Chapter 3
Daniel’s medical knowledge was limited, but fear made him precise.
He did not lift Elena.
Did not shake her.
Did not pull her out of the coffin.
He checked the airway.
Loosened the cloth.
Watched her chest.
Counted shallow breaths beneath his own panic.
The officer moved closer but kept space.
“Sir, ambulance is being requested.”
Daniel nodded once.
His mother snapped, “This is cruel. You’re disturbing her body.”
Daniel turned slowly.
“Her body?”
His mother’s lips parted.
No answer came.
Marcus said, “Daniel, Mom is overwhelmed.”
Daniel looked at him.
Marcus was still holding the whiskey glass.
Still dressed in black.
Still standing too far from the coffin for a grieving brother-in-law and too close to the exit for an innocent man.
Daniel’s eyes dropped to the glass.
Then to Marcus’s shoes.
Then to the polished floor near the coffin.
A scuff mark.
Small.
Dark.
Fresh.
Daniel’s mind sharpened.
“When did she die?”
His mother said, “This morning.”
“Where?”
“At home.”
“You told me childbirth.”
“She went into distress.”
“Where is the baby?”
His mother’s face tightened.
“The baby did not survive.”
A faint movement passed under the funeral cloth again.
Daniel looked down.
His voice dropped.
“Then explain that.”
Marcus set the whiskey glass on the mantel too hard. The sound cracked through the room.
“Stop interrogating her.”
Daniel looked at his brother.
“You’re afraid.”
Marcus laughed once.
Wrong sound.
Wrong timing.
The officer noticed.
So did Daniel.
Elena breathed again, barely.
Daniel bent closer.
“I’m not leaving you,” he whispered.
May you like
Behind him, his mother’s pearls trembled against her throat.
Read the full story 👉 Daniel’s questions exposed the first cracks in the story his mother and brother had prepared.
