Chapter 7: The Friend Who Stayed Too Close
Adrian replayed the recording three times.
Then a fourth.
Each time, the same words echoed louder.
*Someone Adrian trusts completely.*
The first time he heard it, he thought about betrayal.
The second time, he thought about fear.
The third time, he started thinking about every person who had stood beside him when Emily died.
The funeral.
The hospital.
The weeks after.
The people who hugged him.
The people who told him everything would be okay.
The people who knew he was broken enough to believe anything they said.
Mia sat quietly beside him, holding the old recorder.
“Daddy?””
He looked at her.
“Yes?””
“Was Mommy scared?””
The question made his chest tighten.
He wanted to tell her no.
He wanted to protect her from the darkness adults created.
But he had already learned what happened when children were ignored.
So he answered honestly.
“I think Mommy was trying to protect us.””
Mia looked down.
“Did she know she was going away?””
Adrian swallowed.
“I think she knew she might not be here forever.””
The little girl hugged her stuffed rabbit.
“But she left me something.””
Adrian looked at the recorder.
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because she loved you.””
Mia nodded.
Then she whispered:
“I miss her.””
Adrian pulled her close.
“I miss her too.””
For a few minutes, the world was quiet.
No secrets.
No documents.
No accusations.
Just a father and daughter missing someone they both loved.
Then Adrian’s phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
Marcus Hale.
The name appeared like a warning.
Daniel noticed.
“Don’t answer.””
Adrian looked at him.
“Why?””
“Because if he knows Emily left something behind, he’ll know we’re looking.””
Adrian stared at the phone.
The call continued.
Finally, he answered.
“Marcus.””
The voice on the other end sounded calm.
Almost friendly.
“Adrian. I heard there was some trouble yesterday.””
Adrian looked toward Mia.
“What kind of trouble?””
Marcus laughed softly.
“Don’t play games. Vanessa told me everything.””
Adrian’s eyes narrowed.
“She did?””
“Yes. She’s worried.””
Interesting.
Marcus sounded exactly like the friend he remembered.
Concerned.
Helpful.
Reliable.
That was what made him dangerous.
“And why would Vanessa call you?””
A pause.
Small.
But noticeable.
“She didn’t.””
Adrian leaned back.
“Then how did you know?””
Another pause.
“I have people who care about your family.””
Adrian looked at Daniel.
Daniel silently mouthed:
Be careful.
Adrian continued.
“My family doesn’t need people watching us.””
Marcus sighed.
“You’re upset.””
“I have reason to be.””
“Adrian, listen to me. Vanessa is unstable.””
The words were immediate.
Too immediate.
Adrian’s expression changed.
“You think so?””
“I’ve always worried about her influence on Mia.””
That sentence bothered him.
Because it sounded rehearsed.
“You’ve always worried?””
“Yes.””
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
Marcus became quiet.
“Because Emily asked me not to.””
Adrian froze.
“What?””
“Emily knew Vanessa had issues.””
The room became silent.
Marcus continued.
“She didn’t want conflict while she was sick.””
Adrian’s hand tightened around the phone.
“Marcus.””
“Yes?””
“Where are you?””
Another pause.
“At the office.””
Adrian looked at the clock.
It was early morning.
The office was usually empty.
“Send me the address of where you are.””
A longer pause.
“Why?””
“Because I want to talk.””
Marcus laughed nervously.
“Of course.””
But Adrian heard it.
The hesitation.
The fear.
The call ended.
Daniel looked at him.
“You noticed it too.””
“He knew about Vanessa before I told him.””
Daniel nodded.
“Exactly.””
Adrian stood.
“I’m going to see him.””
“I’ll come with you.””
“No.””
Daniel looked surprised.
“Adrian—”
“I need to know if he lies when he’s alone with me.””
Daniel didn’t like it.
But he understood.
An hour later, Adrian arrived at Hale Carter Enterprises.
The building had been part of his life for fifteen years.
The lobby.
The elevators.
The conference rooms.
Everything felt familiar.
And now everything felt suspicious.
Marcus was waiting.
He smiled when Adrian entered.
The same smile he had used for years.
“Friend.””
Adrian stopped.
Friend.
The word felt strange.
Marcus noticed.
“What?””
“Nothing.””
They walked into Marcus’s office.
The door closed.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Marcus poured two glasses of water.
Adrian didn’t touch his.
“You’re acting differently.””
Marcus sat down.
“You’ve been through a lot.””
“Don’t do that.””
“Do what?””
“Pretend you’re concerned.””
Marcus looked hurt.
“You think I’m not?””
“I think you know more than you’re telling me.””
The smile disappeared.
Only briefly.
But Adrian saw it.
“What did Vanessa tell you?””
Marcus leaned back.
“She told me she made a mistake.””
“What mistake?””
Marcus looked at him.
“Adrian, do you really want to know?””
“Yes.””
“She tried to access Mia’s trust.””
Adrian watched carefully.
“You’re sure?””
“I saw the documents.””
“What documents?””
Marcus didn’t answer.
Adrian leaned forward.
“That’s interesting.””
“What?””
“Because those documents were private.””
Marcus became still.
Adrian continued.
“Only a few people knew about them.””
The room became quiet.
Marcus looked away.
Then he smiled slightly.
“You’re suspicious of everyone now.””
“Shouldn’t I be?””
Marcus stood.
“I understand you’re angry.””
“No.””
Adrian stood too.
“I’m thinking.””
Marcus looked at him.
“About what?””
“About how everyone keeps giving me the same story.””
“What story?””
“That Vanessa is the problem.””
Marcus said nothing.
Adrian stepped closer.
“But Emily’s recording said someone would try to make me believe that.””
For the first time, Marcus’s expression changed completely.
A flash of fear.
Only a second.
But enough.
Adrian saw it.
“You know about the recording.””
Marcus recovered quickly.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.””
“You reacted before I explained.””
Silence.
Marcus walked toward the window.
“You shouldn’t listen to things left by a dying woman.””
Adrian felt cold.
“That’s a strange thing to say.””
“Why?””
“Because I never told you Emily was dying when she recorded it.””
Marcus froze.
Adrian watched him carefully.
There it was.
The mistake.
The truth hiding inside a sentence.
Marcus slowly turned around.
“Adrian…”
“How did you know?””
Marcus opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
Adrian took a step back.
The man in front of him suddenly looked unfamiliar.
“How did you know Emily recorded something before she died?””
Marcus remained silent.
And that silence was the answer.
Adrian left the office without another word.
But before he reached the elevator, his phone buzzed.
A message from Daniel.
One attachment.
One sentence.
*I checked the funeral guest list. You need to see who was standing beside Marcus.*
Adrian opened the file.
A photograph appeared.
The funeral.
Rain falling.
Black umbrellas.
Emily’s family.
His friends.
His employees.
And standing directly beside Marcus Hale…
Was Vanessa.
But that wasn’t what shocked him.
Because behind them, half-hidden near the entrance, was someone else.
Someone Adrian had never expected to see.
Someone who was supposed to be dead.
A woman with dark hair.
May you like
A woman carrying a red bag.
Rachel Whitmore.
