Chapter 13: The Passenger in the Back Seat
I read the message three times.
Your father wasn't meeting Richard that night. He was meeting you.
For a moment, the hospital room seemed to disappear.
I looked at my mother.
"Mom, what does this mean?""
She stared at the phone.
Her face had gone pale.
"Who sent that?""
"I don't know.""
I showed her the message.
She pressed a hand against her mouth.
"Adrian...""
"Tell me the truth. Was Dad supposed to meet me that night?""
She didn't answer.
"Mom, please.""
Her eyes filled with tears.
"Your father wanted to take you away.""
I frowned.
"Take me where?""
"Somewhere safe. He had discovered that Richard was planning to use the company to finance a much larger fraud. Your father believed that once Richard realized the documents were missing, he would come after everyone in the family.""
I sat down.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"You were eleven. Your father didn't want you involved.""
"But the message says he was meeting me.""
My mother nodded slowly.
"He was.""
She explained that Michael had arranged for Thomas to pick me up from school that afternoon. I was supposed to spend the night at my father's office while he and Evelyn prepared to leave town.
But the plan changed.
Richard discovered the arrangement.
He contacted my mother and told her that if Michael tried to take me, he would make sure neither of us ever saw me again.
"My father was trying to protect me," I whispered.
"Yes.""
"And the shooting happened because he refused to hand me over?""
My mother looked away.
"Richard wanted the trust. But he also wanted something else.""
"What?""
"Control over you.""
I stared at her.
"Why would he care about an eleven-year-old boy?""
"Because your father had named you as the future controlling beneficiary of his company. Richard believed that if he could control you, he could control the shares.""
The room felt suddenly smaller.
I thought about the years that followed.
The scholarships.
The unexpected business opportunities.
The investors who had approached me when I was barely thirty.
The people who had seemed unusually eager to help me build my hotel company.
Had Richard been watching me all along?
My phone rang.
Daniel.
I answered immediately.
"Tell me you know something about this.""
He was quiet for a moment.
"Adrian, I need you to come here.""
"I'm listening.""
"Not over the phone.""
I looked at my mother.
"Daniel, I need answers.""
"You'll get them. But there's something I found in the recovered files. It changes what we thought happened that night.""
"What?""
He lowered his voice.
"The person who drove your father to Richard's property wasn't Thomas.""
I gripped the phone.
"Who was it?""
"Peter Lawson.""
I looked toward the corridor.
"Peter?""
"He was working for our father. He was supposed to take you to the office, but Richard intercepted the car. Peter escaped with the original recording.""
"Why didn't he tell me?""
"Because he thought you were still in danger.""
I ended the call and looked at Jonathan.
"We need to speak to Peter.""
Jonathan nodded.
"I'll arrange it.""
Peter arrived an hour later.
He looked older than when I had last seen him. His hands trembled as he sat across from me.
"I should have told you sooner," he said.
"Then start now.""
Peter looked at Evelyn.
"I'm sorry.""
My mother shook her head.
"You did what you could.""
He turned to me.
"Your father called me that afternoon. He said he had to get you out of the house before Richard made his next move.""
"Was I in your car?""
Peter nodded.
"You were.""
I stared at him.
"What?""
"You were asleep in the back seat. Your father had arranged for me to take you to his office. He planned to meet us there after speaking with Richard.""
My stomach tightened.
"What happened?""
"Richard's men blocked the road. I managed to get away, but your father was forced to turn back toward the property.""
"Did you see the shooting?""
Peter shook his head.
"No. But I heard it.""
He closed his eyes.
"I was parked beyond the gates. I heard shouting, then a gunshot. Your father came out a few minutes later. He was bleeding.""
I leaned forward.
"Was he alive?""
"Yes.""
Peter's voice broke.
"He was alive, Adrian.""
My throat tightened.
"What happened?""
"Thomas came out carrying him. Richard followed. He ordered us to put your father in the car.""
Peter paused.
"I thought they were taking him to a hospital.""
"But they weren't.""
"No.""
Peter looked down.
"Richard made us drive to an old service building behind the property. Your father was barely conscious. He kept asking about you.""
I closed my eyes.
"What did he say?""
Peter swallowed.
"He said, 'Tell Adrian I tried to come home.''"
I couldn't breathe.
Peter continued.
"Thomas wanted to take him to the hospital. Richard refused. They argued. Then Richard told Thomas that if he helped Michael escape, he would make sure Evelyn and you disappeared.""
I looked at my mother.
She was crying.
"Then what?"" I asked.
"Thomas distracted Richard long enough for me to move your father. But by the time we reached the road, he had stopped breathing.""
The silence was unbearable.
"Where did you take him?""
Peter looked at Jonathan.
"To the family cemetery. Thomas knew a place beside Michael's father. We buried him there because Richard controlled the official investigation.""
I stared at the floor.
My father had died trying to get back to me.
And I had spent twenty-seven years believing he had simply been taken by an accident.
"Who sent the message?"" I asked.
Peter shook his head.
"I don't know.""
My phone vibrated again.
This time, the number was familiar.
Camille.
I stared at it.
Jonathan leaned forward.
"Don't answer.""
But I did.
"Adrian," Camille whispered.
"What do you want?""
"I need to see you.""
"Why?""
"Because Richard isn't the person you should be looking for.""
I almost laughed.
"You were holding a gun when he shot my brother.""
"I know.""
"You impersonated my mother to steal documents.""
"I know.""
"You helped your father destroy my family.""
Her voice cracked.
"I did terrible things. But I didn't kill Michael.""
"Then who did?""
She hesitated.
"Someone who was there before Richard arrived.""
I stood.
"Who?""
Camille whispered a name.
A name I hadn't heard in decades.
"Thomas.""
I stared at Peter.
He looked as shocked as I felt.
"That's impossible," I said.
Camille's voice became urgent.
"Adrian, your uncle didn't die in that ravine. He disappeared because he knew what really happened.""
Then she added:
"He's alive. And he's coming for your mother.""
The call ended.
I looked at Jonathan.
"Find Thomas.""
But Peter was already shaking his head.
"Don't.""
I turned.
"Why?""
Peter looked toward Evelyn.
"Because Thomas has been dead for twenty-seven years.""
May you like
He paused.
"At least, the man who called himself Thomas has.""
