Chapter 5: The Missing Night
The room disappeared into darkness.
Aaliyah screamed.
“Mom!””
Marcus heard a chair scrape against the floor.
“Everyone stay where you are!””
His hand went instinctively toward his phone.
The flashlight came on.
A narrow beam cut through the darkness.
Evelyn was standing near the window.
Darius was beside the table.
Aaliyah had both hands over her mouth.
Marcus looked at the fuse box.
“The power doesn't just go out in this house.””
Darius said quietly, “It can.””
Marcus turned.
“What?””
Darius didn't answer.
Marcus walked toward him.
“You said you were helping with the wedding. Now you know about my father's trust, his property, and the electrical system in this house.””
Darius's jaw tightened.
“How much do you actually know?””
Marcus stopped.
“What did you mean?””
Darius looked toward Evelyn.
“Ask her.””
Marcus almost smiled.
“That's what I'm doing.””
Evelyn sank into a chair.
The darkness made her look older.
More fragile.
But Marcus wasn't feeling sympathy.
Not yet.
“What happened that night?”” he asked.
Evelyn stared at the floor.
“Your father called me.””
“When?””
“About two hours before he died.””
“Why?””
“He wanted to meet.””
“Where?””
“Willow Creek.””
Marcus's pulse quickened.
“The house.””
Evelyn nodded.
“He told me he had discovered something.””
“What?””
“I don't know.””
Marcus stared at her.
“You don't know?””
“He never told me.””
“Then why did you go?””
“Because he said your life was in danger.””
Aaliyah suddenly whispered, “Mom…”
Marcus turned toward her.
“You knew about this?””
Aaliyah shook her head.
“Not everything.””
“Then what did you know?””
She wiped her eyes.
“I knew your father had been worried about you.””
“When?””
“Before he died.””
Marcus felt the room tilt.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“I was scared.””
“Everybody keeps saying that.””
He looked around.
“Everyone was scared. Everyone was hiding things. And somehow I'm the only person who didn't know there was a secret.””
Darius stepped closer.
“Marcus, your father wasn't who you thought he was.””
Marcus's expression hardened.
“You don't get to talk about my father.””
“I knew him.””
“You knew him?””
“Yes.””
“How?””
Darius hesitated.
“Your father was my employer.””
Marcus stared at him.
“For what?””
Darius looked away.
“Private security.””
Marcus's eyes narrowed.
“You worked for him?””
“Yes.””
“Doing what?””
“Protecting people.””
“Who?””
Darius didn't answer.
Marcus suddenly understood something.
“The person you were protecting was Aaliyah.””
Darius remained silent.
Aaliyah started crying.
Marcus looked at her.
“How long?””
“Marcus…”
“How long have you known Darius?””
“Six years.””
“And how long has he been protecting you?””
Aaliyah whispered, “Since I was nineteen.””
Marcus stepped back.
The numbers collided in his head.
Six years.
His father's death.
The money.
The house.
The wedding.
None of it was random.
“You didn't meet Darius because of the wedding,” Marcus said.
Aaliyah shook her head.
“No.””
“You were already connected.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
She looked at her mother.
Evelyn finally spoke.
“Because your father believed someone was trying to take something from him.””
“What?””
“The house.””
Marcus frowned.
“Why would anyone care about an old house?””
Evelyn's eyes filled with fear.
“Because it isn't just a house.””
Darius interrupted.
“Mrs. Brooks.””
She looked at him.
“No more lies.””
Marcus turned.
“What is inside that house?””
Darius remained silent.
Marcus stepped closer.
“What is inside?””
Darius finally said, “A safe.””
Marcus's heart began pounding.
“My father had a safe?””
“Yes.””
“What's in it?””
Darius looked at Evelyn.
“We don't know.””
Marcus stared at him.
“You don't know?””
“Your father never gave us the combination.””
“Us?””
Darius's expression changed.
Marcus noticed.
“Who is ‘us’?””
Darius looked toward the dark window.
“Your father's attorney.””
Marcus's stomach dropped.
“Who?””
Darius didn't answer immediately.
Then he said a name Marcus hadn't heard in eight years.
“Richard Vale.””
Marcus froze.
Richard Vale had been his father's closest business partner.
He had also been the last person to see his father alive.
Marcus grabbed his jacket.
“Take me to Willow Creek.””
Aaliyah stood.
“Marcus, no.””
He looked at her.
“Why?””
“Because that's exactly what they want.””
“Who?””
Aaliyah's face went white.
Before she could answer, Marcus heard something outside.
A car door slammed.
Then another.
Darius immediately moved toward the window.
“Turn off your flashlight.””
Marcus did.
The room went black again.
Footsteps approached the front door.
Slow.
Heavy.
Three knocks.
Nobody moved.
Then a man's voice came through the door.
“Marcus?””
Marcus recognized it instantly.
It was Richard Vale.
May you like
And then Richard said something that made Evelyn begin to sob.
“Your father didn't die eight years ago.””
