Chapter 5: The Lawyer Who Knew Too Much
I couldn't speak.
The word murder seemed to hang in the air between my ears.
Dad noticed my expression.
"Who is it?""
I covered the phone.
"Richard Hale.""
His face darkened.
"Put him on speaker.""
I did.
"Mr. Hale," Dad said.
"You have some explaining to do.""
Richard sighed.
"Michael, I was hoping we could handle this without involving you.""
"You've been involved in my family's affairs for twenty-five years. I think you've had enough opportunities.""
"Your father hired me.""
"My father is dead.""
"That doesn't mean his actions disappeared.""
Dad gripped the table.
"What happened to Daniel?""
There was a long silence.
Then Richard answered.
"Daniel Carter is alive.""
Dad closed his eyes.
I heard him whisper something under his breath.
"Where is he?""
"I can't disclose his location without his consent.""
"He's my brother!""
"And Emily is his daughter. You might want to remember that before you make another decision.""
I felt something twist inside my chest.
My father.
The man who had taught me to ride a bicycle, attended every school performance, and sat beside my mother's hospital bed.
Could he really not be my biological father?
I wanted to scream.
Instead, I asked the question that had been burning inside me.
"Why did my mother leave evidence of a murder?""
Richard's voice softened.
"Because she believed someone had tried to kill Daniel after he discovered what your grandfather was doing with the family company.""
Dad looked up.
"What?""
"Your father controlled Carter Holdings. Daniel was his financial director. He discovered that several million dollars were being moved through fraudulent accounts.""
"That can't be true.""
"It is.""
Dad shook his head.
"Daniel would have told me.""
"He tried. But your father threatened to have him arrested for embezzlement.""
Vanessa sat down suddenly.
I noticed her hands trembling.
Richard continued.
"Daniel went to your mother for help. She was pregnant with you at the time. She discovered that the financial records also contained payments to someone who had access to her medical information.""
I frowned.
"What medical information?""
"Your mother's pregnancy records. Someone had been trying to change your birth registration before you were even born.""
Dad looked horrified.
"Why?""
"Because your grandfather wanted to remove Daniel's name from any future inheritance dispute.""
I stared at the documents.
"Then why did Mom marry Dad?""
Richard answered carefully.
"Because Michael loved Claire. And because she believed marrying him would protect the baby.""
Dad sat down.
His shoulders dropped.
"She never told me.""
"She wanted to. But your father threatened to ruin both of you if she revealed Daniel's identity.""
Dad looked at the floor.
For the first time, I saw him as something other than my father.
I saw a man who had spent twenty-five years believing a story someone else had written for him.
"Mr. Hale," I said, "what happened to my mother?""
Another silence.
"Claire died from complications following surgery.""
"I know that.""
"No, Emily. You know what the death certificate says.""
My fingers tightened around the phone.
"What are you saying?""
"Your mother was scheduled for a routine procedure. There were complications afterward. But the original medical report was altered.""
Dad stood abruptly.
"Are you saying someone killed my wife?""
"I believe her death deserves a criminal investigation.""
Vanessa suddenly began shaking her head.
"No. No, that's not what happened.""
Everyone turned toward her.
Dad stepped closer.
"What do you know?""
"Nothing.""
"You're reacting like someone who knows something.""
She covered her mouth.
I approached her.
"Did you know my mother was murdered?""
Vanessa looked at me.
Then she whispered:
"Your mother wasn't supposed to die.""
The words struck harder than anything else she had said.
Dad's face twisted.
"What does that mean?""
Vanessa started crying.
"I didn't know what your father was planning. I swear.""
Dad grabbed the edge of the table.
"Which father?""
Vanessa looked at me.
"Your grandfather.""
I felt dizzy.
She continued.
"Arthur Carter wanted Daniel gone. He wanted the family business under his control, and he believed Claire was helping Daniel expose the missing money.""
Dad shook his head.
"My father was a businessman. He wasn't a murderer.""
Vanessa looked at him sadly.
"Michael, your father had people who did things for him.""
Richard interrupted.
"Vanessa, stop. You're making statements you cannot take back.""
She turned toward the phone.
"Then tell them what you did!""
Richard went silent.
Dad frowned.
"What did she do?""
Vanessa stood.
"I was the one who delivered the medical documents.""
My heart stopped.
"What medical documents?""
She looked at me.
"Your mother's revised treatment instructions. I was working at the hospital's administration office before I married Michael.""
Dad stared.
"You told me you were a marketing consultant.""
"I was both.""
"Why were you handling Claire's medical records?""
"Because Arthur asked me to.""
Dad took a step backward.
"You're telling me you were involved?""
"I didn't know what the documents meant!""
"You signed them!""
"I thought they were routine!""
Richard's voice became firm.
"Vanessa, did you receive money from Arthur Carter?""
She didn't answer.
"Vanessa?""
Her silence was enough.
Dad looked as though he might collapse.
Then he turned toward me.
"Emily, we need to get you out of here.""
I shook my head.
"I'm not leaving.""
"Please.""
"No. I've spent my entire life being told what I can and cannot know. I'm done.""
I looked at Vanessa.
"Did you know I was Daniel's daughter when I moved back into this house?""
She lowered her eyes.
"Yes.""
"Did you know about the inheritance?""
"Yes.""
"And you threw me out because you were afraid I'd discover the truth?""
She nodded faintly.
I felt tears sliding down my cheeks.
"Why did you hate me so much?""
Vanessa looked at the photograph of my mother.
"Because Claire got everything I wanted.""
"What?""
"Your father. The house. The family name. And even after she died, she still controlled everything through you.""
I stared at her.
Then she said the most chilling thing yet.
"Your grandfather promised me that if I helped him keep Daniel away, I'd eventually become the sole beneficiary of the Carter estate.""
Dad's voice dropped.
"How much did he promise you?""
"Two million dollars.""
"And did he pay you?""
She nodded.
"Most of it.""
Dad looked at the safe.
"That's where the money came from?""
Vanessa wiped her face.
"Some of it.""
Richard interrupted.
"Michael, listen to me. I need you to understand something. Arthur Carter's estate was never settled properly.""
Dad frowned.
"My father died eight years ago.""
"His will was amended six months before his death.""
"What's that got to do with Emily?""
Richard hesitated.
"Everything. The amended will names Emily as the primary heir to the controlling shares of Carter Holdings.""
I stared at him.
"What?""
Dad looked stunned.
"That's impossible. I inherited the company.""
"No, Michael. You inherited the management position. The shares were placed in a separate trust.""
"Whose trust?""
"Emily's.""
I felt my knees weaken.
Richard continued.
"And there is one more thing. The person who has been receiving dividends from those shares for the last eight years is not Michael.""
Dad's eyes narrowed.
"Who?""
Richard answered.
"Vanessa.""
Dad turned toward her.
She backed away.
Then the doorbell rang.
Once.
Twice.
A man stood outside the glass entrance.
He was tall, gray-haired, and wearing a dark coat.
He looked directly at me through the glass.
Vanessa began trembling.
Dad walked toward the door.
"Who is that?""
Richard's voice suddenly became urgent.
"Michael, don't open it until you know who you're dealing with.""
May you like
But Vanessa whispered a name.
"Daniel.""
