Chapter 9: The Last Piece Of The Truth
We left the coffee shop through the back door.
Dad didn't say a word.
He just held my hand and walked quickly.
That scared me.
My father was always the person who told me everything would be okay.
But now he wasn't saying that.
Because maybe it wasn't.
When we got into the car, he locked the doors immediately.
"Are we being followed?""
I asked.
Dad looked in the mirror.
"I don't know.""
Rachel sat in the back seat.
Her face was pale.
"We need to go somewhere safe.""
Dad looked at her.
"You know where he keeps his files?""
Rachel nodded.
"Yes.""
"Why?""
"Because Claire showed me.""
Dad's hands tightened.
"Take us there.""
I turned around.
"Where?""
Rachel hesitated.
Then said:
"The old company storage building.""
The place was abandoned.
At least, that's what everyone thought.
The building stood behind the original company warehouse.
Rust covered the doors.
The windows were cracked.
Inside, it smelled like dust and metal.
Rachel led us through the hallway.
"Thomas kept copies of everything.""
Dad looked at her.
"How do you know?""
"Because Claire told me.""
I hated hearing her name.
But I needed the truth.
We reached a small office.
Rachel opened a cabinet.
Empty.
Her face changed.
"No.""
"What?""
"Everything is gone.""
Dad looked around.
"He cleaned it out.""
Rachel nodded.
"He knew.""
I walked toward the desk.
Something was sticking out from underneath.
A piece of paper.
I pulled it free.
Rachel looked at it.
Then gasped.
"What?""
She took it from me.
"This is a delivery receipt.""
Dad looked.
"From when?""
Rachel pointed.
"The day before your mother's accident.""
The name on the receipt was Thomas Reed.
But the signature wasn't his.
It was Claire's.
My stomach dropped.
Dad stared.
"She was there.""
Rachel nodded.
"Yes.""
"She was involved.""
"Yes.""
Dad sat down.
Like his body couldn't hold him anymore.
For years, he had loved someone who had helped destroy everything.
Then we heard a sound.
Footsteps.
Someone was inside.
Rachel whispered:
"Hide.""
We moved behind a storage shelf.
The office door opened.
A man walked in.
Older.
Gray hair.
Expensive suit.
I knew him immediately.
Thomas Reed.
He looked around.
"Where are they?""
My blood froze.
He knew we were there.
Dad stepped out.
"You mean us?""
Thomas turned.
For a moment, surprise crossed his face.
Then he smiled.
A cold smile.
"Marcus.""
Dad walked forward.
"You killed my wife.""
Thomas laughed.
"No.""
The answer was too casual.
"I ruined her plans.""
My hands shook.
Dad's voice became dangerous.
"What did you do?""
Thomas looked around.
"Your wife was smart.""
He smiled.
"Too smart.""
"You admit it?""
"I admit she found something she shouldn't have.""
Dad moved closer.
"And Claire?""
Thomas shrugged.
"Claire was useful.""
My stomach twisted.
"You used her.""
Thomas smiled.
"Everyone uses everyone.""
Rachel stepped forward.
"You promised her money.""
"Of course.""
"And you promised me protection.""
Thomas looked at Rachel.
"You were always too emotional.""
I saw Rachel's face break.
Thomas turned back to Dad.
"But you made the biggest mistake.""
"What?""
"You kept digging.""
Dad stared.
Thomas continued.
"If you had just accepted your wife's death, everyone would have been happier.""
My fists tightened.
"Happier?""
Thomas looked at me.
And then he said something that made my entire body go cold.
"Your mother was going to expose me because she thought her daughter deserved a better world.""
A tear rolled down my cheek.
Thomas looked almost amused.
"She was brave.""
Dad stepped forward.
"Don't talk about her.""
Thomas smiled.
"Why? Because I admired her?""
Silence.
Then:
"I really did.""
I hated him.
I hated that he could say those words.
Like admiration erased what he did.
Police sirens suddenly echoed outside.
Thomas's expression changed.
"What?""
Dad looked at Rachel.
She had called them.
Thomas backed away.
"You think this proves anything?""
Detectives rushed inside.
Thomas was arrested.
But before they took him away, he looked at me.
"Nia.""
I froze.
"You want to know the truth about your mother?""
Dad stepped between us.
"Don't.""
Thomas smiled.
"Ask your father why he never told you he was the last person to speak to her.""
The room went silent.
I looked at Dad.
"What?""
His face changed.
And I knew.
There was one more secret.
One more piece missing.
The police took Thomas away.
But I couldn't move.
I couldn't breathe.
Because suddenly, after everything I had learned...
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I had one question left.
What happened during my father's final conversation with my mother before she died?
