Chapter 4 - My Cousin's Confession
Marcus returned that evening alone.
He sat beside my bed.
For several minutes, he stared at the floor.
Then he did something none of the others had done.
He apologized.
“I'm sorry, Danny.”
No one had called me Danny since my father died.
Marcus rubbed both hands over his face.
“I thought I could fix it before you found out.”
He began talking.
Years earlier, Marcus had lost money through a private investment scheme. Too ashamed to tell me, he borrowed from company-linked funds with Victor's help.
He intended to repay it.
Victor made sure he never could.
The first illegal transfer became leverage.
Then another.
Then another.
Eventually Marcus wasn't borrowing money.
He was helping Victor hide it.
“I should've told you,” he whispered.
He believed I couldn't hear him.
That made the confession more credible.
Then he said something unexpected.
“Chloe isn't who you think she is.”
I almost laughed internally.
That part had become obvious.
But Marcus continued.
“Victor introduced her to you.”
My blood ran cold.
I had met Chloe at a charity gala three years earlier.
Or so I thought.
According to Marcus, Victor had arranged for Chloe to attend.
Our relationship had not been an accident.
It had been an assignment.
She was supposed to get close to me.
Learn my habits.
Influence my decisions.
Eventually persuade me to restructure my estate.
But something went wrong.
“She fell in love with you,” Marcus whispered.
I didn't know whether that made me feel better or worse.
Marcus claimed Chloe had begun resisting Victor.
She delayed the estate paperwork.
She refused to help with certain transfers.
Victor responded by threatening her family and exposing her role.
Then came the crash.
“I thought they were just going to disable the car so you'd miss the board meeting,” Marcus said.
My jaw wanted to tighten.
I forced it still.
“They told me nobody would get hurt.”
He started crying.
“I swear to God, Danny, I didn't know.”
Then he leaned closer.
“Victor changed the plan.”
A noise sounded outside.
Marcus stopped.
The door opened.
Victor entered.
“Well,” he said pleasantly. “This is touching.”
Marcus stood.
“What are you doing here?”
“Checking on Daniel.”
“At eleven at night?”
Victor smiled.
“You're here.”
The two men stared at each other.
Then Victor said, “Walk with me.”
“No.”
Victor's smile disappeared.
“I wasn't asking.”
Marcus looked toward me.
For one second, I thought he might expose everything.
Instead, he followed Victor outside.
I reached for the phone.
Aaron answered immediately.
“Victor just took Marcus out of my room.”
“Stay where you are.”
“I wasn't planning to chase them in a hospital gown.”
“I have officers nearby.”
Five minutes passed.
Then ten.
Marcus didn't return.
At 11:26, Elena called.
“Mr. Daniel, someone is at your house.”
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
“You're not there, are you?”
“No. Detective Brooks had someone bring me near the house so I could identify a car.”
“What car?”
“The one that followed me.”
My heart accelerated.
“And?”
“It's there.”
“Whose is it?”
Elena went silent.
Then she whispered:
“Victor's driver.”
Another piece.
Aaron called seconds later.
“We have a problem.”
“What?”
“Marcus is gone.”
“What do you mean gone?”
“Security footage shows him leaving through a service exit.”
“With Victor?”
“No.”
“Then where is Victor?”
“We don't know.”
I looked toward the door.
Suddenly every sound in the hallway felt suspicious.
Then a text appeared on the prepaid phone.
Unknown number.
YOU SHOULD HAVE STAYED ASLEEP.
Below the message was a photograph.
Elena.
Taken less than a minute earlier.
Standing beside an unmarked police car.
May you like
Someone was watching her.
And whoever it was knew I was awake.
