Chapter 14: The Last Witness
My mother locked the door before she spoke again.
She led us into a small sitting room where the curtains were drawn and every window had been covered with thick blinds.
There were no family photographs.
No decorations.
Only a desk, a filing cabinet, and a wall covered in handwritten dates.
My childhood.
My father's business.
The Riverside cooperative.
And one date circled in red.
The night Arthur died.
"Sit down," she said.
I remained standing.
"Tell me who killed him.""
She looked at me.
"I don't know who administered the sedative. But I know who made sure he was alone.""
"Who?""
"Robert Ellis.""
I felt my chest tighten.
"Robert was my father's closest friend.""
"He was also the person Victor trusted most.""
Helen stepped forward.
"Do you have evidence?""
My mother opened the filing cabinet and removed a small recorder.
"Arthur made this shortly before his death.""
She pressed play.
Static filled the room.
Then my father's voice.
"If anything happens to me, Robert knows where the original ledger is. He knows who signed the transfer orders. He knows why Catherine had to disappear.""
A second voice followed.
Robert.
"You can't keep doing this, Arthur. Victor will destroy us.""
My father answered calmly.
"Then let him try.""
The recording ended.
I looked at my mother.
"Why didn't you give this to the police?""
"I tried.""
"And?""
"They said it wasn't enough. The recording established a threat, not a murder.""
Helen examined the device.
"Was this the only copy?""
"No. Arthur made two. I kept one. The other disappeared.""
"Where?""
My mother looked at Naomi.
"Margaret took it.""
Naomi shook her head.
"My mother never told me.""
"She may not have known what she had.""
I turned back to my mother.
"Why did you fake your death?""
She sat down slowly.
"Because Victor threatened to take you and Naomi. He had people watching the hospital. He knew about the money and the original beneficiary list. I had discovered that he was using the reserve to finance a network of fraudulent property transfers.""
"But you could have told me.""
"I couldn't risk it.""
"You let me grow up thinking you were dead.""
She closed her eyes.
"Arthur believed he could keep you safe. He promised me that you would have a normal childhood.""
"Was he involved in your disappearance?""
"He arranged it.""
I shook my head.
"Did he know you were alive?""
"Yes. We spoke occasionally. Carefully. Never from the same number, never in the same place.""
"Then why didn't he tell me?""
"Because every time he came close to telling you, someone made a threat.""
I thought of my father's letters.
His warnings.
His insistence that I stay away from Riverside.
"Did he know Robert was working with Victor?""
"Not at first. He discovered it shortly before he died.""
Helen placed the recording on the table.
"We need to find Robert.""
My mother looked at her.
"He'll know we're here.""
As if summoned by her words, my phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
A photograph appeared.
It showed the house from the road.
The message beneath it was brief.
*You should have stayed dead, Catherine.*
Helen immediately moved toward the window.
"Everyone away from the glass.""
Another message arrived.
*Bring the original ledger to the old repair shop tonight. Come alone, Marcus.*
My mother went pale.
"That's Victor.""
Helen shook her head.
"No. Victor wouldn't need to threaten you directly if he had someone else doing it.""
I looked at the photograph again.
The car in the background was familiar.
Daniel Price's car.
I called Robert.
He answered after three rings.
"Marcus?""
"Where are you?""
A long silence.
Then he said, "I was hoping you wouldn't find her.""
My mother closed her eyes.
"Robert," she whispered.
I put the call on speaker.
"Did you help kill my father?""
His breathing became uneven.
"I didn't kill Arthur.""
"Did you let someone into the shop?""
Silence.
"Robert.""
"I thought they were only going to frighten him.""
My mother covered her mouth.
"Who?""
"I don't know who gave him the medication. I swear. Victor told me Arthur had to be stopped before he exposed the accounts.""
"Who went inside?""
Robert began crying.
"Margaret.""
Naomi stepped forward.
"My mother?""
"She went in first. She argued with Arthur. Then she left. Daniel came afterward.""
I felt sick.
"And you?""
"I waited outside.""
"Why?""
"Because Victor told me to make sure nobody else entered.""
I stared at the phone.
"You watched my father die.""
"I heard him collapse.""
"Did you call for help?""
Robert's voice broke.
"I called Victor.""
My mother turned away.
Robert continued.
"By the time I went inside, Arthur was barely breathing. I wanted to call an ambulance, but Victor said the police would find the money records. He told me to leave.""
"And you did.""
"I was afraid.""
I gripped the phone.
"Where's the second recording?""
Robert whispered, "With Daniel.""
"Where is Daniel now?""
"At the repair shop.""
Helen signaled to the investigator.
"We're going to get him.""
But Robert spoke again.
"Marcus, there's something else. The original ledger isn't at the shop.""
"Where is it?""
"Your father's house.""
I frowned.
"What?""
"The house you grew up in. He hid it behind the fireplace.""
My mother looked at me.
Then she slowly shook her head.
"No.""
"What?""
"Arthur never hid anything there. He told me he had given the ledger to someone he trusted.""
"Who?""
She looked at the photograph on the table.
At the four people standing outside the shop.
Then she pointed to herself.
"Me.""
She opened a small compartment beneath the desk and removed a thin metal key.
"I have the ledger.""
Helen took it carefully.
"Then we need to secure it immediately.""
A crash sounded outside.
The front window shattered.
Helen pushed my mother to the floor.
The investigator shouted.
Someone ran across the porch.
I heard the back door slam.
Then Naomi screamed.
I turned.
She was standing beside the desk, holding a sheet of paper.
Her face had gone white.
"What is it?"" I asked.
She handed it to me.
It was a recent bank transfer authorization.
Eleven million dollars.
The beneficiary was Victor Lang.
The authorizing signature was Catherine Carter.
My mother stared at it.
"That's impossible.""
Helen examined the document.
"Someone used your identity.""
My mother shook her head.
"No. I signed it.""
I looked at her.
"Why?""
She began crying.
"Because Victor told me he would leave you and Naomi alone if I gave him the money.""
"Did you know what he would do with it?""
"No.""
Helen turned the page.
There was another signature beneath my mother's.
A witness.
*Arthur Carter.*
My mother whispered, "He was already dead when I signed that.""
May you like
Then she looked at me.
"Marcus, I think someone has been using your father's identity since the night he died.""
