't exist."
"You're making assumptions."
"No. I'm looking at records."
A pause.
Then another voice entered.
Nathan.
"Amara, please. Let's handle this privately."
My heart turned cold.
My wife sounded furious.
"Privately? You've been stealing from my husband's foundation."
Nathan sighed.
"Marcus doesn't need to know every detail."
"He's going to know everything."
I gripped the table.
Victor's voice grew sharper.
"Think about Lily."
Silence.
Then Amara spoke.
"Don't you dare mention my daughter."
The recording crackled.
Nathan said, "Nobody wants anyone hurt."
Amara laughed bitterly.
"Then stop threatening me."
The audio ended.
I sat motionless.
Charles looked at me.
"Marcus?"
I stared at the recorder.
"They threatened her."
He nodded.
"And now we have evidence."
I stood.
"I want them arrested."
"We're going to give this to investigators."
I turned toward him.
"Now."
The next morning, Evelyn arranged a meeting with Special Agent Dana Foster, who was reviewing financial crimes involving charitable organizations.
Dana listened to the recording.
Examined the transfer documents.
Reviewed the foundation payments.
Her expression grew increasingly serious.
"This may involve multiple federal offenses," she said.
I leaned forward.
"Can you find my wife?"
"We're going to investigate the transfer."
I swallowed.
"Please."
Dana looked at me.
"Mr. Bennett, I need you to understand something."
"What?"
"If these documents are authentic, the circumstances surrounding your wife's reported death require urgent review."
I nodded.
"I know."
"We also need to determine who authorized her death certificate and whether her identity was used afterward."
I stared at the table.
The questions were overwhelming.
But one mattered more than all the others.
"Is she alive?"
Dana didn't answer immediately.
"We have reason to investigate that possibility."
It wasn't enough.
But it was more hope than I'd had in years.
Two days later, Nathan called.
I watched his name flash across my phone.
My hands trembled.
Then I answered.
"Marcus."
His voice sounded tired.
"We need to talk."
I said nothing.
"Please."
I stepped onto the porch.
"Did you know Amara was alive after the accident?"
Silence.
"Nathan."
He exhaled.
"You're asking the wrong questions."
I felt anger rise.
"Did you know?"
"Marcus, listen—"
"Answer me!"
Another silence.
Then he whispered, "Yes."
My knees nearly gave out.
I gripped the railing.
"How long?"
"Marcus..."
"How long?"
He sounded broken.
"She survived the crash."
I closed my eyes.
Tears burned behind them.
"Then why did you tell me she died?"
"Victor said there were complications."
"What complications?"
"He said she needed treatment."
I felt sick.
"And you believed him?"
Nathan began crying.
"I was already involved with the money."
I stared at the dark yard.
"So you let them take her."
"I didn't know they'd keep her."
The words made my stomach turn.
"Keep her?"
Nathan stopped speaking.
I could hear him breathing.
"What do you mean, Nathan?"
He whispered, "She saw everything."
"Then where is she?"
"I don't know."
"You're lying."
"I'm not."
I clenched my jaw.
"You watched me bury an empty coffin."
Nathan began sobbing.
"I know."
"You watched Lily cry for her mother."
"I know."
"You helped destroy our family."
"Marcus, please."
I looked toward the house.
Through the window, I could see Lily laughing with Malik.
Two children who had been carrying pieces of the truth while adults buried it.
"I don't want your apologies."
Nathan's breathing grew uneven.
"Then what do you want?"
"My wife."
Silence.
"Tell me where she is."
He hesitated.
Then whispered a name.
"Saint Catherine's."
I went still.
"What is that?"
"A private rehabilitation facility near Savannah."
"Is Amara there?"
"I don't know anymore."
"What does that mean?"
Nathan's voice cracked.
"Victor moved her after she tried to contact you."
My blood ran cold.
"When?"
"Six months ago."
I stared at the ground.
Six months.
Amara had tried to reach me six months earlier.
And someone had stopped her.
Nathan suddenly lowered his voice.
"Marcus, I can't stay on the phone."
"Wait."
"Victor knows you found the storage unit."
My heart accelerated.
"How?"
"I don't know."
"Nathan!"
Then my brother said something that made my entire body freeze.
"Whatever happens, don't let Lily go back to the old hospital."
The line disconnected.
I stood motionless.
Then my phone vibrated.
A photograph appeared from an unknown number.
It showed a woman sitting beside a hospital window.
Her face was turned partly away.
Her hair was shorter.
Her shoulders looked thinner.
But I recognized her.
Amara.
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Below the photograph was a message.
STOP INVESTIGATING OR YOU WILL NEVER SEE HER AGAIN.
