Chapter 4 - THE BROTHER WHO DIDN'T EXIST
His name was Lucas Cole.
Eight years earlier, Michael knew him as Luke Parker.
Vanessa had introduced him as an old family friend.
Sarah had seen him only a handful of times.
But she remembered his eyes.
Cold.
Restless.
Always watching doors.
Detective Reed pulled up Lucas's criminal history.
Fraud.
Identity theft.
Burglary.
Two arrests.
No convictions.
“He's good at disappearing,” Reed said.
Daniel stared at the screen.
“How does a man like that become the bartender at my wedding?”
The hotel manager looked miserable.
“He didn't.”
Everyone turned.
The manager continued.
“The bartender scheduled for private champagne service called in sick this morning.”
Reed's expression changed.
“You verified the call?”
“We're checking.”
Ten minutes later, the hotel discovered the real bartender had never called.
Someone had impersonated him.
Daniel walked to the window.
Below them, police vehicles crowded the hotel entrance.
“My entire wedding was planned six months ago.”
Sarah understood his thought.
“This wasn't decided today.”
“No.”
Daniel turned toward her.
“She has been planning this for months.”
Sarah shook her head.
“Probably longer.”
Daniel's phone vibrated.
He looked down.
A message had arrived from Vanessa.
COME HOME ALONE IF YOU WANT THE TRUTH.
Reed immediately said, “No.”
Daniel handed him the phone.
Another message appeared.
BRING SARAH'S FILES.
Sarah's skin went cold.
“She knows they're still here.”
Reed asked technicians to trace the number.
It was useless.
The phone was disposable.
Daniel leaned against the table.
“Why does she care so much about Michael's files?”
Sarah looked at the documents.
“Because there must be something in here I never understood.”
For years, Sarah had assumed Michael's papers merely proved Vanessa had manipulated him.
Now she wondered whether they proved something much bigger.
She spread the bank statements across the table.
Michael had marked several payments in red.
Each went to a corporation called Larkwell Consulting.
Daniel immediately recognized the name.
“I know that company.”
Sarah looked up.
“How?”
“They consulted for Bennett Development two years ago.”
His family's company.
Daniel's company.
Sarah stared at him.
“Who hired them?”
Daniel didn't answer.
He already knew.
His former chief financial officer, Richard Hales.
Richard had introduced Daniel to Vanessa at a charity dinner.
The realization hit him visibly.
Sarah whispered, “Vanessa didn't meet you by accident.”
Daniel grabbed his phone.
He called Richard.
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
Detective Reed checked the database.
Richard Hales had boarded a private aircraft three hours earlier.
Destination unknown.
Daniel looked around the room as if the walls had shifted.
“My CFO introduced me to the woman who tried to kill me.”
Sarah's voice was quiet.
“And Michael's money went through a company connected to the same man.”
Daniel stared at Michael's handwritten warning.
“What were they doing?”
Sarah turned toward the digital recorder.
“I think Michael knew.”
She pressed play.
Static filled the room.
Then Michael's tired voice emerged.
“If Sarah is hearing this, Vanessa has already made her move.”
Everyone went silent.
Michael continued.
“And if she has found another wealthy man, he is not her husband.”
May you like
A pause.
“He is her next account.”
