Chapter 1: The Witness Who Vanished
Chapter 1: The Witness Who Vanished
Tyler didn't answer.
The question hung in the air like a storm cloud.
Detective James Morrison studied everyone's faces before speaking again.
"I'll ask one more time. Where is Marcus?"
No one moved.
No one even looked at Tyler.
My brother stared at the ground, his face pale beneath the patio lights.
"I... I don't know what you're talking about," he finally said.
The detective didn't look convinced.
"I find that hard to believe."
Sarah Chen remained beside me, keeping one hand gently on my shoulder while her partner secured the cervical collar around my neck.
"Don't move," she said softly. "We're going to get you out of here."
"I can't feel anything."
"I know."
Her calm voice was the only thing keeping me from falling apart.
As the paramedics prepared the backboard, Detective Morrison walked toward the broken railing.
He crouched beside the splintered wood, carefully examining the jagged edges.
"This didn't collapse on its own," he muttered.
One of the officers stepped beside him.
"You think someone weakened it?"
Morrison shook his head.
"No."
He pointed to fresh scrape marks across the top rail.
"It broke after someone was forced against it."
My father's jaw tightened.
"Detective," he interrupted, "this is hardly the time for speculation. My daughter needs medical attention."
Without looking up, Morrison replied, "She's getting it."
Then he stood and faced Tyler.
"Were you standing next to your sister?"
"Yes."
"Did you touch her?"
Tyler hesitated for less than a second.
"I tried to stop her from falling."
I laughed.
The sound came out weak and painful.
"You pushed me."
His eyes filled with tears again.
"Bridget, please..."
"No."
My voice shook, but not from fear.
"You looked me in the eyes before you shoved me."
A murmur spread through the guests.
Several people exchanged uneasy glances.
Someone quietly whispered, "I thought I saw them arguing."
Tyler heard it too.
His shoulders stiffened.
"We weren't arguing," he said quickly.
"We were talking."
"About the inheritance?" Detective Morrison asked.
Silence.
That was answer enough.
The detective slowly nodded.
"So the inheritance came up."
My mother stepped forward immediately.
"This is a private family matter."
"Not anymore."
His words were sharp.
"Not if someone attempted homicide."
The backyard became completely silent.
Homicide.
Hearing the word spoken aloud made everything feel terrifyingly real.
Sarah looked toward the detective.
"We're leaving now."
He nodded.
"I'll meet you at the hospital."
As the paramedics carefully lifted me onto the backboard, another wave of pain shot through my spine.
I screamed.
The world blurred.
My father flinched.
My mother looked away.
Tyler lowered his head as if he couldn't bear to watch.
Only Lauren remained frozen where she stood, tears streaming down her face.
As they carried me toward the ambulance, I caught her eyes.
She looked terrified.
Not of me.
Of Tyler.
She took one hesitant step forward before stopping.
Her lips moved silently.
"I'm sorry."
Then she looked over her shoulder.
Tyler was watching her.
She immediately looked down.
The ambulance doors closed.
The sirens came alive.
Inside, Sarah adjusted the IV while her partner monitored my vitals.
"My name is David," he said. "We're taking you to St. Andrew's Medical Center."
I nodded weakly.
Sarah leaned closer.
"Bridget."
"Yeah?"
"I've been doing this job for twelve years."
She paused.
"I've seen accidents."
She checked my blood pressure.
"I've seen falls."
Another pause.
"And I've seen people who were pushed."
I looked at her.
"This wasn't an accident."
"I know."
Those three words nearly broke me.
For the first time that night...
Someone believed me.
The ambulance sped through the city streets under flashing lights.
Outside, rain began tapping softly against the windows.
Inside, Sarah continued her examination.
"I need you to stay awake."
"I'm trying."
"What were you and Tyler arguing about?"
I stared at the ceiling.
"Our grandmother."
"The inheritance?"
"She changed her will three days ago."
Sarah raised an eyebrow.
"And left everything to you?"
I nodded.
"The house."
I swallowed.
"The investment accounts."
"The family company."
"Everything."
Sarah exchanged a quick glance with David.
"Did your brother know?"
"He found out this afternoon."
"And tonight..."
"He smiled."
I closed my eyes, remembering.
"He congratulated me."
My voice cracked.
"He even hugged me."
Sarah didn't say anything.
She didn't need to.
We both understood what that hug had really been.
It wasn't forgiveness.
It was goodbye.
Just as the ambulance turned into the hospital entrance, Detective Morrison's phone rang.
He answered immediately.
"What is it?"
The officer on the other end sounded out of breath.
"Detective... we've got a problem."
"What happened?"
"We found Marcus's car."
Morrison stopped walking.
"Where?"
"Abandoned at Riverside Park."
A long pause followed.
"And Marcus?"
The officer's answer made Morrison's face turn white.
"He's gone."
May you like
"Completely gone."
To be continued...
