Chapter 11: The Night Andrew Disappeared
For several seconds, I couldn't speak.
Andrew sat across from me with his hands clasped together.
The man who had spent days helping me uncover my father's secrets had just admitted he was connected to the second car.
"You were supposed to be there?""
He nodded.
"Your father asked me to follow him that night.""
"Why?""
"Because he believed Richard was planning to confront him. Thomas wanted someone to witness the meeting and make sure he got home safely.""
I stared at him.
"Then why wasn't your name in the police report?""
"Because I never arrived.""
"Convenient.""
Andrew accepted the accusation without flinching.
"I understand why you think that.""
"Do you?""
I stood and paced across the room.
"My father died. My mother spent twenty years afraid. My wife helped a man steal from us.
My uncle broke into my house. And now you're telling me you were supposed to be at the scene?""
Andrew lowered his head.
"I know.""
"Tell me what happened.""
He took a slow breath.
"I received a phone call from Thomas at approximately eight thirty that evening. He said he had found evidence that Richard and Patricia had been working together to divert company funds.""
"Patricia?""
"Yes.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I didn't have proof until recently.""
I stopped pacing.
"What happened after the call?""
"Thomas asked me to meet him at a roadside restaurant outside town. He wanted me to take possession of several original documents.""
"Did you go?""
"I left my office at nine. On the way, I received another call.""
"From whom?""
"Patricia.""
My chest tightened.
"What did she say?""
"She told me Thomas had changed the meeting location. She gave me an address near the old quarry.""
"Did you believe her?""
"At the time, yes.""
Andrew looked at his hands.
"I drove there. But when I arrived, the road was blocked by a truck. I got out to see what was happening. Someone struck me from behind.""
I stared at him.
"Someone attacked you?""
"Yes. I woke up in a hospital the following morning.""
"Who took you there?""
"A delivery driver found me near the road.""
"Did you report the attack?""
"I tried. But by then, Thomas was dead. Patricia told the police I had never been scheduled to meet him.""
I shook my head.
"Why didn't you tell Evelyn?""
"I did. She asked me not to involve the police because she was afraid someone would come after you.""
I looked toward the staircase.
My mother had carried this fear for twenty years.
"And you just let us believe Dad died in an accident?""
Andrew's voice broke.
"I thought the truth would put you in danger. I had no idea how far Richard's influence reached.""
I picked up the letter again.
"Why did Dad write your name?""
Andrew reached into his briefcase.
"Because he knew I had failed him.""
He placed an old photograph on the table.
It showed Andrew standing beside my father outside the Northstar office.
On the back was a handwritten note:
Andrew knows where the original ledger is. If he disappears, look beneath the foundation.
I stared at the words.
"Beneath the foundation?""
Andrew nodded.
"Your father had a private archive built beneath the original Northstar office.""
"Does it still exist?""
"The building was sold years ago. But the basement archive was never included in the sale documents.""
I felt a strange sense of relief.
"So the ledger might still be there?""
"Possibly.""
"Then why have we been searching the house?""
"Because the blue ledger was supposed to be in the metal box. Thomas kept a duplicate archive at the office.""
I looked at him.
"What's in it?""
"Original contracts, bank records, correspondence, and a list of everyone who participated in the fraudulent transfers.""
"Everyone?""
"Everyone.""
I sat down.
"Then that's where we go.""
Andrew shook his head.
"Not until we know who has the box.""
My phone vibrated.
A message from Patricia.
*I am safe for now. Meet me at the old Northstar building at 8 p.m. Come alone. Bring the brass key.*
I showed Andrew.
He immediately shook his head.
"No.""
"She has the box.""
"That doesn't mean she's telling the truth.""
"Then I'll ask her.""
"Marcus, this could be a trap.""
I looked at the clock.
It was nearly six.
"I've spent my entire life being told to stay away from the truth because it might be dangerous. I'm done.""
Andrew studied me.
"Then we do this carefully.""
He contacted a private security firm and arranged for a discreet team to monitor the building. We also informed the police about the threats and the missing property.
I called Evelyn and told her I would be late.
She asked me to promise I wouldn't take unnecessary risks.
I promised.
At seven forty-five, I arrived outside the old Northstar office.
The building had been converted into a storage facility. The sign above the entrance was faded, but the original stone columns remained.
Patricia was waiting near the side entrance.
She held the metal box.
When she saw me, she looked relieved.
"You came.""
"I want answers.""
She glanced around.
"Did Andrew come with you?""
"No.""
"Good.""
I approached her.
"Give me the box.""
She didn't move.
"Your father wanted you to have it.""
"Then why did you take it?""
"Because I was trying to protect it.""
"From whom?""
She looked at me with tired eyes.
"From the person who has been controlling everything since Thomas died.""
"Richard?""
She shook her head.
"Richard is greedy, Marcus. But he's not the one who planned the accident.""
My throat tightened.
"Who did?""
Patricia looked down at the box.
"Your father discovered that someone had been using his identity to authorize transfers. He thought it was Richard. Then he found out the signatures were coming from someone much closer.""
"Who?""
She finally looked at me.
"Me.""
I stepped backward.
"What?""
"I signed documents Richard gave me. I thought they were temporary authorizations. I didn't know he was moving money out of the company.""
"You're saying you helped him?""
"Yes.""
"Then why should I believe anything you say?""
"Because I refused to sign the final document.""
She opened her handbag and pulled out a folded sheet.
"Your father found out. He gave me one chance to confess. I was supposed to meet him that night and tell him everything.""
"Did you?""
"No.""
Her eyes filled with tears.
"I was afraid Richard would destroy my family. So I called him and told him where Thomas was going.""
The world seemed to tilt.
"You told Richard where my father would be?""
She nodded.
"I didn't know he intended to hurt him.""
I clenched my fists.
"What happened that night?""
"I waited at home. Later, Richard called and told me Thomas had been in an accident.""
"Did you know David was involved?""
She nodded again.
"David was driving the second car. He followed Thomas to the meeting.""
I felt sick.
"And Andrew?""
"He was supposed to follow them too. Richard arranged for someone to stop him.""
I stared at her.
"Who?""
Patricia's lips trembled.
"Claire's mother.""
I frowned.
"Claire's mother is dead.""
"She died three years ago. But she was Richard's first wife. She worked in the company's accounts department.""
Patricia pressed the metal box into my hands.
"There's a letter inside. Your father wrote it the night he died. It names the person who gave the final order.""
I opened the lid.
Inside lay the blue ledger, several envelopes, and a small cassette recorder.
I picked up the top envelope.
My father's handwriting was on the front.
For Marcus. Only if I cannot come home.
I looked at Patricia.
"Who ordered it?""
She swallowed.
"Your father knew.""
"Who?""
She leaned closer.
"Your mother.""
I froze.
Patricia's voice dropped to a whisper.
"Thomas believed Evelyn had been helping Richard long before the accident.""
Behind me, a car door slammed.
I turned.
Andrew stood at the end of the driveway.
His face was pale.
"Marcus," he shouted.
"Don't believe her.""
Patricia suddenly grabbed my wrist.
"Don't let him take the box!""
Then the lights inside the building went out.
May you like
And someone behind us said:
"Put it down.""
