My Missing Wife Was Locked Beneath Our Swimming Pool—And My Fiancée Knew Exactly Where to Find the Key

For several seconds, I couldn't move.

Daniel stood three feet away, his right hand wrapped around a black pistol.

The gun was pointed toward the ground.

But it didn't make me feel any safer.

“Put it down,” I said.

“Marcus, calm down.””

“Put the gun down!””

Daniel's jaw worked.

“You don't understand.””

“Then explain!””

He glanced toward the pool.

Ava was standing behind the terrace doors.

I immediately stepped in front of her.

“Get inside, sweetheart.””

She didn't move.

“Daddy?””

“Now, baby.””

She ran toward the kitchen.

Daniel lowered his voice.

“Don't make this worse.””

I laughed.

“You brought a gun to my house. How exactly am I making this worse?””

“Because you opened a door that was supposed to stay closed.””

“Who's down there?””

He didn't answer.

I looked toward the pool.

“Danielle!””

A metallic bang came from beneath the water.

Then silence.

Daniel lifted the gun slightly.

“Don't call her name again.””

I stared at him.

“You're afraid she'll talk.””

“I'm trying to keep you alive.””

“By pointing a gun at me?””

His eyes flickered.

“By stopping you from making a mistake.””

I reached into my pocket and pressed the emergency contact shortcut on my phone. I had no idea whether the call would connect, but the device began recording.

Daniel didn't notice.

“Four years ago,” he said, “Danielle discovered something about the property.””

“What?””

“Money.””

I frowned.

“What money?””

He looked at the house.

“The house wasn't bought with the inheritance you think it was.””

My father had died when I was twenty-eight. He'd left me several properties, including the Savannah estate where I'd lived with Danielle.

The house had been in our family for decades.

“What does that have to do with her disappearance?””

Daniel swallowed.

“Dad had a private business arrangement with some people. They used the property to hide financial records. Danielle found them.””

“Where?””

“In the basement.””

I shook my head.

“There is no basement.””

Daniel looked toward the pool.

“There is.””

A cold sensation crawled up my spine.

“The room under the pool?””

He nodded.

“Your father had it built.””

“Why?””

“To store documents. Equipment. Things he didn't want anyone finding.””

“And Danielle discovered it?””

“Yes.””

“Then why was she locked inside?””

Daniel's expression changed.

“She wasn't supposed to be.””

The words hung between us.

“What does that mean?””

“After she found the records, she threatened to go to the police. Someone panicked.””

“Who?””

Daniel looked away.

I stepped closer.

“Who, Daniel?””

Before he could answer, the terrace doors opened.

Vanessa walked outside.

She wasn't carrying her handbag anymore.

“Marcus,” she said, “put down whatever you're thinking about doing.””

I looked at her.

“Did you know my wife was alive?””

She nodded slowly.

“Yes.””

The answer hit harder than a slap.

“How long?””

Vanessa looked at Daniel.

He closed his eyes.

“Four years,” she said.

My stomach turned.

“Four years?””

“I didn't know everything at first.””

“You knew she was alive while you sat beside me at the hospital when Ava had pneumonia?””

Vanessa's eyes filled.

“Marcus—”

“You held my hand while I cried on her birthday. You helped me choose flowers for her grave even though we never found a body.””

“We never buried her.””

“You let me believe she was dead!””

“I thought it was the only way to keep you safe.””

I laughed once.

“Safe from what? My own wife?””

Vanessa glanced toward the pool.

“Danielle was involved in something dangerous.””

“And you?””

She didn't answer.

I looked at Daniel.

“Put the gun down.””

He hesitated.

Then Vanessa spoke.

“Daniel, give it to me.””

He turned toward her.

“What?””

“You heard me.””

For a second, I thought I had misunderstood.

Then Daniel handed her the weapon.

Vanessa took it without hesitation and placed it inside the pocket of her dress.

I stared at her.

“You're comfortable holding a gun?””

She looked at me.

“More comfortable than I am watching you destroy yourself.””

I took a step toward her.

“Tell me everything.””

Vanessa looked toward the pool.

“Your wife isn't the only person in that room.””

My blood ran cold.

“What?””

“There's someone else down there.””

“Who?””

She hesitated.

Then she said, “A man.””

Daniel's face twisted.

“Vanessa, don't.””

She ignored him.

“His name is Robert Cole.””

I frowned.

“Who is Robert Cole?””

Vanessa's voice broke.

“My father.””

I stared at her.

“Your father is down there?””

She nodded.

“He was the one who arranged the room. He was the one who controlled the money. And he was the one who ordered Danielle to be kept there.””

“Why would he do that?””

“Because your wife found out he had been using your family's property to move millions of dollars through fake companies.””

I looked at Daniel.

“And you helped him?””

Daniel didn't deny it.

My brother had been involved.

The man who'd held my hand at our father's funeral. The man who'd promised to help me find Danielle. The man who'd stood beside me at my engagement party.

He'd known.

For four years.

I felt something inside me go quiet.

“Why are you marrying me, Vanessa?””

She looked directly into my eyes.

“Because my father wanted access to the property after you signed the marriage documents.””

I almost couldn't speak.

“So the engagement was a business arrangement?””

“At first.””

“And then?””

She lowered her eyes.

“I fell in love with you.””