Chapter 4 - UNHOLY ALLIANCESMy head spun as the terrifying truth began to piece itself together. Detective Vance was the one who confirmed Mark’s identity at the morgue without a DNA test. Vance was the one who pushed the insurance payout through so quickly.
It wasn't just my brother trying to steal my life—it was a coordinated, criminal conspiracy involving the very police officer I trusted to protect me.
Knowing I couldn't go to the local authorities, I hid in the woods until dawn broke. With muddy clothes and Rick keeping a vigilant guard by my side, I walked to a public payphone near a gas station three miles away. I dialed the only person I knew I could trust—Sarah, my late father’s retired private attorney.
Twenty minutes later, Sarah’s black sedan pulled into the gas station parking lot. She looked at my disheveled appearance, the claw marks on Rick’s paws, and the sheer terror in my eyes, immediately unlocking the passenger door.
"Get in, Leo," she said, her voice grave. "We need to talk. Now."
As Rick jumped into the back seat, Sarah handed me a hot thermos of coffee and a thick yellow folder from her briefcase.
"I saw the local news this morning," Sarah said, stepping on the gas. "There’s already a warrant out for your arrest, Leo."
"WHAT?!" I gasped, almost spilling the coffee. "For my arrest?!"
"Detective Vance put out an emergency bulletin an hour ago," Sarah explained, her face pale. "He reported that you suffered a severe psychotic break, attacked your brother Mark—who claims he miraculously survived his accident years ago and returned to reconcile—and set fire to your own house."
I turned around in horror to look out the rear window. In the distance, a thick plume of black smoke was rising into the morning sky above my neighborhood.
May you like
"He burned my house down..." I whispered, tears of rage welling up in my eyes. "He burned it all to destroy the evidence in the vents!"
"It gets worse," Sarah sighed, flipping open the yellow folder on her lap. "I did some digging into your father's original will last night after noticing strange bank transfers from the trust. Leo... Mark didn't fake his death to steal your insurance money. He faked his death because Dad found out what Mark really was."
