Chapter 11 - Storage Unit 317
Storage Unit 317 contained twenty-seven boxes.
None belonged to Daniel Howard.
Every box belonged to Gerald.
Detective Ruiz found copies of Howard family tax returns.
Medical records.
Photographs.
Security schedules.
Floor plans of the mansion.
Files on Richard.
Files on Mrs. Howard.
Files on Elena.
And an entire box labeled CHILD.
Inside were photographs of Elena entering medical clinics.
Ultrasound appointment dates.
Hospital schedules.
Dr. Lane’s office hours.
Richard felt sick.
“This is surveillance.”
Ruiz nodded.
“For at least fourteen months.”
Elena stood several feet away with an officer beside her.
She had insisted on coming.
Now she wished she had not.
Ruiz opened a smaller box.
Inside were prepaid phones.
One matched the number that had sent Vanessa instructions.
Another had exchanged messages with Gerald.
A third contained messages to someone saved only as D.
Ruiz scrolled carefully.
One message stopped him.
SHE IS PREGNANT.
The reply came less than a minute later.
THEN CHARLES WON.
Ruiz continued.
WE NEED THE ORIGINAL CODICIL.
Another reply.
DON’T TOUCH THE WOMAN.
Richard leaned closer.
“That sounds like Daniel.”
Elena agreed.
Whoever D was, that person had explicitly told Gerald not to harm her.
Ruiz kept reading.
Gerald had answered.
YOU LOST THE RIGHT TO GIVE ORDERS SEVEN YEARS AGO.
The next reply was shorter.
IF YOU HURT HER, I COME HOME.
Nobody spoke.
Richard felt hope and fear collide inside him.
Daniel might truly be alive.
And he might know what Gerald was doing.
Ruiz sent the number for emergency tracing.
Then Elena noticed a photograph beneath the phones.
It showed Charles Howard standing outside a motel.
Beside him stood Derek Hale.
The photograph was dated ten years ago.
One year after Derek’s supposed death.
Elena handed it to Ruiz.
“If Derek survived his accident too, then Gerald’s entire story changes.”
Ruiz looked at the image.
“Or the date stamp is wrong.”
“Can you verify it?”
“We will.”
Richard opened another folder.
Inside was a handwritten timeline.
DEREK ACCIDENT.
DANIEL ACCIDENT.
CHARLES HEART ATTACK.
Three family disasters.
All written in Gerald’s hand.
Beside the first two were check marks.
Beside Charles’s death was a question mark.
Richard stared at it.
“My father died naturally.”
Mrs. Howard, who had arrived with another officer, whispered, “Did he?”
Everyone turned.
She sat down heavily.
“The night Charles died, Gerald was with him.”
Richard’s face tightened.
“You told me Dad was alone.”
“That was what Gerald told me.”
Ruiz closed the folder.
Another officer approached.
“We got the trace.”
Everyone looked at him.
“The number saved as D activated twelve minutes ago.”
“Where?”
“North of the city.”
The officer handed Ruiz the coordinates.
Richard looked over his shoulder.
The location was a small private airfield.
Ruiz was already moving.
“Call state police.”
Richard grabbed his coat.
“I’m coming.”
Ruiz turned.
“No.”
“That may be my brother.”
“And Gerald may be headed there.”
“That’s exactly why I’m coming.”
Elena stepped between them.
“Richard.”
He looked at her.
She could see the boy inside the man.
The boy who had buried his brother seven years earlier.
“Go.”
He kissed her forehead.
Then he left with Ruiz.
Elena watched the car disappear.
Five minutes later, her phone received a message from an unknown number.
DON’T LET RICHARD REACH THE AIRFIELD.
May you like
A second message followed.
GERALD WANTS BOTH BROTHERS IN THE SAME PLACE.
