Chapter 7: The Man Who Buried My Father
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
I read the handwritten sentence again.
Once Elena is out, the boy becomes the only obstacle.
The boy.
My seven-year-old son.
I looked at Sofia.
“What does this mean?””
She was crying now, but I couldn't tell whether she was frightened or simply desperate.
“Mateo, you have to understand. Thomas never intended to hurt Leo.””
“Then why is my son's name in a plan to remove my family from this house?””
“He meant legally. He wanted you to lose custody or something. I don't know!””
Daniel immediately took the paper from my hand.
“Don't touch anything else. I'm photographing every page.””
Richard stood beside the doorway, his face unusually pale.
“Thomas Bennett,” he repeated.
I turned toward him.
“You knew him. You worked with my father. Tell me what is happening.””
Richard rubbed his forehead.
“Your father and Thomas started a construction company together almost thirty years ago. They built commercial properties, apartment complexes, and small shopping centers. They trusted each other completely.””
“What happened?””
“About five years ago, Thomas wanted to expand into property development. Your father refused because he thought the risks were too high.””
“And?””
“They disagreed. Thomas started moving money through companies your father didn't recognize.””
I glanced at the documents.
“Westbridge?””
“Not initially. There were several companies. Your father eventually discovered that Thomas had been using their business accounts to finance private projects.””
My stomach tightened.
“Did Dad confront him?””
“Yes. They had a terrible argument.””
Richard opened his laptop and searched through a folder.
“Your father told me Thomas had become obsessed with getting control of certain properties.””
“Why?””
Richard looked toward my mother.
“Because your father's land holdings were worth considerably more than Thomas's share of the business.””
My mother slowly sat down.
“Your father never told me any of this.””
“He didn't want you involved,” Richard replied.
I looked at the note again.
“Why would Thomas use my wife?””
Richard's answer came quietly.
“Because she had access to your family.””
Sofia shook her head.
“I didn't know what he was planning at first.””
I turned toward her.
“When did you meet him?””
She wiped her cheeks.
“About a year ago. He contacted me after your father died.””
“Why?””
“He said he wanted to help me establish a property business. He told me your father had promised him certain investments before he died.””
“That's a lie.””
“I know that now.””
“What did he offer you?””
She hesitated.
“Money.””
“How much?””
“Thirty thousand dollars initially.””
I stared at her.
“You accepted thirty thousand dollars from my father's former partner without telling me?””
“He said it was a business loan!””
“And what did he ask you to do?””
She looked down.
“At first, nothing. He asked me to introduce him to people who might be interested in selling property.””
“Then?””
“Then he started asking about your mother's house.””
My mother closed her eyes.
Sofia continued.
“He said the property was sitting on valuable land. He claimed your father had discussed selling it before he died.””
Mom shook her head.
“Your father would never have sold this house without telling me.””
“I know,” I said.
Sofia looked at me.
“He said the house had a legal restriction that could be removed if the ownership was transferred into a company.””
Richard shook his head.
“That's impossible.””
“That's what he told me.””
Daniel put down his pen.
“Mrs. Reyes, did Thomas Bennett instruct you to obtain Elena's signature?””
Sofia nodded slowly.
“He said it would simplify the process.””
“And when she refused?””
“He told me to find another way.””
The room went silent.
I felt something inside me harden.
“You knew she didn't want to sign.””
“Yes.””
“You knew she hadn't given you permission.””
“Yes.””
“And you still used her identification?””
Sofia started crying harder.
“I thought I could fix everything before anyone found out.””
I looked at the note again.
“Who wrote this?””
She whispered, “Thomas.””
Daniel photographed the page and placed it inside a protective folder.
“We need to contact the authorities and notify the relevant financial institutions. This has moved beyond a disputed family transaction.””
Richard nodded.
“I'll provide everything I have.””
I turned toward him.
“Why didn't you tell me about Thomas sooner?””
Richard looked genuinely ashamed.
“Because your father asked me not to reveal certain things unless it became necessary.””
“Necessary? Someone has been trying to take my mother's house!””
“I know.””
He opened his briefcase and removed another envelope.
“Your father left this with me too.””
My hands tightened.
“Another letter?””
“Not exactly.””
He placed an old photograph on the table.
It showed my father standing beside Thomas Bennett in front of a construction site.
On the back, Dad had written a date and a short sentence.
The day I learned who my friend really was.
I stared at the photograph.
Then Richard handed me a small USB drive.
“Your father recorded a conversation with Thomas shortly before he died.””
I looked at him.
“Why?””
“He suspected Thomas was trying to take control of the company. He wanted proof.””
Daniel immediately took the drive.
“We'll preserve this and have it examined properly.””
Before anyone could say another word, my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
“Hello?””
A familiar, polished voice came through.
“Mateo. I understand you've been asking questions.””
I froze.
“Thomas?””
“I'm glad we can finally speak.””
My mother stood.
Richard reached for the phone, but I held it away.
“What do you want?””
Thomas gave a quiet chuckle.
“That's a strange question. I want what your father promised me.””
“My father promised you nothing.””
“Your father made many promises. Unfortunately, he became very forgetful toward the end.””
“Stay away from my family.””
There was a pause.
Then Thomas said, “I wouldn't be so dramatic. I have no interest in hurting anyone.””
I looked at the handwritten note.
“Then explain why you wrote that my son was an obstacle.””
His voice changed.
Only slightly.
But enough.
“Where did you get that?””
“From Sofia.””
I heard him exhale.
“Your wife has become unreliable.””
I felt my jaw tighten.
“She was working for you?””
“She was helping me with a business arrangement.””
“You used her to steal from my mother.””
“Careful, Mateo. Accusations have consequences.””
“I'm not afraid of you.””
Thomas laughed again.
“You should be more concerned about the documents your father left behind.””
“What documents?””
He lowered his voice.
“The original trust agreement isn't the only thing your father hid.””
Then the call ended.
I stared at my phone.
Daniel immediately asked, “What did he say?””
I explained.
Richard looked at the USB drive.
“Then your father may have recorded more than one conversation.””
Daniel nodded.
“We'll have it examined.””
Just then, Isabel came downstairs holding a small cardboard box.
“Mom asked me to find this.””
I looked at her.
“What is it?””
“Dad's old things. It was in the storage room.””
She placed it on the table.
Inside were photographs, receipts, a broken watch, and several sealed envelopes.
At the bottom was a small black notebook.
I recognized it immediately.
My father used to carry it everywhere.
I opened the first page.
Most of it contained business notes and phone numbers.
But near the back, I found an entry written in red ink.
If Thomas approaches the family again, contact the trustee immediately.
Below it was a telephone number.
And beneath the number, one name.
*Margaret Collins.*
Richard stared at the page.
“That's impossible.””
“Who is Margaret Collins?”” I asked.
Richard looked at my mother.
Then he answered.
“Your father's attorney.””
I frowned.
“Daniel is our attorney.””
“No,” Richard said.
“Margaret was the attorney who established the original family trust.””
He turned another page.
A handwritten note appeared beneath the date of my father's death.
Margaret knows the truth about the second beneficiary. She must be told if anything happens to me.
I looked toward Daniel.
“Can you contact her?””
He nodded.
But before he could reach for his phone, my mother spoke.
“Mateo, there's something I never told you about your father.””
I turned.
She was staring at the black notebook.
“He received a letter from Margaret two weeks before he died.””
“What did it say?””
Mom's eyes filled with tears.
“He told me it was about the house.””
“And?””
She took a shaky breath.
“He said that if Thomas ever came after our family, it would mean someone had already betrayed us from inside the house.””
I looked at Sofia.
She lowered her head.
Then my mother whispered something that made everyone turn toward her.
“Your father wasn't afraid Thomas would steal the house.””
May you like
She pointed toward the staircase.
“He was afraid Thomas would use Leo.””
