Chapter 3 - Leo Told Me Why Rebecca Was Terrified of Me—My Brother Had Left Something Behind Before He DiedAt the hospital, Leo was awake.
His leg was in a cast.
Maya was sitting beside him.
When I entered, Leo looked relieved.
“Uncle Thomas.”
I sat beside him.
“I'm here.”
He looked toward the door.
“Is Rebecca coming?”
“No.”
His shoulders dropped.
“She said you'd come for us.”
I frowned.
“What?”
Leo looked confused.
“Daddy told me.”
My heart stopped.
“Your father?”
He nodded.
“Before he died.”
I leaned closer.
“What did he tell you?”
Leo whispered,
“He said if Mommy ever gets mean, I should come to you.”
I felt tears burn my eyes.
“Why didn't you come sooner?”
“Because Rebecca said you'd be mad.”
“Why?”
“Because Daddy said you weren't supposed to know.”
I looked at Maya.
She was asleep.
“What wasn't I supposed to know?”
Leo reached under his pillow.
He pulled out a tiny key.
“Daddy gave me this.”
I stared.
“What does it open?”
“I don't know.”
He handed it to me.
On the key was a number.
17.
Dante immediately began investigating.
An hour later, he called.
“Boss.”
“What?”
“We found a safety deposit box.”
“Where?”
“Bank downtown.”
I drove there with Leo's key.
The box contained a flash drive.
A photograph.
And a letter.
The photograph showed Ethan.
But he wasn't alone.
Beside him stood Rebecca.
And beside Rebecca was a man I recognized.
Victor Moretti.
Our uncle.
My father's brother.
The man who had disappeared from our lives years ago.
I stared at the photograph.
Dante whispered,
“That's impossible.”
“Why?”
“Victor died fifteen years ago.”
I looked at the photograph again.
The date was recent.
Six weeks before Ethan died.
Then I opened the letter.
May you like
The first line destroyed me.
Thomas, if you're reading this, I'm probably dead.
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