Chapter 6: The Family Friend
I couldn't speak.
The name Vanessa had whispered belonged to someone who had hugged me at my father's funeral.
Someone who had stood beside me when I couldn't stop crying.
Someone who had told me, “Your father would want you to be strong.””
Marcus looked at me.
“You know him?””
I nodded slowly.
“Everybody knows him.””
Vanessa wiped her face.
“He's the reason Daniel was involved.””
Daniel stepped toward her.
“Stop talking.””
“No.””
Vanessa's voice shook.
“I've spent months being afraid of you.””
Daniel stared at her.
“You should be.””
She laughed bitterly.
“I'm not anymore.””
I looked between them.
“Start from the beginning.””
Vanessa swallowed.
“Dad found out that he was stealing from one of his companies.””
“Who?””
She hesitated.
“The man in the photograph.””
Marcus picked up the frame.
His eyes narrowed.
“He was stealing?””
“Millions,” Vanessa said.
Daniel interrupted.
“And your father threatened to expose him.””
I stared at the photograph.
My father stood in the center.
My mother beside him.
And behind them was the man Vanessa had named.
He was smiling.
One hand rested on my father's shoulder.
My stomach twisted.
“What happened the night Dad died?””
Daniel's expression hardened.
“He confronted him.””
“And?””
“There was an argument.””
“Then what?””
Daniel looked away.
“Your father fell.””
“Fell?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“No.””
Daniel looked at her.
She continued.
“He was pushed.””
Silence.
I felt the room tilt.
“By who?””
Vanessa looked at Daniel.
Daniel didn't answer.
I stepped closer.
“By who?””
Daniel finally said, “Not me.””
“Then who?””
He pointed at the photograph.
“The man your father trusted.””
Marcus's phone buzzed.
He checked the screen.
His expression changed.
“What?””
He turned it toward me.
A news alert had appeared.
*Local businessman found dead in suspected accident.*
The photograph beneath the headline was the same man.
The man from my father's picture.
My heart stopped.
“That was posted thirty seconds ago,” Marcus said.
Vanessa whispered, “He's dead?””
Daniel's eyes narrowed.
“No.””
Marcus looked at him.
“The article says he was found unconscious.””
Daniel stared at the screen.
Then his phone buzzed.
He pulled it out.
One message.
His face drained of color.
“What does it say?”” Vanessa asked.
Daniel didn't answer.
Marcus walked toward him.
“Show me.””
Daniel stepped backward.
Marcus grabbed the phone.
The message was from an unknown number.
*You failed twice tonight.*
Marcus looked up.
“Twice?””
Daniel didn't move.
Another message appeared.
*First the sister. Then the witness.*
Vanessa whispered, “Witness?””
Daniel closed his eyes.
I looked at him.
“Who is the witness?””
He said nothing.
I grabbed the phone.
Another message arrived.
*Maya knows about the will now.*
My blood ran cold.
“How do they know what happened here?””
Marcus looked around the room.
“Because someone is watching us.””
Everyone froze.
A tiny red light blinked near the ceiling.
A security camera.
I stared at it.
The camera moved.
Slowly.
It turned toward me.
Then the mansion lights went out.
Vanessa screamed.
Marcus grabbed my hand.
“Stay with me.””
In the darkness, something crashed downstairs.
Daniel whispered, “They're here.””
I heard footsteps.
Fast.
Coming up the stairs.
Marcus pulled me behind the desk.
Vanessa crouched beside us.
Daniel stood in the doorway.
Then a man's voice came from the staircase.
“Maya?””
I recognized it immediately.
My father's voice.
Again.
But this time, it wasn't a recording.
It was coming from the darkness.
Marcus tightened his grip on my hand.
The footsteps stopped outside the study.
A silhouette appeared in the doorway.
And the man said, “Your father made one mistake.””
May you like
A pause.
“He trusted his family.””
