Chapter 12: The Man Who Bought Their Silence
The next morning, Daniel received a call from the investigator assigned to the medical referral.
The investigator's name was Detective Laura Bennett.
She requested copies of the original hospital records, Sandra's statement, the recording from Robert's safety deposit box, and the financial documents connected to Thomas Vance.
Daniel agreed to provide them through the proper channels.
At 10:30, Detective Bennett met us at the office.
She was direct, professional, and careful with her words.
"Mrs. Carter, I want to make something clear," she said.
"We are not assuming that anyone caused Mr. Carter's death. We are investigating inconsistencies in the medical records and possible financial misconduct.""
"I understand.""
"Your mother has agreed to provide a statement.""
I looked at Daniel.
"She's coming?""
"She requested protection from retaliation," the detective explained.
I felt a bitter laugh rising.
My mother had been willing to help my husband remove me from my own property.
Now she was frightened of him.
Detective Bennett continued.
"There's another development. We located a former employee of Thomas Vance who contacted us after hearing about the inquiry.""
Daniel leaned forward.
"Who?""
"An accountant named Michael Turner.""
The detective opened a folder.
"He worked for Vance's firm for approximately five years. He claims he was instructed to create invoices for payments that had no legitimate business purpose.""
I stared at the folder.
"Payments to whom?""
"Several companies connected to Nathan Carter and Brielle Adams.""
I looked up.
"Adams?""
"My sister's legal surname.""
Detective Bennett nodded.
"According to Mr. Turner, Brielle was listed as a consultant for a company that never provided services.""
Daniel exchanged a glance with me.
"How much money?""
"Approximately $480,000 over three years.""
I sat back.
The same amount that had disappeared from the family accounts.
Detective Bennett continued.
"Mr. Turner also claims that some of the payments were described internally as settlement expenses.""
"Settlement for what?""
"We're still investigating.""
She placed another photograph on the table.
It showed Thomas Vance entering a restaurant with Nathan.
Beside them was an older man I didn't recognize.
The photograph was dated three months after Robert died.
"Do you know this person?"" she asked.
I shook my head.
Daniel studied the image.
"That's Charles Whitmore.""
Detective Bennett nodded.
"He's a former business partner of Nathan's father.""
I frowned.
"Why would he be meeting Nathan?""
"Mr. Turner believes Whitmore was involved in the original business loan.""
I looked at Daniel.
He opened the financial folder.
The Northbridge Solutions payment appeared again.
$240,000.
Recipient: Thomas Vance.
The detective placed another document beside it.
A transfer of $240,000 from Thomas Vance to Charles Whitmore.
Same date.
Same amount.
My stomach tightened.
"So Vance was just passing the money along?""
"That's one possibility.""
"Why?""
Detective Bennett leaned back.
"Mr. Turner says Whitmore had been threatening legal action against the Carter family.""
Daniel frowned.
"Over what?""
The detective glanced at her notes.
"An alleged ownership dispute involving a business Robert Carter sold before his death.""
I looked at the photograph.
"Was Nathan involved?""
"Yes.""
"Did Robert know?""
"We believe he discovered the dispute shortly before his death.""
I remembered Robert's letter.
There is something about Nathan that I cannot explain in a letter.
I looked at Daniel.
"Could this be what he meant?""
"Possibly.""
Detective Bennett closed the folder.
"We need to speak with Mr. Whitmore. We also need the original records from the business sale.""
After she left, Daniel called Richard.
Richard answered quickly.
"Daniel?""
"We need information about Robert's old business.""
There was a long silence.
Then Richard said, "I was wondering when someone would ask.""
I leaned forward.
"What happened?""
Richard took a breath.
"Robert owned a construction supply company. He sold it several years before his death. The buyer was supposed to pay in installments.""
"Did they?""
"Initially. Then the payments stopped.""
"Why?""
"Because Nathan had apparently signed a separate agreement giving the buyer additional rights.""
I looked at Daniel.
"Without Robert's permission?""
"Yes.""
Richard continued.
"Robert discovered that the agreement had been altered. He believed Nathan and Whitmore were working together.""
"Was there evidence?""
"Robert kept copies.""
"Where?""
Richard paused.
"Not in the safety deposit box.""
I felt frustration rising.
"Where, then?""
"In the house.""
"Which part?""
"The basement office. Behind the built-in shelves.""
I looked at Daniel.
"That's where the red folder was.""
Richard nodded.
"There should be another compartment behind it.""
I closed my eyes.
The house.
The place I had walked out of in the rain.
The place where my husband and sister had celebrated my humiliation.
The place where the truth had been hidden for years.
Daniel made a call to the trustee.
By early afternoon, we had permission to enter the property with an independent representative to retrieve documents belonging to the trust.
I didn't want to go back.
But I knew I had to.
At 4:00 p.m., Daniel, the trustee's representative, and I arrived at the house.
Patricia opened the door.
She looked at me as though I had brought something unpleasant into her living room.
"Why are you here?""
"The trustee has authorized access to the basement office.""
Her face changed.
"You cannot go down there.""
Daniel handed her the written authorization.
"Mrs. Carter, please read the document.""
She glanced at it.
Then she looked at me.
"You're enjoying this.""
I walked past her.
"No, Patricia. I'm finishing it.""
The basement smelled of dust and old wood.
The office remained exactly as I remembered it.
Robert's desk stood beneath the window.
A framed photograph of him and Nathan sat on the bookshelf.
I looked at it for a moment.
Then Richard's instructions came back to me.
Behind the built-in shelves.
Daniel examined the wall.
"Which one?""
I pointed toward the middle section.
The trustee's representative helped move the shelving unit.
Behind it was a narrow wooden panel.
Daniel pressed against one corner.
A small compartment opened.
Inside were two envelopes, a black notebook, and a portable hard drive.
I reached for the notebook.
The first page contained a handwritten list of payments.
The second contained names.
Nathan.
Thomas Vance.
Charles Whitmore.
And one more name.
Margaret Adams.
My mother.
I opened the first envelope.
Inside was a letter from Robert addressed to the family trustee.
It described a suspected financial arrangement between Nathan and Whitmore.
But the final paragraph made my blood run cold.
If I am unable to complete the investigation, please ensure that Emily receives the original share certificate. The company was never legally transferred to Nathan, despite what he has told everyone.
I looked at Daniel.
"What company?""
He opened the second envelope.
Inside was a certificate showing that Robert had retained a controlling interest in his old business.
And the shares had been transferred to me through his estate.
I stared at the document.
"How much is it worth?""
Daniel examined the attached valuation.
His eyebrows rose.
"Approximately $3.8 million at the last independent valuation.""
I couldn't speak.
The company Nathan had claimed to have inherited.
The company he had used to justify his debts.
The company he had told Patricia was the foundation of his future.
It wasn't his.
It was mine.
Then I heard footsteps behind us.
Patricia stood at the bottom of the stairs.
Her face had lost all its color.
"Put that back.""
Daniel turned.
"Mrs. Carter, we're acting under the trustee's authorization.""
She ignored him.
"Emily, you don't understand what that document means.""
I held up the certificate.
"Then explain it.""
Patricia stared at the paper.
"That company belongs to Nathan.""
"According to this, it doesn't.""
"Robert promised it to him!""
"Then why did he transfer the shares to me?""
Her eyes filled with tears.
"Because he wanted to punish his son.""
I studied her.
"No. He wanted to protect his grandchildren.""
She stepped closer.
"Listen to me. Nathan made mistakes, but he built that company into something valuable.""
"With whose money?""
"His father's.""
"And whose shares?""
She said nothing.
I turned toward Daniel.
"Make copies of everything.""
Patricia suddenly grabbed my arm.
"Emily, please!""
I pulled away.
"Don't touch me.""
Her voice cracked.
"You have to understand. Nathan is in trouble. If these documents become public, he could lose everything.""
I looked at her.
"He already took everything from me.""
She shook her head.
"No. You don't know what Thomas has threatened to do.""
"Then tell me.""
She glanced toward the stairs.
Then she whispered:
"Thomas has been blackmailing Nathan for years.""
Daniel stopped gathering the documents.
"Blackmailing him over what?""
Patricia looked at me.
Her lips trembled.
"Over what happened to Robert.""
I felt my heart hammering.
"What happened to Robert?""
She began crying.
"Thomas was supposed to make sure Robert signed the papers that night. But when Robert refused, everything went wrong.""
Daniel stepped forward.
"Mrs. Carter, are you saying Thomas was responsible for administering the medication?""
Patricia covered her face.
"I didn't know what was in the bottle.""
I stared at her.
"Did you give it to him?""
She shook her head.
"Thomas said it was harmless.""
"Did you know Robert was asking for me?""
Her crying stopped.
For a moment, she looked directly at me.
Then she whispered:
"Yes.""
I felt my knees weaken.
"You knew he wanted to see me?""
She nodded.
"And you kept me away?""
"I was trying to protect Nathan.""
I stepped back.
"From his own father?""
Patricia reached for me again.
"Emily, please. You don't understand what he was facing.""
I looked at the black notebook in Daniel's hands.
Then I looked at her.
"No, Patricia. I understand perfectly.""
My phone vibrated.
A message from Brielle.
*You need to stop digging. Nathan knows what happened to his father, and if you keep going, you'll destroy more than just your marriage.*
I stared at the screen.
Then another message arrived.
*By the way, I'm at the house. We need to talk about the baby.*
I looked toward the stairs.
A moment later, Brielle appeared.
She was wearing the same red dress from our anniversary dinner.
Her eyes moved from the documents to my face.
Then she smiled.
"Well," she said, resting a hand on her stomach.
"I suppose it's time you finally learned who the father of my baby really is.""
I froze.
May you like
Because standing behind her was Nathan.
And he was holding a second DNA test report.
