The Secrets They Bury
Alisha frowned deeply as the van moved through the crowded streets. Her eyes stayed fixed on the passing buildings, but her mind was far away.
“Let’s go see Dr. Adrian Santos,” she said suddenly, her tone serious. “Something about Aubrey Moore’s case doesn’t add up. She’s only been missing a month. There’s a chance she’s still out there.”
Sam nodded, adjusting the wheel as he drove. “You got it.”
Joel glanced at Alisha. “I’ll be honest. If it’s not that crazy beggar Archie, my gut says it might be her ex-boyfriend. People do crazy things after a breakup.”
Alisha gave a small nod. “Maybe. But remember what Elsa said. She could be trying to put blame somewhere else… maybe even to hide something she knows.”
The van pulled into the Healing Hands Hospital, its glass walls shining under the afternoon sun. The three of them stepped out, tension already heavy on their shoulders.
Inside, the halls were strangely quiet for a hospital. Only a few patients sat waiting, their faces pale under the cold fluorescent lights.
They asked a nurse, who led them down a silent hallway toward the outpatient department.
“That’s his office,” the nurse whispered, pointing at a door with a silver plate: Dr. Adrian Santos, General Surgeon.
Alisha raised her hand to knock—then stopped.
From behind the door came muffled sounds. Soft at first, then clearer.
A moan.
Joel’s eyebrows shot up. Sam’s face twisted.
Alisha slowly pushed the door open a crack. Her eyes widened.
Dr. Adrian Santos sat in a chair, a young woman straddling his lap, their lips locked in a desperate kiss.
Alisha’s hand flew to her mouth in shock. Then, gathering her composure, she coughed loudly.
The two inside froze. The woman gasped, scrambling off him, while Adrian tugged his coat closed, his face turning pale.
Alisha stepped in, Joel and Sam right behind her. “Dr. Santos,” she said firmly, “I’m Alisha Murphy from ABC News. These are my colleagues, Joel and Sam.”
Adrian’s eyes darted between them and the woman beside him. He cleared his throat nervously. “This is about Aubrey, isn’t it?”
Alisha nodded. “Yes. We need to know the truth.”
The woman looked down, tears forming in her eyes. Adrian swallowed hard. “I swear… Bea and I never planned for this to happen.”
Alisha raised her eyebrows. “Bea? As in Beatrice? You’re one of Aubrey’s close friends, aren’t you?”
Bea nodded slowly, guilt all over her face.
Arms crossed, Alisha leaned forward. “So tell me. Why did Aubrey go to a bar the night she disappeared?”
Bea hesitated, then whispered, “Because of me.”
Joel frowned. “Explain.”
Bea looked away, her voice trembling. “Jackie… another one of our friends… she caught me and Adrian kissing. She told Aubrey. Aubrey confronted me. She… she told Adrian to choose.”
Adrian’s shoulders slumped. “And I chose Bea.”
Bea wiped her tears. “That night, Aubrey called me. She was so upset. She said she was going drinking. She said… she said she wanted to crash her car into a wall. That was the last time I heard her voice.”
Alisha’s eyes narrowed. “Did you ever check if she left the bar?”
Adrian shook his head. “I couldn’t. I had an emergency surgery that night. I didn’t even answer her calls. By the time I was free, she was gone.”
Bea added softly, “Sometimes… I think she’s still alive. Maybe she just wanted me and Adrian to suffer. Maybe Jackie knows something. Or maybe… her own family is hiding her. Aubrey was… spoiled. If she wanted attention, this would be the ultimate way to get it.”
Sam leaned against the wall, his face dark. “So either Archie took her, or she’s hiding with friends, or her own family’s keeping her hidden. Or maybe…” He didn’t finish.
Alisha’s voice was cold. “Where can we find Jackie?”
Bea scribbled an address on a scrap of paper, her hand trembling. “Here. But… I don’t think you’ll like what you see.”
They left the hospital in silence. As soon as the van doors closed, Alisha gave a faint smile. “Well, now we know the bar may not be the whole story. This is bigger than I thought.”
Joel nodded slowly. “Yeah. More twisted too.”
Sam kept his eyes on the road. “So we’ve got four possibilities: Archie really took her. Aubrey’s hiding with friends. Her family’s hiding her. Or… she’s hiding by herself.”
Alisha sat back, arms folded. “Whoever’s behind this, we’ll find out.”
Minutes later, the van slowed.
Joel peered out the window, frowning. “Uh… guys?”
Alisha followed his gaze. Her stomach dropped.
The address led them to a building painted in dull gray, with black curtains drawn across the windows. Above the door, a faded sign creaked in the wind.
Crescent Lights Funeral Services.
Sam’s knuckles tightened on the wheel. “Tell me I’m reading that wrong.”
Alisha’s breath came short. “Jackie… owns a funeral parlor?”
Joel muttered under his breath, “And not just owns it. She’s the embalmer.”
For a moment, no one moved. The building loomed before them, quiet and lifeless, yet somehow watching.
Alisha’s throat felt dry. She forced a small laugh, though her voice cracked. “Well. Looks like we’re about to find out just how deep this goes.”
Joel leaned closer to the glass. “Why does it feel like… she’s been expecting us?”
The front door creaked open.
A woman stood in the doorway, pale, her dark hair falling over one shoulder. She wore a long black dress, her lips painted blood-red.
Her eyes locked on them.
A slow smile spread across her face.
“I was wondering when you’d come,” Jackie said softly.
Alisha’s skin prickled. “She knew,” she whispered.
Sam’s hand hovered near the gearshift. “Guys… I don’t like this.”
Jackie tilted her head, still smiling. “Come in. Aubrey’s waiting.”
The three of them froze.
Because in the still silence of the funeral home…
They all swore they heard it.
A faint sound.
A girl’s voice.
Crying.