Chapter 9: The Witness at the Railway Station
At 11:45 the following morning, I was sitting in the back of Mr. Bennett's car outside the old railway station.
Thomas sat beside me.
He had insisted on coming, despite the instruction to meet Robert alone.
Mr. Bennett had also arranged for Detective Harris to be informed of our location.
Nobody trusted anyone anymore.
The railway station had been closed for renovations years earlier. Its brick walls were covered in ivy, and the platform was almost empty.
A cold wind moved through the abandoned tracks.
I held my grandfather's note in my pocket.
"Do you think he'll come?"" I asked.
Thomas looked through the window.
"If he believes your grandfather left something important with you, he'll come.""
"What if he's lying?""
"Then we leave.""
At exactly noon, a black car pulled into the parking lot.
An older man stepped out.
He carried a wooden walking stick.
A pale scar ran from his left eyebrow toward his temple.
Robert Vance.
He looked around before approaching us.
When he saw Thomas, he stopped.
"Thomas Reed.""
Thomas opened the car door.
"Robert.""
The older man gave a bitter smile.
"I wondered when you would finally come back ran from his left eyebrow toward his temple.
Robert Vance.
He looked around before approaching us.
When he saw Thomas, he stopped.
"Thomas Reed.""
Thomas opened the car door.
"Robert.""
The older man gave a bitter smile.
"I wondered when you would finally come back.""
Thomas stepped onto the pavement.
"I've been looking for you for sixteen years.""
Robert looked at me.
"You're Evelyn's daughter.""
I nodded.
He lowered his head.
"She had your eyes.""
I swallowed.
"Did you know my mother?""
Robert glanced toward the station.
"I worked for your grandfather for twenty-three years. I knew Evelyn from the day she was born.""
"Did you know what happened to her?""
His grip tightened around.""
Thomas stepped onto the pavement.
"I've been looking for you for sixteen years.""
Robert looked at me.
"You're Evelyn's daughter.""
I nodded.
He lowered his head.
"She had your eyes.""
I swallowed.
"Did you know my mother?""
Robert glanced toward the station.
"I worked for your grandfather for twenty-three years. I knew Evelyn from the day she was born.""
"Did you know what happened to her?""
His grip tightened around the walking stick.
"Yes.""
The answer came so quickly that I felt dizzy.
Thomas stepped forward.
"Then tell us.""
Robert looked toward the road.
"Not here.""
He led us to a small café across the street.
Inside, he chose a table near the back and ordered three coffees the walking stick.
"Yes.""
The answer came so quickly that I felt dizzy.
Thomas stepped forward.
"Then tell us.""
Robert looked toward the road.
"Not here.""
He led us to a small café across the street.
Inside, he chose a table near the back and ordered three coffees.
I didn't touch mine.
Robert placed a brown envelope on the table.
"Your grandfather gave me this shortly before he died.""
I stared at it.
"What's inside?""
"The original financial ledger. Copies of the insurance documents. And a signed statement from your mother.""
Thomas leaned forward.
"Why didn't you give it to the lawyer?""
Robert looked at him.
"Because I didn't trust the lawyer.""
I frowned.
"Mr. Bennett.
I didn't touch mine.
Robert placed a brown envelope on the table.
"Your grandfather gave me this shortly before he died.""
I stared at it.
"What's inside?""
"The original financial ledger. Copies of the insurance documents. And a signed statement from your mother.""
Thomas leaned forward.
"Why didn't you give it to the lawyer?""
Robert looked at him.
"Because I didn't trust the lawyer.""
I frowned.
"Mr. Bennett?""
Robert nodded.
"Edward trusted him with the will. But the man who handled the financial transactions was someone else.""
"Who?""
"Someone inside the company. Someone who had access to every account.""
I looked at Thomas.
"Daniel?""
Robert shook his head.
"Daniel was involved,?""
Robert nodded.
"Edward trusted him with the will. But the man who handled the financial transactions was someone else.""
"Who?""
"Someone inside the company. Someone who had access to every account.""
I looked at Thomas.
"Daniel?""
Robert shook his head.
"Daniel was involved, but he wasn't the one controlling everything.""
He opened the envelope.
Inside was a stack of papers, carefully organized and marked with dates.
The first document was a company ledger.
The second was an insurance policy for my mother.
The third was a signed statement.
I recognized my mother's handwriting immediately.
Evelyn Hayes.
My hands began to shake.
Robert placed a but he wasn't the one controlling everything.""
He opened the envelope.
Inside was a stack of papers, carefully organized and marked with dates.
The first document was a company ledger.
The second was an insurance policy for my mother.
The third was a signed statement.
I recognized my mother's handwriting immediately.
Evelyn Hayes.
My hands began to shake.
Robert placed a finger on the first paragraph.
"Read it.""
I unfolded the statement.
I, Evelyn Hayes, am making this statement because I believe my life is in danger.
I have discovered that funds belonging to Hayes Holdings have been transferred through accounts I never authorized.
I believe Daniel finger on the first paragraph.
"Read it.""
I unfolded the statement.
I, Evelyn Hayes, am making this statement because I believe my life is in danger.
I have discovered that funds belonging to Hayes Holdings have been transferred through accounts I never authorized.
I believe Daniel is involved, but I no longer believe he is acting alone.
There was more.
I continued.
The person giving Daniel instructions is someone my father trusts completely.
Someone who has access to the family home.
Someone who has been present at every important family meeting.
I stopped.
"Who is it?""
Robert looked at me.
"Keep reading.""
The next line was underlined twice.
*The person responsible is my father's attorney, Richard Bennett.*
My mouth went dry.
I looked up.
"Mr. Bennett?""
Robert nodded.
"Your grandfather's lawyer was involved is involved, but I no longer believe he is acting alone.
There was more.
I continued.
The person giving Daniel instructions is someone my father trusts completely.
Someone who has access to the family home.
Someone who has been present at every important family meeting.
I stopped.
"Who is it?""
Robert looked at me.
"Keep reading.""
The next line was underlined twice.
*The person responsible is my father's attorney, Richard Bennett.*
My mouth went dry.
I looked up.
"Mr. Bennett?""
Robert nodded.
"Your grandfather's lawyer was involved in the fraud.""
Thomas stood so suddenly that his chair scraped the floor.
"That's impossible.""
"Is it?""
"Edward trusted him with everything.""
"Exactly.""
Robert closed the envelope.
"Richard Bennett arranged the transfers. He prepared the false financial documents. He even drafted the letter that made Thomas look like in the fraud.""
Thomas stood so suddenly that his chair scraped the floor.
"That's impossible.""
"Is it?""
"Edward trusted him with everything.""
"Exactly.""
Robert closed the envelope.
"Richard Bennett arranged the transfers. He prepared the false financial documents. He even drafted the letter that made Thomas look like a criminal.""
Thomas stared at him.
"Why?""
"Because Evelyn discovered the accounts. She was going to expose everything.""
I felt sick.
"But Mr. Bennett gave me the letter. He helped me open the safe.""
Robert looked at me sadly.
"Because he wanted to know what your grandfather had left behind.""
I remembered the library.
Claire's terrified expression.
Daniel's anger.
The lawyer standing between us.
Had he been protecting me?
Or a criminal.""
Thomas stared at him.
"Why?""
"Because Evelyn discovered the accounts. She was going to expose everything.""
I felt sick.
"But Mr. Bennett gave me the letter. He helped me open the safe.""
Robert looked at me sadly.
"Because he wanted to know what your grandfather had left behind.""
I remembered the library.
Claire's terrified expression.
Daniel's anger.
The lawyer standing between us.
Had he been protecting me?
Or controlling what I discovered?
Robert continued.
"Your grandfather eventually found out. He realized Bennett had been using his trust for years. But by then, Evelyn was dead, Thomas had been framed, and Daniel was deeply involved.""
"Then why didn't Grandpa report him?""
"Because Bennett had something Edward couldn't afford to lose.""
"What?""
Robert looked directly at me.
"Your original birth certificate.""
I frowned.
controlling what I discovered?
Robert continued.
"Your grandfather eventually found out. He realized Bennett had been using his trust for years. But by then, Evelyn was dead, Thomas had been framed, and Daniel was deeply involved.""
"Then why didn't Grandpa report him?""
"Because Bennett had something Edward couldn't afford to lose.""
"What?""
Robert looked directly at me.
"Your original birth certificate.""
I frowned.
"What's wrong with my birth certificate?""
He removed another document.
It was a hospital record.
My name was written at the top.
Maya Evelyn Hayes.
Below it were the names of my parents.
Thomas Reed.
Evelyn Hayes.
And beneath the doctor's signature was a handwritten note.
**Mother requests identity protection due to threats from"What's wrong with my birth certificate?""
He removed another document.
It was a hospital record.
My name was written at the top.
Maya Evelyn Hayes.
Below it were the names of my parents.
Thomas Reed.
Evelyn Hayes.
And beneath the doctor's signature was a handwritten note.
*Mother requests identity protection due to threats from family member.*
I stared at it.
"Why would my mother need identity protection?""
Robert took a long breath.
"Because someone had already tried to take you away from her.""
Thomas's face went pale.
"Who?""
Robert looked toward the café entrance.
"Your grandfather's family member.**
I stared at it.
"Why would my mother need identity protection?""
Robert took a long breath.
"Because someone had already tried to take you away from her.""
Thomas's face went pale.
"Who?""
Robert looked toward the café entrance.
"Your grandfather's attorney arranged it.""
My phone vibrated.
A message appeared.
It was from Mr. Bennett.
Maya, where are you? We need to speak immediately. Do not trust Robert Vance.
Before I could respond, another message arrived.
This time, it was from an unknown number.
*The man sitting across from you is not Robert Vance.*
I looked up.
The old man across the table was watching me.
His expression had changed.
He slowly reached into his coat and removed an identification attorney arranged it.""
My phone vibrated.
A message appeared.
It was from Mr. Bennett.
Maya, where are you? We need to speak immediately. Do not trust Robert Vance.
Before I could respond, another message arrived.
This time, it was from an unknown number.
*The man sitting across from you is not Robert Vance.*
I looked up.
The old man across the table was watching me.
His expression had changed.
He slowly reached into his coat and removed an identification card.
Then he placed it beside the envelope.
"My name isn't Robert Vance," he whispered.
Thomas stood.
"Who are you?""
The man looked directly at me.
"My name is Robert Vance's brother.""
He slid the identification card toward me.
"Your grandfather sent me here because the real Robert was murdered six days before he died.""
I couldn't move.
The man leaned closer.
"And the person who killed him is the same person who has been pretending to protect you.""
card.
Then he placed it beside the envelope.
"My name isn't Robert Vance," he whispered.
Thomas stood.
"Who are you?""
The man looked directly at me.
"My name is Robert Vance's brother.""
He slid the identification card toward me.
"Your grandfather sent me here because the real Robert was murdered six days before he died.""
I couldn't move.
May you like
The man leaned closer.
"And the person who killed him is the same person who has been pretending to protect you.""
