Chapter 2 - The Name on the Hospital Bill
Gunther stared at the photograph until Victor said his name twice.
The man beside Sam Hughes was Anthony Bell.
Anthony had once handled transportation logistics for the Woods organization.
Three years earlier, he had disappeared after stealing $4 million.
Gunther had been told Anthony died attempting to flee the country.
Apparently, someone had lied.
“Where did you get this?”
“Traffic-camera archive.”
“When?”
“Sixteen minutes before Samuel crashed.”
Gunther enlarged the image.
Anthony stood beside the vehicle.
Sam was in the driver's seat.
“What connection does Hughes have to him?”
“None I can find.”
“Then find one.”
Gunther ended the call.
When he returned, Kayla was standing.
“Thank you for breakfast.”
“Sit.”
She frowned.
“I finished.”
“I need to ask you something.”
She sat again.
“Do you know Anthony Bell?”
Nothing changed in her face.
“No.”
Gunther believed her.
“Has Sam ever mentioned him?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“I'm asking the questions.”
Kayla's expression cooled.
“You're asking about my brother.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Gunther hesitated.
Because telling her meant dragging her into his world.
Not telling her meant leaving her blind.
“His accident may not have been accidental.”
The color drained from her face.
“What?”
Gunther sat across from her.
“Someone may have tampered with his brakes.”
“No.”
“Kayla.”
“No. The police said—”
“The police were wrong.”
Her chair scraped backward.
“I need to call him.”
She grabbed her phone.
Gunther didn't stop her.
Sam answered.
Kayla asked if he was safe.
He laughed and told her he was at therapy.
Her breathing steadied.
Then she asked a question.
“Sam, do you know a man named Anthony Bell?”
Silence.
Gunther watched her.
“Sam?”
Kayla's expression changed.
“Why did you stop talking?”
Gunther stood.
Kayla put the call on speaker.
Sam finally whispered:
“Where did you hear that name?”
Gunther's eyes hardened.
Kayla gripped the phone.
“Sam, tell me the truth.”
Another silence.
Then Sam said:
“Kayla, don't go home.”
Her heart stopped.
“Why?”
“I should have told you months ago.”
“Tell me what?”
A noise came through the phone.
A door opening.
Sam inhaled sharply.
“Someone's here.”
The call disconnected.
Kayla stared at the screen.
Gunther was already moving.
“Victor.”
He made one call.
“Get men to Samuel Hughes. Now.”
Kayla followed him.
“I’m coming.”
“No.”
“He's my brother.”
“And someone may be trying to kill him.”
“Which is exactly why I'm coming.”
Gunther turned.
Their eyes locked.
For three years, Kayla had avoided looking directly at him.
Now she didn't blink.
“Fine.”
Twenty minutes later, the black SUV stopped outside the rehabilitation center.
Gunther exited first.
Two security men followed.
Kayla pushed past them.
“Sam!”
She ran inside.
His therapy room was empty.
A wheelchair lay overturned.
Kayla stopped.
Her face went white.
Gunther crouched beside the chair.
Something was beneath it.
A black envelope.
His name was written across the front.
GUNTHER WOODS.
He opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
Kayla sleeping in his bed.
Taken the previous night.
From inside his bedroom.
Gunther slowly looked up.
Someone had been inside the room with them.
May you like
And beneath the photograph were six handwritten words:
YOU SHOULD HAVE KILLED HER THEN.
