Chapter 3: The Brother Who Disappeared
I stared at the photograph until my eyes hurt.
Daniel.
There was no mistake.
The same sharp jaw. The same scar above his eyebrow from the bicycle accident we had as teenagers.
My brother was standing beside Richard’s crashed vehicle.
But Daniel had been missing for years.
The last time I saw him, he was standing outside my apartment during a storm, holding a suitcase.
“You chose them over me,” he had said.
I remembered every word.
I remembered the anger in his voice.
I remembered the way he walked away.
I never thought I would see him again.
Especially not like this.
I printed the photo and drove straight to the old neighborhood where we grew up.
The house looked smaller than I remembered.
The paint was peeling.
The garden was overgrown.
I knocked three times.
No answer.
I knocked again.
Finally, the door opened.
An elderly woman stared at me.
“Henry?””
I recognized her.
Mrs. Collins.
Our childhood neighbor.
“You’re alive,” she whispered.
I frowned.
“Why wouldn’t I be?””
She looked nervous.
“Because Daniel told me something terrible happened.””
My heart stopped.
“When?””
“Two weeks ago.””
Two weeks.
Richard’s accident happened six days ago.
“What did he tell you?””
She looked behind herself.
Then lowered her voice.
“He said you were going to betray him.””
I felt anger rise inside me.
“Where is Daniel now?””
Mrs. Collins hesitated.
“I don’t know.””
“Please.””
She sighed.
“He left something for you.””
She walked inside and returned with a small wooden box.
My name was written on top.
I opened it.
Inside was an old family photograph.
And a letter.
Henry,
If you’re reading this, everything has already started.
You need to understand one thing.
I did not hurt Richard.
But I know who did.
And that person has been controlling both of us for years.
I stopped reading.
Both of us?
A noise came from outside.
I turned.
A black SUV was parked across the street.
Someone was watching the house.
“Who is that?”” I asked.
Mrs. Collins looked through the window.
Then her face changed.
“Oh no.””
“What?””
“That man.””
She pointed.
“He came here before.””
I stepped closer.
The person inside the SUV lowered his window.
And I recognized him.
Martin Hayes.
Richard’s CFO.
The man who shook my hand after I became chairman.
The man who had looked shocked when Richard returned.
But now he was watching me.
Why?
I walked outside.
The SUV immediately drove away.
I called Martin.
He answered after three rings.
“Henry?””
“Why were you at Mrs. Collins’ house?””
Silence.
Then:
“You need to be careful.””
My grip tightened around the phone.
“Why?””
“Because Richard isn’t the only person who knows how to play this game.””
“What are you talking about?””
Martin lowered his voice.
“I was going to tell you before the meeting.””
“Tell me what?””
Another pause.
Then he said:
“The accident wasn’t meant for Richard.””
My blood ran cold.
“What?””
“The person who was supposed to die that night…”
Martin stopped.
The call ended.
I stared at my phone.
A second later, it rang again.
But it wasn’t Martin.
It was Richard.
I answered.
“Henry,” he said.
His voice sounded different.
Almost worried.
“Where did you get that photo?””
I froze.
“How do you know about the photo?””
Silence.
May you like
Then Richard said:
“Because I took it.””