Chapter 11 - MARCUS'S SECRET
Marcus had stood beside me for twelve years.
I knew how he took his coffee.
I knew the scar on his hand came from protecting me.
I knew he had an older brother he never discussed.
I never knew that brother was FBI.
Marcus didn't deny it.
“He cut me off eighteen years ago.”
“That's convenient.”
“It's true.”
“Did he use you?”
“No.”
“Did you use me?”
His face tightened.
“Never.”
Nathaniel placed Daniel Reed's photograph on the table.
“He's been meeting Helen for months.”
Marcus stared at it.
Then shook his head.
“Daniel wouldn't help someone threaten children.”
“Are you sure?”
He didn't answer.
Nobody was sure of anything anymore.
Then Evelyn's phone rang.
Unknown number.
She answered on speaker.
A man's voice said, “Evelyn Carter?”
“Yes.”
“My name is Daniel Reed. Do not hang up.”
Marcus's expression froze.
Daniel continued.
“Helen Price is not working for me. She was my confidential informant.”
“Where is she?” I demanded.
“Who is this?”
“Adrian Moretti.”
A bitter laugh.
“Of course.”
Marcus stepped closer.
“Daniel.”
Silence.
Then, “Marcus?”
The brothers hadn't spoken in years.
Daniel's voice changed.
“I need you to listen carefully. Helen agreed to testify against Julian Carter. Three hours ago, somebody posing as a federal transport officer took her from custody.”
“Julian?” I asked.
“No.”
“Then who?”
“We believe Julian is trying to expose whoever actually carried out your father's old orders.”
I frowned.
“Julian threatened Evelyn.”
“He manipulated both of you. He wanted Evelyn away from Chicago, yes. But our evidence suggests he wasn't behind the brake failure or the bullet.”
Another layer.
Another lie.
“Who was?”
Daniel inhaled.
“I think Helen knew.”
Then we heard a sound behind him.
A door opening.
Daniel stopped talking.
“Daniel?” Marcus said.
A muffled voice.
Then the line went dead.
Marcus immediately called back.
Nothing.
Five minutes later, Daniel sent one text.
ST. AGNES. LOCKER 214.
Nathaniel knew the hospital.
We drove there together.
Inside locker 214 was a flash drive and a handwritten note.
If anything happens to me, play file 17.
We played it on Nathaniel's laptop.
Helen appeared on screen.
Older.
Terrified.
She looked straight into the camera.
“My name is Helen Price. For twenty-nine years, I worked inside the Moretti household.”
She swallowed.
“Julian Carter paid me for information, but he never ordered Evelyn Carter's death.”
Then her face crumpled.
“The person who ordered the brake sabotage was Victoria Moretti.”
I turned toward my mother.
But Helen kept speaking.
“Victoria didn't know what she was authorizing. The order was altered after she signed it.”
Mother whispered, “Oh God.”
Helen lifted a document.
“The alteration was made by someone Adrian trusted enough to give unrestricted access to his security office.”
Marcus stared at the screen.
So did I.
Helen said the name.
May you like
“Marcus Reed.”
Every eye turned toward my right-hand man.
