Chapter 8: The Man Who Knew My Mother's Last Words
Detective Mills refused to let me attend the meeting alone.
Daniel Cross had been connected to a suspicious financial history, a missing inheritance, and a twenty-five-year-old death investigation.
There was no reason to trust him.
"We'll arrange a controlled meeting," she explained.
"You'll speak with him in a monitored room. No private conversations.""
I agreed.
Dad insisted on coming.
But Detective Mills shook her head.
"Mr. Bennett, given the allegations your daughter-in-law has made against you, I need you to remain here until we clarify the situation.""
"She's not my daughter-in-law," Dad muttered.
"She's my son's wife.""
The detective gave him a sympathetic look.
"That distinction won't change the evidence.""
I squeezed his shoulder.
"I'll be careful.""
He nodded.
Then he stopped me before I reached the door.
"Marcus.""
I turned.
"Whatever Daniel tells you, remember one thing.""
"What?""
"Your mother loved you more than anything in this world.""
I nodded.
"I know.""
"Don't let anyone use her memory to turn you against the people who truly loved her.""
I left with Detective Mills.
The hotel was downtown.
A modern building with glass walls, expensive furniture, and a lobby that smelled faintly of polished wood.
Daniel Cross was waiting in a private meeting room.
He looked older than the photograph.
His hair had turned gray, and deep lines surrounded his eyes.
But I recognized him immediately.
The man standing beside my mother in the photograph.
He rose when I entered.
"Marcus.""
I didn't offer my hand.
"Why did you ask to see me?""
Daniel glanced at Detective Mills.
"I'd prefer to speak with him privately.""
"That isn't happening," she replied.
He sighed.
Then he looked at me.
"Your mother was a remarkable woman.""
"Don't talk about my mother.""
He nodded.
"Fair enough.""
I sat opposite him.
"Let's start with the money.""
Daniel folded his hands.
"Your grandfather left you an inheritance. Your mother discovered that part of it was being mismanaged. She asked me to help investigate.""
"You're saying you were helping her?""
"Initially, yes.""
"Then why did my father find your company connected to the stolen money?""
Daniel looked down.
"Because I made a terrible decision.""
"What decision?""
"I transferred money into accounts I controlled. I told myself it was temporary. I thought I could return it before anyone noticed.""
I stared at him.
"How much?""
"About $400,000 initially.""
"Initially?""
He nodded.
"More money was moved over the following years.""
My hands clenched.
"And you stole my inheritance.""
"I did.""
The direct admission surprised me.
I leaned forward.
"Why?""
Daniel looked at me.
"Because I was in debt. I had made bad investments, and I was desperate.""
"That doesn't explain why you kept doing it.""
He was silent.
Then he said, "Margaret knew.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"My aunt?""
"Yes. She discovered the transfers. Instead of reporting me, she demanded a share.""
I stared at him.
"So you were working together?""
"Eventually.""
"And Vanessa?""
Daniel hesitated.
"She was Margaret's niece. She knew about the inheritance before she met you.""
I felt something cold spread through my chest.
"How much did she know?""
"Everything.""
I stared at him.
"She married me because of the money?""
Daniel didn't answer immediately.
Then he nodded.
"That was the original arrangement.""
For several seconds, I couldn't speak.
The woman I'd shared a bed with for five years.
The woman I'd bought flowers for, trusted with my home, and introduced to everyone I loved.
She had approached me with a plan.
"How did you meet her?""
"Margaret introduced us at a charity event. Vanessa was supposed to become your friend first. She was told to understand your financial situation and determine whether the inheritance had been recovered.""
"And when she couldn't find it?""
"She married you.""
I stared at him.
"How do you know that?""
Daniel pulled an envelope from his jacket.
"Because I kept the correspondence.""
He placed it on the table.
Inside were printed emails between Margaret, Vanessa, and Daniel.
The first was dated three months before Vanessa and I met.
Marcus Bennett is the beneficiary. His father has no idea how much money is still missing. Get close to him. Don't mention the inheritance until you're married.
The next email came from Vanessa.
He's more trusting than I expected. His company is growing, and his father still has considerable influence. I need to separate them before we move forward.
I read it twice.
My hands trembled.
Another email contained a sentence that made me feel physically sick.
If Arthur keeps interfering, we'll make him look dangerous. Marcus will choose his wife over an old man.
I lowered the papers.
They had planned the confrontation.
The lies.
The isolation.
Even the slap.
I looked at Daniel.
"Did you know she was going to accuse my father of assault?""
He shook his head.
"No.""
"Don't lie.""
"I'm telling you the truth. I knew Margaret wanted Arthur removed from your life, but I didn't know Vanessa would frame him.""
I stood.
"How convenient.""
Daniel remained seated.
"I have something else.""
He pulled out a second envelope.
"This is why I contacted your father six months ago.""
I opened it.
Inside was a copy of a letter from my mother.
It was addressed to Daniel.
Daniel, I know about the missing money. I also know Margaret has been involved. If you return what belongs to Marcus, I will not destroy your life. But if anything happens to me, I want you to understand that Arthur will never stop looking for the truth.
My eyes blurred.
"Did she send this before the accident?""
Daniel nodded.
"Two days before.""
"Why didn't you give it to the police?""
He looked away.
"Because I was afraid.""
"Afraid of what?""
"Margaret.""
I stared at him.
Then he said something that made my blood run cold.
"Your mother didn't die because of a random accident.""
Detective Mills leaned forward.
"Explain.""
Daniel swallowed.
"On the night of the collision, I was supposed to meet Eleanor. She had copies of the financial records. Margaret found out and followed her.""
My heart hammered.
"Was Margaret driving the other car?""
Daniel nodded.
"I saw her.""
The room fell silent.
"What happened?"" I demanded.
Daniel rubbed his face.
"Eleanor had stopped on the roadside. She was waiting for me. Margaret pulled up behind her. They argued.""
"And then?""
"Margaret got into her car. Eleanor tried to leave. The collision happened moments later.""
"Did Margaret hit her deliberately?""
Daniel looked at me.
"I don't know. But she didn't stop to help.""
I felt sick.
"Why did you stay silent?""
"Because Margaret threatened to tell the police I had stolen the money. She said she'd make sure I went to prison.""
I stared at him.
"You let my mother become a footnote in an accident report because you wanted to protect yourself?""
Daniel lowered his head.
"Yes.""
I stepped away from the table.
Detective Mills signaled to the officers outside.
"Mr. Cross, we're going to need a formal statement.""
Daniel nodded.
Then he looked at me.
"There's one more thing.""
I turned.
"Your mother left a recording.""
I froze.
"What recording?""
"A cassette tape. She gave it to Margaret before the accident. Margaret told me she destroyed it.""
"Where is it?""
Daniel opened his briefcase.
He removed a small USB drive.
"I recovered a digital copy from an old storage account.""
Detective Mills took it.
"Where did this come from?""
"An email attachment Margaret sent me years ago. She thought I'd deleted it.""
I looked at the USB drive.
My mother's voice might be on it.
After twenty-five years, I might finally hear her again.
Then Daniel said:
"There's something you should know before you listen.""
I stared at him.
"What?""
"Your mother recorded the conversation she had with Margaret the night she died.""
Detective Mills connected the drive to a secure laptop.
The audio file appeared.
She pressed play.
At first, there was static.
Then my mother's voice filled the room.
"Margaret, please. Marcus is a child. He has nothing to do with this.""
A second voice responded.
"You should have stayed out of the accounts, Eleanor.""
My mother sounded frightened.
"You're his aunt. How can you do this?""
Then Margaret spoke again.
May you like
And the next sentence made my blood run cold.
"Because that money was never meant for Marcus.""
