Chapter 10: The Promise My Father Made Twenty Years Ago
“Richard, where are you?”” Elizabeth repeated.
The phone crackled.
I could hear my father's breathing, followed by the sound of something metallic scraping against the floor.
“I'm at St. Mary's Hospital,” he whispered.
“Room 317.””
Mr. Bennett immediately reached for his car keys.
“Are you injured?””
“Not badly.””
“Who did this?””
There was a long silence.
Then my father answered.
“Diane.””
Elizabeth closed her eyes.
“What happened?””
“She found out I had gone to the storage facility. She came to the house and demanded the original documents. When I refused, she told me I had already broken our agreement.””
“What agreement, Richard?””
He lowered his voice.
“The one I made the night Laura died.””
The call disconnected.
I stared at Elizabeth.
“What agreement?””
She put the phone away.
“We're going to the hospital.””
My father was sitting on the edge of a hospital bed when we arrived.
His left cheek was swollen. A small cut ran across his forehead, and his shirt had a dark stain near the collar.
He looked exhausted.
When he saw me, he immediately stood.
“Maya.””
I didn't move.
Mr. Bennett spoke first.
“What happened?””
Richard sat down again.
“Diane came to the house. She wanted the documents from Unit 214. I told her I wasn't giving them to her.””
“And she attacked you?””
“She threw a glass at me. Then she threatened to call the police and tell them I had stolen the records.””
Elizabeth folded her arms.
“Why would she threaten you with something she could easily explain?””
Richard looked at the floor.
“Because she knows I signed the original authorization.””
Elizabeth went still.
“Which authorization?””
My father swallowed.
“The one transferring control of Laura's inheritance.””
I stared at him.
“Why?””
He looked at me.
“Because I was afraid.””
“Of Diane?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
He rubbed his injured forehead.
“Twenty years ago, before you were born, Diane approached me with information about Laura. She told me Laura was hiding money from me and planning to leave with it.””
Elizabeth interrupted.
“That was false.””
“I know that now.””
“What happened next?””
Richard looked at the window.
“Diane showed me documents. Bank statements. Letters. Things that made it look like Laura was moving money into accounts I knew nothing about.””
I frowned.
“But that money belonged to Mom.””
“I didn't understand that at the time.””
“You didn't ask?””
He looked at me.
“I should have.””
His voice broke.
“I should have asked her.””
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then he continued.
“When Laura became pregnant, Diane told me she had discovered something about the hospital records. She said the birth documents contained a discrepancy that could destroy my marriage.””
I gripped the chair.
“What discrepancy?””
Richard hesitated.
“Diane claimed that Laura had listed another man as your biological father.””
Elizabeth shook her head.
“That was never established.””
“I know.””
“Then why did you believe her?””
“Because she showed me a document with Daniel's name.””
I looked at Elizabeth.
“Daniel Hayes?””
She nodded.
My father continued.
“Diane told me that if I didn't cooperate, she would make sure I lost everything. She said she had enough evidence to make it look like I had knowingly signed false financial documents.””
Mr. Bennett leaned forward.
“And you agreed to transfer Laura's inheritance?””
Richard nodded.
“I signed a document giving Diane temporary authority over several accounts. She promised she would return everything after the family situation settled.””
Elizabeth's expression hardened.
“And she never did.””
“No.””
I stared at my father.
“Why didn't you tell Grandpa?””
Richard's eyes filled.
“Because Diane said she would use the documents to make me look like a thief. She told me I would never see you again.””
I shook my head.
“You could have told me.””
“I know.””
“You could have told Grandpa.””
“I know, Maya.””
“You could have stopped her!””
He lowered his head.
“I know.””
I felt tears running down my face.
I wanted to scream.
Instead, I whispered, “You let her make me think nobody wanted me.””
My father covered his face.
“I am sorry.””
I turned away.
An apology couldn't return the years he had missed.
It couldn't erase the birthdays he had forgotten or the nights Grandpa had sat beside me when I cried because my father never called.
Elizabeth waited until I had calmed down.
“Richard, what exactly did you promise Diane?””
He looked at her.
“I promised that if Laura died, I would help her secure the inheritance and keep Daniel away from Maya.””
Elizabeth's eyes narrowed.
“Why Daniel?””
“Because Diane claimed he was involved in the financial records.””
“Was he?””
Richard shook his head.
“I don't think so.””
“Then why did you agree?””
My father took a slow breath.
“Because Diane told me Daniel had been the last person to visit Laura before the accident.””
I remembered the hospital photograph.
The man standing beside my mother.
Daniel.
“What happened to him?””
Richard looked at me.
“He disappeared after Laura died.””
Elizabeth leaned forward.
“Did Diane arrange that?””
Richard nodded.
“She told me Daniel had left the country.””
Elizabeth stood abruptly.
“That is not what happened.””
“What do you mean?””
“Daniel was investigated after Laura's death. He was never charged with anything. But someone filed a complaint accusing him of falsifying medical records.””
My father stared.
“Diane?””
Elizabeth nodded.
“And the complaint was withdrawn shortly before he disappeared.””
I looked at my father.
“So you knew all this?””
He shook his head.
“Not everything.””
“Enough to know something was wrong.””
He didn't argue.
That evening, Margaret arrived at the hospital.
She carried a small overnight bag and a sealed envelope.
When she saw Richard's injuries, her expression darkened.
“Diane did this?””
He nodded.
Margaret pulled a chair beside him.
“Then it's time.””
She placed the envelope on the bed.
Inside was a photograph of an old farmhouse.
The red barn stood behind it.
I recognized the location from Grandpa's map.
“What's there?”” I asked.
Margaret looked at me.
“The last place your mother went before the accident.””
I felt my stomach tighten.
“Why?””
“Because she believed the original records were hidden there.””
Elizabeth studied the photograph.
“Who owns the property?””
Margaret hesitated.
“Harold.””
Mr. Bennett frowned.
“Harold never mentioned owning another property.””
“He didn't want anyone to find it.””
Richard looked up.
“Does Diane know?””
Margaret nodded.
“She knew about the farmhouse. That's why she has been searching for it.””
I looked at the photograph again.
There was a small handwritten note beneath the image.
The truth was never in the bank.
I turned toward Margaret.
“What does that mean?””
She leaned closer.
“Your grandfather moved the most important evidence before Laura died. He didn't trust the bank, the hospital, or the lawyers handling the estate.””
Elizabeth stared at her.
“Where did he put it?””
Margaret looked at me.
“In the red barn.””
I felt a sudden wave of fear.
“Then we should go.””
Mr. Bennett shook his head.
“Not tonight. It's too dangerous.””
Margaret looked toward the window.
“Unfortunately, we may not have a choice.””
She handed Elizabeth her phone.
A photograph had arrived from an unknown number.
It showed the farmhouse.
A black car was parked outside.
And standing beside the red barn was Diane.
May you like
The message underneath read:
Come before midnight, or everything disappears.
