Chapter 7: The Secret Behind My Father's Death
“Tell me what you know about my father's death.””
Daniel didn't answer immediately.
I could hear traffic in the background, followed by the faint sound of a door closing.
“Nia, this isn't something we should discuss over the phone.””
“Then tell me where to meet you.””
“My office. Eight o'clock.””
“I'm not coming alone.””
His voice hardened.
“Then I have nothing to say.””
“Daniel, if you know something about my father's death, you tell me now.””
He exhaled.
“Your father didn't die because of bad luck.””
My fingers tightened around the phone.
“What does that mean?””
“He was investigating Richard. He found out about the missing money, the property transfers, and the shell companies. Richard wasn't going to let him destroy everything.””
I looked at Margaret.
She had gone completely still.
“Are you saying Richard killed my father?””
“I'm saying your father was going to expose him. Two days before he died, he told Margaret he had evidence that could put Richard in prison.””
“Then why wasn't that evidence given to the police?””
“Because it disappeared.””
I closed my eyes.
“And you know where it is?””
Another pause.
“I know where your father hid it.””
My heart began racing.
“Where?””
“Bring Vanessa tonight. I'll show you.””
The call ended.
Olivia, who had just returned from speaking with the paramedics, looked at my face.
“What did he say?””
I repeated the conversation.
She immediately shook her head.
“Absolutely not. You're pregnant, and this man has already forged your signature. You are not walking into his office without protection.””
Vanessa stood beside the bedroom door.
“I'll go.””
I turned toward her.
“Why?””
“Because if Richard is involved, I need to know what he did with my father's estate.””
I stared at her.
“He's your uncle.””
“He's also the man who has been using my father's name to manipulate me.””
Margaret slowly stood.
“There's something you both need to understand.””
She reached into the metal case and removed a small silver key.
“Your father gave me this the week before he died.””
“What does it open?”” I asked.
“A storage unit.””
“What's inside?””
“Documents. Possibly the evidence Daniel is talking about.””
I took the key.
“Why didn't you give it to me earlier?””
Margaret's eyes filled.
“Because I was afraid.””
“Of Richard?””
“Of what he could do if he knew I still had it.””
I wanted to be angry.
I was angry.
But the bruise on her forehead and the broken glasses on the floor made it difficult to pretend her fear was unreasonable.
“Where is the storage unit?””
She wrote down an address.
It was on the opposite side of town.
Olivia called the police to report the break-in and requested that Margaret be taken for medical examination.
While we waited, I sent the documents to Evelyn Harrison through her secure email address.
I also told her about Daniel's phone call.
Her response came within minutes.
Do not meet Mr. Carter privately. I am arranging an emergency appointment with an investigator who can assist with the suspected fraud and disputed property transfer.
I read the message twice.
Then another message arrived.
From Daniel.
*8 PM. Bring Vanessa. If you want to know why Robert really died, don't involve lawyers.*
I showed Olivia.
She took a screenshot.
“Good. Evidence.””
At seven thirty, Vanessa and I were sitting in my car outside Daniel's office building.
Olivia had insisted on driving us.
She had also arranged for a police contact to know our location, after Evelyn advised us not to enter the building alone.
The office occupied the top floor of a glass building downtown.
Daniel's company logo was displayed beside the elevator.
*CARTER REED DEVELOPMENTS.*
I had seen that name hundreds of times.
Now it looked like a warning.
We entered the reception area.
The lights were on, but the receptionist's desk was empty.
Daniel stood behind the glass wall of his office.
He opened the door when he saw us.
“Nia.””
I didn't return the greeting.
“Talk.””
He looked at Vanessa.
“You came too.””
“You asked me to,” she replied.
Daniel closed the office door.
A large photograph of a luxury apartment development hung behind his desk.
On the desk itself were three folders.
He pointed to the chairs.
“Sit down.””
“We're standing,” I said.
He sighed.
“Fine.””
He opened the first folder and removed an old photograph.
It showed my father outside his construction company's original office.
Beside him stood Richard Reed.
A much younger Daniel stood in the background.
I stared at the image.
“You knew my father before you met me.””
Daniel nodded.
“Richard introduced us.””
“Why?””
“Because he wanted me to get close to your family.””
The room became silent.
Vanessa stepped backward.
“You said you met Nia at the charity event.””
“I did.””
“But you already knew who she was?””
Daniel looked at me.
“Yes.””
My throat tightened.
“Did you ever love me?””
He looked almost offended by the question.
“That's not fair.””
“Answer it.””
“I cared about you.””
“That isn't what I asked.””
He looked down.
I felt something inside me break.
Daniel opened the second folder.
“Richard wanted access to the Carter holdings. He believed your father had hidden several properties and millions in investment funds.””
“So he sent you to marry me?””
“He didn't send me. He introduced us.””
“That's not an answer.””
Daniel rubbed his jaw.
“At first, I thought it was an opportunity. Then I fell in love with you.””
I stared at him.
“You spent five years pretending?””
“No.””
“You lied about your business. You lied about your relationship with Vanessa. You forged my signature.
You tried to take my home. And now you're telling me you accidentally fell in love with me?””
His voice rose.
“I was trying to fix everything!””
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
“You told me she was keeping money that belonged to our family.””
Daniel turned toward her.
“Because she was!””
“My father left me something. That doesn't mean you get to steal it.””
Daniel slammed the folder shut.
“Both of you are being emotional.””
I looked at him.
“And you're being very careful not to answer one question.””
He frowned.
“What question?””
“What happened to my father?””
For the first time, Daniel's expression changed.
He walked to the window.
“Robert discovered that Richard had been moving money out of the company. He threatened to report him.””
“And?””
“Richard arranged a meeting. He wanted to convince Robert to keep quiet.””
“What happened at the meeting?””
Daniel turned.
“Your father collapsed two days later.””
“That's not what I asked.””
He hesitated.
“I wasn't there.””
“Then how do you know?””
Daniel reached into the drawer and removed a small flash drive.
“This contains part of the original recording.””
I stared at it.
“What recording?””
“Your father's final conversation with Richard.””
My knees weakened.
“You have a recording of my father?””
Daniel nodded.
“Richard kept it.””
“Why?””
“To make sure everyone understood what would happen if they betrayed him.””
Vanessa covered her mouth.
I reached for the drive.
Daniel pulled it away.
“First, I need you to agree to something.””
I stared at him.
“Of course you do.””
“The property transfer. You withdraw your complaint. Vanessa signs the authorization. Then Richard releases the money, and everyone gets what they were promised.””
I laughed.
“You're asking me to sign away my inheritance while holding evidence about my father's death?””
“I'm offering you a way out.””
“No.””
His jaw tightened.
“Nia, think about the baby.””
I looked at him.
“Don't you dare use our child to negotiate with me.””
He placed the flash drive on the desk.
“Then listen to this.””
He connected it to his laptop.
A recording began.
My father's voice filled the room.
It sounded older than I remembered.
Tired.
Angry.
Then another voice spoke.
Richard Reed.
“You should have stayed out of this, Robert.””
My father answered.
“You stole from my daughters.””
Richard laughed.
“Your daughters will never know.””
The recording crackled.
Then my father said something that made me grip the edge of the desk.
“They will know. I've already told Margaret everything. And I've made sure the truth is in the hands of someone you cannot control.””
A loud bang followed.
Then the recording stopped.
I stared at Daniel.
“What happened next?””
He closed the laptop.
“That's all I have.””
“Where's the rest?””
“Richard has it.””
I shook my head.
“You're lying.””
Daniel leaned forward.
“There's something else you need to understand. Your father didn't just hide money. He left something that could destroy Richard.””
“What?””
Daniel looked directly at me.
“The identity of the person who helped him.””
Before I could ask another question, the office door opened.
A man stepped inside.
Tall.
Silver-haired.
Expensive suit.
Vanessa went white.
“Uncle Richard.””
Richard Reed smiled.
“Hello, girls.””
May you like
Then he looked at me.
“Robert's favorite daughter. It's been a long time.””
