Chapter 19 - The Brother Who Wasn’t Sick
Maya ran to the hospital.
Frank followed.
Her brother, Liam, was sitting upright in his hospital bed.
No oxygen.
No weakness.
No sign of illness.
Maya stopped in the doorway.
Liam looked at her.
“I knew you would come.”
“What is happening?”
He smiled sadly.
“I’m sorry.”
Maya felt the world collapse.
“You were never sick.”
“I was.”
“Then why pretend?”
“To make you believe the bills were real.”
Maya stared at him.
The hospital bills.
The debt.
The phone.
The entire chain of events.
“You planned this.”
“Not all of it.”
“Who did?”
Liam looked toward the window.
“Mom.”
Maya’s heart stopped.
“Mom knew you were alive?”
Liam nodded.
“She needed you to find the phone.”
“Why?”
“Because the phone was the only thing Victor could not track.”
Maya stepped closer.
“Where is the ledger?”
Liam looked at her.
“You have it.”
Maya froze.
The memory card in her hand suddenly felt heavier.
Liam continued.
“But the files are encrypted.”
“Can you open them?”
“No.”
“Who can?”
Liam looked at the door.
A man stood there.
The real Samuel Carter.
Maya’s father.
May you like
He whispered:
“Only I can.”
