Chapter 13: The Person Behind My Brother
I arrived at the police station at 11:40 that night.
Sophie was sitting in an interview room when I entered.
Her expensive clothes had been replaced with a gray sweatshirt. Her blonde hair was tied loosely behind her head, and her mascara had run down her cheeks.
For the first time since our wedding, she looked genuinely frightened.
A female detective stood beside the door.
"Mr. Bennett, you have ten minutes. Everything your wife says will be recorded.""
I nodded.
Sophie looked up.
"Alexander.""
I pulled out the chair opposite her.
"Don't call me darling.""
She lowered her eyes.
"I understand.""
"Good. Then tell me who ordered my father's murder.""
She glanced toward the detective.
"Can we speak privately?""
"No," I replied.
"You've had six years of private conversations. That's enough.""
The detective remained beside the door.
Sophie folded her hands.
"The person behind Daniel is someone who knew your father before either of us.""
"Who?""
"Margaret.""
I stared at her.
"My aunt?""
She nodded.
For several seconds, I couldn't process what she had said.
"You're lying.""
"I wish I were.""
"Margaret spent years trying to expose Daniel.""
"She did. But she wasn't doing it because she wanted to save your father.""
I leaned forward.
"Explain.""
Sophie took a shaky breath.
"Your father and Margaret inherited the family business from your grandfather. But there was a disagreement about ownership. Margaret believed she deserved half of everything. Your father refused.""
"That's a family disagreement, not murder.""
"Your grandfather's original will was changed.""
I frowned.
"What?""
"Margaret believed your father had manipulated the documents. She spent years trying to prove it.""
I looked at the detective.
She was taking notes.
Sophie continued.
"Daniel discovered her resentment. He approached her because she had access to old family records and knew how the estate was structured.""
"You're saying Margaret helped Daniel?""
"Initially, yes.""
I stood.
"Then why did she warn my father?""
Sophie looked at me.
"Because Daniel stopped following the plan.""
"What plan?""
"Your father was supposed to lose control of the company. They wanted him declared mentally unfit, not dead.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Then what happened?""
"Your father discovered the offshore accounts. He threatened to report everyone involved. Daniel panicked.""
"And Margaret?""
"She arranged the accident.""
The room went silent.
I stared at Sophie.
"How?""
"She gave Daniel information about your father's movements. She also arranged for someone to interfere with the vehicle.""
"Who?""
Sophie hesitated.
Then she whispered, "Richard Caldwell.""
I remembered the attorney standing in my living room.
The man who had supposedly died years earlier.
"Richard was working for Margaret?""
"Yes.""
"Then why did he help Daniel?""
"Because Daniel promised him a share of the estate.""
I sat down slowly.
The pieces were beginning to fit.
Margaret had known about the insurance arrangements.
Richard had falsified the legal documents.
Daniel had managed the company finances.
And Sophie had been trapped in the middle.
But there was still one question.
"Why did Margaret disappear?""
Sophie looked toward the detective.
"Because she discovered Daniel was planning to kill you too.""
"How did she find out?""
"She found a draft of the insurance documents. Your brother had increased the policy and changed the beneficiary.""
I stared at her.
"To himself.""
Sophie nodded.
"Margaret tried to stop him. Daniel threatened her grandchildren. She fled and took the evidence.""
I rubbed my forehead.
"Then why did she tell me the truth?""
"Because she wants the original family trust agreement.""
I looked up.
"What?""
Sophie leaned closer.
"Your grandfather left a sealed amendment. It gives the controlling shareholder the right to investigate and recover assets transferred through fraudulent estate arrangements.""
I understood immediately.
Margaret wanted the document.
She wanted control.
"Where is it?""
Sophie shook her head.
"I don't know.""
"You're lying again.""
"I'm not.""
I stood.
"Then we're finished.""
She suddenly reached across the table.
"Alexander, wait.""
I stopped.
Her eyes were filled with tears.
"There's one more thing.""
"What?""
"The man who has been sending you messages. The person who warned you about your brother.""
I frowned.
"What about him?""
"He's not helping you.""
I felt my chest tighten.
"Who is he?""
Sophie looked directly at me.
"Your father's former security chief.""
I froze.
Arthur Mills.
The man who had been responsible for protecting our family for twenty-five years.
He had retired shortly before my accident.
I remembered his message.
Stop looking at your wife. She wasn't working alone.
"Why would Arthur be involved?""
Sophie swallowed.
"Because he was the one who took your father from the accident scene.""
The room went completely silent.
I turned toward the detective.
"I need to make another call.""
She nodded.
I stepped into the corridor and called Thomas.
He answered immediately.
"Alexander?""
"Find Arthur Mills.""
"Why?""
"He's involved in my father's disappearance.""
Thomas went quiet.
Then he said something that made my blood run cold.
"Alexander, that's impossible.""
"Why?""
"Because Arthur has been working for you for the last eight months.""
I stopped walking.
"What?""
"He's the security consultant who installed the new surveillance system at your mansion.""
I stared at the wall.
The same cameras that had recorded Sophie pushing me into the ocean.
The same system that had suddenly gone offline outside my bedroom.
"Where is he now?""
Thomas checked something.
"At your father's hospital.""
I felt my heart pound.
"Get there immediately.""
"Alexander, wait—"
I ended the call.
When I returned to the interview room, Sophie was standing beside the table.
The detective looked concerned.
"Your wife has just received information that someone has been attempting to contact her.""
I looked at Sophie.
"Who?""
She held out her phone.
A message was displayed.
*YOU HAVE TALKED TOO MUCH. THE OLD MAN WON'T SURVIVE THE NIGHT.*
My blood turned to ice.
The message came from a number I recognized.
Arthur Mills.
I immediately called the hospital.
A nurse answered.
"How can I help you?""
"This is Alexander Bennett. I need to speak to whoever is guarding my father.""
There was a pause.
May you like
Then the nurse whispered:
"Mr. Bennett, your father's room is empty.""
