Chapter 4: The Letter With My Name
I drove to Emily’s apartment without even thinking.
The entire way there, my mind searched for explanations.
Maybe it was a mistake.
Maybe someone with the same name.
Maybe there was a logical reason an old envelope from Emily’s childhood had my name on it.
But deep down, I already knew.
There wasn’t.
When Emily opened the door, she looked like she hadn’t slept.
The hidden box sat on her kitchen table.
Old.
Dusty.
Like something that had been buried for a reason.
“You opened it?”” I asked.
She shook her head.
“No.””
“Why?””
“Because I was scared.””
I looked at the box.
“What’s inside?””
“I don’t know.””
She pointed.
“That was the first thing I saw.””
Inside the box were old papers, photographs, and documents.
And on top was the envelope.
My name was written across it.
Daniel Brooks.
My handwriting.
No.
Not my handwriting.
But someone had written my name.
I picked it up carefully.
“When did your mother keep this?””
“I don’t know.””
“Emily…”
“I found it behind a loose board in her closet.””
I looked at her.
“A hidden compartment?””
She nodded.
“That’s why I didn’t open it.””
I sat down.
Something about this felt bigger than either of us.
“Open it.””
She hesitated.
“Are you sure?””
“No.””
She almost smiled.
“Then why say it?””
“Because not knowing is worse.””
She slowly opened the envelope.
Inside was a letter.
The paper was yellow with age.
Emily unfolded it.
Her eyes moved across the page.
Then she stopped.
“What?””
She didn’t answer.
“Emily?””
She handed it to me.
I read the first line.
*Daniel, if you are reading this, then I failed to protect Emily from the truth.*
My heartbeat changed.
The letter continued.
*You do not know me, but I know your family.*
I looked at Emily.
“My family?””
She looked terrified.
I kept reading.
*Years ago, Richard Hale destroyed more than one life. He changed names, erased records, and convinced everyone that the truth was gone.*
My hands tightened.
Then I reached the final paragraph.
*Daniel, your father was the only person who tried to expose him. That is why Richard made sure your family stayed silent.*
I stopped.
“My father?””
Emily grabbed my arm.
“What does it say?””
I couldn’t answer.
Because my father had died when I was sixteen.
And all my mother ever told me was that he was a good man who got unlucky.
But now…
Someone was saying he had been fighting a battle I knew nothing about.
I read the final sentence.
*If Richard Hale is still alive, he will come looking for the evidence.*
The apartment suddenly felt too quiet.
Then Emily’s phone rang.
She looked at the screen.
Her face changed.
“Who is it?””
She didn’t answer.
“Emily?””
She showed me the phone.
The caller ID said:
Richard Hale.
My stomach dropped.
She answered.
“Hello?””
Nobody spoke.
Then a calm voice came through the speaker.
“Emily.””
She looked at me.
“Richard?””
His voice was cold.
“You found the box.””
The room froze.
“How do you know that?”” Emily whispered.
A pause.
Then he said:
“Because I’ve been waiting for you to find it.””
I felt every muscle in my body tighten.
“Why?”” Emily asked.
Richard sighed.
“Because after twenty-five years, I’m tired of running.””
The call ended.
Emily stared at me.
Neither of us moved.
Then my phone buzzed.
A message from an unknown number.
May you like
One sentence.
*Ask your mother why your father really died.*