Chapter 3 - THE BROTHER I BURIED
Baldric couldn't speak.
“My brother?”
Bertha nodded.
“Caleb Vance.”
Baldric stepped backward.
“That isn't possible.”
Caleb had died twenty-three years ago.
At least, that's what everyone believed.
A car accident.
A funeral.
A sealed coffin.
A death certificate.
Everything had been official.
Or so Baldric thought.
Bertha whispered:
“He survived.”
“Where?”
“I don't know.”
“You're lying.”
“No.”
She wiped her tears.
“He changed his name.”
“Why?”
“Because your father wanted him gone.”
Baldric stared at her.
“My father?”
“Caleb discovered the family accounts.”
“What accounts?”
“Money that had been stolen from your companies.”
Baldric's mind raced.
For years, he had assumed his business success came from hard work.
He had never investigated the early years.
Because he trusted his family.
That trust had been his weakness.
Marcus entered the room.
“Baldric.”
“What?”
“We found Caleb.”
Baldric turned.
“Where?”
“Phoenix.”
“Alive?”
Marcus nodded.
“Very much alive.”
Baldric stared at him.
“Bring him here.”
Three hours later, Caleb walked into the hospital.
He was older.
Gray-haired.
Thin.
But unmistakably his brother.
Baldric couldn't move.
Caleb looked at him.
“You got old.”
Baldric laughed bitterly.
“So did you.”
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Baldric punched him.
Caleb didn't defend himself.
“You let me bury you.”
“I had no choice.”
“You let me believe you were dead.”
“I was protecting you.”
“You were protecting yourself.”
Caleb looked down.
“You're right.”
Baldric's anger faltered.
“What happened?”
Caleb sat.
“Dad was stealing from your company.”
Baldric froze.
“Your company.”
He continued.
“He used shell corporations to move millions.”
“Why?”
“Gambling.”
Baldric closed his eyes.
“And you found out.”
“Yes.”
“What did you do?”
“I threatened to expose him.”
Caleb swallowed.
“He threatened to kill me.”
“So you disappeared.”
“Yes.”
Baldric looked at him.
“Then why come back now?”
Caleb stared through the window toward Arianne's room.
“Because I saw what they were doing to her.”
He reached into his coat.
A flash drive landed on the table.
“Everything is on this.”
Baldric picked it up.
“Everything?”
“Every transfer.”
“Every account.”
“Every person involved.”
Baldric looked at the drive.
Then Caleb whispered:
“And there is one recording you need to hear.”
“What recording?”
“The night your father ordered my death.”
Baldric's face went pale.
“You have proof?”
Caleb nodded.
“But there's something worse.”
“What?”
Caleb looked at him.
“Your father wasn't the one who gave the order.”
“Who was?”
May you like
Caleb's voice dropped.
“Your mother.”
