Chapter 10: The Woman Who Ordered His Death
I called Vanessa back seven times.
She didn't answer.
On the eighth attempt, her phone went straight to voicemail.
I stood in the middle of the living room, staring at the photograph on my screen. My aunt Patricia was holding my father's metal box. Vanessa stood beside her, looking directly at the camera. Claire Cole was smiling as though they had just finished celebrating something.
Andrew took the phone from my hand.
"Don't call her again.""
"She knows something.""
"Then we need to find out what she knows before she disappears.""
I looked at him.
"She just told me someone I loved ordered my father's death.""
Andrew's expression tightened.
"She may be trying to protect herself.""
"From whom?""
He didn't answer.
I walked toward the staircase and called my mother.
She picked up immediately.
"Marcus?""
"Mom, I need you to listen carefully. Is Aunt Patricia at the house?""
"No. Why?""
"Have you spoken to her today?""
A long silence followed.
"She called this morning.""
"What did she want?""
"She said she needed to discuss some old family documents.""
I closed my eyes.
"Did she mention Dad's metal box?""
My mother's breathing became uneven.
"Yes.""
"What did you tell her?""
"Nothing. I told her I didn't know where it was.""
I looked at Andrew.
"Mom, I need you to tell me something. Did Dad ever suspect Patricia was involved in his business problems?""
My mother didn't answer.
Then she whispered, "Your father loved his sister.""
"That's not what I asked.""
"He trusted her with everything.""
"Did he ever accuse her of betraying him?""
My mother began crying.
"Not until the week he died.""
I felt my stomach drop.
"What happened?""
"Patricia came to the house. They argued in his office. I couldn't hear everything, but I heard your father say, 'I gave you every opportunity to tell me the truth.''"
I leaned against the wall.
"What did she say?""
"She told him he was making a terrible mistake.""
"Did she leave?""
"Yes. She slammed the door.""
"Did Dad tell you what the argument was about?""
My mother hesitated.
"He said Patricia had been sharing company information with Richard.""
I looked at Andrew.
He was listening closely.
"Why didn't you tell me this before?""
"Because I thought it was over. After Thomas died, Patricia helped me with the funeral arrangements. She brought groceries.
She checked on you. I couldn't imagine she had anything to do with what happened.""
I swallowed.
"Mom, did Dad ever say he was afraid of her?""
"No.""
"Then why would Vanessa say Patricia ordered his death?""
My mother whispered, "I don't know.""
I ended the call.
Andrew placed his briefcase on the coffee table.
"We need to examine the trust documents again.""
"Why?""
"Because your father included a clause that I haven't explained.""
He opened the folder and pulled out a folded sheet.
"Thomas suspected someone inside the family was helping Richard. He created a separate set of instructions that would only become active if someone attempted to interfere with the trust.""
"What instructions?""
Andrew pointed to a paragraph.
"An independent review of the original company accounts, the trust's ownership history, and the circumstances surrounding his death.""
I stared at him.
"Who was supposed to conduct it?""
"An accountant named Peter Lawson. He was your father's financial auditor.""
"Is he still alive?""
"Yes. He retired several years ago, but he kept his records.""
"Where is he?""
Andrew checked the document.
"An address in Connecticut.""
I took out my phone.
"Then we're going to find him.""
Before I could make the call, the doorbell rang.
We both froze.
Andrew moved toward the security monitor.
A woman stood on the porch.
Patricia.
She was wearing a beige coat and carrying a small handbag. Her silver hair was neatly arranged, and she looked exactly as I remembered her from childhood.
Except now I knew she had been standing beside Vanessa and Claire with my father's missing box.
Andrew stepped away from the monitor.
"Don't let her in.""
I stared at the screen.
"She's my aunt.""
"That's exactly why she knows how to get close to you.""
The doorbell rang again.
Patricia looked directly into the camera.
"Marcus, darling. I know you're there.""
I didn't move.
She lifted a hand and held up a small envelope.
"I have something that belongs to you.""
I opened the intercom.
"What do you want?""
Her expression softened.
"To explain.""
"Explain why you took my father's box.""
She looked down for a moment.
Then she raised her eyes.
"I didn't take it. Vanessa brought it to me.""
"Where is it now?""
"Safe.""
"With whom?""
"Not Richard.""
I exchanged a look with Andrew.
Patricia continued.
"Marcus, please. Your father left something inside that box. Something that could destroy more than one family.""
"Then bring it here.""
"I can't.""
"Why?""
"Because someone is watching me.""
She glanced toward the street.
A dark sedan was parked across the road.
Its windows were tinted.
Patricia's face changed.
"Marcus, listen carefully. Don't trust anyone who tells you your father died in an accident.""
The intercom crackled.
Then she stepped closer.
"Especially not Andrew.""
I looked at the lawyer.
Andrew's face had gone completely still.
Patricia placed the envelope against the door.
"Read this before you decide what to do.""
She turned and hurried toward her car.
The dark sedan's headlights came on.
I ran to the front window.
Patricia got into her vehicle and pulled away.
The sedan followed.
I turned to Andrew.
"What was that about?""
He didn't answer.
I picked up the envelope.
Inside was a single page, written in my father's handwriting.
I recognized it instantly.
If Marcus ever reads this, it means the people I feared have found their way back into his life.
My hands began to shake.
Below that sentence was another paragraph.
I have trusted three people with my life. One has betrayed me. One has protected me. And one has already paid the price.
At the bottom was a name.
*Andrew Mitchell.*
I slowly raised my eyes.
Andrew didn't look surprised.
He looked devastated.
"Marcus," he said, "there's something you need to know about the night your father died.""
I held up the letter.
"Start talking.""
He sat down heavily.
May you like
Then he said:
"I was supposed to be in that second car.""
