Chapter 8: The Call From the Dead
Nobody moved.
Renee stared at her phone as it continued ringing.
Walter looked at the screen.
Then at Daniel.
Then back at Renee.
“Answer it.””
Renee shook her head.
“Walter, please.””
“Answer the phone!””
Marcus stepped closer.
“Put it on speaker.””
Renee swallowed.
She accepted the call.
“Hello?””
For a moment, there was only static.
Then an older man's voice came through.
“Renee?””
She closed her eyes.
“Yes.””
“Is Walter there?””
Walter reached for the phone.
“Thomas?””
Silence.
Then the voice answered.
“Little brother.””
Walter's face crumpled.
He sat down.
“Thomas?””
“I'm here.””
Walter covered his mouth.
“Where have you been?””
The voice on the phone became quiet.
“That's a long story.””
“Thirty-six years, Thomas. You've been gone for thirty-six years.””
“I know.””
Walter's eyes filled.
“Do you have any idea what that did to me?””
Thomas exhaled.
“I know, Walter.””
“No, you don't. I buried you!””
“I know.””
“You let me stand at your funeral!””
Thomas was silent.
Then he said, “I never wanted you to see what happened.””
Walter looked at Daniel.
“Tell me where you are.””
“I'm at the old rescue property.””
Walter froze.
“The property outside town?””
“Yes.””
“Is Buddy there?””
Thomas laughed softly.
“He's sleeping beside the fireplace.””
Walter closed his eyes.
A wave of relief passed through him.
“Put him on the phone.””
Thomas chuckled.
“He doesn't understand telephones.””
For the first time that day, Walter smiled.
Then his expression hardened again.
“Why did you disappear?””
Thomas took a long breath.
“Because Margaret told me you would be safer if I stayed away.””
Walter stared.
“Margaret?””
“She came to see me after the accident.””
Daniel looked startled.
Marcus turned toward him.
“What accident?””
Thomas continued.
“The vehicle fire wasn't an accident.””
Walter's smile disappeared.
“What?””
“Someone tampered with the brakes.””
Daniel slowly sat down.
Thomas's voice became rough.
“I survived, but I was badly injured. By the time I recovered, Margaret had already told everyone I was dead.””
Walter shook his head.
“Why would she do that?””
“Because she believed someone was trying to kill me.””
“Who?””
Thomas paused.
“Daniel.””
Everyone turned toward the older man.
Daniel stood.
“Thomas, don't.””
Thomas laughed bitterly.
“Still trying to control the story?””
Walter looked at Daniel.
“Did you tamper with Thomas's brakes?””
“No.””
Thomas continued.
“Daniel was the one who arranged the vehicle that night. He knew I was going to meet the attorney.””
Daniel shook his head.
“I told you not to go.””
“You knew the brakes were damaged.””
“I didn't know!””
Walter looked between them.
“Stop!””
His voice echoed through the living room.
He pressed the phone closer.
“Thomas, why did Margaret hide you?””
Thomas was quiet for a moment.
“Because she discovered the property records had been altered.””
Walter looked at the documents.
“She transferred the land into her name.””
“She didn't.””
Walter frowned.
“What?””
“Someone forged her signature.””
Daniel lowered his head.
Thomas continued.
“The property was supposed to belong to Grace. I created a trust before the accident. Margaret was only managing it.””
Sophie moved closer.
“My mother?””
“Yes,” Thomas replied.
“You were supposed to inherit the property when you turned twenty-five.””
Sophie covered her mouth.
Walter looked at Renee.
“And what does this have to do with her?””
Thomas's voice changed.
“Renee was supposed to deliver the original trust documents to Elizabeth.””
Renee closed her eyes.
Walter stared.
“You were working for Thomas?””
She nodded slowly.
“Before I married Marcus, I worked as an assistant at a property management company.””
Marcus looked at her.
“You never told me that.””
“I didn't think it mattered.””
Thomas interrupted.
“Renee, tell him about the payment.””
Renee began crying.
“I was going to return it.””
“That's not what I asked.””
She wiped her face.
“I received twenty-five thousand dollars from Elizabeth.””
Walter's jaw tightened.
“And another payment from Daniel?””
Renee didn't answer.
Marcus looked at her.
“Renee?””
She whispered, “Yes.””
“How much?””
“Fifty thousand.””
Marcus stepped back.
Walter stared.
“You took seventy-five thousand dollars?””
“I was going to use it to settle the house debts!””
“Whose house debts?””
Renee's voice broke.
“Mine.””
Marcus went still.
“What?””
Renee looked at him.
“I had debts before we got married.””
Marcus stared at her.
“You told me you had paid those off.””
“I thought I could.””
“How much do you owe?””
She shook her head.
“More than I can repay.””
Marcus rubbed his face.
“So you sold access to Buddy and tried to sell the property to cover your personal debts?””
Renee began sobbing.
“I never wanted anyone to get hurt.””
Walter looked at her.
“Then why did you lie?””
She looked toward the staircase.
“Because I was afraid.””
Thomas's voice came through the phone.
“Renee, where are the original documents?””
She looked down.
“I don't have them.””
“Where are they?””
“I gave them to Daniel.””
Daniel immediately shook his head.
“I never received them.””
Renee looked at him.
“You told me to bring them to your office!””
“I told you to make copies.””
“You took the envelope!””
Daniel stood.
“That's not true.””
Thomas interrupted.
“Enough. Both of you.””
The room went silent.
“Walter, I need you to come here.””
Walter looked at Marcus.
“Why?””
“Because there's something you need to see.””
“What?””
Thomas hesitated.
“Margaret left something behind. Something she never had the courage to tell you.””
Walter looked at the letter in his hand.
“What?””
“The original will.””
Walter stared.
“Margaret's will?””
“Yes.””
Marcus frowned.
“Dad, didn't Mom leave everything to you?””
Walter nodded.
“That was what the lawyer told me.””
Thomas's voice became quiet.
“That wasn't her final will.””
Walter gripped the phone.
“Then who inherited the estate?””
Thomas answered immediately.
“Grace.””
Sophie looked stunned.
“Me?””
“Yes.””
Thomas continued.
“But there's a condition.””
Walter closed his eyes.
“What condition?””
“The property must be returned to the original trust. And Buddy must be brought back to the rescue center.””
Walter frowned.
“Why Buddy?””
“Because Margaret included him in the trust.””
Marcus looked toward Lily's yellow leash.
Thomas explained.
“Buddy's original microchip number is the key to identifying the first rescue records. Those records prove that the property was never legally transferred to Margaret.””
Walter stared at the papers.
“So the dog is evidence?””
“Yes.””
“And Renee knew?””
Thomas sighed.
“She knew enough.””
Renee covered her face.
Walter looked at her.
“You used my wife's dog to cover up a property transfer.””
“I was trying to protect myself.””
Marcus stepped away from her.
“You were supposed to be part of this family.””
Renee looked at him desperately.
“I love you.””
Marcus didn't answer.
Thomas spoke again.
“Walter, come to the property. Bring the original letters and the photograph.””
Walter stood.
“I'll be there.””
“Don't bring Renee.””
Renee looked up sharply.
“Why?””
Thomas's voice became cold.
“Because the person who changed the original deed wasn't Margaret.””
Walter stopped.
“Then who was it?””
Thomas paused.
Then he said:
“The person who has been pretending to be your friend for thirty-six years.””
Walter slowly turned toward Daniel.
Daniel's face had become expressionless.
Thomas continued.
“Daniel didn't just help me disappear. He took the original deed.””
Daniel stepped toward the phone.
“Thomas, you have no idea what you're saying.””
Thomas laughed.
“I have the original recording.””
Walter stared.
“What recording?””
“The night before the accident. Daniel admitted everything.””
Daniel's expression changed.
He reached for the phone.
Marcus moved between them.
“Don't touch it.””
Thomas continued.
“And Walter, there's one more thing.””
“What?””
“The man you buried wasn't Thomas Henderson.””
Walter's blood ran cold.
“Then whose body was it?””
Thomas whispered:
“That's what I need you to find out.””
The call ended.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Marcus looked at Daniel.
“Who was in the coffin?””
Daniel slowly closed his briefcase.
“I think it's time I left.””
Walter stepped in front of the door.
“No.””
Daniel looked at him.
“Move, Walter.””
Walter tightened his grip on his cane.
“Not until you tell me who I buried.””
Daniel's face hardened.
Then he looked toward Renee.
“Tell him.””
Renee shook her head.
Daniel smiled without warmth.
“You might as well. He'll find out anyway.””
Renee's lips trembled.
Finally, she whispered:
“The man in the coffin was Elizabeth's husband.””
Sophie gasped.
Walter stared.
“Elizabeth was married?””
Renee nodded.
“And the man who died that night wasn't Thomas.””
Walter looked at Daniel.
“Then where was my brother?””
Daniel said nothing.
Renee slowly raised her eyes.
“Your brother was here.””
Walter frowned.
“What?””
She pointed toward the staircase.
“Thomas lived in this house for almost six months after everyone believed he was dead.””
Walter looked horrified.
Marcus turned toward her.
“Where?””
May you like
Renee whispered:
“In the room Lily sleeps in now.””
