CHAPTER 4 — THE NIGHT SHE DIED
CHAPTER 4 — THE NIGHT SHE DIED
"Too late."
The words seemed to remain suspended in the underground corridor.
Victor didn't move.
Neither did Daniel.
Even Ethan had gone completely still.
Then the applause came again.
Slow.
Deliberate.
One clap.
Another.
Another.
Victor tightened his grip around Ethan's hand.
"Who's there?"
No answer.
Only footsteps.
Coming closer.
Daniel raised his weapon.
"Victor, get behind me."
Victor pulled Ethan against his side.
"No."
Daniel looked at him.
"Don't argue."
"I need to know who that is."
"You'll know soon enough."
The footsteps stopped.
A man's voice drifted through the darkness.
"You've spent eighteen years asking the wrong question."
Victor stared into the corridor.
"What question?"
"Who killed Evelyn?"
Victor's jaw tightened.
"Yes."
The voice laughed softly.
"You still think the answer is a person."
Daniel's face changed.
Victor noticed.
"You know him."
Daniel didn't respond.
"Daniel."
Silence.
"Who is he?"
Daniel whispered:
"The answer is a night."
Victor frowned.
"What?"
"The night Evelyn died."
A door opened.
Light flooded the corridor.
Victor raised his weapon.
No one stood there.
Only an old projection screen.
It flickered.
Then an image appeared.
A timestamp.
OCTOBER 17 — 11:42 P.M.
Victor's blood ran cold.
The night Evelyn died.
The image changed.
A security camera.
The mansion.
Rain hammered against the windows.
A car sat in the driveway.
Victor stared.
His own car.
He remembered that night.
Or thought he did.
He had left the office at 10:30.
He had called Evelyn.
She told him she was tired.
He told her he'd be home soon.
Then—
the crash.
The police.
The hospital.
Her death.
That was the memory he had carried for eighteen years.
But the recording showed something else.
At 11:47—
a black sedan entered the driveway.
Victor leaned closer.
The driver stepped out.
A woman.
Serena.
Victor froze.
"She was there."
Daniel nodded.
"Yes."
"But Serena told me she had never met Evelyn."
"She lied."
The footage continued.
Serena walked toward the mansion.
She wasn't alone.
A man followed.
Victor couldn't see his face.
Then the image froze.
Victor stared.
"Enhance it."
Daniel shook his head.
"It's an old recording."
"Enhance it!"
Daniel moved to the console.
The image sharpened.
The man's face slowly became visible.
Victor stopped breathing.
It was him.
Or someone who looked exactly like him.
The same face.
The same eyes.
The same scar beneath the eyebrow.
Victor stepped backward.
"Who is that?"
Daniel's expression was grim.
"Number Three."
Victor stared at the screen.
"He's supposed to be dead."
"He was."
"But the footage..."
"It was recorded before his death."
Victor looked at the timestamp.
"How long before?"
Daniel pointed.
"Twenty-seven minutes."
Victor frowned.
"Then what happened?"
Daniel didn't answer.
The recording continued.
Number Three entered the mansion.
Serena remained outside.
Five minutes later, Evelyn appeared in the hallway.
She looked frightened.
She was holding a telephone.
She looked toward the front door.
Then—
Number Three grabbed her.
Victor's stomach twisted.
"Evelyn."
Ethan covered his eyes.
"Daddy..."
Victor turned off the screen.
"Don't watch this."
But Ethan whispered:
"I already saw it."
Victor looked down.
"What?"
"Mommy showed me."
Victor froze.
"When?"
"Last night."
"How?"
Ethan pointed toward the wall.
"She was in the television."
Victor stared at him.
"That isn't possible."
Ethan's lower lip trembled.
"She said you forgot."
Victor crouched.
"What did she tell you?"
Ethan whispered:
"She said the night she died wasn't the night she died."
Victor felt a chill.
"What does that mean?"
Ethan shook his head.
"I don't know."
Daniel restarted the footage.
This time, he let it play.
Evelyn fought.
Number Three dragged her toward the stairs.
Then—
the footage suddenly changed.
A second camera.
The bedroom.
Victor entered.
He was holding a glass.
He looked confused.
Evelyn turned toward him.
Her face changed.
Relief.
"Victor!"
She ran toward him.
Number Three disappeared through another door.
Victor looked at Evelyn.
They spoke.
But there was no audio.
Evelyn pointed toward the hallway.
Victor shook his head.
She pointed again.
Then she touched his face.
Victor remembered that moment.
Or thought he did.
He remembered Evelyn saying:
"Run."
He remembered being confused.
He remembered a sharp pain in his neck.
Then darkness.
The footage showed something else.
Victor collapsed.
Evelyn caught him.
She dragged him toward the bed.
Then—
the bedroom door opened.
Someone entered.
Victor stared.
The person's face was hidden.
But Evelyn recognized them.
She stepped backward.
The intruder raised a weapon.
The footage stopped.
Victor whispered:
"Who was it?"
Daniel looked at him.
"You already know."
"No."
"You do."
Victor shook his head.
"I don't."
Daniel walked toward him.
"The recording you heard said the killer wasn't Serena."
"Wasn't your father."
"Wasn't me."
"Because none of us pulled the trigger."
Victor stared.
"Then who?"
Daniel looked toward the screen.
"Your wife."
Victor froze.
"What?"
"She knew she was going to die."
"She knew someone was coming."
"And she prepared for it."
Victor's voice became hoarse.
"She killed herself?"
"No."
Daniel shook his head.
"She chose who would kill her."
Victor stared.
"That doesn't make sense."
"It will."
Daniel reached beneath the console.
He removed another file.
Inside was a photograph.
Evelyn standing in front of a mirror.
On the mirror, written in lipstick:
I KNOW WHO YOU ARE.
Victor looked at the photograph.
"Who was she talking to?"
Daniel pointed to the corner.
A reflection.
Someone stood behind her.
Victor squinted.
Then his blood turned cold.
The person was holding a gold key.
The same key.
"That's impossible."
Victor stared at the photograph.
Daniel said nothing.
Victor looked at the key.
"The key was with Evelyn."
"Yes."
"Then how did it end up here?"
"Because she left it."
"For me?"
Daniel nodded.
"She knew you would eventually find this room."
Victor's eyes narrowed.
"Then why did she tell me not to trust myself?"
"Because she knew what your father had done to you."
Victor swallowed.
"What did he do?"
Daniel looked away.
"That night, your father drugged you."
Victor's face hardened.
"Why?"
"Because he wanted you unconscious."
"Why?"
"So he could use your fingerprints."
"For what?"
"The trust."
Victor's heart pounded.
"What does the trust have to do with Evelyn's death?"
Daniel answered quietly:
"Everything."
The underground facility suddenly shook.
Dust fell from the ceiling.
Ethan cried out.
Victor pulled him close.
"What was that?"
Daniel checked his weapon.
"Someone breached the upper level."
"Police?"
"No."
"Then who?"
Daniel looked toward the corridor.
"People who don't want you to remember."
Victor stood.
"Then we find the truth first."
Daniel nodded.
They moved deeper underground.
The corridor became narrower.
At the end was another door.
No handle.
No keypad.
Only a small slot.
Daniel looked at Victor.
"The key."
Victor inserted it.
The door opened.
Inside was a small room.
A desk.
A chair.
A single tape recorder.
And a wall covered in photographs.
Victor stared.
Every photograph was of Evelyn.
Pregnant.
Holding Ethan.
Walking beside Victor.
Entering the office.
Leaving the mansion.
Then—
a photograph from the night she died.
Victor approached it.
Evelyn was standing beside her car.
Someone stood behind her.
The photograph had been taken only minutes before the crash.
Victor turned it over.
A message.
SHE DID NOT DIE IN THE CRASH.
Victor stopped.
"What?"
Daniel looked at him.
"Keep reading."
Victor turned the photograph over again.
Another sentence had been written underneath.
THE CRASH WAS THE COVER STORY.
Victor's heart pounded.
Then he saw another photograph.
Evelyn lying in a hospital bed.
Her eyes closed.
An oxygen mask over her face.
Victor stared.
"She was alive."
Daniel nodded.
"For six hours."
Victor looked at him.
"Why didn't I know?"
"Because they told you she died immediately."
"Who?"
Daniel pointed at the photograph.
"Look at the doctor."
Victor zoomed in.
A man stood beside Evelyn.
Victor recognized him.
His own family doctor.
Dr. Marcus Reed.
Victor's face went pale.
"He told me she died at 2:15."
Daniel nodded.
"She died at 8:40."
Victor stared.
"Six hours later."
"Yes."
"Then what happened?"
Daniel's voice dropped.
"Someone entered her room."
Victor looked at the photograph.
"Who?"
Daniel handed him another.
The same hospital corridor.
A figure entering Evelyn's room.
Victor couldn't see the face.
But the timestamp was clear.
8:31 P.M.
Nine minutes before Evelyn's official time of death.
Victor looked at Daniel.
"Who was it?"
Daniel shook his head.
"We don't know."
Victor turned the photograph over.
Written on the back:
THE MAN WHO CAME TO SAY GOODBYE.
Victor felt sick.
"Goodbye?"
Daniel nodded.
"He was there before she died."
"Did Evelyn know him?"
"Yes."
"How do you know?"
"Because she recorded one final message."
Victor stared at the tape recorder.
"Play it."
Daniel hesitated.
"Victor..."
"Play it."
Daniel pressed the button.
Static.
Then Evelyn's voice.
This time, she sounded weak.
Very weak.
"Victor..."
A cough.
"I'm sorry."
Victor closed his eyes.
"If you're listening to this, I didn't make it."
"I need you to know that I loved you."
Victor's eyes filled with tears.
"I loved Ethan."
A pause.
"And I loved you."
Victor whispered:
"I love you too."
The recording continued.
"But there is something I never told you."
Victor leaned closer.
"Ethan isn't the only person I was protecting."
Victor froze.
"I was protecting you."
A pause.
"Because your father knows what you are."
Victor frowned.
"What am I?"
Evelyn's breathing became strained.
"You are the only person who can destroy him."
Victor's eyes widened.
"That's why he needs you alive."
"Not dead."
"Controlled."
"Confused."
"Dependent."
Victor looked at Daniel.
Evelyn continued:
"Victor, if you ever remember the night I died..."
A pause.
"...you will remember who you really are."
Victor's heart pounded.
Then Evelyn whispered:
"And when you remember..."
Silence.
A faint beep.
Then:
"...you'll understand why I chose to die."
The recording ended.
Victor stared at the machine.
"Why?"
Daniel didn't answer.
Victor turned.
"Why did she choose to die?"
Daniel looked at him.
"Because she knew someone was going to kill you next."
Victor froze.
"Who?"
Daniel's face became grim.
"Your father."
Victor shook his head.
"He wanted me alive."
"That was before."
"Before what?"
Daniel looked at the door.
"Before Evelyn discovered the truth."
Victor stepped toward him.
"What truth?"
Daniel hesitated.
Then said:
"Your father wasn't trying to control the trust."
Victor waited.
"He was trying to take something from it."
"What?"
Daniel looked at Ethan.
"The identity of the person who really owns everything."
Victor's face hardened.
"Who?"
Daniel whispered:
"Ethan."
Victor stared.
"My son?"
"Yes."
"How?"
Daniel didn't answer.
A sound came from the corridor.
Footsteps.
Slow.
Measured.
Someone was approaching.
Victor reached for his weapon.
Daniel raised his.
The door opened.
Dr. Marcus Reed stood there.
The family doctor.
The man who had signed Evelyn's death certificate.
Victor aimed the gun at him.
"You lied to me."
Dr. Reed stopped.
"I had no choice."
"You told me she died at 2:15."
"I was ordered to."
"By whom?"
Dr. Reed looked at Ethan.
Then at Victor.
"By the woman you trusted."
Victor's face hardened.
"Serena?"
Dr. Reed shook his head.
"No."
"Then who?"
He pointed toward the hallway.
"Her."
Victor turned.
A woman stood at the end of the corridor.
Wet hair.
Pale face.
White dress.
Victor stopped breathing.
Evelyn.
Alive.
She looked directly at him.
"Victor."
His gun lowered.
"No..."
She took one step forward.
"I'm sorry it took so long."
Victor couldn't move.
"Evelyn?"
Daniel whispered:
"It can't be."
Evelyn looked at him.
"It can."
Victor's eyes filled with tears.
"You died."
She shook her head.
"No."
"I watched your funeral."
"I know."
"I held your coffin."
"I know."
"You left me."
Her face broke.
"I was taken."
"By whom?"
Evelyn looked toward Ethan.
Then back at Victor.
"By the man who is standing behind you."
Victor slowly turned.
No one was there.
Daniel was gone.
The room was empty.
Evelyn's face changed.
"Victor..."
"What?"
"You need to run."
"Why?"
She looked terrified.
"Because Daniel isn't Daniel."
Victor stared.
"What do you mean?"
Evelyn whispered:
"The real Daniel died eighteen years ago."
Victor's blood ran cold.
"Then who is he?"
Evelyn stepped backward.
"The man you've been calling Daniel..."
She swallowed.
"...is the one who killed me."
The lights went out.
And Victor heard a man's voice behind him.
"You were never supposed to hear that recording."
A gunshot exploded.
Evelyn screamed.
May you like
Victor grabbed Ethan.
And the underground room disappeared into darkness.
