Chapter 6: The Witness in the Chapel
Nobody spoke.
The second message remained on Marcus’s phone.
A photograph.
Their photograph.
Taken moments ago.
Inside the chapel.
Nia felt every person in the room become a stranger.
The mourners.
The staff.
Even the people who claimed to be there for Arthur.
Someone had been watching.
Someone had been waiting.
Maya moved closer to her sister.
“Nia…”
“I know.””
Nia kept her eyes on the room.
“Don’t leave my side.””
Marcus locked the phone.
“I need everyone to remain calm.””
Veronica gave a short laugh.
“Calm?””
She pointed at the screen.
“Someone is threatening us.””
Marcus looked at her.
“You seem surprisingly familiar with this situation.””
Her expression changed.
“Excuse me?””
“You knew about the folder.””
“I already explained.””
“No,” Marcus said.
“You avoided explaining.””
The tension between them grew.
Elaine looked toward the doors.
“Arthur knew this could happen.””
Nia turned.
“What?””
Elaine sighed.
“He told me someone would try to stop the truth.””
Nia stared.
“You talked to him before he died.””
Elaine nodded.
“Yes.””
“Then tell me what happened.””
Elaine looked at the coffin.
“I can’t.””
Nia’s frustration exploded.
“Why does everyone keep saying that?””
Her voice cracked.
“My father is gone. My family is falling apart. There is a secret folder sitting in front of me. And every person in this room knows more than I do.””
Nobody answered.
Because she was right.
Marcus looked at the red folder.
“Arthur wanted you to know the truth.””
“Then open it.””
Marcus didn’t move.
“Not yet.””
Nia stared.
“Why?””
“Because Arthur added one final instruction.””
Marcus reached into the envelope.
He removed another folded paper.
Nia watched as he opened it.
His eyes moved across the words.
Then his face changed.
“What?””
Marcus looked at her.
“He said the folder should only be opened when the person who betrayed him is identified.””
Everyone looked around.
Maya whispered,
“Betrayed him?””
Veronica looked furious.
“This is insane.””
Marcus folded the paper.
“There is more.””
Nia waited.
“He wrote…”
Marcus stopped.
For some reason, he seemed reluctant to say it.
“Say it.””
Marcus looked directly at Nia.
“He wrote that the person who betrayed him would be standing in this chapel.””
The room went silent.
Every person looked at every other person.
Nia felt her chest tighten.
One of them.
Someone here.
Someone Arthur knew.
Veronica stepped forward.
“You’re all making a mistake.””
Marcus looked at her.
“Are we?””
“Yes.””
Her voice became stronger.
“Arthur trusted me.””
Nia looked at her.
“Then why did he record that video?””
Veronica had no answer.
A sound came from the side of the chapel.
A chair moving.
Everyone turned.
An elderly man sitting near the back slowly stood.
Nia recognized him.
Mr. Harold Jenkins.
One of Arthur’s oldest employees.
He had attended every major family event.
He had cried during the funeral.
But now his face looked different.
Serious.
Afraid.
Marcus stared at him.
“Harold?””
The old man looked down.
“I didn’t want to get involved.””
Nia’s heart sank.
Another person with secrets.
“Get involved in what?”” she asked.
Harold looked at the red folder.
“In what Arthur was trying to expose.””
Veronica immediately stepped forward.
“Don’t listen to him.””
Harold looked at her.
“You should have known Arthur would leave something behind.””
Veronica’s face hardened.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.””
Harold shook his head.
“I know exactly what I’m talking about.””
He reached inside his jacket.
Everyone tensed.
Nia grabbed Maya’s hand.
But Harold didn’t pull out a weapon.
He pulled out an old key.
A small silver key.
Marcus looked at it.
“Where did you get that?””
Harold looked at the red folder.
“Arthur gave it to me.””
Nia stared.
“What does it open?””
Harold looked at Veronica.
Then at the folder.
Then finally at Nia.
“Something your father hid because he was afraid someone would destroy it.””
The chapel went completely silent.
Harold walked toward them.
And placed the key beside the burned red folder.
May you like
Then he whispered:
“The folder is only the beginning.””
