Chapter 5: The Daughter of the Dead Man
The hospital room became a crime scene before midnight.
Detective Collins ordered everyone to remain inside while officers examined the unauthorized guard, reviewed the corridor cameras, and secured Eleanor's medical records.
Arthur was furious.
"My grandmother was almost attacked, and you're treating me like a suspect?""
Collins remained calm.
"Someone filed a formal complaint claiming you were preventing her from receiving independent medical care.""
"Who?""
"The complaint was submitted through the office of Edward Blackwood.""
Arthur laughed bitterly.
"Of course it was.""
Collins glanced at Maya.
"And you?""
Maya straightened.
"Me?""
"You've been present during multiple incidents involving the Hawthorne family. I need your full identity and your explanation for your involvement.""
Maya handed him her identification.
"My name is Maya Collins. My father was Thomas Collins, the former chief security officer of Hawthorne Shipping.""
Collins examined the document.
His expression changed.
"Thomas Collins?""
"Yes.""
"Your father was listed as deceased.""
"So I was told.""
The detective looked at Eleanor.
"Mrs. Hawthorne, do you confirm her identity?""
Eleanor nodded.
"Yes.""
Collins lowered his voice.
"Then I think we need to discuss the warehouse fire.""
Maya's eyes sharpened.
"What do you know about it?""
Collins took a seat.
"Officially, it was an electrical accident. Three people died.""
"Was my father one of them?""
"According to the original report.""
Maya leaned forward.
"According to the original report, or according to the bodies?""
Collins paused.
Arthur looked at him.
"Answer her.""
The detective opened a folder.
"The fire destroyed most of the building. One body was identified through dental records. Another through personal effects. The third was never conclusively identified.""
Maya's face went pale.
"Which one was my father?""
"The third.""
Silence.
For eighteen years, Maya had lived with a death certificate, a funeral, and a small wooden box containing what the authorities claimed were her father's personal belongings.
There had never been a body.
She turned toward Eleanor.
"You knew.""
Eleanor's eyes filled again.
"I suspected.""
"You let me grow up believing he was dead.""
"I was afraid.""
"Of what?""
Eleanor looked down.
"Edward.""
Maya stood.
"My mother died two years after the fire. I was raised by relatives. I spent my entire childhood wondering why my father hadn't come home.""
Her voice cracked.
"And you knew there was a possibility he was alive?""
Eleanor began crying.
"I'm sorry.""
Maya stared at her.
Then she quietly said:
"Sorry doesn't give me eighteen years back.""
Arthur looked at Maya.
He wanted to comfort her, but he knew he had no right to tell her how to feel.
He had just discovered that his own family had built an entire life around a lie.
At 11:40 p.m., the police received a call from the estate's security office.
A man had attempted to enter the underground vault.
He had been stopped by an electronic lock, but not before disabling two cameras.
Arthur immediately recognized the implications.
"Edward.""
Detective Collins shook his head.
"We don't know that.""
Arthur grabbed his coat.
"Then let's find out.""
Collins blocked the door.
"You're not going anywhere without police protection.""
"Fine. Bring everyone.""
Within thirty minutes, a convoy of police vehicles was heading toward the Hawthorne estate.
Maya sat in the front passenger seat of Arthur's car.
She held the silver key marked with the number seventeen.
Arthur glanced at her.
"Are you all right?""
"No.""
He nodded.
"Neither am I.""
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Maya turned toward him.
"Your grandmother knew my father.""
"Apparently.""
"Do you think she knows where he is?""
"I think she knows more than she's telling us.""
Maya looked through the windshield.
"Then why did she wait until tonight?""
Arthur tightened his grip on the steering wheel.
"Maybe she thought the truth would die with her.""
They arrived at the estate shortly after midnight.
The underground vault was located beneath the eastern wing, accessible through a reinforced elevator hidden behind the family library.
Arthur entered the security code.
The doors opened.
Inside, rows of steel cabinets lined the walls.
The Hawthorne family kept generations of private contracts, deeds, jewelry, and legal records in the chamber.
A security officer approached.
"Mr. Hawthorne, we found something.""
He led them to the far end.
One cabinet had been opened.
Its contents were scattered across the floor.
Arthur examined the empty compartment.
"What's missing?""
The officer consulted his inventory.
"Box seventeen.""
Maya removed the silver key.
"That's what this opens.""
She inserted it into a smaller lock beneath the cabinet.
A quiet click sounded.
The compartment opened.
Inside lay a black leather notebook.
Arthur lifted it carefully.
His father's initials were embossed on the cover.
R.H.
He opened the first page.
The handwriting was unmistakable.
Financial irregularities discovered in March.
The next page listed shell companies, shipping routes, and transfers.
Then came a list of names.
Edward Blackwood.
Victor Hale.
Daniel Mercer.
Arthur stopped.
He read the third name again.
Daniel.
His best friend.
The notebook contained dates and payment amounts beside each name.
Arthur felt sick.
"Daniel was paid?""
Maya leaned closer.
"Keep reading.""
Beneath the names was a note.
Mercer has been instructed to maintain contact with my son. His loyalty remains uncertain.
Arthur closed the book.
"How long?""
Maya pointed to the date.
The entry had been made eleven months before Richard's supposed death.
Arthur stared at the page.
Daniel hadn't simply been his friend during the aftermath of the tragedy.
He might have been reporting on him the entire time.
A phone began ringing inside the vault.
Everyone turned.
The sound came from a small drawer beneath the cabinet.
Arthur opened it.
An old black mobile phone lay inside.
Its screen displayed one incoming call.
UNKNOWN CALLER.
Arthur answered.
"Hello?""
For several seconds, there was only static.
Then a man's voice emerged.
Older.
Weaker.
But unmistakably familiar.
"Arthur?""
Arthur's knees nearly gave way.
"Dad?""
A long silence followed.
Then the voice spoke again.
"Listen carefully. You have very little time.""
Arthur pressed the phone against his ear.
"Where are you? Are you alive?""
"Yes.""
Arthur closed his eyes.
Tears rolled down his cheeks.
"Where have you been? Why didn't you come home?""
"Because I couldn't.""
"Who did this?""
"Edward. And someone you still believe is innocent.""
Arthur looked at Maya.
"Who?""
The voice lowered.
"Your grandmother.""
Arthur froze.
"What?""
"Arthur, Eleanor wasn't simply protecting me. She was protecting the person who arranged the yacht explosion.""
Maya moved closer.
"Mr. Hawthorne, ask him about Thomas.""
Arthur did.
"Dad, what happened to Thomas Collins?""
There was a sharp intake of breath on the other end.
Then Richard spoke.
"Thomas is alive.""
Maya's eyes filled instantly.
"Where is he?""
Arthur repeated the question.
Richard hesitated.
"He's with me.""
Maya covered her mouth.
For eighteen years, she had imagined hearing those words.
She stepped toward the phone.
"Sir, please. Let me speak to him.""
Arthur handed her the device.
"Hello?"" Maya whispered.
A moment passed.
Then a man's voice answered.
"Maya?""
She collapsed into the nearest chair.
"Dad?""
"My little girl.""
Maya began sobbing.
"Where are you? Why didn't you come back?""
"I'm sorry.""
"You're sorry?""
"I thought they would kill you if they knew you were alive.""
"Who?""
Thomas's voice became urgent.
"Maya, listen to me. The people who burned that warehouse are the same people who destroyed the yacht. Your father—"
He stopped.
Arthur grabbed the phone.
"Your father? What do you mean?""
A loud crash sounded through the call.
Then a muffled struggle.
"Richard!"" Thomas shouted.
The line crackled.
Maya stood.
"Dad?""
No answer.
"Please!""
Then a different voice came through.
Cold.
Controlled.
And horribly familiar.
"Hello, Arthur.""
Arthur's blood turned to ice.
Edward Blackwood.
"I believe you've found something that belongs to me.""
The call ended.
At that exact moment, the vault lights went out.
A metallic bang echoed behind them.
The reinforced door slammed shut.
May you like
And from the darkness, someone whispered:
"Nobody leaves.""
