Chapter 6: The Woman Who Knew My Father's Killer
We reached the house at twelve thirty-seven in the morning.
Two security officers accompanied us.
Daniel insisted that I remain in the car until they checked the property.
I hated waiting.
Through the windshield, I watched the lights inside the house.
The study was illuminated.
So was my father's old bedroom.
Then I saw a shadow move behind the curtains.
Someone was watching us.
“Mr. Hale,” one of the officers said through the radio, “we have a situation.””
“What kind?””
“Your front door is unlocked. The security cameras have been disabled.””
Daniel turned toward me.
“We're calling the police.””
Before he could finish, the front door opened.
Vanessa appeared.
She was barefoot, wearing a white robe.
Her hair was disheveled, and her makeup had been wiped away.
She looked nothing like the elegant woman who had nearly married me.
“Marcus!””
She hurried down the steps.
One of the officers stepped in front of her.
“Ma'am, stay where you are.””
“Please! I need to speak to him.””
I opened the car door.
“Let her talk.””
Daniel looked unhappy.
“Marcus—”
“I'm not going inside.””
The officer moved aside.
Vanessa approached the car.
Her eyes immediately went to my legs.
“You're really walking again.””
“Not well enough to run away from you.””
She flinched.
“I didn't know.””
“You knew I was taking medication that wasn't prescribed to me.””
She lowered her head.
“I didn't know what was in it.””
“But you collected it.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
She looked over her shoulder toward the house.
“Because Julian told me it would keep you dependent on us.””
I stared at her.
“Dependent?””
“He said you would never recover if you kept pushing yourself. He told me the medication was harmless.””
“And you believed him?””
Her eyes filled.
“I wanted to.””
I laughed bitterly.
“That's convenient.””
She reached toward me.
I moved my hand away.
“Don't.””
Vanessa began crying.
“I know about the video. I know what your father told you.””
“Then you know I know we're related.””
She covered her mouth.
For several seconds, she couldn't speak.
Finally, she nodded.
“Yes.””
“How long?””
“Since I was twenty.””
My stomach turned.
“You knew before we met?””
“Yes.””
“And you still pursued me?””
She shook her head desperately.
“I didn't know who you were when we first met. I met you at that charity auction. You introduced yourself as Marcus. I didn't recognize your surname until later.””
“And then?””
She looked at the ground.
“I should have left.””
“But you didn't.””
“No.””
“Why?””
Her answer came quietly.
“Because I wanted your life.””
The words were more painful than any confession.
She continued.
“Your father had money, security, respect. I grew up knowing I was his secret. My mother spent years telling me he had abandoned us. When I discovered who you were, I became obsessed with being part of the family he had chosen over me.””
I stared at her.
“You could have told me.””
“I was afraid.””
“Of what?””
“Of losing the only chance I had to get what I believed was mine.””
I looked toward the house.
“And Julian?””
Vanessa wiped her cheeks.
“Julian found out about us before you proposed. He knew the truth because your father had confronted him.””
“Did he tell you to marry me?””
“No.””
“Did he encourage it?””
She looked away.
That was answer enough.
I felt the air leave my lungs.
“Did you help him steal from the company?””
She hesitated.
“Yes.””
“How much?””
“About twelve million.””
“Where is it?””
“I don't know.””
“Don't lie to me.””
“I swear. Julian controlled the accounts.””
I stared at her.
Then I asked the question I had been avoiding.
“What happened to my father?””
Vanessa began shaking.
“I didn't kill him.””
“That's not what I asked.””
She glanced toward the house again.
“Your father confronted Julian the night he died.””
“Were you there?””
“Yes.””
“What happened?””
Her voice broke.
“Julian was screaming. Your father told him he was going to the police. He said he would expose the transfers and the affair.””
I leaned forward.
“And?””
“Julian pushed him.””
The world seemed to stop.
“What?””
“He pushed him against the desk. Your father fell. He hit his head.””
I stared at her.
“Was he alive?””
Vanessa nodded.
“He was conscious for a few minutes.””
“Did you call an ambulance?””
She covered her face.
“No.””
I felt something inside me break.
“Why?””
“Julian said your father was already dying. He said that if we called the police, they would discover the money and everything else. He told me we had to leave.””
“You left him there?””
She sobbed.
“I was terrified.””
I couldn't look at her.
My father had been lying on the floor, injured and frightened.
And the two people who could have saved him had walked away.
“Did Julian kill him?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“I don't know. I left before he did anything else.””
“You expect me to believe that?””
“I'm telling you the truth!””
I looked at the officers.
“Bring her inside. Keep her separated from Julian.””
Vanessa grabbed my arm.
“Marcus, wait!””
I pulled away.
“Don't touch me.””
She began crying harder.
“There's something else. Something you don't know.””
I stared at her.
“What?””
She leaned close enough that only I could hear.
“Your accident wasn't Julian's idea.””
I frowned.
“Explain.””
Vanessa swallowed.
“Someone hired Richard Cole to sabotage your car. Julian paid him, but he didn't make the original arrangement.””
“Who did?””
Her eyes moved toward Daniel.
Then back to me.
“Your father's lawyer.””
Daniel went completely still.
I turned toward him.
“Which lawyer?””
Vanessa whispered a name.
“Daniel Reeves.””
For a moment, I couldn't process the words.
Daniel had been standing beside me all evening.
He had helped open the safe deposit box.
He had advised me to preserve evidence.
He had told me not to investigate alone.
I slowly turned toward him.
“Daniel?””
He didn't answer.
The security officers immediately moved closer.
Daniel raised both hands.
“Marcus, she's lying.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“I have proof.””
“What proof?”” I demanded.
She looked toward the house.
“Julian has the original recording. The one your father made the night he died.””
Daniel's expression changed.
Only slightly.
But I saw it.
“She's lying,” he repeated.
I looked directly into his eyes.
“Then why are you sweating?””
Daniel took one step backward.
The officer closest to him reached for his arm.
“Sir, I need you to remain where you are.””
Daniel suddenly pulled a small object from his jacket.
It was a key.
He looked at me.
“Marcus, listen to me. Your father was not the man you think he was.””
I stared at him.
“What does that mean?””
Daniel's voice dropped.
“Your father didn't die because Julian pushed him.””
He glanced at Vanessa.
Then back at me.
“He died because someone made sure he couldn't tell the truth.””
The officer grabbed Daniel's wrist.
The key fell onto the driveway.
Before anyone could react, a loud crash came from inside the house.
Glass shattered.
Vanessa screamed.
And a second later, the lights went out.
One of the officers shouted, “Everyone stay where you are!””
I turned toward the house.
A figure emerged from the darkness near the garage.
It was Julian.
He was carrying a leather briefcase.
And when he saw me, he stopped.
Then he smiled.
“Hello, brother.””
I stared at the briefcase.
“What's inside?””
Julian lifted it slightly.
“The truth.””
He looked at Vanessa.
Then at Daniel.
Finally, his eyes settled on me.
“And Marcus, there's something you should know before you decide who to trust.””
He opened the briefcase.
Inside was an old photograph of my father holding a newborn baby.
Beside the photograph was a hospital document.
Julian held it up.
“Vanessa isn't the only person Dad kept secret from you.””
My heart began pounding.
Julian smiled wider.
“She's not the only one who isn't who you think she is.””
May you like
Then he pointed at Daniel.
“Ask your lawyer who your real father was.””
