Chapter 9: The Man Who Knew Everything
The next morning, I woke up to a message from Marcus.
*Please call me. I've found something about the night Dad died.*
I stared at the screen for several seconds.
Then I called him.
He answered immediately.
“Nia?””
“What did you find?””
“Mom left the house last night.””
I sat up.
“Where did she go?””
“I don't know. But she took a suitcase and some documents from Dad's office.””
“Did you contact Mr. Bennett?””
A bitter laugh escaped him.
“I'm beginning to think he's the last person I should contact.””
“Good. Because we have evidence he was involved.””
Marcus went quiet.
“I know.””
I frowned.
“What?””
“I found another recording on Dad's old computer.””
“What does it say?””
“It's a conversation between Mom and Richard. They're discussing the original account ledger.””
My stomach tightened.
“Did they mention Samuel?””
“Yes.””
“What did they say?””
Marcus took a breath.
“They said Samuel wanted the ledger destroyed because it contained evidence of a payment made to someone at the hospital.””
I felt cold.
“Someone at the hospital?””
“That's all I heard.””
I remembered my mother's words.
Someone had access to Robert's medical records.
“Marcus, do you know who treated your father that night?””
He hesitated.
“Dr. Alan Mercer.””
“Was he involved with your family?””
“Not personally. But he was recommended by Mom.””
I closed my eyes.
“Find out everything you can about him.””
“I will.””
Before ending the call, Marcus spoke quietly.
“Nia?””
“Yes?””
“I know I don't deserve this, but please be careful.””
I didn't respond.
He continued.
“Whatever happens, I won't let Mom hurt you again.””
I almost told him that he should have made that promise before our wedding.
Instead, I ended the call.
By noon, Jasmine and Caleb were sitting with me at my mother's kitchen table.
We had contacted an independent attorney recommended by a former colleague of Jasmine's.
Her name was Laura Mitchell.
She had reviewed the documents and immediately advised us to preserve all digital evidence and avoid confronting the suspects alone.
She also arranged for the relevant financial records to be examined by a forensic accountant.
When I told her about Samuel's offer, she frowned.
“You absolutely should not attend that meeting without proper authorities involved.””
“I know.””
“Good. Because whoever this man is, he has already threatened your family.””
Caleb leaned forward.
“What if he has the ledger?””
“Then we need to establish a lawful way to obtain it.””
My mother sat quietly in the corner.
Laura turned toward her.
“Mrs. Williams, is there anything else you haven't told us?””
My mother looked down.
I took her hand.
“Mom?””
She began crying.
“There is.””
Everyone went silent.
She opened her handbag and removed a small folded piece of paper.
“I found this inside the envelope Robert gave me. I never understood what it meant.””
Laura unfolded it.
It contained a series of numbers.
An account reference.
And a handwritten sentence.
*The money was never intended for Diane. Find the final beneficiary.*
Laura examined the paper.
“Do you know what this refers to?””
My mother shook her head.
“No.””
Caleb leaned forward.
“Maybe the forensic accountant can trace it.””
Laura nodded.
“We'll send it to them.””
I looked at the note.
Something about it bothered me.
If the money wasn't intended for Diane, where had it gone?
And why had she spent so much time trying to hide the transfers?
My phone rang.
Marcus.
I answered.
“What's wrong?””
His voice was breathless.
“I found the missing folder.””
I stood.
“Where?””
“In Mom's bedroom. Behind the wardrobe.””
“What was inside?””
“Copies of the trust documents. Bank statements. And something else.””
“What?””
“A letter from Dad.””
I closed my eyes.
“Read it.””
Marcus paused.
Then his voice became unsteady.
“It says, 'If Diane succeeds in removing Nia from the trust, the company shares will automatically return to the original estate.''”
Laura immediately looked up.
“That's important.””
Marcus continued.
“There's another paragraph.””
“What does it say?””
He swallowed.
“'The shares were never intended to benefit Nia personally. They were placed under her control because she is the only person I trust to protect the employees and prevent the company from being sold.''”
I stared at the table.
Robert hadn't left me the company as a reward.
He had given me responsibility.
He wanted someone outside the family conflict to protect the people who depended on the business.
Marcus continued.
“There's a handwritten note at the bottom.””
“What note?””
His voice cracked.
“'Marcus must know that I never blamed him for what happened. He was not responsible for the missing money. But he must decide whether he wants to remain a prisoner of his mother's choices.''”
I closed my eyes.
For a moment, I felt sorry for him.
Then Marcus said something else.
“Nia, there's a photograph attached.””
“What photograph?””
“Dad and Mom standing outside the hospital.””
My stomach tightened.
“What's unusual about it?””
“The date.””
He read it aloud.
“The day before Dad died.””
I waited.
Then he continued.
“Mom is holding a medical file. And standing beside her is Dr. Mercer.””
Laura stood immediately.
“Ask Marcus to send that photograph to us.””
I did.
A minute later, it arrived.
Laura examined it carefully.
Then she pointed at something in the background.
A man was standing near the hospital entrance.
He was holding a briefcase.
Samuel Cross.
My mother's former business partner.
And the man who had contacted me the previous night.
Laura looked at me.
“This is no longer just a financial dispute.””
“What do you mean?””
She placed the photograph beside the original transfer documents.
“We have evidence suggesting several people may have coordinated financial activity and possibly interfered with the circumstances surrounding Robert's death. We need the appropriate authorities to examine it.””
My phone vibrated.
A message from an unknown number.
*Tomorrow. 8 PM. Hayes Warehouse. Bring the flash drive.*
Then another message appeared.
*And bring your mother. She knows where the ledger is.*
I looked at Patricia.
Her face had gone completely white.
“Mom?””
She shook her head.
“He knows.””
“Knows what?””
She began crying.
Then she reached into her handbag and removed a small key.
Not the brass key Robert had given me.
A different one.
Silver.
She placed it on the table.
“The ledger isn't at the warehouse.””
I looked at her.
“Where is it?””
She whispered:
“Inside the old family safe.””
I frowned.
“What safe?””
“The one Robert kept in his bedroom.””
Laura leaned forward.
“Do you have access?””
My mother nodded.
“I do.””
“How?””
She looked at me.
“Robert gave me the combination the night before he died.””
I stared at her.
“You've known where the ledger was this entire time?””
“I was afraid.””
“Mom!””
“I thought if I kept it hidden, nobody could use it to hurt us.””
Laura took a slow breath.
“Mrs. Williams, did you open the safe?””
My mother shook her head.
“No.””
“Then how do you know the ledger is inside?””
She looked down.
“Because I put it there.””
I felt my heart pound.
“What?””
My mother finally met my eyes.
“When I went to Robert's house that night, I saw someone leaving his bedroom. I was frightened. I didn't know who it was.””
She paused.
“So I took the ledger from his office and hid it in the safe.””
“Who was leaving the bedroom?””
Her lips trembled.
“Richard Bennett.””
Laura immediately picked up her phone.
But my mother wasn't finished.
“There was something else.””
She reached into her handbag and removed a small photograph.
It showed Robert sitting in his hospital bed.
Beside him stood Diane.
And in the reflection of the glass window behind them was a man wearing a doctor's coat.
I looked closer.
It was Dr. Mercer.
My mother whispered:
“I took this photograph because I heard Diane tell him to make sure Robert never woke up.””
Nobody moved.
Then Caleb asked the question we were all thinking.
“Why didn't you go to the police?””
My mother broke down.
“Because I received a phone call the next morning.””
“From whom?””
She looked at me.
“Samuel.””
My stomach twisted.
“What did he say?””
My mother wiped her tears.
“He told me that if I ever spoke about what I heard, my children would pay for it.””
Laura immediately instructed us not to contact anyone involved.
But before she could finish, another call came through.
This time, it was Marcus.
I answered.
“Marcus?””
His breathing was uneven.
“Nia, you need to listen carefully.””
“What happened?””
“Mom just called me.””
“And?””
“She knows you have the photograph.””
I looked at my mother.
Marcus continued.
“She said she's going to destroy the ledger tonight.””
My heart stopped.
“Where is she?””
“At the old Hayes warehouse.””
I stood.
“Marcus, don't go there.””
He was silent.
Then he said:
“I'm already here.””
A loud crash sounded through the phone.
Someone shouted.
Then I heard Diane's voice.
“GIVE ME THE DRIVE!””
Marcus screamed.
The call disconnected.
I stared at my phone.
Laura immediately contacted the authorities.
Caleb grabbed his jacket.
My mother began crying.
And as we rushed toward the door, another message appeared on my screen.
*You should have stayed away from this family, Nia.*
Beneath it was a photograph.
Marcus was tied to a chair inside the warehouse.
May you like
And standing behind him was Richard Bennett.
In his hand was a gun.
