Chapter 10: The Last Message
The old Hale warehouse stood at the edge of an industrial road, surrounded by rusted fencing and abandoned delivery trucks.
Marcus had not been there since his father's funeral.
The building looked exactly as he remembered it.
Gray metal doors.
Broken windows.
A faded company sign hanging above the entrance.
Officer Brooks's vehicle arrived first.
Two additional patrol cars followed.
Detective Bennett stepped out and immediately ordered everyone to remain behind the officers.
“Andrew may be inside,” she said.
“We don't know whether anyone else is there.””
Marcus stared at the building.
“Please let him be alive.””
Officer Brooks placed a hand on his shoulder.
“We'll find him.””
They approached the main entrance.
The door was unlocked.
Inside, the air smelled of dust, oil, and damp cardboard.
A single light burned in the office at the back.
“Andrew?”” Marcus called.
No answer.
They moved through the corridor.
Then they heard something fall.
A metallic crash.
Officer Brooks raised his hand.
“Stay behind me.””
He pushed open the office door.
Andrew was sitting on the floor beside an overturned filing cabinet.
His shirt was torn.
There was blood near his eyebrow.
But he was alive.
“Andrew!””
Marcus rushed toward him.
His brother looked up.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Andrew gave a weak smile.
“You came.””
Marcus dropped beside him.
“Of course I came.””
Andrew tried to stand.
Officer Brooks helped him.
“Are you injured?””
“Just a little.””
“What happened?””
Andrew glanced toward the open storage room.
“Someone was here.””
Detective Bennett examined the room.
“Did you see who?””
Andrew shook his head.
“They took the blue folder.””
Marcus felt his stomach drop.
“The bottle?””
Andrew pointed toward a metal desk.
A small evidence bag lay beside it.
Inside was the bottle.
Marcus stared at it.
The label was partially damaged, but the words were visible.
Veterinary sedative.
His stomach turned.
“Is that what Vanessa gave Lily?””
Andrew nodded.
“I found it in Dad's office. It was hidden inside a locked cabinet.””
Officer Brooks secured the evidence.
“We'll have the substance analyzed.””
Marcus looked at Andrew.
“Why did Dad have it?””
Andrew lowered his eyes.
“Because he bought it.””
Marcus stepped backward.
“What?””
Andrew rubbed his forehead.
“Dad purchased it through one of his companies. He wanted to prove that Vanessa was dangerous.””
Marcus stared.
“Then why didn't he report her?””
“Because he was trying to control her.””
Andrew explained that their father had discovered Vanessa was becoming increasingly aggressive about Marcus's relationship with Claire.
He had originally paid her to create distance between Marcus and his former family.
But Vanessa had begun making decisions independently.
She had started using Marcus's old phone.
She had accessed Lily's medical information.
And she had contacted Daniel.
“Dad was furious,” Andrew said.
“He thought she was going too far.””
Marcus looked at the bottle.
“Then why was it in his office?””
“Because Dad wanted evidence.””
Detective Bennett stepped closer.
“Andrew, are you saying your father knew Vanessa possessed this substance?””
Andrew nodded.
“He knew she had obtained it. He didn't know exactly what she intended to do.””
Marcus felt sick.
“Did he know she planned to give it to Lily?””
Andrew hesitated.
“I don't know.””
“Andrew!””
“I DON'T KNOW!””
Andrew's voice echoed through the warehouse.
He looked at Marcus with tears in his eyes.
“I tried to stop everything. I told Dad to go to the police. I told him Vanessa was becoming dangerous. But he kept saying he could handle it.””
Marcus turned away.
His father had built a wall around the truth.
And everyone had been trapped behind it.
Officer Brooks asked, “What about Daniel?””
Andrew pointed toward a desk drawer.
“There was a folder. He took it.””
“What's in it?””
“The original medical records. And a recording.””
Detective Bennett frowned.
“What recording?””
Andrew looked at Marcus.
“Your father recorded a conversation with Daniel.””
Marcus approached the desk.
The drawer was empty except for a small USB drive.
Andrew stared.
“That wasn't there before.””
Officer Brooks secured it.
“Who put this here?””
Andrew shook his head.
“I don't know.””
Marcus suddenly remembered the message.
Don't trust Mom. She was there when the bottle was purchased.
He turned toward the entrance.
“Where's my mother?””
Officer Brooks looked at him.
“She's at your parents' house.””
Marcus shook his head.
“No. She was supposed to come here.””
“Who told you that?””
“Andrew's message.””
Andrew frowned.
“I never said Mom was coming.””
Marcus pulled out his phone.
He showed Andrew the message.
Andrew read it carefully.
Then his expression changed.
“Marcus…”
“What?””
“I didn't send that.””
Marcus stared.
“You sent the photograph.””
“Yes. But I never sent the second message.””
Detective Bennett took the phone.
“Someone has access to your account.””
Andrew looked toward the entrance.
“Then whoever took the folder knows we're here.””
At that moment, Officer Brooks received a call.
He listened briefly.
Then his expression hardened.
“Understood.””
He ended the call.
“There's been a development.””
“What?”” Marcus asked.
“Your mother has left her house.””
“Where did she go?””
“The vehicle was captured on a traffic camera heading toward this location.””
Marcus felt his blood run cold.
“She's coming here?””
May you like
Officer Brooks nodded.
“And she's not alone.””
