The photograph stayed on my screen as we raced toward the hospital.
Tyler sat upright in his bed, his injured shoulder immobilized. He looked frightened, but he was alive. Behind him stood Uncle David.
My uncle-in-law.
The man who had attended Tyler's childhood birthday parties. The man who had brought casseroles after Tyler's father died. The man who had stood beside me at our wedding and told me I was finally part of the family.
Now his hand rested on the back of Tyler's hospital chair.
Mercer glanced at the photograph while driving.
“Is that really him?”
“Yes.”
Reyes leaned forward from the passenger seat.
“Send me the image.”
I forwarded it.
He stared at his phone.
“That's David Morgan.”
I nodded.
“Your husband's uncle.”
“Yes.”
“Did Tyler know he was involved?”
“No.”
Claire sat beside me in the back seat, holding Lily's hand.
“He always knew more than he admitted.”
I looked at her.
“About David?”
“About the family.”
My stomach tightened.
“What do you mean?”
Claire hesitated.
“Daniel suspected his brother long before the fire.”
The words hit harder than I expected.
“Then why didn't he tell Tyler?”
“Because Tyler was young.”
“He was an adult.”
“He was still his son.”
I looked at the photograph again.
David's expression was calm.
Almost gentle.
That was the worst part.
Mercer accelerated.
“How long until the hospital?”
“Seven minutes,” he said.
“Make it five.”
He didn't answer.
Claire leaned toward me.
“Amanda, when we get there, don't confront him.”
“Why?”
“Because he wants you angry.”
“I don't care what he wants.”
“You should.”
She squeezed my hand.
“He has spent six years learning how you react.”
I looked at her.
“How?”
“Because Daniel left notes about you.”
“Why would he?”
“Because he believed you were the key to understanding Lily.”
I stared at her.
“I was never involved.”
“You were involved without knowing it.”
The hospital appeared ahead.
Mercer pulled into the emergency entrance.
Reyes was already out of the vehicle before it stopped completely.
Security officers were waiting.
One of them ran toward us.
“Captain.”
“What happened?”
“Fourth floor is under lockdown.”
My heart stopped.
“Tyler?”
“Still inside.”
“Who else?”
The officer hesitated.
“We don't know.”
Reyes looked at me.
“Stay with Claire.”
“No.”
“Amanda.”
“My husband is up there.”
“I know.”
“Then don't ask me to stay behind.”
He stared at me for a moment.
Then nodded.
“Fine. But you stay between us.”
We entered through the emergency doors.
The hospital felt unnaturally quiet.
No visitors.
No carts.
No conversations.
Only the faint hum of ventilation.
The elevator doors opened.
We stepped inside.
Mercer stood in front.
Reyes beside me.
Claire and Lily behind us.
The elevator climbed.
Then stopped.
Between floors.
The lights flickered.
Lily squeezed Claire's hand.
“What happened?” I whispered.
Reyes pressed the emergency button.
Nothing.
Mercer checked his phone.
“No signal.”
A soft click came from above us.
Something had been placed on the elevator roof.
Reyes looked up.
Then the lights returned.
The elevator moved.
The doors opened onto the fourth floor.
The corridor was empty.
Room 417 stood at the far end.
The door was open.
I ran.
“Amanda!” Reyes shouted.
I reached the room first.
Tyler was there.
Alive.
Alone.
His bed had been moved away from the wall.
His hands were free.
The photograph had been taken only minutes earlier.
“Tyler?”
He looked at me.
“Amanda.”
I crossed the room.
He grabbed my hand.
“You came back.”
I almost collapsed against him.
“I thought—”
“I know.”
I looked behind him.
“Where's David?”
Tyler frowned.
“Who?”
“Your uncle.”
His expression changed.
“What are you talking about?”
I showed him the photograph.
He stared at it.
“That isn't my uncle.”
I felt the blood drain from my face.
“What?”
“That isn't David.”
I looked again.
The photograph was unmistakable.
But Tyler shook his head.
“That's not him.”
Claire stepped into the room.
She stared at the image.
Then she whispered something that made everyone turn.
“That is Evan.”
I looked at her.
“No.”
Claire nodded.
“It's Evan.”
Tyler stared at the photograph.
“Evan Dalton?”
“Yes.”
“But Evan was in the tunnel.”
“I know.”
Mercer took the phone.
“Then someone altered the photograph.”
Reyes examined it.
“Or someone wants us to think David was here.”
Tyler looked at me.
“Why?”
Before I could answer, a nurse rushed into the room.
“Mrs. Morgan?”
“Yes?”
“Your husband needs to leave immediately.”
“Why?”
“Because this room is no longer secure.”
Reyes stepped toward her.
“Who are you?”
The nurse froze.
She wore no identification badge.
Mercer moved closer.
“Step away from the patient.”
The nurse reached into her pocket.
Reyes grabbed her wrist.
A small syringe fell to the floor.
Tyler stared.
The nurse struggled.
Mercer handcuffed her.
“Who sent you?”
She said nothing.
Reyes picked up the syringe with a gloved hand.
“That's not hospital equipment.”
Tyler looked at me.
“Someone tried to drug me.”
I nodded.
The nurse finally spoke.
“You don't understand.”
“Then explain.”
She looked directly at me.
“Your husband isn't the target.”
My chest tightened.
“Then who is?”
She smiled faintly.
“You.”
She bit down.
Mercer caught her before she could swallow whatever was in her mouth.
“Get medical personnel.”
The corridor filled with movement.
Doctors arrived.
Security officers surrounded the room.
And through the confusion, Tyler reached for my hand.
“Why you?”
I didn't know.
But I remembered Daniel's note.
She chose you.
I remembered Claire saying Lily had been hidden in our house because Daniel trusted me.
And I remembered the photograph from six years ago.
My name had been written on the back.
SHE CHOSE YOU.
Maybe the person behind everything had never wanted Lily.
Maybe they had always wanted whatever Daniel had entrusted to me.
Reyes looked at me.
“Amanda.”
I turned.
“What?”
“Where is the memory card?”
My hand went automatically to my pocket.
Then I froze.
It wasn't there.
I checked again.
Nothing.
The evidence was gone.
Someone had taken it.
And I suddenly understood why the fake photograph had been sent.
It hadn't been meant to scare me.
It had been meant to make me search the wrong person.
The real thief had been standing beside me.
Click here to continue reading: PART 22: What Daniel Left Behind
I Arrived With Balloons and Cake, Expecting My Husband to Laugh—Instead His Entire Crew Went Silent When They Saw Me
Part 21 of 40
