Chapter 7: The Woman Who Came Back from the Dead
"Get me the police!""
My voice echoed through the consultation room.
Michael was already dialing emergency services, while Dr. Carter rushed toward the computer.
I grabbed the photograph from the screen and enlarged it.
Nia was sitting in the back seat of a black SUV.
Her face was turned toward the window.
She was wearing the pink sweater I'd bought her the previous weekend.
And beside her sat a woman whose face I had spent eleven months believing I would never see again.
Danielle.
My wife.
Alive.
"Marcus," Daniel said, "we have to find that car.""
I turned toward him.
"You don't get to tell me what we have to do.""
"She's my niece!""
"Then start acting like it!""
He flinched.
Michael interrupted.
"Police have the vehicle information. The school has provided the security footage. They're checking the surrounding roads.""
I looked at the computer.
"Can you trace the transfer?""
Dr. Carter nodded.
"Possibly. The system records the destination whenever a patient or protected individual is moved.""
"Do it.""
She typed quickly.
A location appeared.
An old residential property outside the city.
The address was familiar.
I had visited it once, years earlier, when Danielle and I were considering buying a holiday home.
It had belonged to Richard Cole.
The man everyone believed was dead.
I stared at the screen.
"That's where they're taking her.""
Michael looked at the address.
"Marcus, you cannot go there alone.""
"I'm not going to sit here while someone takes my daughter.""
"Neither am I," Daniel said.
I turned toward him.
"If you betray me again, I swear—"
"I won't.""
I didn't believe him.
But I needed every person who could help find Nia.
Within minutes, two police officers arrived. Michael showed them the photograph, the transfer record, and the threatening messages.
One officer recognized the address.
"We've had previous reports connected to that property," he said.
"What reports?""
"Unregistered medical activity. Nothing conclusive.""
I stared at him.
"How long have you known?""
"We didn't have enough evidence to enter.""
I shook my head.
"Well, now you do.""
The officer nodded.
"We're arranging a tactical response.""
I paced the room while they prepared.
Every second felt like an hour.
Then my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
"Where is my daughter?""
A familiar voice responded.
"Marcus?""
I stopped breathing.
It was Danielle.
Not a recording.
Not a memory.
My wife's actual voice.
"Danielle?""
A quiet sob came through the phone.
"Marcus, please listen to me.""
I gripped the phone so tightly my fingers hurt.
"Where are you?""
"I can't tell you.""
"Are you alive?""
She began crying.
"Yes.""
I closed my eyes.
For eleven months, I had spoken to her photograph.
I had imagined hearing her voice again.
And now that it was happening, I couldn't find a single word.
"Why didn't you come home?"" I finally asked.
"I tried.""
"Why didn't you call me?""
"I did. They took my phone.""
"Who?""
"Vanessa. Harrison. Richard.""
I looked toward Daniel.
"Where is Nia?""
"She's with me.""
"Put her on the phone.""
"Marcus, she's safe.""
"Put my daughter on the phone!""
There was a rustling sound.
Then a small voice.
"Daddy?""
I nearly collapsed.
"Baby! Are you okay?""
"Daddy, I'm scared.""
"Listen to me, sweetheart. I'm coming to get you.""
"Mommy says she's going to take me home.""
I pressed my hand against my mouth.
"Mommy?""
"Yes, Daddy.""
Then Nia whispered something.
"She's not the bad Mommy.""
My heart stopped.
"What do you mean?""
"The other Mommy was mean.""
I looked at Danielle's photograph.
There were two women.
Two sisters.
One had lived under the other's identity.
One had married me.
And the other had been imprisoned somewhere while everyone believed she was dead.
"Danielle," I whispered, "who is Vanessa?""
My wife took a shaky breath.
"She's my sister.""
I felt the floor disappear beneath me.
"Your sister?""
"Victoria is her real name. She changed her identity after Richard's supposed death.""
"Why?""
"Because Richard was never dead. He helped her disappear, and they used my identity to create a new life for her.""
I struggled to understand.
"Then why did she marry me?""
"Because she wanted access to our family.""
"Access to what?""
"Our money. The insurance. And something Richard believed I had hidden.""
"What?""
"Your father's original company documents.""
I frowned.
"My father?""
"Marcus, your father didn't just leave you the construction company. He left you a trust. Harrison helped Richard and Victoria discover that the trust contained several properties worth millions.""
I looked at Daniel.
He looked away.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I didn't know everything until it was too late.""
"Where are you now?""
Danielle lowered her voice.
"Richard's old house. But Marcus, you mustn't come through the front entrance.""
"Why?""
"Because they're expecting you.""
A door slammed somewhere near her.
I heard a man's voice.
"Give me the phone!""
Danielle whispered urgently.
"Marcus, there's something else. Daniel isn't the only person who betrayed you.""
Then the call disconnected.
I turned toward my brother.
"What else is there?""
Daniel's face was pale.
Before he could answer, Officer Reynolds entered the room.
"We have a problem.""
"What?""
"The address is being monitored. Someone has disabled the external cameras.""
"Can we still enter?""
"Yes, but we need to be careful.""
I grabbed my jacket.
"Then let's go.""
The journey to Richard's property took thirty-five minutes.
Police vehicles moved ahead of us.
Michael sat beside me, holding the documents Danielle had left behind.
Daniel was in the vehicle behind us.
Nobody spoke.
When we reached the property, I recognized the white iron gate and the long driveway.
The house stood behind a row of trees.
Its windows were dark.
But there was a light on upstairs.
Room 214.
I stepped out of the car.
A police officer stopped me.
"Mr. Reed, stay behind us.""
I nodded.
The officers approached the entrance.
One knocked.
"Police! Open the door!""
No response.
They tried again.
Then a woman's voice came from inside.
"Marcus?""
I pushed past the officer.
"Danielle!""
The door opened.
And there she stood.
My wife.
Thinner than I remembered.
Her hair was shorter.
There were dark circles beneath her eyes.
But she was alive.
She looked at me, and her lips trembled.
"Marcus.""
I couldn't move.
Then she stepped forward.
I caught her in my arms.
For several seconds, neither of us spoke.
I held her as if she might disappear again.
She buried her face against my chest.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
I pulled back and looked at her.
"Don't you ever apologize for surviving.""
She began sobbing.
Then a small voice came from the staircase.
"Daddy!""
Nia ran toward us.
I dropped to my knees and caught her.
I held my daughter with one arm and my wife with the other.
For the first time in eleven months, my family was together.
But the reunion lasted only a few seconds.
Because behind Danielle, a man appeared at the top of the staircase.
He was older than the photograph.
His hair was gray.
But his face was unmistakable.
Richard Cole.
He held a folder in one hand.
And in the other, he held a photograph of my father.
"Welcome home, Marcus," he said calmly.
May you like
Then he smiled.
"Now that you've found your wife, perhaps you'd like to know why your father paid me to make sure she disappeared.""
