Chapter 4 - THE WOMAN WHO KNEW MY FATHER
I stared at her.
“Who are you?”
She stepped into the light.
“My name is Rebecca.”
My mother gasped.
“I know you.”
Rebecca nodded.
“We worked together.”
“Where?”
“At your father's company.”
My father had died seven years ago.
Rebecca had disappeared shortly afterward.
Everyone believed she had moved overseas.
But she had been here.
Watching.
Waiting.
I looked at Vanessa.
“What is she doing here?”
Rebecca answered.
“She came to me.”
I frowned.
“Why?”
“Because she finally realized Thomas was going to kill her.”
Vanessa began crying.
“I didn't know.”
“You knew enough,” I said.
“I knew he wanted your company.”
“You signed the contract.”
“I was afraid.”
“You still helped him.”
She lowered her head.
“I know.”
Rebecca stepped forward.
“Your father discovered Thomas was stealing money.”
“Yes.”
“He also discovered something worse.”
“What?”
“Thomas wasn't working alone.”
I looked at Mom.
“Who else?”
Rebecca handed me a photograph.
It showed Thomas.
My father's former attorney.
And another person.
My father's brother.
My uncle.
A man I had been told died before my father.
I stared at the photograph.
“He's alive?”
Rebecca nodded.
“He has been living under another name for twenty years.”
I felt sick.
“My entire family has been lying.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Rebecca looked at Mom.
“Because your mother knew the truth.”
I turned.
“Mom?”
She began crying.
“I found out after your father died.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because they threatened you.”
“Who?”
“My brother-in-law.”
I froze.
“My uncle?”
Mom nodded.
“He told me that if I spoke, you'd disappear.”
I couldn't breathe.
Rebecca continued.
“Your father left evidence.”
“Where?”
“In the foundation.”
“What evidence?”
“A complete record of every illegal transfer.”
I looked at Vanessa.
“Why did Thomas want my mother's house?”
Rebecca answered:
“Because it contains the final piece.”
“What piece?”
“The voting rights.”
I stared.
“The foundation controls billions in assets.”
“Yes.”
“But your father separated the assets from the family.”
“Yes.”
“So Thomas needs the foundation.”
“Exactly.”
I looked at Mom.
“Why did he use your house?”
“Because the original voting trust was attached to that property.”
Everything suddenly made sense.
Thomas wasn't after the house.
He was after control.
The pool attack hadn't been random.
Vanessa had pushed Mom because she wanted to intimidate her.
Then I had arrived.
Everything had fallen apart.
I looked at Vanessa.
“You knew my mother was the target.”
She cried.
“I thought Thomas only wanted her to sign something.”
“You knew enough.”
“I am sorry.”
I looked away.
I wasn't ready to forgive her.
But I needed her alive.
The police entered the warehouse.
Thomas was arrested.
His associates were arrested too.
But my uncle was missing.
Rebecca looked at me.
“He knows you have the deed.”
I nodded.
“Then he'll come for you.”
I looked at the evidence.
“No.”
May you like
I smiled.
“He'll come for the foundation.”
