Chapter 7: The Night My Father Died
I didn'tI didn't sleep that night.
Victor Lang's words followed me everywhere.
*I know what happened to your father the night sleep that night.
Victor Lang's words followed me everywhere.
I know what happened to your father the night he died.
For three years, I had believed my father died of a heart attack in the office behind his repair shop. The doctors he died.*
For three years, I had believed my father died of a heart attack in the office behind his repair shop. The doctors had found no evidence of foul play. The police had found nothing suspicious. His death certificate listed natural causes.
I had had found no evidence of foul play. The police had found nothing suspicious. His death certificate listed natural causes.
I had buried him believing that was the truth.
Now a billionaire businessman was suggesting otherwise.
At eight the following morning, buried him believing that was the truth.
Now a billionaire businessman was suggesting otherwise.
At eight the following morning, Helen arrived at my apartment carrying two coffees and a thick folder.
"We need to talk before you meet Victor.""
I hadn't told her I intended to meet him.
She Helen arrived at my apartment carrying two coffees and a thick folder.
"We need to talk before you meet Victor.""
I hadn't told her I intended to meet him.
She read my expression.
"You're considering it.""
"I want to know what happened to my father.""
"Then we'll go together.""
She placed the folder on the kitchen table.
read my expression.
"You're considering it.""
"I want to know what happened to my father.""
"Then we'll go together.""
She placed the folder on the kitchen table.
"I also contacted the medical examiner who handled your father's case. He agreed to review the original report.""
I looked at"I also contacted the medical examiner who handled your father's case. He agreed to review the original report.""
I looked at her.
"Can he change the findings?""
"Not without evidence. But we can ask questions.""
She opened the folder.
"There her.
"Can he change the findings?""
"Not without evidence. But we can ask questions.""
She opened the folder.
"There is something unusual about the original report.""
"What?""
"The time of death.""
She showed me a photocopy.
My father had been found at is something unusual about the original report.""
"What?""
"The time of death.""
She showed me a photocopy.
My father had been found at approximately 9:40 p.m. The emergency call had been made at 9:52 p.m.
But the report indicated that his body approximately 9:40 p.m. The emergency call had been made at 9:52 p.m.
But the report indicated that his body temperature suggested he had died several hours earlier.
"How many?""
"Possibly three to four.""
I frowned.
"That doesn't make sense temperature suggested he had died several hours earlier.
"How many?""
"Possibly three to four.""
I frowned.
"That doesn't make sense.""
"Exactly.""
She turned another page.
"The person who found him was Daniel Price.""
I stared at her.
"The.""
"Exactly.""
She turned another page.
"The person who found him was Daniel Price.""
I stared at her.
"The man who bought the shop?""
"Yes.""
I remembered Daniel standing outside the storage facility.
His warning.
His demand for the documents.
"Why man who bought the shop?""
"Yes.""
I remembered Daniel standing outside the storage facility.
His warning.
His demand for the documents.
"Why was he there?""
"According to the report, he was checking on your father after a scheduled business meeting.""
I shook my head.
"My was he there?""
"According to the report, he was checking on your father after a scheduled business meeting.""
I shook my head.
"My father never told me about that meeting.""
Helen closed the folder.
"Neither did Daniel, apparently.""
At ten thirty, we entered the Langbridge Capital headquarters.
The building was a father never told me about that meeting.""
Helen closed the folder.
"Neither did Daniel, apparently.""
At ten thirty, we entered the Langbridge Capital headquarters.
The building was a tower of glass and steel overlooking the financial district.
A receptionist escorted us to the forty-second floor.
Victor Lang was waiting in a private conference tower of glass and steel overlooking the financial district.
A receptionist escorted us to the forty-second floor.
Victor Lang was waiting in a private conference room.
He was older than the photographs suggested. His hair was silver, his face deeply lined, and his dark suit looked more room.
He was older than the photographs suggested. His hair was silver, his face deeply lined, and his dark suit looked more expensive than my entire apartment.
He stood when we entered.
"Marcus Carter.""
I didn't shake his hand.
"Tell me what happened to my father.""
Victor glanced at Helen.
"Ms expensive than my entire apartment.
He stood when we entered.
"Marcus Carter.""
I didn't shake his hand.
"Tell me what happened to my father.""
Victor glanced at Helen.
"Ms. Brooks, I assume?""
"That's correct.""
"Please sit.""
Neither of us moved.
Victor smiled faintly.
"Your. Brooks, I assume?""
"That's correct.""
"Please sit.""
Neither of us moved.
Victor smiled faintly.
"Your father was a difficult man.""
"You said that already.""
"He was also a very good negotiator.""
"What happened the night he died?""
Victor walked father was a difficult man.""
"You said that already.""
"He was also a very good negotiator.""
"What happened the night he died?""
Victor walked toward the window.
"Arthur came to see me. He wanted to renegotiate the Riverside agreement.""
"Why?""
"Because he had discovered certain financial irregularities.""
I leaned forward.
"What irregularities?""
"Money was being moved toward the window.
"Arthur came to see me. He wanted to renegotiate the Riverside agreement.""
"Why?""
"Because he had discovered certain financial irregularities.""
I leaned forward.
"What irregularities?""
"Money was being moved through companies connected to the cooperative. Your father believed I was responsible.""
"Were you?""
Victor turned.
"I was responsible through companies connected to the cooperative. Your father believed I was responsible.""
"Were you?""
Victor turned.
"I was responsible for keeping the project alive. Sometimes that requires decisions people don't like.""
Helen interrupted.
"That's not an answer.""
Victor smiled.
"Your father for keeping the project alive. Sometimes that requires decisions people don't like.""
Helen interrupted.
"That's not an answer.""
Victor smiled.
"Your father had evidence that several investors had been misled about the ownership structure. He threatened to expose everything.""
"Then why wasn't he protected?""
Victor's expression changed.
"Because he refused had evidence that several investors had been misled about the ownership structure. He threatened to expose everything.""
"Then why wasn't he protected?""
Victor's expression changed.
"Because he refused protection.""
I felt my hands tighten.
"What does that mean?""
"He was offered an escort home. He refused. He was offered an opportunity to settle the dispute privately. He refused that protection.""
I felt my hands tighten.
"What does that mean?""
"He was offered an escort home. He refused. He was offered an opportunity to settle the dispute privately. He refused that too.""
I stood.
"You're blaming my father for dying?""
Victor didn't react.
"I'm telling you what happened.""
"No. You're telling me a story.""
I walked toward him.
"My too.""
I stood.
"You're blaming my father for dying?""
Victor didn't react.
"I'm telling you what happened.""
"No. You're telling me a story.""
I walked toward him.
"My father was sixty-eight years old. He spent his life fixing other people's problems. He didn't deserve to die because father was sixty-eight years old.
He spent his life fixing other people's problems. He didn't deserve to die because someone wanted his land.""
For the first time, Victor's composure slipped.
"Your father didn't die because of the land.""
"Then why?""
He looked at someone wanted his land.""
For the first time, Victor's composure slipped.
"Your father didn't die because of the land.""
"Then why?""
He looked at me for several seconds.
Then he opened a drawer and removed a small envelope.
"Because he discovered something about your mother.""
I stared at him.
"My me for several seconds.
Then he opened a drawer and removed a small envelope.
"Because he discovered something about your mother.""
I stared at him.
"My mother?""
"Your mother was the original architect of the Riverside Community Reserve. She kept records that could have exposed several powerful people.""
"What mother?""
"Your mother was the original architect of the Riverside Community Reserve. She kept records that could have exposed several powerful people.""
"What records?""
"The original beneficiary list.""
I exchanged a glance with Helen.
"We found the list.""
Victor's face became still.
"Where?""
" records?""
"The original beneficiary list.""
I exchanged a glance with Helen.
"We found the list.""
Victor's face became still.
"Where?""
"That's not your concern.""
He slowly returned the envelope to his drawer.
"Then you haveThat's not your concern.""
He slowly returned the envelope to his drawer.
"Then you have no idea what you've found.""
I leaned forward.
"Tell me.""
Victor sighed.
"Your father believed someone had stolen the list. He thought it contained information about families who had received money from the reserve. Some of those payments were legitimate. Others were not.""
" no idea what you've found.""
I leaned forward.
"Tell me.""
Victor sighed.
"Your father believed someone had stolen the list. He thought it contained information about families who had received money from the reserve. Some of those payments were legitimate. Others were not.""
"Who stole it?""
"I don't know.""
"You're lying.""
He smiled.
"Perhaps.""
Who stole it?""
"I don't know.""
"You're lying.""
He smiled.
"Perhaps.""
Helen stood.
"We're finished here.""
Victor raised a hand.
"One more thing, Marcus.""
I turned.
"Your father left something with Daniel Price on the night he died.""
My stomach tightened.
"What?""
"A recordingHelen stood.
"We're finished here.""
Victor raised a hand.
"One more thing, Marcus.""
I turned.
"Your father left something with Daniel Price on the night he died.""
My stomach tightened.
"What?""
"A recording.""
"What recording?""
Victor looked directly at me.
"The final conversation between your father and the person who came to see him after our meeting.""
I felt the.""
"What recording?""
Victor looked directly at me.
"The final conversation between your father and the person who came to see him after our meeting.""
I felt the blood drain from my face.
"Who?""
Victor's answer came quietly.
"Your father knew the visitor. He blood drain from my face.
"Who?""
Victor's answer came quietly.
"Your father knew the visitor. He trusted that person.""
"Who was it?""
Victor opened the envelope again.
Inside was a photograph.
A photograph of my father standing outside the repair shop.
Beside him was a woman.
trusted that person.""
"Who was it?""
Victor opened the envelope again.
Inside was a photograph.
A photograph of my father standing outside the repair shop.
Beside him was a woman.
Margaret Reed.
But that wasn't what made my hands shake.
Behind them, partially visible through the shop window, was Naomi.
Margaret Reed.
But that wasn't what made my hands shake.
Behind them, partially visible through the shop window, was Naomi.
She couldn't have been more than twenty years old.
Victor placed the photograph on the table.
"Your father's final visitor was Margaret Reed.""
I stared at theShe couldn't have been more than twenty years old.
Victor placed the photograph on the table.
"Your father's final visitor was Margaret Reed.""
I stared at the image.
"Why would she visit him?""
"Ask her.""
I turned toward the door.
Victor called after me.
"Marcus, if you want the truth, stop assuming image.
"Why would she visit him?""
"Ask her.""
I turned toward the door.
Victor called after me.
"Marcus, if you want the truth, stop assuming your father was the only honest person in that family.""
Outside the building, Helen pulled me aside.
"Don't go to Margaret's your father was the only honest person in that family.""
Outside the building, Helen pulled me aside.
"Don't go to Margaret's house.""
"Why?""
"Because if Victor is telling the truth, she may know we're looking.""
I looked at the photograph again.
Naomi had house.""
"Why?""
"Because if Victor is telling the truth, she may know we're looking.""
I looked at the photograph again.
Naomi had been there.
She had been young.
She might not have understood anything.
But Margaret had.
And I needed to know what happened that night.
At been there.
She had been young.
She might not have understood anything.
But Margaret had.
And I needed to know what happened that night.
At four in the afternoon, Helen received a call from the medical examiner.
She listened without speaking.
Then her expression changed.
"What do you mean the report was four in the afternoon, Helen received a call from the medical examiner.
She listened without speaking.
Then her expression changed.
"What do you mean the report was amended?""
She listened again.
"Who requested it?""
A long pause.
Then she looked at me.
"Thank you. amended?""
She listened again.
"Who requested it?""
A long pause.
Then she looked at me.
"Thank you. Please send us the records.""
She ended the call.
"What happened?"" I asked.
Helen slowly placed her phone on the table.
"The original medical Please send us the records.""
She ended the call.
"What happened?"" I asked.
Helen slowly placed her phone on the table.
"The original medical report included a note about an unidentified substance found in your father's blood.""
I couldn't speak.
"What substance?""
"An unusual concentration of a prescription sedative.""
I report included a note about an unidentified substance found in your father's blood.""
I couldn't speak.
"What substance?""
"An unusual concentration of a prescription sedative.""
I gripped the edge of the table.
"Was my father taking medication?""
"Not according to his medical records.""
"Then who gave it to him?""
Helen looked gripped the edge of the table.
"Was my father taking medication?""
"Not according to his medical records.""
"Then who gave it to him?""
Helen looked at the photograph.
"We need to find Daniel Price.""
My phone vibrated.
A message appeared.
Unknown number.
**Stop asking about at the photograph.
"We need to find Daniel Price.""
My phone vibrated.
A message appeared.
Unknown number.
*Stop asking about Arthur Carter. You have no idea what your mother did to protect you.*
I stared at it.
My mother had been dead for twenty years.
And someone Arthur Carter. You have no idea what your mother did to protect you.**
I stared at it.
My mother had been dead for twenty years.
And someone had just suggested that she had been hiding something from me too.
Then a second message arrived.
**Ask Robert Ellis what happened to the night deposit had just suggested that she had been hiding something from me too.
Then a second message arrived.
*Ask Robert Ellis what happened to the night deposit.*
I looked at Helen.
"Who's Robert Ellis?""
"Your.**
I looked at Helen.
"Who's Robert Ellis?""
"Your father's old friend?""
I nodded.
"Call him.""
I did.
The phone rang six times.
Then went to voicemail.
I tried again.
Nothing.
Finally, a message arrived from Robert.
**Marcus, don't come to my house. I need to tell you something, but not over the phone. Meet me at the old shop father's old friend?""
I nodded.
"Call him.""
I did.
The phone rang six times.
Then went to voicemail.
I tried again.
Nothing.
Finally, a message arrived from Robert.
*Marcus, don't come to my house. I need to tell you something, but not over the phone. Meet me at the old shop tomorrow morning. Come alone.*
I stared at the message.
The old shop.
The place where my father had died.
And the place where someone had apparently erased the last few hours of his life tomorrow morning. Come alone.**
I stared at the message.
The old shop.
The place where my father had died.
May you like
And the place where someone had apparently erased the last few hours of his life.
.
