Chapter 10: The Arrest That Exposed Everything
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Anthony stood in the middle of the clinic holding a document, wearing the same confident smile he had worn when he first walked into my house.
Eleanor gripped the edge of the reception desk.
Grace stared at him as though she had just seen a ghost.
I stepped forward.
"What did you just say?""
Anthony raised the document.
"Eleanor Carter was arrested forty minutes ago. The police have a warrant connected to the death of Claire Bennett.""
I turned toward Eleanor.
"Is this true?""
She shook her head.
"Marcus, I didn't kill anyone.""
"Then why would they arrest you?""
Anthony answered before she could.
"Because she was the last person seen with Claire before the accident.""
Grace's face tightened.
"You're lying.""
Anthony looked at her.
"Hello, little sister.""
"Don't call me that.""
He smiled.
"You really haven't changed.""
Grace picked up the medical file she had dropped earlier.
"Get out of my clinic.""
Anthony glanced around.
"Your clinic? Interesting. Do you know who paid for this building?""
"I don't care.""
"Margaret Russo's trust.""
Grace's expression changed.
Anthony continued.
"Your mother left enough money to support all three of us. But someone redirected the funds.""
I stepped between them.
"Stop talking about money. What happened to Claire?""
Anthony looked at me.
"That's what the police want to know.""
He handed the document to Daniel.
My attorney examined it.
"This is a copy of an arrest warrant.""
"Exactly.""
Daniel looked at the date.
Then his expression changed.
"Marcus, this warrant was issued yesterday.""
Anthony shrugged.
"Someone finally decided to do their job.""
I turned toward Eleanor.
"Why didn't you tell me you were with Claire the night she died?""
She began crying.
"Because I wasn't.""
Grace stepped forward.
"Then why did you tell me she had abandoned me?""
Eleanor looked at her.
"Grace, I never said that.""
"You told me my mother didn't want me.""
"I was trying to protect you.""
Grace laughed bitterly.
"Everyone in this family uses those words.""
Anthony put his hands into his coat pockets.
"Perhaps we should stop pretending we're having a family reunion.""
He turned toward me.
"Marcus, I have something you need to see.""
I didn't move.
"What?""
"Your biological father's original will.""
Daniel immediately stepped forward.
"Where did you get that?""
Anthony smiled.
"From the safe deposit box Richard left behind.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"The one with the birth records?""
"Yes.""
"How did you open it?""
Anthony's smile disappeared.
"Because Eleanor gave me the key.""
I turned toward my mother.
She looked down.
"Why?""
Eleanor's voice was barely audible.
"Because I wanted to know what Frank had left behind.""
Anthony nodded.
"She wanted the money. I wanted the truth. We made an arrangement.""
Daniel folded the warrant.
"Mr. Russo, I suggest you stop making statements until we have reviewed the documents.""
Anthony ignored him.
He placed another envelope on the reception desk.
"Read it, Marcus.""
I opened it.
The first page was a will dated six months before Frank's disappearance.
The document named Anthony Russo as the primary beneficiary of Carter Development Holdings.
The second beneficiary was Grace Bennett.
My name appeared nowhere.
I read the document again.
"Why wasn't this executed?""
Anthony leaned closer.
"Because Richard Carter changed it.""
"Why?""
"Because he wanted to punish me.""
I looked at him.
"What did you do?""
Anthony's expression hardened.
"I found out he wasn't the man he claimed to be. I threatened to expose him. He responded by taking everything away from me.""
Grace shook her head.
"That's not what happened.""
Anthony turned toward her.
"You weren't there.""
"I know what Claire told me.""
He laughed.
"Claire told you a lot of things.""
Grace stepped closer.
"She told me Frank had stolen my identity before I was born.""
Anthony's smile vanished.
I looked between them.
"What does that mean?""
Grace took a breath.
"Frank wanted Anthony to inherit the company. But Anthony had already been involved in financial crimes. He knew the company was going to collapse if he took control.""
Anthony interrupted.
"Careful.""
Grace continued.
"Frank created another identity for me. He registered shares in my name through a trust. Then he changed Marcus's records to make him appear to be the sole legitimate heir.""
I frowned.
"Why?""
"Because he wanted to protect the company from Anthony.""
Anthony suddenly grabbed Grace's arm.
"Enough.""
I shoved him away.
"Don't touch her.""
He stumbled backward.
Daniel moved between us.
"Everyone calm down.""
Anthony adjusted his coat.
"You still don't understand, Marcus. Your father didn't save you because he loved you more. He saved you because he needed someone innocent to carry his name.""
I stared at him.
"You're the one who wanted the company.""
"I wanted what was promised to me.""
"And what did you do to get it?""
His eyes narrowed.
For the first time, I saw genuine hatred beneath his calm expression.
"Ask Eleanor.""
We all turned.
My mother stood with tears running down her face.
"I didn't kill Claire," she whispered.
Anthony looked at her.
"But you helped Frank erase her.""
Eleanor closed her eyes.
Grace stepped forward.
"What did you do?""
My mother looked at me.
Then at Grace.
"I signed the documents.""
"What documents?""
"The hospital records. The adoption papers. The transfer of shares.""
Grace's voice trembled.
"Why?""
"Because Frank told me he was trying to protect you.""
"From whom?""
Eleanor looked directly at Anthony.
"From your brother.""
Anthony laughed.
"That's convenient.""
Then the clinic doors opened again.
Two police officers entered.
One approached Eleanor.
"Mrs. Carter?""
She nodded.
"We need you to come with us.""
I stepped forward.
"She's not going anywhere without her attorney.""
The officer looked at Daniel.
"You're welcome to accompany us.""
Eleanor turned toward me.
"Marcus, listen.""
I held her hand.
"What?""
She leaned close.
"Your father didn't disappear because of Anthony.""
I frowned.
"Then why?""
Her eyes filled.
"Because Frank knew Claire's death wasn't an accident.""
I stared at her.
"Who killed her?""
Eleanor looked toward the police officers.
Then she whispered:
"The man who signed your birth certificate.""
I felt my heart stop.
Richard Carter.
The man who raised me.
The man I had called Dad.
The man who had supposedly protected me.
Eleanor was led toward the door.
Before she disappeared, she turned around.
"Marcus, there's a recording in the original company vault. If you find it, you'll understand why Frank had to die.""
The door closed behind her.
Anthony watched the police car pull away.
Then he turned to me.
"Now do you understand why I came looking for you?""
I looked at him.
"No.""
May you like
He smiled.
"Because the man who raised you murdered our father.""
