PART 4 \u2014 THE MAN IN THE BASEMENT
\nFor several seconds, I could only stare at Phedra.
\n“The man she said killed me?”
\nPhedra nodded.
\nHer face had gone gray.
\nI pulled my chair closer to the hospital bed.
\n“Tell me everything.”
\nShe wrapped both hands around the blanket.
\n“It was the night Selina told me you’d died.”
\n“Fourteen months ago.”
\n“Yes.”
\n“She took you to the shed?”
\n“Not immediately.”
\nPhedra shut her eyes.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
“First she let me cry for almost an hour. Then she said there was something I needed to see before I signed any papers.”
\n“What?”
\n“Proof.”
\n“Proof of what?”
\n“That you were really dead.”
\nMy stomach tightened.
\nPhedra continued.
\n“She walked me outside after midnight. Godfrey wasn’t home. She unlocked the shed and moved the mattress.”
\n“So you saw the hatch.”
\n“Yes.”
\n“Had you ever seen it before?”
\n“No.”
\n“Then what?”
\n“She took me downstairs.”
\nPhedra’s breathing became uneven.
\nI reached for her hand.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
“Take your time.”
\nShe opened her eyes.
\n“There was one light hanging from the ceiling. A table. Two chairs. Shelves.”
\n“And the man?”
\n“He was tied to a chair.”
\nEvery muscle in my body tightened.
\n“Alive?”
\n“Yes.”
\n“What did he look like?”
\n“I couldn’t see him clearly at first. His face was swollen. There was blood on his shirt.”
\n“Did you know him?”
\n“No.”
\n“What did Selina say?”
\nPhedra swallowed.
\n“She said, ‘This is the man responsible for Damian’s death.'”
\nMy skin prickled.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
“What did he say?”
\n“Nothing.”
\n“Nothing?”
\n“He couldn’t.”
\n“Why?”
\n“His mouth was taped.”
\nI stood so suddenly the chair scraped across the floor.
\nPhedra flinched.
\n“Sorry.”
\nI sat again.
\n“What happened next?”
\n“Selina removed the tape.”
\nPhedra stared at the wall.
\n“The man kept saying the same thing.”
\n“What?”
\n“That you weren’t dead.”<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
My heart slammed against my ribs.
\n“He said you were alive?”
\n“Over and over.”
\n“And what did Selina do?”
\n“She laughed.”
\nA cold sensation moved through me.
\n“Then?”
\n“She told me he was trying to confuse me because he didn’t want to be punished.”
\n“Did he give you his name?”
\nPhedra nodded slowly.
\n“What was it?”
\n“I couldn’t remember until tonight.”
\nShe looked at me.
\n“Victor.”
\nEverything inside me went silent.
\nVictor Dane.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The coworker from Calgary.
\nThe man found with my mother at the bus terminal.
\nThe man who had worked beside me for almost two years.
\nThe man who had been near the machine before my industrial accident.
\nVictor had been in my mother’s basement fourteen months ago.
\nI stood again.
\nThis time I didn’t apologize.
\n“You’re sure?”
\n“Yes.”
\n“He said Victor?”
\n“Yes.”
\n“Did he say anything else?”
\nPhedra pressed her fingers against her temple.
\n“He kept begging Selina to call someone.”
\n“Who?”
\n“You.”
\n“Me?”
\n“Yes.”
\n“He had my number?”
\n“I don’t know.”
\n“What did Selina say?”
\nPhedra’s voice dropped.
\n“She said you would never answer him again.”
\nMy throat tightened.
\n“What happened to Victor?”
\n“I don’t know.”
\n“You left him there?”
\n“Selina made me.”
\n“How?”
\nPhedra looked ashamed.
\n“She told me if I didn’t sign the papers, she’d leave him down there until he died.”
\nI stared at her.
\n“She threatened his life to force you to sign?”
\nPhedra nodded.
\n“She said if I cooperated, she’d let him go.”
\n“Did you believe her?”
\n“I didn’t know what to believe.”
\nHer eyes filled with tears.
\n“I thought my husband was dead. There was a bleeding man tied to a chair. Your mother kept saying I had to be strong.”
\nI squeezed her hand.
\n“What did you sign?”
\n“I don’t know all of it.”
\n“Try.”
\n“There were forms about property. Insurance. Something about your employer.”
\n“Anything about my death?”
\n“Yes.”
\nMy pulse quickened.
\n“What?”
\n“A declaration.”
\n“What kind?”
\nPhedra whispered, “That I had been informed of your death.”
\nI closed my eyes.
\nOf course.
\nSelina hadn’t just forged documents.
\nShe had used my grieving wife to create a witness.
\n“What else?”
\nPhedra hesitated.
\n“There was a document transferring something from me to Selina.”
\n“What?”
\n“I thought it was temporary.”
\n“Property?”
\n“Maybe.”
\n“Money?”
\n“I don’t know.”
\nI thought about the hidden account.
\nThe million-dollar balance.
\nThe pending $940,000 transfer.
\nThen another question struck me.
\n“Did Selina make Victor sign anything?”
\nPhedra frowned.
\n“I think so.”
\n“What?”
\n“I don’t know.”
\n“Did you see him sign?”
\n“Yes.”
\n“Before or after you?”
\n“Before.”
\nMy stomach dropped.
\nThat meant there might be two sets of coerced documents.
\nOne from Phedra.
\nOne from Victor.
\nI immediately called the investigator.
\nShe answered.
\nI told her everything.
\nShe didn’t interrupt.
\nWhen I finished, she said, “Do not go near the shed.”
\n“Was anyone there tonight?”
\n“A forensic team is already securing it.”
\n“Did they find the basement?”
\n“We located the hatch.”
\n“And?”
\nA pause.
\n“There are signs the room was used.”
\n“Signs?”
\n“Furniture. Restraint points. Stains.”
\nPhedra heard that.
\nHer hand began shaking.
\n“Blood?”
\nThe investigator answered carefully.
\n“Testing is underway.”
\n“What about fingerprints?”
\n“Also being processed.”
\n“Victor was down there.”
\n“We’ll ask him.”
\n“Ask him now.”
\n“Mr. Vale\u2014”
\n“Please.”
\nSilence.
\nThen she said, “He’s already being interviewed.”
\n“Then tell him Phedra remembers.”
\nAnother pause.
\n“I will.”
\nI ended the call.
\nPhedra stared at the phone.
\n“What if he denies it?”
\n“He won’t.”
\n“How do you know?”
\n“Because he already told them Selina paid him.”
\n“Paid him for what?”
\n“That’s what we’re about to find out.”
\nAt 8:20 the next morning, we found out.
\nThe investigator returned with another officer.
\nShe closed the hospital room door.
\n“Victor confirmed he was held in the basement.”
\nPhedra covered her mouth.
\n“For how long?”
\n“Approximately two days.”
\nI stared at her.
\n“By my mother?”
\n“According to him, yes.”
\n“Why?”
\nThe investigator sat.
\n“Victor says your mother had been paying him for years.”
\nMy stomach tightened.
\n“For what?”
\n“Information.”
\n“What kind of information?”
\n“Your work schedule. Your injuries. Your bank details. Your travel plans.”
\nPhedra whispered, “Why?”
\nThe investigator looked at me.
\n“Because Selina wanted documentation showing that Damian’s death in Canada would be believable.”
\nI felt sick.
\n“So she was planning to fake my death before the accident?”
\n“That’s what Victor claims.”
\n“Then what happened fourteen months ago?”
\n“He says your mother told him it was time.”
\n“Time for what?”
\n“To help stage evidence suggesting you had disappeared after a workplace incident.”
\nMy mouth went dry.
\n“And he agreed?”
\n“For money.”
\n“How much?”
\n“Twenty thousand dollars.”
\nI laughed once.
\nThere was no humor in it.
\n“My life was worth twenty thousand dollars to him.”
\nThe investigator continued.
\n“Victor says he became frightened when Selina began asking him to obtain documents containing your employee number and signature.”
\n“So he backed out.”
\n“Eventually.”
\n“Then she brought him here.”
\n“According to him, yes.”
\n“How?”
\n“He came voluntarily at first.”
\n“Why?”
\n“Selina told him she needed to discuss payment.”
\n“And then?”
\n“He says he was drugged.”
\nPhedra went completely still.
\n“The tea,” she whispered.
\nThe investigator looked at her.
\n“We’re considering that possibility.”
\nI thought about Phedra’s blood.
\nThe jar.
\nThe hidden medication.
\nSelina had a method.
\nWeakness.
\nConfusion.
\nControl.
\n“What did she want Victor to sign?” I asked.
\n“A statement saying you had told him you planned to disappear permanently after the industrial accident.”
\nI stared at her.
\n“Why would that help?”
\n“If you were later declared missing or dead, it could support the idea that you had voluntarily vanished.”
\n“Then the insurance claim wouldn’t make sense.”
\n“Unless different documents were intended for different purposes.”
\nThe room fell silent.
\nThat was the brilliance of it.
\nAnd the insanity.
\nSelina wasn’t running one scheme.
\nShe was running several.
\nIf one story failed, another survived.
\nDead in an accident.
\nMissing voluntarily.
\nEstranged from his wife.
\nNo clear heir.
\nDocuments transferring assets.
\nA widow who could be pressured.
\nA brother who could be bought.
\nEvery version benefited her.
\n“What happened after Victor signed?” I asked.
\n“He claims Selina refused to let him leave.”
\n“Why?”
\n“Because she didn’t trust him anymore.”
\n“So she tied him up.”
\n“Yes.”
\n“And Phedra saw him.”
\n“Yes.”
\nPhedra began crying quietly.
\nThe investigator leaned forward.
\n“Mrs. Vale, Victor remembers you too.”
\nPhedra looked up.
\n“What did he say?”
\n“He remembers trying to tell you Damian was alive.”
\nPhedra covered her face.
\n“I thought he was lying.”
\n“You were being manipulated.”
\n“But I left him there.”
\n“You were also under threat.”
\nPhedra shook her head.
\n“What happened after I left?”
\nThe investigator’s expression changed.
\n“Victor escaped the following morning.”
\n“How?”
\n“Godfrey.”
\nI stared at her.
\n“My brother?”
\n“Victor says Godfrey unlocked the basement.”
\nThat surprised me.
\n“Why?”
\n“He doesn’t know.”
\nI immediately called Godfrey.
\nNo answer.
\nAgain.
\nNothing.
\nThen the investigator said, “He’s currently being questioned too.”
\n“Did he admit it?”
\n“Not yet.”
\nI looked at the clock.
\n10:06 a.m.
\nLess than two hours before the family meeting.
\nThe meeting Selina thought would determine who controlled my million-dollar settlement.
\nI looked at the investigator.
\n“Is the noon meeting still happening?”
\nShe studied me.
\n“Yes.”
\nPhedra grabbed my wrist.
\n“Damian.”
\nI looked at her.
\n“Don’t go alone.”
\n“I won’t.”
\n“Your mother is dangerous.”
\n“I know.”
\n“No, I mean really dangerous.”
\n“So do they.”
\nI nodded toward the investigator.
\n“We’re not walking into her house blind.”
\nThe investigator corrected me.
\n“The meeting won’t be at the house.”
\n“Where?”
\n“Godfrey’s auto shop.”
\n“Why?”
\n“Your mother requested it.”
\n“She can request things while being questioned?”
\n“She’s not currently under arrest on every allegation under review.”
\nMy jaw tightened.
\n“So she’s free?”
\n“For the moment.”
\n“Why?”
\n“Because investigations require evidence, not anger.”
\nI hated the answer because it was correct.
\n“So what exactly do you want from the meeting?”
\n“The same thing you want.”
\n“Which is?”
\n“To see who arrives.”
\nThat made me pause.
\n“You think Selina isn’t the only person involved.”
\n“We know she isn’t.”
\n“Victor.”
\n“Possibly more.”
\n“What about the unknown number messaging me?”
\n“We haven’t identified the sender.”
\n“Do you think they’ll come?”
\n“We’ll see.”
\nPhedra squeezed my hand.
\n“I don’t like this.”
\n“Neither do I.”
\nI bent down and kissed her forehead.
\n“But I need to finish it.”
\nAt 11:35, I left the hospital.
\nAt 11:56, I entered Godfrey’s auto shop.
\nGodfrey was already there.
\nHe looked like he hadn’t slept.
\nSelina arrived two minutes later.
\nNo designer dress this time.
\nNo gold necklace.
\nNo smile.
\nShe walked in wearing a plain blouse and carrying a handbag.
\nShe looked at Godfrey.
\nThen at me.
\n“Where is Phedra?”
\n“Safe.”
\n“You’ve poisoned her against me.”
\nI almost laughed.
\nInteresting choice of words.
\nGodfrey looked away.
\nSelina sat.
\n“Let’s get this over with.”
\nI placed the same notebook from yesterday on the table.
\n“The million-dollar settlement.”
\nHer eyes flickered toward it.
\nEven now.
\nEven after everything.
\nMoney still worked on her.
\n“Yes,” she said.
\n“The settlement.”
\nGodfrey rubbed his hands together.
\n“So who gets control?”
\nI sat opposite them.
\nBefore coming inside, investigators had fitted me with a recording device.
\nOfficers were positioned nearby.
\nEveryone knew this could collapse at any moment.
\nBut Selina didn’t.
\nAt least, I hoped she didn’t.
\nI placed two envelopes on the table.
\nOne in front of her.
\nOne in front of Godfrey.
\nSelina frowned.
\n“What are these?”
\n“My decision.”
\nGodfrey reached for his.
\n“Don’t open it yet.”
\nHe stopped.
\nSelina studied me.
\n“Where are the transfer papers?”
\n“Coming.”
\nHer fingers tightened.
\n“You said everything would be finalized today.”
\n“It will.”
\nGodfrey glanced at her.
\nThere was open hatred between them now.
\nMy trap had done exactly what I wanted.
\nThey no longer trusted each other.
\nI leaned back.
\n“Before we begin, I want to thank both of you for the statements you submitted.”
\nSelina lifted her chin.
\n“I told the truth.”
\nGodfrey scoffed.
\nShe turned on him.
\n“You stole from your own brother.”
\n“You handed me the money.”
\n“You begged for it.”
\n“You offered it!”
\nI raised a hand.
\n“Perfect.”
\nThey stopped.
\n“That’s exactly why we’re here.”
\nSelina frowned.
\n“What do you mean?”
\n“I compared your statements.”
\nSilence.
\n“With what?” Godfrey asked.
\n“My bank records.”
\nSelina’s face changed.
\nOnly slightly.
\nGodfrey looked at her.
\nI continued.
\n“Godfrey admitted to $47,000.”
\nHe swallowed.
\n“The actual amount was $51,300.”
\nSelina smiled coldly.
\n“See?”
\nI turned to her.
\n“You claimed $22,000 went to Phedra’s medical care.”
\nHer smile disappeared.
\n“The direct payments I could verify totaled less than $1,900.”
\nSelina crossed her arms.
\n“Not everything leaves a paper trail.”
\n“True.”
\n“Some things were cash.”
\n“Then you should have receipts.”
\n“I don’t.”
\n“Convenient.”
\nHer eyes narrowed.
\n“You invited us here to humiliate us?”
\n“No.”
\n“Then what?”
\n“To choose the trustworthy person.”
\nGodfrey laughed bitterly.
\n“There isn’t one.”
\nSelina turned to him.
\n“Speak for yourself.”
\nI opened the first envelope.
\nInside was a single page.
\nI slid it toward Godfrey.
\nHis face went white.
\nIt was a copy of the transfer showing $14,500 into his auto shop three days after Phedra’s diagnosis.
\nThen another.
\nAnd another.
\nAnd another.
\n“Damian\u2014”
\n“You knew she was sick.”
\n“I told you, Mom said\u2014”
\n“You knew.”
\nHe looked down.
\n“Yes.”
\nI opened Selina’s envelope.
\nInside were copies of the insurance documents.
\nShe didn’t touch them.
\n“What is this?”
\n“You know.”
\n“I don’t.”
\n“Life insurance on Phedra.”
\nHer jaw tightened.
\n“Life insurance on me.”
\nNothing.
\n“Forged signatures.”
\nStill nothing.
\n“Attempted claim after you told everyone I was dead.”
\nGodfrey stared at her.
\nSelina finally looked at me.
\n“You don’t understand how complicated things became.”
\n“Explain.”
\n“I was protecting this family.”
\n“From what?”
\n“From poverty.”
\nI actually laughed.
\n“You stole almost one hundred thousand dollars.”
\n“I invested.”
\n“In Godfrey.”
\n“He’s your brother.”
\n“In the house.”
\n“It’s mine too.”
\n“In yourself.”
\n“I raised you.”
\n“And Phedra?”
\nSelina’s face hardened.
\n“She was temporary.”
\nThe words sat between us.
\nGodfrey looked shocked.
\nEven he hadn’t expected that.
\n“What does that mean?” I asked.
\nSelina realized she’d gone too far.
\n“Nothing.”
\n“Say it again.”
\n“I meant your marriage changed things.”
\n“No.”
\nI leaned forward.
\n“You said Phedra was temporary.”
\nSelina looked toward the garage doors.
\nI followed her eyes.
\nSomeone was coming.
\nA black sedan pulled into the lot.
\nMy pulse increased.
\nRight on time.
\nThe unknown person?
\nThe investigators outside would be watching.
\nThe driver stepped out.
\nA woman.
\nMid-fifties.
\nGray suit.
\nLeather folder.
\nI’d never seen her before.
\nSelina stood.
\n“There you are.”
\nMy stomach tightened.
\n“You know her?”
\nSelina ignored me.
\nThe woman entered.
\n“Mrs. Vale.”
\n“Did you bring it?”
\n“Yes.”
\nGodfrey whispered, “Who is she?”
\nSelina snapped, “Quiet.”
\nThe woman looked at me.
\n“You must be Damian.”
\n“Who are you?”
\n“My name is Evelyn Marr.”
\n“What do you do?”
\n“I handle private financial arrangements.”
\nI looked at Selina.
\n“What kind of arrangements?”
\nEvelyn placed the folder on the table.
\n“The kind your mother established several years ago.”
\nEverything inside me sharpened.
\n“What arrangements?”
\nSelina said, “Damian, sign the settlement transfer first.”
\nI almost smiled.
\n“No.”
\nHer expression hardened.
\n“You promised.”
\n“I promised to announce who would control it.”
\n“Then announce.”
\nI looked directly at her.
\n“Nobody.”
\nSilence.
\nGodfrey sat back.
\nSelina didn’t move.
\n“What?”
\n“The million dollars isn’t going to you.”
\nHer face emptied.
\n“Or Godfrey.”
\nGodfrey cursed under his breath.
\nSelina slowly sat.
\n“You lied.”
\n“Yes.”
\n“To your mother.”
\n“Yes.”
\nHer mouth trembled.
\n“You came home and deliberately deceived me.”
\n“I came home and found my wife starving in a backyard.”
\n“You don’t know what she did.”
\n“No.”
\nI leaned closer.
\n“But I know what you did.”
\nFor the first time, I saw pure rage replace greed.
\n“You ungrateful son.”
\n“There she is.”
\n“I sacrificed my life for you.”
\n“So you tried to declare me dead?”
\nHer eyes flickered.
\nI caught it.
\n“So you did.”
\n“I filed paperwork because I believed something had happened to you.”
\n“While I was answering your calls?”
\nShe went silent.
\nGodfrey stared at her.
\nEvelyn suddenly closed the folder.
\n“I don’t think I should be part of this.”
\nI looked at her.
\n“Sit down.”
\nShe froze.
\nSelina said, “Leave.”
\nI repeated, “Sit.”
\nEvelyn looked toward the exit.
\nThen back at me.
\n“Mr. Vale, I don’t know what family dispute is occurring here.”
\n“Good.”
\nI pointed at the folder.
\n“Then tell me what’s inside.”
\nShe didn’t answer.
\nSelina grabbed it.
\nI grabbed the other side.
\nFor a second, we stared at each other.
\nThen Godfrey shouted.
\n“Just open it!”
\nSelina turned.
\n“Stay out of this!”
\nGodfrey stood.
\n“You’ve blamed everything on me since Damian came home.”
\n“You took the money!”
\n“You gave it to me!”
\n“You agreed to help!”
\nThe room changed.
\nI slowly released the folder.
\n“What did he help with?”
\nSelina froze.
\nGodfrey froze too.
\nI looked between them.
\n“Help with what?”
\n“Nothing,” Selina said.
\nGodfrey laughed nervously.
\n“Right.”
\nI stared at him.
\n“You’ve been lying since I arrived.”
\nHe wouldn’t meet my eyes.
\n“Godfrey.”
\nSelina whispered, “Don’t.”
\nThat one word did it.
\nGodfrey looked at her.
\nThen at me.
\n“You want to know why I let Victor out?”
\nI said nothing.
\nSelina’s face drained.
\n“Godfrey.”
\n“He promised he’d leave the country.”
\n“Shut up.”
\n“He said if I helped him escape, he’d disappear.”
\n“Godfrey!”
\n“So I opened the basement.”
\nI nodded.
\n“Why was that good for you?”
\nHe swallowed.
\n“Because I was scared Mom would make me do what she had asked Victor to do.”
\nThe room went silent.
\n“What had she asked Victor to do?”
\nGodfrey stared at my shoulder.
\nAt the old injury.
\nMy stomach dropped.
\n“The accident.”
\nSelina lunged across the table.
\nGodfrey backed away.
\nI stepped between them.
\n“What about my accident?”
\nGodfrey pointed at Selina.
\n“She planned it.”
\nMy ears rang.
\nSelina screamed, “HE’S LYING!”
\nGodfrey screamed back.
\n“YOU PAID VICTOR TO SABOTAGE THE MACHINE!”
\nI stopped breathing.
\nEverything disappeared.
\nThe shop.
\nThe table.
\nThe folder.
\nThe money.
\nOnly that sentence remained.
\nYou paid Victor to sabotage the machine.
\nI looked at my mother.
\nShe was shaking.
\n“Is that true?”
\n“No.”
\n“Look at me.”
\n“I said no.”
\n“Victor was near the safety housing ten minutes before it failed.”
\n“I don’t know anything about machines.”
\n“You didn’t need to.”
\n“Godfrey is trying to save himself.”
\nGodfrey pulled out his phone.
\n“Then explain this.”
\nSelina’s face changed.
\n“What are you doing?”
\nGodfrey tapped the screen.
\nA voice recording began playing.
\nSelina’s voice.
\nOlder.
\nDistorted slightly by bad audio.
\nBut unmistakably hers.
\n“If the machine fails while he’s working, nobody will question an accident.”
\nMy stomach turned.
\nThen Victor’s voice.
\n“What if he dies?”
\nSelina answered.
\n“That’s the point.”
\nPhedra’s face flashed in my mind.
\nThe tea.
\nThe insurance.
\nThe forged death claim.
\nMy settlement suddenly made horrible sense.
\nThe industrial safety violation had produced compensation.
\nBut Selina hadn’t planned for me to survive.
\nShe’d planned for the accident to produce something else.
\nA body.
\nMy body.
\nOn the recording, Victor said, “I didn’t agree to murder.”
\nSelina replied, “You agreed to be paid.”
\nThe audio stopped.
\nNo one moved.
\nI stared at Godfrey.
\n“Where did you get that?”
\n“Victor sent it to me after he escaped.”
\n“When?”
\n“Fourteen months ago.”
\n“And you kept it?”
\n“Yes.”
\n“You never warned me?”
\nHis eyes filled with shame.
\n“I was afraid.”
\nAgain.
\nThat word.
\nI looked at Selina.
\nShe looked small now.
\nNot weak.
\nNot harmless.
\nJust exposed.
\n“You tried to kill me.”
\n“No.”
\n“The recording\u2014”
\n“You were never supposed to be on that platform!”
\nI froze.
\nSo did Godfrey.
\nSelina realized too late what she’d said.
\n“What?”
\nShe shook her head.
\n“Nothing.”
\n“You were never supposed to be on that platform?”
\nShe stepped backward.
\n“Damian\u2014”
\n“Then who was?”
\nNothing.
\nI moved closer.
\n“Who was supposed to be there?”
\nHer lips trembled.
\nThen Evelyn Marr spoke.
\n“Victor.”
\nEveryone turned.
\nSelina stared at her.
\n“You idiot.”
\nEvelyn’s face had gone pale.
\nI looked at her.
\n“What did you say?”
\nShe clutched the leather folder.
\n“Nothing.”
\n“No.”
\nI stepped toward her.
\n“You said Victor.”
\nShe backed away.
\n“Mr. Vale, I should leave.”
\nOutside, tires moved on gravel.
\nThe investigators were closing in.
\nSelina heard it.
\nHer face changed.
\n“Give me the folder.”
\nEvelyn didn’t.
\n“Give it to me!”
\nSelina grabbed for it.
\nThe folder hit the floor.
\nPapers spilled everywhere.
\nGodfrey bent down.
\nSo did I.
\nOne page stopped me cold.
\nEMPLOYEE DEATH BENEFIT ASSIGNMENT.
\nMy name.
\nVictor’s name.
\nPhedra’s name.
\nSelina’s name.
\nAll linked.
\n“What is this?”
\nEvelyn said nothing.
\nI grabbed another page.
\nPRIVATE TRUST AGREEMENT.
\nAnother.
\nBENEFICIARY RESTRUCTURING.
\nAnother.
\nINDUSTRIAL COMPENSATION ASSIGNMENT.
\nMy hands began shaking.
\n“What is this?”
\nEvelyn finally spoke.
\n“A financial structure.”
\n“For what?”
\nShe swallowed.
\n“For the event of your death.”
\nSelina closed her eyes.
\n“How much?”
\nEvelyn looked at her.
\nThen me.
\n“Across insurance, employer benefits, property rights and private accounts?”
\n“How much?”
\n“Approximately three million dollars.”
\nGodfrey sat down hard.
\nI stared at Selina.
\n“So the million-dollar settlement wasn’t the fortune.”
\nNo answer.
\n“It was just one piece.”
\nStill nothing.
\nI looked at Evelyn.
\n“Why is Victor listed?”
\n“Because the original plan required a workplace witness.”
\n“And Phedra?”
\n“A surviving spouse.”
\n“And Godfrey?”
\nNo response.
\nI turned to him.
\n“Godfrey.”
\nHe looked sick.
\n“What were you supposed to be?”
\nHe whispered, “Executor.”
\nI felt the final pieces locking together.
\nVictor stages the accident.
\nI die.
\nPhedra signs under pressure.
\nGodfrey handles the estate.
\nSelina controls everyone.
\nThree million dollars.
\nMaybe more.
\n“But I survived,” I said.
\nEvelyn nodded.
\n“And that disrupted everything.”
\n“So Selina declared me dead anyway.”
\n“Attempted to.”
\n“And when that failed?”
\nEvelyn looked at Phedra’s name on the papers.
\nMy stomach sank.
\n“She changed the plan.”
\nSelina snapped, “Stop talking.”
\nEvelyn ignored her.
\n“Your wife became the problem.”
\nI stared at her.
\n“Because she knew I was alive.”
\n“Yes.”
\n“So why not kill her?”
\nSilence.
\nThen Evelyn said, “Because they still needed her signature.”
\nThe message from last night came back.
\nIF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHY PHEDRA WAS REALLY KEPT ALIVE FOR ELEVEN MONTHS…
\nI felt cold.
\n“Signature on what?”
\nEvelyn pointed toward the papers.
\n“A final release.”
\n“For what?”
\n“The trust.”
\n“What trust?”
\nEvelyn looked at Selina.
\nSelina suddenly ran.
\nShe bolted toward the side exit.
\nThe door opened.
\nTwo investigators stepped inside.
\n“Selina Vale, stop!”
\nShe froze.
\nFor several seconds, nobody moved.
\nThen Selina slowly raised her hands.
\nI should have felt relief.
\nInstead, I felt nothing.
\nBecause Evelyn’s last sentence still hadn’t been explained.
\n“What final release?”
\nThe investigator entered the room.
\nEvelyn looked at me.
\n“If Phedra signed it, she would surrender every claim she had as your surviving spouse.”
\n“But I’m not dead.”
\n“It wouldn’t matter if the documents established that you were.”
\n“Forgery.”
\n“Fraud.”
\n“Then why did they need her real signature?”
\n“Because certain assets required spousal consent.”
\nMy eyes moved to Phedra’s name.
\n“What assets?”
\nEvelyn hesitated.
\nSelina shouted from across the room.
\n“Don’t tell him!”
\nThat was enough.
\nI stepped closer.
\n“What assets?”
\nEvelyn finally answered.
\n“The land.”
\n“What land?”
\n“The land under your family home.”
\nI frowned.
\n“What about it?”
\n“It’s not just a residential property.”
\nI stared at her.
\n“What is it?”
\n“A commercial acquisition company has been trying to buy that entire area for three years.”
\nGodfrey’s mouth opened.
\n“What?”
\nEvelyn continued.
\n“They’re assembling multiple parcels for a logistics development.”
\nI looked at Selina.
\n“How much is the house worth?”
\n“Damian\u2014”
\n“HOW MUCH?”
\nEvelyn answered.
\n“With the adjoining parcels tied to the same title structure, potentially over five million.”
\nSilence.
\nFive million.
\nSuddenly the granite countertops looked ridiculous.
\nThe SUV looked cheap.
\nThe auto shop looked like crumbs.
\nMy mother hadn’t been spending my money because she was short-sighted.
\nShe had been buying time while waiting for something much bigger.
\n“Whose name is on the title?”
\nI asked.
\nEvelyn swallowed.
\n“Phedra’s.”
\nI stared at her.
\n“What?”
\n“The original land was inherited by your wife’s family.”
\nI turned toward the hospital in my mind.
\nPhedra had never mentioned inherited land.
\nThen I remembered.
\nHer father had died years before our marriage.
\nThere had been a dispute over property.
\nI had assumed it was worthless farmland.
\nSelina hadn’t.
\nShe had discovered what it could become.
\n“That is why Phedra was temporary,” I whispered.
\nSelina said nothing.
\n“She was never family to you.”
\nNothing.
\n“She was a signature.”
\nSelina’s face hardened.
\n“That land could change all our lives.”
\n“It almost ended hers.”
\n“She was going to waste it.”
\n“It belongs to her.”
\n“She married you!”
\n“So?”
\n“That makes it family property.”
\n“No.”
\nI pointed at her.
\n“That made her useful to you.”
\nSelina screamed, “I MADE THIS FAMILY!”
\nOfficers moved closer.
\nShe ignored them.
\n“I kept everyone together! Your father left us with nothing! I built everything from scraps! Then that girl walks in with land she doesn’t even understand and suddenly she’s supposed to decide our future?”
\nThere it was.
\nThe real beginning.
\nNot my Canada job.
\nNot Godfrey’s shop.
\nNot even the insurance.
\nPhedra’s land.
\nSelina had seen her as money before Phedra ever became sick.
\nI looked at Evelyn.
\n“What happens to the pending $940,000 transfer?”
\n“It can be frozen.”
\n“And the hidden account?”
\n“Under investigation.”
\n“And the land?”
\n“That depends on whether Phedra signed valid transfers.”
\nMy stomach dropped.
\n“What do you mean?”
\nEvelyn looked uncomfortable.
\n“Some documents may already have been registered.”
\n“When?”
\n“Over the last year.”
\n“While she was sick?”
\n“Yes.”
\nI looked at Selina.
\nShe smiled.
\nActually smiled.
\nTiny.
\nUgly.
\nTriumphant.
\n“You think you won because you found some papers?”
\nI stared at her.
\n“What did you do?”
\n“The land isn’t hers anymore.”
\nEvery person in the room went still.
\n“What?”
\nSelina laughed.
\n“You came home four years too late.”
\nThe investigator stepped forward.
\n“Selina, do not say anything further without counsel.”
\nBut Selina couldn’t stop.
\nNot now.
\nShe needed me to know.
\n“Phedra signed.”
\n“Under threat.”
\n“Prove it.”
\n“There are witnesses.”
\n“One criminal and one sick woman?”
\nMy hands clenched.
\n“You poisoned her.”
\n“You don’t know that.”
\n“The lab does.”
\nHer smile flickered.
\nThen she recovered.
\n“The land is already transferred.”
\n“To who?”
\nShe looked at Evelyn.
\nEvelyn looked away.
\n“To who?”
\nSelina smiled again.
\n“Ask your wife.”
\nMy stomach dropped.
\n“Phedra doesn’t know.”
\n“Exactly.”
\n“What did you make her sign?”
\nSelina said nothing.
\nI stepped closer.
\n“What did you make her sign?”
\nThe investigator blocked me gently.
\n“Damian.”
\nI stopped.
\nSelina leaned around the officer.
\n“Your precious wife signed the land into a company.”
\n“What company?”
\nShe smiled.
\n“Vale Heritage Holdings.”
\nGodfrey frowned.
\n“I’ve never heard of that.”
\nSelina looked at him with contempt.
\n“Because you were never meant to.”
\nI stared at her.
\n“Who owns it?”
\nHer eyes met mine.
\n“You do.”
\nFor a second, I thought I’d misheard.
\n“What?”
\n“The company is registered under your name.”
\n“No.”
\n“Yes.”
\n“I never created it.”
\n“Doesn’t matter.”
\n“It absolutely matters.”
\nSelina laughed.
\n“You keep saying you never signed things.”
\nHer eyes glittered.
\n“Maybe you should start asking who has been signing for you.”
\nVictor.
\nThe forged passport.
\nThe employment documents.
\nThe false insurance claim.
\nSomeone had been using my identity for years.
\nThen Evelyn said quietly, “There is another director.”
\nI looked at her.
\n“Who?”
\nShe hesitated.
\nSelina’s smile disappeared.
\n“Don’t.”
\nThat one word made every instinct in me fire.
\n“Who?”
\nEvelyn reached into the scattered papers.
\nShe pulled out a corporate registration document.
\nTwo director names.
\nDAMIAN VALE.
\nAnd another.
\nI read it once.
\nThen again.
\nIt made no sense.
\n“No.”
\nGodfrey leaned over.
\nHis face changed.
\n“What the hell?”
\nSelina closed her eyes.
\nThe second director was not Selina.
\nIt wasn’t Godfrey.
\nIt wasn’t Victor.
\nIt was:
\nPHEDRA VALE.
\nI stared at the page.
\n“My wife?”
\nEvelyn nodded.
\n“On paper.”
\n“She doesn’t know this company exists.”
\n“Then someone used her signature.”
\n“Who controls it?”
\nEvelyn didn’t answer.
\nThe investigator took the document.
\n“Who has banking authority?”
\nEvelyn looked toward Selina.
\nSelina said nothing.
\n“Who?” I demanded.
\nEvelyn swallowed.
\n“Not Selina.”
\nThat shocked everyone.
\nGodfrey stared at my mother.
\n“You don’t control it?”
\nSelina’s face tightened.
\nEvelyn continued.
\n“She never did.”
\nI looked at her.
\n“Then who does?”
\nBefore she could answer, the garage lights shut off.
\nEverything went black.
\nSomeone screamed.
\nA metal door slammed.
\nThen an engine roared somewhere behind the building.
\n“POLICE! NOBODY MOVE!”
\nFlashlights exploded through the darkness.
\nI heard Godfrey shouting.
\nSelina yelling.
\nTables scraping.
\nThen my phone vibrated in my pocket.
\nI pulled it out.
\nOne new message.
\nUnknown number.
\nYOU FINALLY ASKED THE RIGHT QUESTION.
\nAnother message.
\nSELINA WAS NEVER IN CHARGE.
\nMy blood turned cold.
\nThen a photograph arrived.
\nLive.
\nPhedra.
\nIn her hospital room.
\nSomeone had photographed her through the doorway less than a minute earlier.
\nI shouted, “PHEDRA!”
\nThe investigator grabbed my arm.
\n“What?”
\nI showed her the phone.
\nHer face changed instantly.
\nShe called the hospital.
\nNo answer.
\nAgain.
\nNothing.
\nThen my phone buzzed a final time.
\nA video.
\nFive seconds.
\nPhedra sleeping.
\nThe camera moved closer.
\nA hand entered the frame.
\nOn the wrist was a gold hummingbird bracelet.
\nNot Selina’s necklace.
\nA bracelet.
\nA man’s hand.
\nThen the camera turned just enough to show half a face.
\nI knew that face.
\nI had seen it in old family photographs.
\nBut the man in those photographs was supposed to have been dead for twelve years.
\nMy father.
\nI stopped breathing.
\nGodfrey saw the screen.
\nHe stumbled backward.
\n“No.”
\nSelina sank into a chair.
\nFor the first time all day, she looked truly terrified.
\nI stared at her.
\n“You told us Dad died.”
\nShe shook her head.
\n“No.”
\n“You took us to his funeral.”
\n“No.”
\n“We buried him.”
\nSelina started crying.
\nNot fake crying.
\nReal.
\nPanicked.
\n“That wasn’t your father.”
\nEvery sound in the shop disappeared.
\nI stared at her.
\n“What?”
\nShe covered her face.
\n“That wasn’t him in the coffin.”
\nMy legs nearly gave out.
\nGodfrey whispered, “Mom…”
\nSelina looked at both of us.
\n“He was supposed to disappear forever.”
\nMy phone buzzed.
\nOne final message.
\nNOON MEETING COMPLETE.
\nNOW BRING THE SETTLEMENT DOCUMENTS TO THE HOSPITAL.
\nCOME ALONE.
\nOR PHEDRA LEARNS WHY YOUR FATHER CHOSE HER LAND BEFORE HE CHOSE YOU.
\nI stared at the words.
\nThen at Selina.
\n“What does Dad have to do with Phedra’s land?”
\nSelina began shaking.
\nI moved closer.
\n“Tell me.”
\nShe whispered, “Everything.”
\n“What does that mean?”
\nHer eyes filled with terror.
\n“Your father didn’t meet Phedra after you married her.”
\nMy heartbeat stopped.
\nSelina looked toward the photograph on my phone.
\n“He chose her years before you ever did.”
\nAnd in that moment, I understood that my mother’s greed had never been the true beginning of this story.
\nIt had started with a man we had buried twelve years ago.
\nA man who was still alive.
\nA man who had just entered my wife’s hospital room.
\nAnd whatever waited inside that room would decide whether Part 5 ended with justice…
\nor another funeral…………………..<\/p>\n
PART 4 \u2014 THE MAN IN THE BASEMENT For several seconds, I could only stare at Phedra. “The man she said killed me?” Phedra nodded. Her face had gone gray. … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5199,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6619","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-story"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/echostoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6619","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/echostoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/echostoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/echostoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/echostoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6619"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/echostoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6619\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6622,"href":"https:\/\/echostoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6619\/revisions\/6622"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/echostoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/5199"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/echostoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6619"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/echostoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6619"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/echostoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6619"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}