Chapter 9: The Brother He Never Mentioned
For several seconds, nobody said anything.
The words just hung there.
*He's my brother.*
Karen stared at Thomas like she wanted to tear the truth out of him with her hands.
"Your brother kidnapped my daughter?""
Thomas looked sick.
"I didn't know he was involved at this level.""
"At this level?""
Karen stepped toward him.
"What level did you think was acceptable?""
David moved between them.
"Everyone stays focused.""
Karen pointed at Thomas.
"He knew him.""
"I knew Daniel owned Sunset.""
Thomas swallowed.
"I did not know he was working directly with Victor.""
I felt something cold settle in my chest.
"You told me Daniel Reese was just the name on paper.""
"I said I didn't know who controlled him.""
"You left out the part where you shared parents.""
Thomas closed his eyes.
"Yes.""
"Why?""
"Because I knew exactly how it would look.""
"It looks like you lied.""
"I did.""
The answer was so immediate that it stopped me.
Thomas looked at me.
"I lied because I thought if you knew, you'd never trust me.""
"I don't trust you now.""
"You shouldn't.""
Karen made a bitter sound.
"Wonderful.""
David stepped closer to Thomas.
"When was the last time you spoke to Daniel?""
"Almost eight years ago.""
"Why did you stop?""
Thomas hesitated.
Then he said,
"Because he stole from our mother.""
Nobody moved.
Thomas stared at the ground.
"She had early dementia. Daniel convinced her to sign over access to her accounts. By the time I found out, nearly sixty thousand dollars was gone.""
My anger sharpened.
"And you still never told me?""
"I sued him.""
Thomas looked up.
"Our mother died before the case finished. Daniel disappeared. Years later, I learned he owned a medical transport company.""
"Sunset.""
"Yes.""
"Did you investigate him?""
"I tried.""
"And?""
"I found almost nothing.""
David's eyes narrowed.
"Or you stopped looking.""
Thomas looked at him.
"I didn't stop.""
"Then how did your brother end up transporting missing residents for the same company your client was investigating?""
Thomas had no answer.
That silence hurt more than a denial.
Karen's phone buzzed.
A message.
She looked down.
Then made a sound that broke something inside me.
It was a picture of Rachel.
The girl was sitting on a mattress in a windowless room.
Her wrists were free.
She didn't appear injured.
But she was crying.
Underneath the photo was a countdown timer.
*00:21:44*
Twenty-one minutes.
And a message.
*EAST SERVICE ENTRANCE. PARKER AND THE DRIVE. NO POLICE.*
David read it over Karen's shoulder.
"They want us rushed.""
"Then let's rush," Karen snapped.
"No.""
"They have my child!""
"And running directly into the entrance they chose gets your child killed.""
Karen shoved a hand through her hair.
"What do you want me to do? Discuss strategy while the timer hits zero?""
David looked at the greenhouse.
"We need another way inside.""
I remembered the underground hallway.
"There was a side corridor.""
Karen nodded.
"The one we used.""
"No.""
I shook my head.
"Another one.""
Everyone looked at me.
"Near the file room. I saw a door with a red emergency placard. I thought it was storage.""
David frowned.
"Could lead where?""
"Maybe toward the old main building.""
Thomas spoke.
"Mango Grove had a laundry tunnel.""
I turned sharply.
"How do you know that?""
"My firm represented the property owner before it closed.""
Another thing he hadn't told me.
I almost laughed.
"Anything else you'd like to confess before somebody else gets kidnapped?""
His face tightened.
"The old rehabilitation center had service tunnels between the east wing, laundry, kitchen, and maintenance building.""
David immediately asked,
"Blueprints?""
"County records might have them.""
"No time.""
Thomas pointed toward the dark outline of another building beyond the trees.
"Maintenance building should be there.""
David looked at Karen.
"You stay with Mrs. Carter and Ruth.""
"No.""
"Karen.""
"No.""
Her voice shook, but she held her ground.
"That's my daughter.""
David studied her.
Then nodded once.
"Fine. You follow my instructions exactly.""
He turned to Thomas.
"You stay here.""
Thomas looked stunned.
"Why?""
"Because I don't know whether you're compromised.""
"I'm trying to help.""
"You lied about a direct family connection to our suspect.""
David's voice remained calm.
"You don't get offended by caution.""
Thomas looked at me.
"Emily.""
I turned away.
I couldn't deal with him now.
The maintenance building smelled like mold and rust.
David used a flashlight covered partly by his hand.
No bright beam.
No unnecessary noise.
Karen stayed behind me.
Every few seconds, she checked her phone.
The countdown kept moving.
Seventeen minutes.
Sixteen.
Fifteen.
We found the basement stairs behind a collapsed shelving unit.
At the bottom was an old steel door.
Locked.
Karen whispered,
"I have keys.""
She tried the ring she'd taken from Richard.
Third key.
Nothing.
Fourth.
Nothing.
Fifth.
Click.
We looked at each other.
David opened the door carefully.
A narrow concrete tunnel stretched into darkness.
Old pipes ran along the ceiling.
Water dripped somewhere ahead.
We moved quickly.
My heart pounded with every step.
Halfway down the tunnel, David stopped.
Voices.
Two men.
We killed the flashlights.
A thin strip of light appeared beneath a door ahead.
One voice was Richard's.
"I told you this got out of control.""
The other voice answered.
Victor.
"Control is exactly what we're restoring.""
"What about the state investigator?""
"Temporary problem.""
"And Emily?""
"She'll bring the evidence.""
Richard sounded panicked.
"And if she doesn't?""
Victor paused.
"Then Daniel handles the girl.""
Karen's hand clamped over her mouth.
David held up one finger.
Wait.
Richard whispered,
"This wasn't supposed to involve children.""
Victor laughed softly.
"Interesting place to discover morals.""
"I agreed to paperwork.""
"You agreed to everything that kept your facility profitable.""
"I never agreed to murder.""
Silence.
Then Victor said,
"Neither did I.""
Richard sounded confused.
"What?""
"We didn't kill residents.""
My eyes widened.
Karen looked at me.
Victor continued.
"Dead people create investigations. Missing people create paperwork.""
Richard breathed out.
"So where did Walter go?""
Victor didn't answer immediately.
Then:
"Same place as the others who could still be useful.""
My pulse jumped.
Walter might be alive.
David shifted slightly.
The recorder wasn't with us.
But his phone was.
I saw the screen glowing faintly in his hand.
Recording.
Richard said,
"What does that mean?""
Victor sounded irritated.
"Assets, Richard. Think.""
"You're still accessing their accounts.""
"Some.""
"How?""
"Daniel moves them. Our physicians declare impairment. Guardianships are arranged.
Accounts are consolidated. Property is sold.""
I felt sick.
It was bigger than theft.
It was an organized system.
Richard whispered,
"And once the money is gone?""
Victor's voice became colder.
"They become someone else's problem.""
Karen closed her eyes.
I understood what that meant.
Other facilities.
Homelessness.
Unidentified patients.
Maybe worse.
Richard said,
"Evelyn ruined everything.""
"No.""
Victor corrected him.
"Emily did.""
My skin prickled.
"Karen was supposed to scare Evelyn into silence. Instead, the new girl played savior.""
Karen flinched.
"Now we clean it up.""
The timer on Karen's phone hit twelve minutes.
She couldn't wait anymore.
She mouthed:
*Rachel.*
David nodded.
We continued past the door.
The tunnel split.
Left.
Right.
Karen pointed right.
"East wing.""
"How do you know?""
"Laundry carts.""
She pointed toward faded markings painted on the wall.
*E-WING.*
We moved faster.
At the end was a staircase.
Voices above.
One man.
Then a girl crying.
Rachel.
Karen almost ran.
David caught her arm.
"Wait.""
She shook her head violently.
He leaned close.
"One mistake and he uses her as leverage.""
Karen's eyes filled with tears.
But she nodded.
We climbed slowly.
The staircase ended behind another steel door.
Through the narrow window, I saw a room.
Daniel Reese stood near Rachel.
He looked nothing like Thomas.
Bigger.
Heavier.
Gray beard.
A baseball cap pulled low.
Rachel sat on the mattress from the photograph.
There was another man near the entrance.
Security.
Two against us.
David whispered,
"I take the guard.""
Karen whispered,
"I take my daughter.""
"And me?""
David looked at me.
"You stay behind me.""
I almost argued.
Then Daniel's phone rang.
He answered.
"Yeah.""
Pause.
"No, she's not here yet.""
Pause.
"I know the deadline.""
He looked at Rachel.
Then said,
"Victor, if you want Parker alive, stop changing the plan.""
My heart stopped.
Victor was on the other end.
Daniel listened.
Then laughed.
"You're worried about the flash drive?""
He turned slightly away from us.
"You should be more worried about the bank.""
I frowned.
The bank?
Daniel continued.
"The old woman made copies before you moved her.""
My breath caught.
Mrs. Carter had created more than one set.
Victor clearly said something angry.
Daniel smiled.
"Relax. Thomas doesn't know.""
Thomas.
He knew his brother was involved.
But Daniel thought Thomas didn't know about copies.
Interesting.
Then Daniel said something that changed everything.
"Once we get Parker, I'll take her to the marina with the others.""
The others.
David looked at me.
We both understood.
The missing residents.
Maybe Walter.
Maybe Margaret.
Still alive.
Daniel ended the call.
Rachel suddenly looked toward the door.
She saw us through the window.
Her eyes widened.
Daniel noticed.
He turned.
"Who's there?""
David kicked the door open.
Everything happened at once.
The guard reached inside his jacket.
David slammed him against the wall.
Karen ran toward Rachel.
"Mom!""
Daniel grabbed Karen by the shoulder.
I charged forward and shoved a rolling medical stand between them.
Daniel stumbled.
Karen pulled Rachel away.
"Run!""
The guard broke free from David.
I grabbed Rachel's hand.
"This way!""
Daniel lunged toward me.
"You.""
His face twisted.
"You're Parker.""
I backed toward the stairs.
"Where are the residents?""
He laughed.
"Still playing hero?""
"Where?""
He glanced toward my pocket.
"You bring the drive?""
I reached down.
"Maybe.""
He stopped.
That was what he wanted.
Good.
I slowly pulled out the flash drive.
Daniel's eyes fixed on it.
"Give it to me.""
"Tell me where they are.""
"Emily," David warned.
I ignored him.
Daniel smiled.
"You think you're negotiating?""
"I think Victor cares more about this than he cares about you.""
His smile disappeared.
That hit something.
"Where are they?""
He stared at me.
Then at the drive.
"Marina 14.""
David heard it.
"Which marina?""
Daniel realized his mistake.
He moved toward me.
I threw the flash drive.
Not to him.
Past him.
Daniel turned instinctively.
Karen grabbed a metal chair and slammed it into his legs.
He collapsed with a shout.
David pinned the other guard.
"Move!""
We ran back into the tunnel.
Rachel was sobbing.
Karen held her against her chest as we moved.
"You're okay.""
"I'm sorry, Mom.""
"No. No, baby. You did nothing wrong.""
We reached the junction.
Then alarms began above us.
Victor knew.
David pulled out his phone.
"No signal.""
I pointed left.
"Other exit.""
"How do you know?""
"I don't.""
I started running.
"But I'm done going where they expect me to go.""
We found a service ladder.
At the top was a hatch.
Locked.
David shoved against it.
Once.
Twice.
Third time, it opened.
We climbed into an old kitchen behind the main building.
Thomas was standing there.
My entire body tensed.
David raised a hand.
"Stay where you are.""
Thomas obeyed.
Then he saw Rachel.
His face broke.
"Daniel.""
Karen stared at him.
"Your brother almost got my daughter killed.""
"I know.""
"No.""
She stepped toward him.
"You don't get to say that like it hurts you most.""
Thomas lowered his eyes.
She was right.
David's phone finally found signal.
He immediately made a call.
"Emergency warrant team. Mango Grove. Now.""
He gave the location.
Then turned to me.
"Marina 14.""
Thomas looked up sharply.
"What?""
I stared at him.
"Daniel said that's where they're taking the others.""
His face changed.
"I know that marina.""
"Of course you do.""
"No.""
He stepped closer.
"Listen to me.""
"Why should I?""
"Because our father owned a boat slip there.""
I froze.
Thomas swallowed.
"Daniel kept it after he died.""
David asked,
"Address?""
Thomas gave it.
Then he looked at me.
"If Victor realizes Daniel talked, he'll move them.""
I thought about Walter.
Margaret.
Eleven transfers.
Maybe more.
"We need to go now.""
David shook his head.
"Not you.""
"Absolutely me.""
"No.""
"We've already done this.""
"And you've already nearly died twice.""
"I can identify residents.""
"So can Karen.""
Karen looked at Rachel.
"No.""
Her answer was immediate.
"I'm not leaving her again.""
Thomas stepped forward.
"I'll go.""
David stared at him.
Thomas held up his hands.
"You don't trust me. Fine.""
He reached into his pocket slowly and placed his car keys, wallet, and phone on the counter.
"Search me.""
David did.
Nothing.
Thomas looked at me.
"I should have told you about Daniel.""
"Yes.""
"I should have told Evelyn years ago.""
"Yes.""
"I can't fix that.""
His voice shook.
"But I know the marina.""
I studied him.
Then David's phone buzzed.
A message from the emergency team.
Units were moving toward Mango Grove.
Victor had maybe minutes.
We had even less.
"Fine," David said.
"But you stay where I can see you.""
Thomas nodded.
We headed toward the SUV.
Then my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I stopped.
Victor.
I answered.
"You lost.""
I expected anger.
Instead, he laughed.
"No, Emily.""
His voice was perfectly calm.
"You finally did exactly what I needed.""
My blood chilled.
"What are you talking about?""
"You found Daniel.""
I looked at Thomas.
Victor continued.
"And now the state has him.""
"So?""
"So everyone will think he's the operation.""
I stopped breathing.
Daniel was the fall guy.
Victor had planned for this.
"You used him.""
"Daniel was always disposable.""
Thomas heard enough from my expression.
His face went pale.
Victor continued,
"And while you're chasing boats and missing residents, I'm finishing the only part that matters.""
"What part?""
A pause.
Then he said,
"The records.""
My stomach dropped.
Palm Harbor.
The evidence there.
Henry.
"Where are you?""
Victor laughed softly.
Then I heard a familiar sound through the phone.
The elevator bell at Palm Harbor.
"No.""
I started running toward the SUV.
Victor whispered,
"History may remember the witnesses, Emily.""
My blood went cold.
He knew Henry's phrase.
Then Victor added,
May you like
"But only if the witnesses survive.""
The call ended.
