Chapter 12: The Wife Who Tried to Save Me
I stared at my father.
The door shook again.
Thomas moved toward the entrance and pressed his shoulder against it.
"Alexander! We need to leave!""
But I couldn't move.
"Sophie tried to stop it?""
My father nodded.
"She discovered Daniel's plan.""
"Then why did she push me into the ocean?""
He looked down.
"Because she was afraid.""
"Afraid of what?""
"Of Daniel.""
The door rattled violently.
Thomas shouted into his radio.
"Units, we have intruders inside the building. Request immediate assistance!""
My father grabbed my hand.
"Alexander, you have to listen.""
I leaned closer.
"Tell me.""
"Daniel threatened her family. He told her that if she didn't cooperate, he would have you killed and make it look like she had done it.""
I felt my stomach turn.
"That's exactly what she did.""
My father shook his head.
"She told me she would find a way to get you out.""
"By pushing me into the ocean?""
"She knew you could swim.""
I stared at him.
"How?""
He looked confused.
"She knew about your recovery.""
My mind raced.
Only a handful of people knew I had regained the ability to walk.
Sophie was not one of them.
Or so I had believed.
"Who told her?""
My father opened his mouth.
Before he could answer, the door burst inward.
Thomas stepped back.
A man in a black jacket rushed into the room.
He held something metallic in his hand.
"Move away from the old man!""
Thomas grabbed a nearby metal chair and swung it toward him.
The man stumbled.
I pulled my father away from the bed.
Another figure appeared in the doorway.
Then I heard sirens.
Blue lights flashed through the broken windows.
"POLICE! DROP YOUR WEAPONS!""
The second intruder ran.
Thomas tackled the first man to the floor.
Within seconds, officers flooded the corridor.
I held my father against me.
He was shaking.
"It's over," I whispered.
He looked at me.
"No, son.""
His eyes moved toward the entrance.
"Not yet.""
An officer approached.
"Mr. Bennett, we need to get you both somewhere safe.""
I nodded.
As they escorted us outside, my phone rang.
Sophie.
I answered.
"Where are you?"" I demanded.
Her breathing was unsteady.
"Alexander, listen to me.""
"Did you know my father was alive?""
Silence.
Then she whispered, "Yes.""
I closed my eyes.
"How long?""
"Three years.""
The answer felt like a physical blow.
"Three years?""
"Please let me explain.""
"You watched me mourn him.""
"I had no choice.""
"You watched me believe I had lost my father while you knew he was alive!""
Her voice broke.
"Daniel would have killed him.""
"And what about me?""
She started crying.
"Alexander, I never wanted you hurt.""
I looked at the police officers loading my father into an ambulance.
"Then why did you push me into the ocean?""
"Because Daniel had someone waiting at the marina. He was supposed to make sure you never came back to the house.""
My blood went cold.
"What?""
"Daniel knew you had started walking. He found out months ago.""
I looked at Thomas.
He was listening.
Sophie continued.
"I saw the man near the parking area. I knew he was going to shoot you. I pushed the wheelchair because I thought you could escape underwater.""
I closed my eyes.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because Daniel was watching me. He had people monitoring every phone call, every email. I couldn't risk contacting you.""
I remembered the photograph.
Sophie beside the Mercedes.
Daniel holding the umbrella.
The medication.
The insurance policy.
The lies.
"Did you know about the insurance policy?""
"Yes.""
"Did you help Daniel transfer the money?""
"Yes.""
"Did you know about the fake medical records?""
A long silence.
"Yes.""
I swallowed.
"So you helped him.""
"I was trying to survive.""
I almost laughed.
"Everyone has an excuse, Sophie.""
She began sobbing.
"Please. I have something that can prove everything.""
"What?""
"A recording.""
"Of what?""
"Daniel and Richard discussing your father's disappearance. And the original accident.""
I stared at the ambulance.
"Where is it?""
"In a safe deposit box.""
"Which bank?""
"First National. Box 921.""
I looked at Thomas.
He immediately wrote it down.
Sophie continued.
"There's something else, Alexander.""
"What?""
"Daniel knows your father escaped.""
I felt my chest tighten.
"How?""
"Someone inside the police department told him.""
Before I could respond, she whispered:
"He's going to finish what he started.""
The call ended.
Thomas approached.
"What's wrong?""
I told him.
His expression hardened.
"We need to secure the recording.""
"And Sophie?""
"We'll deal with her through the authorities.""
I looked toward the ambulance.
My father was inside, receiving medical attention.
For the first time in three years, he was alive and beside me.
I wasn't going to lose him again.
We drove to First National Bank under police escort.
The manager met us in a private office.
After verifying Sophie's authorization, he opened the safety deposit box.
Inside was a small black USB drive, a stack of photographs, and a sealed envelope.
I opened the envelope first.
It contained a handwritten statement.
Alexander,
I know you may never forgive me. I don't expect you to.
But I need you to understand that I married you because I loved you. Daniel approached me after your accident and threatened to destroy my family if I didn't help him.
I should have gone to the police. I should have told you the truth.
Instead, I became part of the very thing I was trying to prevent.
The day at the marina, I knew Daniel had sent someone to kill you. I made a choice that I hoped would give you a chance to survive.
I know what it looked like.
I know what I did.
And I know that love does not erase betrayal.
I folded the letter.
Thomas connected the USB drive to an isolated laptop.
A video file appeared.
The recording showed a hotel conference room.
Daniel sat at a table.
Richard stood beside him.
And Sophie was sitting opposite them.
The date was three years earlier.
Daniel leaned forward.
"Once the old man is gone, Alexander becomes the only obstacle.""
Richard nodded.
"The insurance policy will cover the financial exposure.""
Sophie looked uncomfortable.
"And if Alexander survives?""
Daniel smiled.
"Then we make sure he doesn't remember anything.""
Richard placed a folder on the table.
"The medical arrangements are ready.""
Sophie whispered, "I don't want anyone killed.""
Daniel's expression hardened.
"Then you should have thought about that before accepting the money.""
He pushed a document toward her.
"Sign it.""
Sophie looked at the paper.
"What is this?""
"Your agreement.""
She picked it up.
Her face went white.
"Daniel, this says I authorized the accident.""
He smiled.
"Exactly.""
Sophie stood.
"I'm not signing this.""
Daniel grabbed her wrist.
"You will.""
She pulled away.
Richard closed the conference room door.
Then Daniel leaned toward her and said something that made me stop breathing.
"Your family is already in our hands. Don't make me prove it.""
The video ended.
Thomas stared at the screen.
"That's enough to reopen everything.""
I looked at the black USB drive.
Then my phone rang.
A police officer.
"Mr. Bennett, your father has been taken to a secure hospital. He's stable.""
I exhaled.
"Thank God.""
But the officer wasn't finished.
"There's another development.""
"What?""
"We received an anonymous report that your wife has been arrested.""
I froze.
"On what charge?""
"Attempted murder.""
I looked at Thomas.
Then I heard the officer say:
"Mr. Bennett, there's a problem. Your wife has requested to speak to you before giving her formal statement.""
I closed my eyes.
"What did she say?""
The officer lowered his voice.
"She claims she knows who actually ordered your father's murder.""
A pause.
"And she says that person is not Daniel Bennett.""
I looked at the video screen.
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The final frame showed Daniel smiling.
For the first time, I wondered whether my brother had been taking orders from someone else all along.
