Chapter 9: The Brother Who Never Came to the Funeral
Marcus had one brother.
Andrew Hale.
They had grown up together, attended the same schools, and spent every summer at their parents' lake house.
But they had barely spoken in the last four years.
Andrew had left the family business after a bitter argument with their father.
He had moved to another state.
He hadn't attended Lily's seventh birthday.
He hadn't visited the hospital.
And he hadn't come to the funeral.
Marcus had assumed Andrew simply didn't care.
Now his mother's words had changed everything.
“Say that again,” Marcus whispered.
His mother was crying.
“Andrew was involved with Claire before you married her.””
Claire shook her head violently.
“No.””
Marcus turned toward her.
“Claire?””
“I never had an affair with Andrew.””
His mother looked at her.
“Your father showed me the letters.””
“What letters?”” Claire demanded.
“Letters between you and Andrew.””
Claire took a step forward.
“Those letters were from years before Marcus and I started dating!””
Marcus looked between them.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because they were private,” Claire answered.
“Andrew and I were friends. We had a brief relationship when we were nineteen. It ended long before I met you.””
Marcus stared at her.
“And you never thought to mention it?””
“I didn't think I needed to explain every person I'd ever dated.””
His mother shook her head.
“Your father believed Andrew was still in love with you.””
Claire laughed bitterly.
“Your father believed whatever suited him.””
Officer Brooks interrupted.
“Let's focus on the evidence. Mrs. Hale, do you have any proof that Andrew was involved in Lily's paternity?””
His mother hesitated.
“Your father had a private file.””
“Where?””
“In his office safe.””
Marcus looked at the documents they had already collected.
“Wasn't that safe searched?””
“No. The key is somewhere else.””
“Where?””
His mother looked toward the fireplace.
“Inside the clock.””
Marcus approached the mantelpiece.
An old brass clock stood above the fireplace.
He removed the back panel.
A small key fell into his palm.
Officer Brooks instructed everyone to step away while Detective Bennett documented the process.
They opened the safe.
Inside were several envelopes, a flash drive, and a photograph.
Marcus picked up the photograph.
It showed Andrew holding newborn Lily in the hospital.
Claire stood beside him.
They were smiling.
Marcus felt his stomach tighten.
“Why was Andrew holding my daughter?””
Claire examined the picture.
“I don't remember this photograph.””
His mother began crying again.
“Your father took it.””
Marcus turned it over.
There was a date.
The day Lily was born.
And beneath it, his father's handwriting:
The secret must never leave this room.
Detective Bennett opened the first envelope.
Inside was a printed email exchange.
The first message was from Andrew.
I know the test was changed. I know Lily is Marcus's daughter. Stop using me as an excuse to control him.
The second message came from their father.
You need to stay away from Claire and the child. If Marcus learns about your past relationship, he will never trust either of you again.
Andrew's reply was short.
Then tell him the truth.
Marcus felt his throat tighten.
There was another email.
This one was dated six months later.
I refuse to keep lying. I am not Lily's father, and neither is Marcus's marriage going to be destroyed by my past relationship with Claire. The DNA results are clear. Marcus is her biological father.
Marcus looked up.
“Andrew knew.””
His mother nodded.
“He tried to tell your father to stop.””
“Why didn't he tell me?””
“Your father threatened to cut him off from the family business.””
Marcus laughed.
“So Andrew left?””
“Yes.””
“Why didn't he contact me?””
His mother looked toward the floor.
“Because your father told him you wanted nothing to do with him.””
Marcus felt sick.
He turned toward Claire.
“Did Andrew ever contact you?””
She shook her head.
“Not after Lily was born.””
Detective Bennett opened another envelope.
Inside was a bank statement.
A transfer of $50,000 had been made from the Hale family trust to an account belonging to Vanessa Reed.
The date was three months before Lily died.
Marcus stared.
“That was the first payment?””
His mother nodded.
“Your father arranged it before he died.””
“Why?””
“He wanted Vanessa to keep you away from Claire's influence.””
Officer Brooks examined the statement.
“Were there other payments?””
His mother nodded.
“Several.””
Detective Bennett took the flash drive.
“We'll need to examine this.””
Marcus looked toward the safe.
“Is there anything else?””
His mother hesitated.
Then she pointed to a small envelope at the bottom.
It had Marcus's name on it.
He opened it.
Inside was a handwritten letter.
His father's handwriting.
Marcus, if you are reading this, then the truth has finally caught up with us.
He swallowed.
I made mistakes. I believed I was protecting you from people who wanted to use our family. I never intended for Lily to suffer.
Marcus stopped reading.
His hands were trembling.
He continued.
Your brother was never Lily's father. The first paternity report was altered because I wanted to frighten Claire into staying away from our family. The second report confirmed what I already knew: Lily was yours.
Marcus looked at his mother.
She was sobbing.
He continued reading.
I paid Daniel to investigate Claire. When he discovered the altered report, I paid him to remain silent. Andrew knew what I had done. He threatened to expose me.
The next paragraph was worse.
If anything happens to me, I want you to understand that Vanessa was never supposed to be involved in the child's medical care. I paid her to discourage contact between you and Claire, not to interfere with Lily's treatment.
Marcus lowered the letter.
“What did Dad know about Vanessa?””
His mother shook her head.
“Nothing about the hospital.””
“Then why was he paying her?””
“Because he thought you were losing control of your life.””
Marcus looked at her.
“By being a father?””
She cried harder.
Detective Bennett read the final paragraph aloud.
There is one person who knows what happened in the hospital. His name is Daniel Carter. He has the original documents.
Marcus stared.
“Where is Daniel?””
His mother shook her head.
“I don't know.””
But Claire was looking at the photograph of Andrew holding Lily.
She suddenly remembered something.
“Wait.””
Marcus turned.
“What?””
“Lily once told me she had a secret friend.””
“A friend?””
“She said someone visited her school and asked about her father.””
Marcus frowned.
“When?””
“About a month before she died.””
“Did she say who?””
Claire nodded slowly.
“She called him Uncle Daniel.””
Detective Bennett looked up.
“Did the school have visitors' records?””
“Yes. I can ask the principal.””
Officer Brooks immediately contacted another officer to obtain the school's visitor information.
Marcus sat down.
He felt as if he had entered a nightmare where every answer created another question.
Then his phone rang.
The caller ID displayed Andrew's name.
Marcus stared.
For four years, his brother had barely contacted him.
Now he was calling.
He answered.
“Andrew?””
His brother's voice sounded exhausted.
“Marcus. Don't say anything. Just listen.””
“Where are you?””
“I know what happened.””
Marcus stood.
“Then tell me.””
“Not over the phone.””
“Andrew, what the hell is going on?””
A pause.
Then Andrew said:
“Dad lied about everything. And Mom knows more than she's admitting.””
Marcus looked toward his mother.
She lowered her eyes.
“What do you know about Lily?””
Andrew's voice broke.
“I know she was never supposed to be dragged into this.””
“Who dragged her into it?””
“Vanessa wasn't working alone.””
Marcus closed his eyes.
“Who was helping her?””
Andrew took a breath.
“Daniel.””
Claire covered her mouth.
Marcus gripped the phone.
“Why would Daniel be involved?””
“Because Dad paid him to keep the paternity records hidden. But after Dad died, Daniel wanted more money.””
“And Vanessa?””
“She was the person he used to get close to you.””
Marcus looked toward Officer Brooks.
The officer immediately began recording the details.
“Andrew, where are you?””
“Outside the city.””
“Come here. Now.””
“I can't.””
“Why?””
“Because someone has been following me.””
Marcus went still.
“What?””
“I found the original hospital records two weeks ago. I was going to bring them to you.””
“Then why didn't you?””
“Because the moment I made a copy, someone broke into my apartment.””
Marcus felt his blood turn cold.
“Did you call the police?””
“No.””
“Why not?””
“Because I found something in the records that made me realize this wasn't just about money.””
Andrew's voice dropped.
“Marcus, the hospital's medication log was altered.””
Detective Bennett moved closer.
“Ask him who altered it,” she whispered.
Marcus repeated the question.
“Who changed the medication log?””
Andrew was silent.
Then he answered.
“I don't know. But I know who ordered it.””
“Who?””
“My name is on the authorization.””
Marcus frowned.
“What?””
“Someone forged my signature and used my old hospital access credentials.””
“Andrew, you never worked at that hospital.””
“Exactly.””
A long silence followed.
Then Andrew said:
“Marcus, I'm looking at the original records right now. There's something else you need to know.””
“What?””
“Lily's final medical report was changed after she died.””
Marcus felt his knees weaken.
“How?””
“The original report mentioned an unapproved substance. The final report doesn't.””
Detective Bennett took the phone.
“Andrew, this is Detective Bennett. Where are you?””
Andrew hesitated.
“Who else is there?””
“Police officers.””
Another pause.
Then Andrew said:
“Good. Because I need protection.””
“Where are you?””
“I'm at the old Hale warehouse.””
Marcus recognized the location.
It was a storage building his father had owned outside town.
“Stay there,” Marcus said.
“We're coming.””
Andrew interrupted.
“No. Listen to me. I found the original bottle.””
Everyone froze.
“What bottle?”” Marcus asked.
“The one Vanessa brought into Lily's room.””
Marcus felt his heart pound.
“Where?””
“In Dad's office. He kept it with the original medical records.””
Detective Bennett immediately signaled to Officer Brooks.
“Tell him not to touch anything.””
But Andrew was already speaking again.
“And Marcus?””
“What?””
“There's a label on the bottle.””
“What does it say?””
Andrew's voice cracked.
“It's not a sleep supplement.””
Marcus closed his eyes.
“What is it?””
Andrew answered:
“It's a veterinary sedative.””
Claire let out a strangled cry.
Marcus couldn't breathe.
Then the line went dead.
Officer Brooks immediately called for backup.
Detective Bennett took the lead.
“We're going to that warehouse.””
Marcus grabbed his coat.
His mother stood.
“Marcus, please don't go.””
He turned toward her.
“You've had seven years to tell me the truth.””
She reached for his arm.
“Your father made me promise—”
Marcus pulled away.
“My daughter is dead.””
He walked toward the door.
And as he stepped outside, another message appeared on his phone.
It came from Andrew.
A photograph.
The original bottle.
Beside it was a handwritten note.
If anything happens to me, look inside the blue folder.
May you like
Then another message arrived.
And Marcus, don't trust Mom. She was there when the bottle was purchased.
