Chapter 5: The Man in the Shadows
The voice on the phone sounded calm.
Too calm.
Like someone who had already accepted what was coming.
“What do you mean?”” I asked.
The man didn’t answer immediately.
I could hear traffic in the background.
A distant siren.
A car horn.
“You don’t know me,” he finally said.
“You already said that.””
“My name is Malcolm.””
I waited.
“And I bought something from your husband.””
My stomach dropped.
“What?””
“The sedative.””
The hospital room suddenly felt freezing.
“You bought the drug that almost killed my daughter?””
“No.””
His voice became heavier.
“I bought it before your daughter ever drank that lemonade.””
I couldn’t speak.
Detective Harris watched my face.
He could tell something was wrong.
“Why are you calling me?””
Malcolm exhaled.
“Because I found out Mark used me.””
“What does that mean?””
“It means I thought I was buying something for one reason.””
My grip tightened around the phone.
“What reason?””
A long silence followed.
Then:
“I wanted him dead.””
The words hit me like a physical blow.
I looked at Detective Harris.
He immediately stood straighter.
“Who is this?”” he mouthed.
I covered the phone slightly.
“Someone named Malcolm.””
The detective’s expression changed.
“Put him on speaker.””
I did.
“Malcolm, this is Detective Harris. Where are you?””
The man laughed quietly.
“So the police are involved now.””
“Yes,” Detective Harris said.
“Answer my question.””
“I’m in Baltimore.””
“Where?””
“No.””
The detective stepped closer.
“You called us. Now cooperate.””
Malcolm ignored him.
“Lily, you need to understand something.””
I swallowed.
“What?””
“Your husband was not selling the sedative to make money.””
Detective Harris stared.
“Then why?””
Malcolm’s voice dropped.
“He was selling it to people who needed someone gone.””
The room became silent.
My knees weakened.
“No.””
“I’m sorry.””
“You’re lying.””
“I wish I was.””
I looked at Detective Harris.
“Can you trace him?””
He shook his head slightly.
Not yet.
“Malcolm,” I said, “why would Mark want someone dead?””
Another pause.
Then:
“Because someone knew about his debts.””
“Who?””
The answer came quietly.
“Me.””
The call ended.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Then Detective Harris took my phone.
“We need to find this man.””
“What happens now?””
“Now we find out how deep this goes.””
I sat beside Emma until evening.
I didn’t sleep.
I didn’t cry.
I just watched her.
Because every time I closed my eyes, I saw her on the birthday floor.
The moment her body went still.
The moment my husband looked afraid.
The moment my sister smiled.
The next morning, Detective Harris called me.
“We found Malcolm.””
My heart jumped.
“Where?””
“Baltimore.””
“Is he arrested?””
“No.””
“Why not?””
“Because he has information.””
I drove there myself.
I don’t know if that was brave or stupid.
Maybe both.
The hotel was old, with cracked marble floors and dim yellow lights.
Room 417.
That was where Malcolm waited.
When I opened the door, I expected a criminal.
Someone dangerous.
Instead, I saw a tired man sitting near the window.
He looked like someone who hadn’t slept in weeks.
“You’re Lily.””
I nodded.
“You’re Malcolm.””
“Yes.””
I stepped inside.
“Why did you call me?””
He looked at me.
“Because I know what Mark did.””
“What did he do?””
Malcolm reached into his bag.
I immediately stepped back.
“It’s just paperwork.””
He pulled out a folder.
Inside were copies of transactions.
Photos.
Messages.
And one document that made my hands shake.
A list.
Names.
Dates.
Amounts.
“What is this?””
Malcolm looked away.
“People Mark sold to.””
My voice became quiet.
“Sold what?””
“The sedative.””
I flipped through the pages.
Then I saw one name.
A name that made everything stop.
Rachel Carter.
I looked up.
“No.””
Malcolm watched my reaction.
“You know her?””
“She’s my sister.””
His expression changed.
“Then you really don’t know the truth.””
“What truth?””
He leaned forward.
“Rachel wasn’t helping Mark hide his gambling.””
I stared at him.
“She was helping him build something.””
My heart pounded.
“Build what?””
Malcolm opened another file.
Inside was a photograph.
Mark and Rachel.
Not at the casino.
Not at the birthday party.
Somewhere else.
Standing beside a warehouse.
And behind them was a sign.
A medical supply company.
Then Malcolm said the words I would never forget.
“Your sister wasn’t protecting your husband.””
May you like
He looked at me.
“She was working with him.””
