Chapter 14: The Truth Behind the Funeral
We returned to the police station with the flash drive.
Detective Bennett arranged for a digital forensics specialist to examine its contents.
Evelyn and Charlotte remained together in a private room.
I sat across from my mother.
Helen looked older than she had that morning.
Her hands trembled as she held a paper cup.
I placed the photograph of Richard beside Dr. Pierce in front of her.
"Which man did you watch die?""
She stared at it.
Then she began crying.
"Richard.""
I leaned forward.
"What?""
"Richard was the man in the hospital bed.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"You're saying Richard died four years ago?""
She nodded.
"Yes.""
I stared at her.
"Then who has been calling me? Who has been running the company? Who has been threatening us?""
My mother wiped her face.
"His son.""
I froze.
"Adrian?""
She nodded.
I sat back.
For several seconds, I couldn't speak.
The man I'd met at the board meeting.
The man who had claimed Richard was his father.
The man who had told me he had taken the ledger.
He wasn't Richard's son pretending to be someone else.
He was pretending to be Richard.
I looked at my mother.
"Why?""
"Because Richard was dying. He had a heart condition. Adrian knew that if Richard died, his financial empire would collapse.""
"How did he replace him?""
My mother stared at the table.
"Adrian and Richard were almost identical in appearance. They had undergone several cosmetic procedures over the years. Adrian had also spent years copying his father's voice, mannerisms, and signature.""
I shook my head.
"That's insane.""
"It was planned.""
She reached into her handbag.
"I have something.""
She removed a small photograph.
It showed Richard sitting in a hospital room.
His face was pale.
Adrian stood beside him.
The date was December fourteenth.
My mother continued.
"Richard died that night. Daniel was still alive. But Adrian wanted the company, and he knew Daniel would expose everything.""
I stared at her.
"So what happened?""
"Adrian arranged for Daniel to be transferred to another hospital under a false identity. Dr. Pierce helped.""
"Why?""
"Because Daniel had suffered a severe cardiac event. They wanted him declared dead before anyone could question what happened.""
I gripped the table.
"Did they kill him?""
My mother shook her head.
"I don't know.""
"Mom, you were there.""
"I saw Daniel unconscious. I thought he was dead.""
"And then?""
"Adrian told me the body had to be identified. He said it was the only way to protect the family.""
I stood.
"You identified the wrong body?""
She began sobbing.
"I was terrified.""
I looked at her.
"You let me bury a stranger.""
She covered her mouth.
I walked toward the door.
"Ethan, please.""
I stopped.
"Your father asked me to protect you.""
I turned around.
"By helping the man who destroyed him?""
She shook her head.
"No. By helping Daniel disappear.""
I froze.
"What?""
She looked up.
"Daniel wasn't supposed to die. The plan was to move him somewhere safe while Adrian believed he was dead.""
I stared at her.
"Did it work?""
My mother couldn't answer.
Then the door opened.
Detective Bennett entered.
"We found something on the flash drive.""
She placed a laptop on the table.
A video file was open.
The recording date was December fifteenth.
I pressed play.
My father's face appeared.
He looked exhausted, but he was conscious.
His voice was weak.
"If this recording is being viewed, then Adrian has taken control of the company.""
He paused to catch his breath.
"Richard is dead. I know that now.""
My mother began crying.
Daniel continued.
"I also know someone helped him. Someone who believed that money could buy a future for our children.""
He looked directly into the camera.
"Helen, if you're watching this, I want you to understand something. I never hated you. I was angry.
I was disappointed. But I never stopped loving you.""
My mother covered her face.
Daniel continued.
"Adrian has been using Richard's identity. He's been moving money, forging signatures, and manipulating everyone around him.""
He leaned closer to the camera.
"But there is one thing he cannot control.""
He lifted a document.
"The original trust agreement.""
He smiled faintly.
"I never gave Ethan control of the company because I wanted him to become rich. I gave him control because I knew he would eventually choose what was right.""
The video paused.
Then a second recording began.
This time, my father's voice sounded frightened.
"If Adrian discovers the location of the ledger, he'll come after Charlotte. She has the only copy of the original authorization.""
Charlotte stepped into the room.
"What authorization?""
Detective Bennett looked at her.
"Do you know?""
Charlotte shook her head.
The video continued.
Daniel leaned toward the camera.
"Charlotte, sweetheart, I'm sorry. I should have brought you home sooner.""
He stopped.
Then he said something that made me look at my sister.
"Your mother didn't give you away.""
Charlotte began crying.
"She was forced to sign the papers. Adrian arranged everything.""
Evelyn, standing in the doorway, covered her mouth.
Daniel continued.
"And the money in the trust belongs to both of you. Not to Richard. Not to Adrian. Not to anyone who believes family is something they can purchase.""
He held up a small document.
"This is the original beneficiary authorization.""
Then the recording ended.
Detective Bennett looked at Charlotte.
"Do you have any idea what he meant?""
Charlotte shook her head.
I looked at the papers from the deposit box.
The original beneficiary release required confirmation from both children.
But there was another line.
*Independent trustee approval required.*
The trustee's name was printed beneath it.
I read it aloud.
"Margaret Hayes.""
Detective Bennett frowned.
"She's currently in custody.""
I looked at my mother.
"Why would Dad choose Margaret?""
Helen lowered her eyes.
"Because Margaret wasn't the one who betrayed him.""
I turned.
"What?""
My mother pulled another photograph from her handbag.
It showed Margaret standing outside the hospital on the night Daniel supposedly died.
Beside her was a man wearing a dark coat.
The photograph had been taken from a security camera.
My mother pointed to the man.
"That's the person who gave Adrian access to your father's medical records.""
I looked closer.
It wasn't Dr. Pierce.
It wasn't Adrian.
It was someone I recognized immediately.
The man who had delivered the original envelope to my car.
The valet.
I stared at the photograph.
"Who is he?""
My mother whispered:
"His name is Michael Hayes.""
Detective Bennett frowned.
"Hayes?""
My mother nodded.
"Daniel's younger brother.""
I stepped backward.
My father had a brother?
I had never heard of him.
And according to the photograph, he had been involved from the beginning.
Before anyone could speak, Detective Bennett's phone rang.
She answered.
Her expression changed immediately.
"What do you mean he's missing?""
She listened.
Then she looked at me.
"Margaret has escaped police custody.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
The detective ended the call.
A message arrived on her phone.
It contained a photograph of Margaret standing outside the old Hayes headquarters.
She was holding a newspaper.
The headline read:
*HAYES GLOBAL ANNOUNCES NEW CHAIRMAN.*
The photograph beneath it showed Adrian.
But the date was tomorrow.
May you like
And Margaret had written one sentence across the image.
*If you want to save your father, come alone.*
