Chapter 12: The Appointment That Was Never an Accident
Vanessa stepped backward.
“No.””
I stared at her.
“Explain.””
She shook her head.
“That's not what it looks like.””
Daniel looked at the appointment record.
“Why are you meeting Peter Lawson?””
“I haven't spoken to him in months.””
Jonathan checked the file.
“The meeting was arranged through your legal representative.””
Vanessa's eyes darted toward the screen.
“Someone must have used my information.””
I crossed my arms.
“Just like someone used my mother's?””
She flinched.
“Marcus, I'm telling you the truth.””
“Then tell us why your name is on the appointment.””
She began crying.
Daniel sat down and rubbed his forehead.
“Vanessa, I need you to be honest. Right now.””
She looked at him.
“I was trying to get the money.””
The admission landed heavily.
My mother closed her eyes.
“What money?””
“The protection fund.””
“Why?””
Vanessa wiped her cheeks.
“Because the company was going to collapse.””
Daniel stared at her.
“What company?””
“Whitmore Legacy Holdings.””
“Your company?””
She nodded.
I looked at Jonathan.
“Didn't you say the company had already received money from several investors?””
“Yes.””
“And it still needed my mother's money?””
Jonathan answered carefully.
“The financial statements suggest the company had substantial liabilities.””
Vanessa lowered her head.
“I thought I could repay everything once the property project was finished.””
Daniel stood.
“You were going to take money from Eleanor to cover your debts?””
“I wasn't stealing!””
“Then what would you call it?””
“I was going to pay it back!””
My mother spoke softly.
“You could have asked me.””
Vanessa laughed through her tears.
“You would never have helped me.””
My mother looked genuinely hurt.
“Why would you think that?””
“Because you never liked me.””
“I used to read you stories when you were frightened.””
“That was years ago!””
“I remember.””
Vanessa looked away.
My mother continued.
“I remember you crying when your mother was sick. I remember you asking me whether she would die. I remember promising you that you wouldn't be alone.””
Vanessa pressed her lips together.
For a moment, she looked like the little girl in the photograph.
Then her expression hardened again.
“Things are different now.””
My mother nodded sadly.
“Yes. They are.””
Jonathan closed his laptop.
“I think we have enough evidence to refer these transactions for a formal investigation. But before we do that, we need to establish whether Peter Lawson is still connected to the original fraud.””
Daniel looked at him.
“I can contact the police.””
“Please do not contact Peter directly. If he knows these records have been discovered, he may destroy evidence.””
I looked at the appointment details.
“Then what happens tomorrow?””
Jonathan considered it.
“If Vanessa agrees, we can document the meeting and allow the appropriate authorities to handle the investigation.””
Vanessa immediately stood.
“No.””
Daniel stared at her.
“Why not?””
“Because Peter will know I told you.””
“Did you tell him anything?””
She shook her head.
Jonathan looked at her.
“Vanessa, did you arrange the meeting?””
She hesitated.
Then she nodded.
“Yes.””
“Why?””
She sank into the chair.
“Peter contacted me after Grandma died. He said he knew what happened to Richard's money. He told me my mother had hidden documents that belonged to the family.””
I frowned.
“Why would he contact you?””
“Because he knew I had found the second letter.””
Daniel looked shocked.
“What letter?””
Vanessa glanced at him.
“The one Grandma wrote about Eleanor.””
Jonathan leaned forward.
“Did Peter ask you to retrieve the trust money?””
“Yes.””
“And did he offer you anything?””
Vanessa nodded.
“He said he could clear my company's debts if I helped him recover the protection fund.””
Daniel looked sick.
“You agreed?””
“I was desperate.””
“How desperate?””
She looked at him.
“Three hundred and eighty thousand dollars.””
Daniel closed his eyes.
I felt no sympathy for the way she had tried to obtain the money.
But I could see the fear behind her confession.
Not fear of losing me.
Fear of losing the life she had constructed.
Jonathan took out his phone.
“I need to speak with the authorities now.””
He stepped into the corridor.
Daniel remained seated.
For several minutes, nobody spoke.
Then my mother quietly approached Vanessa.
“Why didn't you come to me?””
Vanessa stared at the floor.
“Because I knew what you would say.””
“What?””
“That I should take responsibility.””
My mother nodded.
“And you didn't want to hear it.””
Vanessa began crying again.
I watched my mother.
She wasn't smiling.
She wasn't triumphant.
She simply looked tired.
“Your mother made mistakes,” Eleanor said.
“So did your father. But none of that means you have to repeat them.””
Vanessa looked up.
“You think you're better than me.””
“No. I think you can still choose what kind of person you want to become.””
For a moment, Vanessa said nothing.
Then she looked at me.
“Marcus, if I tell them everything, will you forgive me?””
I took a breath.
“I don't know.””
She nodded slowly.
“Will you at least listen?””
“Yes.””
She looked at Daniel.
“Peter told me that Grandma had been hiding the truth about Richard's death. He said she knew who had arranged the crash, but she was protecting that person.””
My mother gripped the edge of the table.
“Who?””
Vanessa swallowed.
“He said it was someone inside the family.””
Daniel stared at her.
“Who?””
“I don't know. He wouldn't tell me unless I helped him get the money.””
I looked at Jonathan as he returned.
He had a serious expression.
“The authorities are reviewing the documents. They want everyone to preserve their records and avoid contacting Peter.””
Daniel nodded.
“What about tomorrow's meeting?””
“They will determine how to proceed.””
Jonathan placed his phone on the table.
“There is something else. Peter has just contacted Vanessa.””
Her phone began vibrating.
She stared at the screen.
The caller ID showed an unfamiliar number.
Jonathan motioned for her not to answer.
But a message appeared.
Vanessa looked down.
Then her face went completely white.
“What is it?”” I asked.
She handed me the phone.
The message contained only two sentences.
I know you found the box.
Tell Eleanor to stop looking for Richard's missing file, or the truth about the night he died will destroy her.
My mother began shaking.
Daniel took the phone.
“Who sent this?””
Vanessa whispered:
“Peter.””
Jonathan immediately photographed the message.
I looked at my mother.
“Mom, what missing file?””
She shook her head.
“I don't know.””
But her expression told me she was remembering something.
She slowly reached into her handbag and removed the old photograph of Richard.
For years, she had carried it with her.
She turned it over and examined the faded handwriting.
Then she noticed something I had never seen before.
A tiny rectangular mark beneath the photograph's backing.
She carefully lifted the loose paper.
A thin strip of folded material slipped onto the table.
It was a small piece of an envelope.
My mother unfolded it.
There were five handwritten words.
The original is with the boy.
I stared at the message.
“What boy?””
My mother looked at me.
Then she reached for my hand.
“Marcus, when you were born, Richard gave me something. He told me never to let anyone take it from you.””
My heart began pounding.
“What was it?””
She swallowed.
“A little wooden music box. You had it when you were a baby. I kept it for years, but after we moved, it disappeared.””
Daniel frowned.
“Where did it go?””
My mother closed her eyes.
“I gave it to someone I trusted to repair it.””
“Who?””
She looked at the message again.
Then she whispered:
“Peter Lawson.””
Nobody moved.
Jonathan immediately reached for his phone.
But before he could make the call, my mother spoke again.
“There was something hidden inside that music box.””
I turned toward her.
“What?””
She looked at the five words.
“Richard told me it contained the original evidence. The names, the payments, everything he had discovered before he died.””
Daniel stood abruptly.
“Then Peter has had the evidence all these years?””
My mother nodded.
“And if he knows we're looking for it, he'll destroy it.””
My phone suddenly rang.
An unknown number.
I answered.
A man's voice came through.
Older. Calm. Almost amused.
“Hello, Marcus. My name is Peter Lawson.””
I couldn't speak.
He continued.
“I understand you've been asking questions about your father.””
I tightened my grip on the phone.
“What did you do to him?””
There was a brief silence.
Then Peter laughed softly.
“That's the wrong question, son.””
My blood ran cold.
May you like
He lowered his voice.
“The right question is what your mother did to keep you alive.””
