THE FOLLOWING MORNING
Adeline sat by the bedroom window, staring blankly at the street below.
She hadn't slept well.
Oliver's death had left everyone unsettled, but what troubled her most was how little she understood about the people surrounding her.
Dwayne had been acting strangely for weeks. Jarvis was equally secretive, and every time she asked questions, someone found a way to change the subject.
She reached for her phone and scrolled through her contacts.
Rose.
Her elder sister had always been the person she turned to whenever life became unbearable.
She pressed the call button.
"Hello?"
"Hi, sis."
"Adeline?"
Rose sounded surprised.
"Well, look who's finally remembering she has a sister."
Adeline managed a weak laugh.
"I'm sorry. I've had a lot going on."
Rose immediately changed her tone.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"Don't start. I know that voice."
Adeline sighed.
"I'm just tired, Rose."
"Is this about Dwayne?"
Adeline went quiet.
Rose scoffed.
"I knew it."
"Knew what?"
"That man. I've never been comfortable with him."
Adeline frowned.
"Rose, please."
"No, listen to me. I've kept quiet for long enough."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Adeline, I remember your wedding day."
Adeline shifted in her seat.
"What about it?"
"Did you notice how uneasy Dwayne was?"
Adeline thought for a moment.
Rose continued before she could respond.
"He wasn't behaving like a man getting married. I remember watching him throughout the ceremony. He kept looking over his shoulder, checking his phone and whispering with Oliver. At one point, I actually thought he was going to walk away."
Adeline swallowed.
"I thought he was just nervous."
"That's what you told me then. But I didn't believe it."
"Rose…"
"And remember when I asked you about it? You said he had been acting strangely for days before the wedding. You even admitted he was receiving calls he wouldn't answer in your presence."
Adeline looked down.
She remembered.
She remembered how Dwayne had insisted that everything was fine, even when his behaviour suggested otherwise.
"I thought things would get better after we got married," she whispered.
Rose gave a humourless laugh.
"Marriage doesn't magically turn a suspicious man into an honest one."
"He's been under a lot of pressure."
"Because of what? His business? His friends? Or something he refuses to tell his wife?"
Adeline rubbed her forehead.
"I don't know anymore."
Rose softened slightly.
"Listen, I'm not saying I know everything about your husband. But I've never trusted him completely. Something about him has always felt off to me."
Adeline remained silent.
"Now look at what's happening. People connected to him are dying. Oliver is dead. And you're constantly frightened. Don't you think it's time you started asking yourself some serious questions?"
Adeline's eyes filled with tears.
"Sometimes I think the killer is connected to Dwayne."
"Then why are you still allowing him to keep you in the dark?"
"Because I love him, and I am scared of the truth too"
Rose sighed.
"Adeline, loving someone doesn't mean you should ignore what they're showing you."
The words settled heavily between them.
Rose continued.
"I want you to be careful. And please, don't tell me you're completely safe just because Dwayne says so."
"I'll be careful."
"No. I mean it. Watch what he does, not just what he tells you."
Adeline nodded.
"I promise."
They spoke for a little longer before ending the call.
Adeline placed her phone on the bed.
Rose's words kept returning to her mind.
She remembered her sister standing beside her on her wedding day, watching Dwayne with an expression she hadn't understood at the time.
Perhaps Rose had noticed something she hadn't.
Her phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
She opened the message.
YOU SHOULD ASK YOUR HUSBAND ABOUT YOUR UNCLE.
Adeline stared at the screen.
Her uncle?
What did he have to do with any of this?
Before she could process the message, another arrived.
NOT EVERY FAMILY SECRET BELONGS TO THE DEAD.
Her hands began to tremble.
DOWNSTAIRS
Dwayne stood near the kitchen counter, staring at his phone.
Jarvis was beside him.
Neither man had spoken for several minutes.
Dwayne finally broke the silence.
"Listen to me carefully."
Jarvis looked up.
"What?"
"When Hawthorne starts questioning us, you need to be careful about what you say."
Jarvis frowned.
"Meaning?"
"Meaning don't volunteer information he hasn't asked for."
Jarvis folded his arms.
"He's a detective, Dwayne. He'll ask whatever he wants."
"I know that."
"Then what's the problem?"
Dwayne moved closer.
"Oliver is dead! The police are already looking at the connection between all of us. The last thing we need is for you to start talking about things that happened years ago."
Jarvis studied him.
"Are you worried about what I'll say?"
Dwayne looked directly at him.
"I'm asking you as my brother. Don't expose things that will make this worse."
Jarvis's expression hardened.
"Things that will make it worse for whom?"
Dwayne exhaled.
"For all of us."
"Or for you?"
"Jarvis, please."
There was something almost desperate in Dwayne's voice.
Jarvis looked away.
Dwayne continued.
"I know you remember what happened. I know you haven't forgotten. But whatever Hawthorne asks, don't drag everything into the open."
"And if he asks directly?"
"Don't lie. Just don't say more than you have to."
Jarvis gave a short laugh.
"You want me to cooperate with you while a murderer is going around killing your friends?"
"I want you to understand that some things are bigger than what the police currently know."
Jarvis stared at him.
"Do you realise how suspicious that sounds?"
Dwayne rubbed his face.
"I'm trying to protect my family."
"Then tell me everything! "
"Tell me exactly what happened don't leave anything else out like you've done in the past "
Dwayne lowered his voice.
"I can't tell you anymore than you already know Jav"
"Please. I'm begging you. Don't let this get out of hand."
For a moment, Jarvis almost felt sorry for him.
Almost.
Because he knew Dwayne was frightened.
But he also knew that Adeline was standing in the middle of something she didn't understand.
And he couldn't continue pretending that his brother's secrets were harmless.
He had loved Adeline long before he admitted it to himself.
Watching her suffer because of Dwayne was becoming unbearable.
Still, he nodded.
"Fine."
Dwayne looked relieved.
"Thank you."
Jarvis picked up his phone.
"But understand something, Dwayne. If your secrets put her in danger, I won't protect you."
Dwayne's expression changed.
"What?"
Jarvis looked him in the eye.
"I said I won't protect you."
Before Dwayne could respond, Adeline entered the kitchen.
Both men immediately fell silent.
She looked from one to the other.
"Am I interrupting something?"
"No," Dwayne answered quickly.
Jarvis picked up his keys.
"See you at the Station"
He walked past her without another word.
Adeline watched him leave.
Then she turned to Dwayne.
"What were you discussing?"
"Nothing important."
She studied him.
"Why do you always say that?"
Dwayne approached her.
"Because I don't want you worrying about things you don't need to worry about."
Adeline stepped back slightly.
"That's not your decision to make."
He looked at her for a moment.
Then his phone rang.
He glanced at the screen and walked away to answer it.
Adeline watched him disappear into the adjoining room.
She couldn't hear everything he said.
But she caught one sentence.
"Jarvis has agreed to keep quiet."
Her stomach tightened.
Keep quiet about what?
THE POLICE STATION
Inspector Hawthorne had been reviewing the case for hours.
Oliver's murder had confirmed his suspicions.
The victims weren't random.
Every development pointed toward the same group of people, and the names Dwayne, Jarvis and Adeline kept appearing in places they shouldn't.
He had also discovered something interesting about Adeline's family.
Her maternal uncle had died several years earlier under circumstances that had never been properly explained.
More importantly, the man's name appeared in an old report connected to Oliver
Hawthorne closed the file.
He had found another connection.
And this time, he intended to question Adeline directly.
INTERVIEW ROOM
Adeline sat opposite a female investigator assigned to assist Hawthorne.
Her name was Detective Inspector Eleanor Whitmore.
A file rested on the table between them.
"Mrs Davies, thank you for coming."
Adeline nodded.
"I understand this concerns Oliver?"
"Partly."
Whitmore opened the file.
"But I'd like to discuss your uncle."
Adeline frowned.
"My uncle?"
"Your late uncle. Mr Jonathan Brown."
Adeline looked confused.
"What about him?"
"How close were you?"
"Very close when I was younger. He died several years ago."
"Do you remember the circumstances surrounding his death?"
Adeline hesitated.
"Of course. We were told it was an accident."
"What kind of accident?"
"A road accident."
"Was his death investigated?"
"I believe so."
Whitmore nodded.
"Your uncle's name has appeared in information connected to the investigation into Oliver's death."
Adeline stared at her.
"That's impossible."
"Why?"
"My uncle had nothing to do with Dwayne's friends."
"Are you certain?"
Adeline opened her mouth but said nothing.
Whitmore continued.
"Did your uncle know your husband?"
"I'm sorry but he died long before I dreamt of getting married"
"I'm sorry, but did he ever visit your home?"
Adeline thought for a moment.
"I can barely remember, It was a long time ago."
"but my parentsloved him so much "
Then something came back to her.
Her uncle had visited shortly before his death.
She remembered him speaking privately with her mom in the living room.
At the time, she hadn't thought much of it and was too young to figure out his desperation or worry
Her mom had later told her that her uncle wanted to discuss something concerning an old family matter.
She had accepted the explanation.
Now, it felt different.
"Did you ever hear your husband discuss your uncle with anyone else?"
Adeline frowned.
Then another memory surfaced.
It was after her wedding.
Oliver had visited their home.
She remembered walking past the study when she heard his voice.
Oliver sounded frustrated.
Dwayne had been speaking more quietly.
Then Oliver said something that made her stop.
"We agreed to let the past incident die with the past. Why are you bringing it up again?"
Dwayne had immediately told him to lower his voice.
At the time, Adeline hadn't understood the significance.
Now she looked at Whitmore.
"I remember something."
"What is it?"
"Oliver once spoke to Dwayne about an incident , not about my uncle ."
"What incident ?"
"I don't know. I was passing their study two days after my wedding when I heard Oliver say something about letting the past incident die with the past."
Whitmore stopped writing.
"Those were his exact words?"
"Yes. I'm certain."
"What did Dwayne say?"
"He told him to lower his voice. I didn't hear anything else."
Whitmore slowly closed the file.
"Mrs Davies, I need you to think carefully. Did Oliver mention your uncle's name?"
Adeline shook her head.
"No."
"Did your husband?"
"No."
The investigator nodded.
"All right."
Adeline looked increasingly uncomfortable.
"Detective, what exactly are you suggesting?"
Whitmore studied her.
"I'm suggesting that the death of your uncle, the murder of Oliver and the body we found at the start of the case may be connected."
Adeline felt her stomach drop.
"How?"
"That's what we're trying to establish."
Whitmore paused.
"One more question. Does your husband know you're speaking with us about this?"
Adeline hesitated.
"Yes."
"Did he encourage you to cooperate?"
Adeline looked down.
"He didn't say much."
Whitmore watched her carefully.
"Mrs Davies, I would advise you not to discuss everything we've spoken about today with your husband just yet."
Adeline looked up.
"Why?"
"Because I don't want any information being compromised while we're investigating."
The investigator gathered her papers.
"And please, be careful about who you trust."
Adeline's heart began to pound.
"Are you saying my husband could be involved?"
Whitmore didn't answer directly.
"I'm saying that your husband's name has appeared repeatedly in this investigation, and I don't intend to overlook that."
OUTSIDE THE INTERVIEW ROOM
Jarvis was waiting in the corridor when Adeline emerged.
"How did it go?"
She looked at him.
"They asked about my uncle."
Jarvis's expression changed.
"Your uncle?"
"Yes. Apparently, his death might be connected to the recent deaths especially Oliver's ."
Jarvis looked away.
Adeline noticed immediately.
"Jarvis?"
"What?"
"Do you know something?"
He hesitated.
"Why would you ask that?"
"Because you look like everyone else whenever I mention something I shouldn't know."
Jarvis stepped closer.
"Adeline, you need to be careful."
She frowned.
"That's exactly what the investigator said."
"Then perhaps you should listen."
"Why? What am I supposed to be careful of?"
Jarvis looked toward the reception area.
Dwayne was standing there, speaking to another officer.
He lowered his voice.
"Not everything you're told is the truth."
Adeline stared at him.
"Are you talking about Dwayne?"
Jarvis didn't answer.
"Jarvis, please."
He looked into her eyes.
For a moment, he wanted to tell her everything.
He wanted to tell her about the things Dwayne had hidden, the things he suspected, and the fear that his brother's actions might eventually destroy her.
But he couldn't.
Not yet.
Instead, he said quietly,
"Just don't ignore what you see."
Adeline's eyes filled with uncertainty.
Before she could ask another question, Dwayne approached them.
"Everything all right?"
Jarvis immediately stepped back.
"Fine."
Dwayne looked at Adeline.
"Ready to go?"
She nodded.
But as they walked away, she kept thinking about Jarvis's words.
Not everything you're told is the truth.
INSPECTOR HAWTHORNE'S OFFICE
Hawthorne stood beside his desk, reading the notes from the interviews.
He had three people at the centre of the investigation.
Dwayne.
Jarvis.
Adeline.
And now he had a fourth name.
Jonathan Brown.
He picked up the telephone.
"Whitmore, I need you to run a complete background check on Jonathan Brown."
"Her uncle?"
"Yes. I want his accident report, medical records relating to the incident where legally obtainable, witness statements and the names of everyone present."
"Understood."
"And find out whether he had any documented association with Oliver."
He ended the call.
Then he opened another file.
A photograph of the seven friends stared back at him.
He examined it carefully.
Something was missing.
There were seven people in the photograph, but only six had been properly accounted for in the statements he'd collected.
Someone had deliberately left out an important part of the story.
His phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
"You're asking the wrong questions, Inspector."
Hawthorne stared a bit shocked at the screen.
His expression hardened.
He immediately picked up the phone.
"Whitmore?"
"Yes, Inspector?"
"I want Mr.Davies brought back in for another interview."
"Has something new come up?"
Hawthorne looked at the message.
"Something very interesting."
He ended the call.
Then he returned to the photograph.
For several seconds, he studied Oliver's face.
"Who are you protecting?" he whispered.
Somewhere outside the station, a black car was parked across the road.
The driver watched the building.
Then he picked up his phone.
A message was typed and sent.
THEY'RE GETTING CLOSER.
A reply arrived.
THEN IT'S TIME TO SILENCE ANOTHER ONE.
The driver looked at the station one last time.
Then he started the engine