CHAPTER 6 — THE MAN JULIAN BURIED
CHAPTER 6 — THE MAN JULIAN BURIED
The elevator descended in silence.
Claire held Lily against her chest.
Julian stood across from her.
He hadn't spoken since the hotel intercom had whispered those words.
Ask Julian who paid for the first coffin.
Claire stared at him.
“What coffin?”
Julian looked at the elevator floor.
“Claire…”
“No.”
Her voice was calm.
Too calm.
“You don't get to tell me to wait anymore.”
Julian raised his eyes.
“The first coffin belonged to Daniel Mercer.”
Claire frowned.
“Who is Daniel Mercer?”
Julian's face tightened.
“The man who died in my place.”
Claire felt a chill.
“You said the man in the car was already dead.”
“He was.”
“Then why did you need a coffin?”
“Because someone had to bury him.”
“Where?”
“Paris.”
Claire's grip tightened around Lily.
“Take me there.”
Julian shook his head.
“We can't.”
“Why?”
“Because Daniel Mercer isn't dead.”
The elevator stopped.
Claire stared at him.
“What?”
Julian looked at the doors.
“Not anymore.”
THE MAN IN THE COFFIN
They left the elevator through the underground parking level.
Marcus followed them.
Claire turned toward him.
“You knew.”
Marcus didn't deny it.
“Yes.”
“How long?”
“Three years.”
Claire's eyes hardened.
“And you didn't tell me.”
“I wasn't allowed.”
“By whom?”
Marcus looked at Julian.
Claire understood.
“Julian.”
“Yes.”
She walked toward him.
“You knew Daniel was alive.”
“I thought he was dead.”
“But you buried him.”
“Yes.”
“And now he's alive.”
“Yes.”
Claire shook her head.
“This makes no sense.”
Julian stopped beside a black car.
“Because the story you were given was never the real story.”
He opened the passenger door.
“Get in.”
Claire didn't move.
“Where are we going?”
“To the cemetery.”
THE EMPTY GRAVE
The cemetery was almost empty.
Cold rain fell over the stone paths.
Claire stepped out of the car.
She looked at the graves.
Julian walked toward an old section near the back.
The grave was simple.
No flowers.
No family name.
Only a black stone.
DANIEL MERCER
Born 1978.
Died 2023.
Claire stared.
“This is him?”
“Yes.”
“Open it.”
Julian froze.
“What?”
“You heard me.”
“We can't.”
“Why?”
“Because there is a body inside.”
Claire looked at him.
“Daniel is alive.”
“Yes.”
“Then who is buried here?”
Julian didn't answer.
Marcus stepped forward.
“I can arrange it.”
Julian looked at him.
“Marcus.”
“We need to know.”
Julian finally nodded.
An hour later, the cemetery caretaker opened the grave.
Claire stood several feet away.
The coffin was lifted.
The lid was opened.
Everyone expected a body.
Instead—
there was an empty coffin.
Claire stared.
“What?”
Marcus looked shocked.
Julian stepped forward.
“There was a body.”
“When?”
“The day we buried him.”
“Then where is it?”
Julian looked inside.
Nothing.
Not even clothing.
Claire turned toward him.
“Someone removed the body.”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“I don't know.”
Claire's voice hardened.
“You buried an empty coffin.”
“No.”
Julian shook his head.
“I buried Daniel.”
“Then where is Daniel?”
Julian looked toward the cemetery entrance.
A black SUV sat beyond the gates.
Its headlights were on.
A man stepped out.
Tall.
Dark coat.
Gray hair.
He stood beneath an umbrella.
Julian stopped breathing.
Claire followed his gaze.
The man removed his hat.
Julian whispered:
“Daniel.”
THE DEAD MAN
Daniel walked toward them.
Slowly.
Calmly.
As if he had been waiting for this moment.
Claire stared.
He looked nothing like the burned corpse from the photograph.
He was alive.
Very much alive.
He stopped in front of Julian.
“You look terrible.”
Julian couldn't speak.
Daniel smiled.
“You always did hate surprises.”
Julian's face hardened.
“You were supposed to be dead.”
“So were you.”
Claire stepped forward.
“Who are you?”
Daniel looked at her.
His expression changed.
“You're Claire.”
“Yes.”
“I've wanted to meet you for three years.”
“Why?”
Daniel glanced at Julian.
“Because your husband buried me.”
Claire stared.
“What happened?”
Daniel sighed.
“Julian didn't kill me.”
“Then why did he bury you?”
“Because I asked him to.”
Claire frowned.
“You asked him?”
Daniel nodded.
“I needed to disappear.”
“Why?”
“Because Victor Hale wanted me dead.”
Claire's stomach tightened.
“Why?”
Daniel looked toward the grave.
“Because I knew where the money came from.”
“What money?”
“The insurance money.”
Claire froze.
“Fifteen million?”
Daniel shook his head.
“Fifty million.”
“The policy on Julian?”
“Yes.”
Claire looked at Julian.
Daniel continued:
“Victor didn't insure Julian.”
Claire's eyes narrowed.
“Who did?”
Daniel answered:
“Your father.”
THE FIRST PLAN
They moved into the cemetery chapel.
Daniel sat across from Claire.
Julian remained standing.
Marcus locked the door.
Claire looked at Daniel.
“Tell me everything.”
Daniel nodded.
“Three years ago, your father discovered Victor was moving money through the hotel system.”
Claire listened.
“He needed someone to investigate.”
“You?”
“Yes.”
“What did you find?”
“A list.”
“The names?”
“Yes.”
“People who disappeared.”
“People who were killed.”
Claire's face hardened.
“How many?”
Daniel looked at her.
“Forty-three.”
She swallowed.
“And Julian?”
“Number forty-four.”
Claire looked at Julian.
Daniel continued:
“Julian discovered the list after I did.”
“Why was he on it?”
“Because he was trying to expose Victor.”
Claire looked at Julian.
“You never told me.”
Julian said nothing.
Daniel leaned forward.
“Your husband made a deal.”
“With Victor?”
“No.”
“With your father.”
Claire's eyes narrowed.
“What deal?”
Daniel answered:
“Julian would fake his death.”
“In exchange for what?”
“Your life.”
Claire looked at Julian.
“You traded your life for mine.”
Julian nodded.
“Yes.”
“You knew they wanted me dead.”
“Yes.”
“And the child?”
Julian looked down.
“That came later.”
Claire's expression hardened.
“What came later?”
Daniel answered.
“Lily.”
THE NIGHT IN PARIS
Claire closed her eyes.
“What happened that night?”
Daniel spoke carefully.
“You and Julian were supposed to leave Paris.”
“For where?”
“Switzerland.”
“Why?”
“To disappear.”
Claire frowned.
“But I remember being home.”
“You were.”
“What?”
Daniel nodded.
“Your memories were altered.”
Claire's breathing stopped.
“By who?”
“Your mother.”
Claire looked at him.
“My mother?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because she knew Victor had access to your medical records.”
“So she erased my memories?”
“Not exactly.”
Daniel shook his head.
“She helped suppress them.”
“Why?”
“To hide Lily.”
Claire looked at her daughter.
Lily was asleep against Marcus's shoulder.
Claire's heart broke.
“What happened to Lily?”
“She was born two months before the crash.”
Claire stared.
“I gave birth?”
“Yes.”
“Why don't I remember?”
“Because you were told she died.”
“Who told me?”
“Everyone.”
Claire looked at Julian.
“You.”
Julian nodded.
“Yes.”
She closed her eyes.
“Why?”
“Because Victor was looking for her.”
“Why?”
Daniel answered:
“Because Lily is the legal heir to your father's trust.”
Claire looked at him.
“She owns everything?”
“Eventually.”
“Then Victor wants her.”
“Yes.”
Claire looked down at her daughter.
“That's why he keeps saying he wants the child.”
Daniel nodded.
“Exactly.”
THE COFFIN
Claire turned toward Julian.
“You buried Daniel.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because Victor needed to believe the identity transfer worked.”
Daniel continued:
“Julian used my identity to disappear.”
“And Daniel?”
“I used Julian's identity.”
Claire looked confused.
Daniel explained:
“Two identities were switched.”
Claire stared.
“So when Julian supposedly died…”
“It was actually Daniel's identity that died.”
“And when Daniel disappeared…”
“His identity became Julian's.”
Claire's head spun.
“Then who was in the car?”
Daniel answered:
“Another man.”
Claire stared.
“Not you?”
“No.”
“Not Julian?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
Daniel hesitated.
“An employee.”
“Name?”
“Michael Reed.”
Claire frowned.
“I know that name.”
Julian looked at her.
“Where?”
Claire searched her memory.
Then it came.
A newspaper article.
Three years ago.
LOCAL DRIVER KILLED IN PARIS CRASH.
Michael Reed.
She had seen the photograph.
But she had never understood why his face looked strangely familiar.
Daniel nodded.
“He was the man who died.”
Claire felt sick.
“So three men were involved.”
“Yes.”
“Julian.”
“Daniel.”
“Michael.”
“Yes.”
“And one of them was supposed to become the other.”
“Yes.”
Claire stared.
“This was planned.”
Daniel nodded.
“Very carefully.”
THE PERSON WHO CHANGED EVERYTHING
Claire looked at Julian.
“Who planned it?”
Julian's expression changed.
Daniel looked away.
Neither answered.
Claire stood.
“Who?”
Daniel finally spoke.
“Your father.”
Claire's voice became cold.
“My father planned my husband's death?”
“No.”
“He planned the identity swap.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“To save you.”
Claire shook her head.
“Then why did he let me lose everything?”
Daniel sighed.
“Because the plan failed.”
“How?”
“Victor discovered it.”
Claire froze.
“What did he do?”
“He changed the target.”
“From Julian to me?”
“Yes.”
“And that's when the shooting happened.”
“Yes.”
Claire looked at Daniel.
“Did I shoot my father?”
Daniel shook his head.
“No.”
“Then who did?”
He hesitated.
Claire stepped closer.
“Tell me.”
Daniel looked toward Julian.
Julian closed his eyes.
Daniel whispered:
“Your mother.”
Claire froze.
“My mother shot my father?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“She was trying to save you.”
Claire shook her head.
“My mother was the one helping erase my memories.”
“Yes.”
“She shot my father.”
“Yes.”
“Then why did he survive?”
Daniel's expression changed.
“He didn't.”
Claire stopped.
“What?”
“The man on the screen isn't your father.”
Silence.
Claire stared at him.
“What did you say?”
Daniel's voice was quiet.
“Your father died three years ago.”
Claire's heart stopped.
“The man you saw…”
Daniel paused.
“…is his twin brother.”
THE BROTHER
Claire sat down.
“My father had a twin?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't I know?”
“Because they hated each other.”
“Who is he?”
“Victor Hale.”
Claire's eyes widened.
“No.”
Daniel nodded.
“Yes.”
Claire stared at the floor.
“Victor…”
“Is your father's brother.”
The pieces began connecting.
The money.
The hotel.
The insurance.
The trust.
The identities.
The fake death.
Everything.
Claire looked at Julian.
“You knew.”
Julian shook his head.
“I suspected.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I didn't have proof.”
Daniel interrupted.
“I do.”
He pulled a small envelope from his coat.
Claire stared.
“What is that?”
“A DNA report.”
“Whose?”
“Victor Hale.”
He handed it to her.
Claire opened it.
The result was clear.
MATCH: 99.98%
She looked at Daniel.
“Why did you have this?”
“Because Victor isn't only your uncle.”
Claire's eyes narrowed.
“What else is he?”
Daniel's face became grim.
“He is the person who signed the original insurance policy.”
Claire looked at the document.
Then at Julian.
Then at Lily.
And finally at Daniel.
“If Victor is my father's brother…”
She stopped.
Her voice became a whisper.
“Why would he insure me?”
Daniel answered:
“Because if you die…”
He paused.
“…the entire Bennett trust passes to Lily.”
Claire's blood ran cold.
“And if Lily dies?”
Daniel looked directly at her.
“The trust passes to Victor.”
The room went silent.
Claire suddenly understood the entire game.
Victor didn't need to steal her fortune.
He only needed to remove every person standing between himself and the inheritance.
First Claire.
Then Lily.
Then the trust would belong to him.
Claire looked at Julian.
“You knew this.”
“Yes.”
“And you still brought me into this.”
“I had no choice.”
Claire's eyes hardened.
“You always have a choice.”
Julian lowered his head.
Daniel stood.
“There is one thing you still don't know.”
Claire looked at him.
“What?”
Daniel reached into his coat again.
This time, he pulled out a small photograph.
Claire looked at it.
Her breath caught.
The photograph showed her mother.
Her father.
Victor.
Julian.
And a fifth person.
A young woman standing beside them.
Claire stared.
She recognized her immediately.
Vivian.
But the photograph was dated—
TWENTY YEARS AGO.
Claire's voice disappeared.
“That's impossible.”
Daniel shook his head.
“No.”
Claire looked at Vivian's younger face.
“She was there.”
“Yes.”
“Before I met Julian.”
“Yes.”
“Before all of this.”
“Yes.”
Claire looked at Daniel.
“Who is she?”
Daniel's expression was grim.
“That's the question I've been trying to answer.”
He turned the photograph over.
There was a handwritten sentence.
Claire read it.
THE WOMAN IN RED WAS THERE WHEN YOUR LIFE WAS FIRST STOLEN.
Claire's hands began to shake.
Then her phone rang.
Unknown number.
She answered.
No one spoke.
Only breathing.
Then Vivian's voice whispered:
“Claire…”
Claire froze.
“Where are you?”
A pause.
Then Vivian said:
“Don't come looking for me.”
“Why?”
“Because I finally know who I am.”
Claire's heart raced.
“What does that mean?”
Vivian began crying.
Then whispered:
“I was never Victor's victim.”
The line went dead.
Claire stared at the phone.
Daniel looked at her.
“What did she say?”
Claire slowly raised her eyes.
“She said…”
Her voice trembled.
“…she was part of the plan.”
Outside the chapel, headlights suddenly appeared.
Several black vehicles entered the cemetery.
Julian looked through the window.
“That's Victor's security.”
Daniel stood.
“We have to go.”
Claire grabbed Lily.
“Where?”
Daniel opened a hidden door behind the altar.
“Underground.”
Claire followed.
As the door closed behind them, one of the black SUVs stopped beside Daniel's grave.
A man stepped out.
He walked toward the empty coffin.
Then smiled.
Because the coffin wasn't empty anymore.
May you like
Someone had placed a body inside it.
And the body was wearing Julian's wedding ring.
