Chapter 5: Seven Years Missing
My father walked into his office without saying another word.
I followed.
Nia came behind me.
Daniel stayed in the hallway.
The office was exactly as I remembered it—dark wood, floor-to-ceiling windows, family photographs arranged with military precision.
There was one photograph of Marcus and me on the desk.
We were twenty-three.
I had my arm around his shoulder.
He was laughing.
I hadn't looked at that photograph in years.
My father shut the door.
“Sit down.””
“I already am.””
His eyes hardened.
“This isn't a joke.””
“Neither is a dead brother who suddenly calls you.””
Nia stood near the door.
My father looked at her.
“You shouldn't be involved.””
“She is.””
“Why?””
“Because she heard the truth before I did.””
He frowned.
I held up the hospital record.
“Start talking.””
My father walked toward the window.
For several seconds, he watched traffic below.
Then he said, “Marcus found financial irregularities in the company.””
I stared at him.
“What kind?””
“He believed someone was stealing from us.””
“Was he right?””
“Yes.””
“Who?””
“I don't know.””
“Dad.””
“I knew money was missing. I didn't know who was responsible.””
“What did Marcus find?””
“A series of shell companies.””
Nia crossed her arms.
“And Vanessa?””
My father turned.
“What does Vanessa have to do with this?””
I looked at Nia.
She nodded.
I faced him.
“She knew Marcus.””
My father's expression changed.
“How?””
“She told me.””
“Where did she meet him?””
“She didn't say.””
My father walked back to the desk.
“Adrian, you need to understand something. Marcus became obsessed.””
“Obsessed with exposing whoever was stealing?””
“Yes.””
“Why hide him?””
“He wasn't hidden.””
“You told me he was dead.””
My father's voice dropped.
“Because someone was trying to kill him.””
Silence.
“What?””
“The crash wasn't an accident.””
My throat tightened.
“You knew?””
“I knew someone had sabotaged his car.””
“And you still told me he died?””
“I had to make them believe it.””
“You could've told me.””
“I couldn't risk it.””
“I was his brother.””
“You were the easiest way to reach him.””
The words cut through me.
My father sat down.
“Marcus had evidence.””
“Where?””
“I don't know.””
“Then what did he call you about?””
“I haven't spoken to him in seven years.””
“You just heard his voice.””
My father looked at his phone.
“He contacted me tonight.””
“Why?””
“He said someone had found him.””
“Who?””
“He didn't say.””
I stared at my father.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I knew you'd go looking.””
“I already am.””
He closed his eyes.
“That's what I'm afraid of.””
My phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
A text.
*Your father is lying about the crash.*
I looked at my father.
He saw my expression.
“What did you receive?””
I didn't answer.
Another message arrived.
*Ask him about the second car.*
I raised my eyes.
“What second car?””
My father's face went blank.
“Adrian—”
“What second car?””
He stood.
“There was no second car.””
The phone buzzed again.
*Ask him who was driving it.*
I stepped closer.
“Who was driving the second car?””
My father said nothing.
“Dad.””
He looked at me.
Then at Nia.
“Leave.””
Nia didn't move.
“Please,” he said.
She shook her head.
“No.””
My father stared at her.
“Do you know what you're getting yourself into?””
“No.””
“Then you're making a mistake.””
“Maybe.””
She stepped beside me.
“But I don't leave people alone when they're being lied to.””
My father looked at me.
“You trust her?””
“I trust her more than I trust you.””
That landed.
He sat back down.
“There was another car.””
My pulse raced.
“Whose?””
“We never identified the driver.””
“Never?””
“No.””
“Then why did you tell me there wasn't one?””
“Because the investigation was compromised.””
“How?””
“The police report was changed.””
“By whom?””
“I don't know.””
“Dad!””
He slammed his hand against the desk.
“I DON'T KNOW!””
The room fell silent.
His breathing became heavy.
Then he looked at me.
“I was trying to keep you alive.””
I stared at him.
“By letting me believe my brother was dead?””
“Yes.””
“You think that's protection?””
“I think you're alive.””
I shook my head.
“No. You don't get to call seven years of lies protection.””
My father looked down.
For the first time, he looked old.
“Marcus wanted you to have something.””
“What?””
“A key.””
I froze.
“What key?””
“He said if anything happened to him, I should give it to you.””
“Where is it?””
My father opened the bottom drawer.
He removed a small black envelope.
He held it out.
I took it.
Inside was a brass key.
No label.
No address.
Just one number engraved into the metal.
*17.*
Nia looked at it.
“Seventeen?””
My father nodded.
“Locker 17.””
“Where?””
“Union Station.””
I stared at him.
“Why didn't you give me this seven years ago?””
“Because I thought Marcus was dead.””
“You just said you knew he was alive.””
“I knew after the crash.””
“And then?””
My father looked away.
“Three days later, he disappeared.””
I closed my fingers around the key.
“Did he contact you after that?””
“No.””
“Until today.””
“Yes.””
“Why now?””
My father's phone rang again.
He stared at the screen.
Unknown number.
He didn't answer.
The phone stopped.
A second later, mine rang.
Same number.
I answered.
“Hello?””
Static.
Then breathing.
I stood completely still.
A man's voice finally came through.
“Adrian?””
I couldn't speak.
Nia covered her mouth.
I knew that voice.
Even after seven years.
Even through static.
“Marcus?””
Silence.
Then a whisper.
“Don't go to Locker 17.””
My heart pounded.
“Where are you?””
“I don't have much time.””
“Marcus, where are you?””
“Your father doesn't know everything.””
I looked at my father.
He was staring at me.
“What happened to you?””
“Vanessa knows.””
“Knows what?””
“Why I disappeared.””
I gripped the phone.
“Marcus, tell me where you are.””
A sharp sound came through the call.
Like a door slamming.
Then Marcus whispered:
“They found me.””
The line went dead.
Nia stared at me.
My father stood abruptly.
“Lock the doors.””
“Why?””
He looked toward the office window.
“Because if Marcus called you from that phone…”
He didn't finish.
A loud crack came from the hallway.
May you like
Then another.
Someone had just smashed the glass doors downstairs.