The Call That Changed Everything

James Porter had worked for my father for seventeen years.

He had escorted me to school when I was younger, attended my university graduation, and once spent an entire night outside a hospital room when my father underwent emergency surgery.

I had trusted him.

My father had trusted him even more.

Now we were being told that he might have been present the night my mother died.

Amelia locked the study door.

“Richard, we need to establish whether James is actually involved before we confront him.””

My father nodded.

“Agreed.””

He turned to the security officer.

“Where is he?””

“Mr. Porter is currently at the corporate headquarters, sir.””

“Can you confirm his location?””

The officer checked his phone.

“He's in the executive security office.””

My father looked at Amelia.

“Contact the police. Tell them we have information relating to a possible homicide.””

My stomach tightened at the word.

Homicide.

It was the first time anyone had said it aloud.

I looked down at Grace.

She was sleeping peacefully in her bassinet, completely unaware that her family was falling apart around her.

“I want to come with you,” I said.

My father immediately shook his head.

“No.””

“Dad—”

“Danielle, someone may have been involved in your mother's death. I won't put you in danger.””

“Then I'll stay with security. But I'm not being sent away while everyone makes decisions about my family.””

He studied my face.

Finally, he nodded.

“You stay in the protected vehicle. No exceptions.””

We left the house twenty minutes later.

Two security vehicles accompanied us.

My father sat beside me in the back seat. Amelia followed in the second car.

Halfway to headquarters, his phone rang.

The caller was James Porter.

My father answered.

“James.””

“Good morning, Richard. I heard you've been asking about me.””

My father glanced at me.

“Yes. I need to speak with you.””

“About what?””

“An old matter.””

James laughed softly.

“You'll have to be more specific.””

My father looked out the window.

“Eleanor.””

Silence.

Then James said, “I see.””

“Do you?””

“I wondered when this would happen.””

My father tightened his grip on the phone.

“Where were you the night she died?””

James sighed.

“Richard, I think you should reconsider this conversation.””

“Answer the question.””

“I was working.””

“Where?””

“At the office.””

My father looked at Amelia through the window of the other vehicle.

She shook her head slightly.

“That's interesting,” he said.

“Because we have a witness who says you were at the accident scene.””

James didn't respond.

Then he said quietly, “Who told you that?””

My father ended the call.

I looked at him.

“He knows.””

My father nodded.

“Yes.””

When we arrived at headquarters, the police were already waiting.

My father asked them to secure the executive security office.

James was standing near the window when we entered.

He wore a dark suit and held a cup of coffee.

He looked completely calm.

“Richard,” he said.

“This is becoming unnecessarily dramatic.””

My father stepped inside.

“Sit down.””

James looked at me.

“Danielle. It's been a long time.””

I didn't answer.

He placed his coffee on the desk.

“What's this about?””

My father took out the photograph Victoria had provided.

He placed it on the table.

James glanced at it.

His expression barely changed.

“Where did you get that?””

“From someone who was there.””

James leaned back.

“That's unfortunate.””

My father stared at him.

“Were you present when Eleanor died?””

James looked at the police officers.

“I'd like to speak with my attorney.””

One of the officers nodded.

“That's your right.””

My father stepped forward.

“James, I gave you seventeen years of trust.””

James looked at him.

“And I protected you for seventeen years.””

My father frowned.

“From what?””

James gave a small, humorless smile.

“From the things your company was doing.””

I felt my stomach tighten.

“What does that mean?””

James turned toward me.

“Your father isn't as innocent as you believe.””

My father raised his voice.

“Don't involve my daughter.””

“Why not? She's the one taking over the division.””

James reached into his jacket.

The police officer immediately told him to stop.

He slowly withdrew his hand and placed a folded paper on the table.

“Ask Richard about the original authorization.””

My father stared at the paper.

“What is this?””

“An agreement you signed.””

“I never signed it.””

James laughed.

“You signed the first page. Daniel arranged the rest.””

Amelia picked up the document.

It contained a series of financial authorizations, including transfers to Account 7741.

At the bottom was my father's signature.

But something else caught my eye.

A handwritten note in the margin.

Eleanor has the original. Secure it before the transaction closes.

I looked at James.

“What did you do to my mother?””

His expression changed.

For the first time, he seemed irritated.

“Your mother was stubborn.””

“That's not an answer.””

“She was about to destroy several people's lives.””

“My mother was trying to stop financial fraud.””

James shook his head.

“Your mother didn't understand what she was interfering with.””

My father stepped closer.

“Did you help Daniel Foster cover up what happened?””

James looked at him for a long moment.

Then he replied:

“I helped you keep your company alive.””

My father stared.

“What?””

James continued.

“Daniel told me Eleanor had been threatening to expose the transfers. Andrew was involved. The board was involved. And your name was on the documents.””

“I never authorized those transfers.””

“You didn't have to know about them. Your signature was enough.””

I felt sick.

“Were you at the accident?””

James looked toward the police.

“I was there.””

My father took a step backward.

“Why?””

“Daniel called me. He said there had been an accident and that he needed help.””

“Help with what?””

James hesitated.

Then he said:

“The car wasn't supposed to leave the road.””

Silence swallowed the room.

My father looked as though someone had struck him.

“What do you mean?””

James stared at the desk.

“Daniel was driving. Eleanor grabbed the steering wheel during the argument. The vehicle went off the road.””

I covered my mouth.

“Was she alive?””

James didn't answer.

My father grabbed the edge of the desk.

“Was my wife alive when you arrived?””

James finally looked up.

“Yes.””

My father's face crumpled.

“How long?””

“Several minutes.””

“And you called an ambulance?””

James lowered his eyes.

“No.””

I felt the room spinning.

“Why not?””

He looked at me.

“Because Daniel told me the police would discover everything. He said the company would collapse, and everyone connected to the transfers would go to prison.””

My father stepped toward him.

“You let my wife die?””

James shook his head.

“I didn't touch her.””

“But you didn't help her!””

James looked down.

For the first time, he seemed unable to defend himself.

The police officer moved closer.

“Mr. Porter, you're going to need to accompany us.””

James stood slowly.

As they escorted him toward the door, he turned back.

“Richard, there's something you still don't understand.””