Chapter 12: My Brother's Accusation
I read the message again.
Then I called the number.
It rang twice.
A man's voice answered.
"Marcus?""
"Who is this?""
"My name is Michael Bennett.""
My father stood up so quickly that his chair scraped across the floor.
I stared at him.
"How do you know my name?""
"Because I've been looking for you.""
"Are you Margaret Bennett's son?""
There was a long pause.
"Yes.""
My throat tightened.
"Where are you?""
"Charlottesville.""
"Are you alone?""
"Yes.""
"How do I know you're telling the truth?""
He gave a quiet laugh.
"Because I have something your father gave my mother before she disappeared.""
I looked at Arthur.
"What is it?""
"A small silver locket.""
My father closed his eyes.
I knew that locket.
It had belonged to my grandmother.
My mother wore it every day until the night she disappeared.
"Can you send me a photograph?""
"I already did.""
I checked my phone.
A second image had arrived.
The locket was lying on a wooden table.
On its front were two engraved initials.
A and M.
Arthur and Margaret.
I looked at my father.
He was crying silently.
"Michael," I said, "I want to meet you.""
"Not yet.""
"Why?""
"Because I need to know whether you're safe.""
I almost laughed.
"Safe from whom?""
He lowered his voice.
"From the man who raised you.""
I turned toward Arthur.
"What did you say?""
Michael continued.
"Your father knows why our mother disappeared. He knows why I was taken away. And he knows what happened to the original trust.""
I stared at the phone.
"Are you accusing my father of helping them?""
"I'm telling you what my mother told me.""
"Your mother?""
"She found me six years ago.""
My heart stopped.
"What?""
"She came to the farmhouse. She told me who I was. She showed me the hospital records and gave me the locket.""
I looked at my father.
He was gripping the edge of the table.
"Is she alive?"" I asked.
Michael was silent.
Then he said, "Yes.""
My knees weakened.
"Where is she?""
"Somewhere safe.""
"Tell me.""
"I can't.""
"She's my mother!""
"And she's my mother too. I won't put her in danger.""
I swallowed.
"Then why contact me?""
"Because she's dying.""
The words hit like a physical blow.
I gripped the phone.
"What?""
"She's been sick for a while. She doesn't have much time.""
My father sank back into his chair.
I could barely speak.
"Why didn't she come home?""
Michael took a breath.
"Because she believed your father was part of the reason she had to disappear.""
I turned toward Arthur.
"Is that true?""
He shook his head.
"Marcus, please.""
Michael continued.
"She said your father met Detective Reed the night she disappeared. She said he knew where she was being taken.""
My father stood.
"That's a lie!""
I looked at him.
"Did you know where she was?""
He didn't answer.
"Did you?""
He finally shook his head.
"I knew she was alive. I didn't know where she was.""
I felt my chest tighten.
"You knew?""
Arthur's eyes filled.
"Yes.""
I stepped away.
"For how long?""
He swallowed.
"About six months.""
I stared at him.
"Six months?""
"She contacted me through a lawyer. She told me she had to remain hidden until the investigation was finished.""
"And you never told me?""
"You were eleven years old.""
"I was eleven for one year, Dad!""
He lowered his head.
I turned back to the phone.
"Michael, where is she now?""
"At a private care facility outside Charlottesville.""
"Give me the address.""
"Meet me first.""
"Why?""
"Because there's something you need to understand. Our mother didn't disappear because she was afraid of Daniel Carter alone.""
He paused.
"She disappeared because she discovered that someone had been using the land to hide evidence of a much bigger crime.""
Richard stepped closer.
"What crime?""
Michael heard him.
"Who is that?""
"Richard. He worked for the Carter Group.""
There was silence.
Then Michael said, "Tell him to check the original mineral rights agreement.""
Richard frowned.
"What about it?""
"The company transferred the underground rights to a private investment fund before the land was inherited.""
Richard opened his folder.
"That's impossible. The trust retained those rights.""
Michael laughed bitterly.
"That's what the documents say. But the original agreement was signed by someone else.""
"Who?""
Michael answered.
"Arthur Bennett.""
My father looked as though he had been struck.
I turned toward him.
"Did you sign it?""
"No.""
Michael continued.
"That's what my mother told me. Someone forged his signature. But the document was used to move millions of dollars through an offshore account.""
Richard quickly opened his tablet.
He began searching through the legal records.
After several minutes, he stopped.
His expression changed.
"Marcus.""
"What?""
He turned the screen toward me.
A property transfer document appeared.
The date was twenty-three years earlier.
The signature at the bottom belonged to Arthur Bennett.
But beneath it was another name.
The witness.
*Samuel Reed.*
My father stared at the screen.
"I never signed that.""
Richard nodded.
"I believe you.""
Then he looked at the transaction details.
"There's another problem.""
"What?""
"The money from the original transfer was deposited into an account held by a private company.""
"Whose company?""
Richard enlarged the registration information.
The company was called Bennett Holdings.
I frowned.
"My father never owned a company.""
Richard looked at me.
"Exactly.""
He scrolled down.
The registered director was listed as a person named Michael Bennett.
I turned toward the phone.
"Michael?""
He was still listening.
"Yes?""
"Did you ever own a company called Bennett Holdings?""
"No.""
Richard examined the incorporation date.
Then he looked up.
"It was established using Michael's birth records.""
I felt sick.
"Someone used my brother's identity?""
Richard nodded.
"To move the money.""
Michael's voice became urgent.
"Marcus, listen to me. You have to get those documents away from Richard.""
I looked at the businessman.
"Why?""
"Because he's the one who knows where the money went.""
Richard stepped back.
"That's ridiculous.""
Michael continued.
"He worked with my father. He knows about the offshore account. And he knows who signed the transfer.""
Richard slammed his folder shut.
"That boy is lying.""
My father stood.
"Richard, give us the documents.""
Richard looked at him.
For a moment, nobody moved.
Then he slowly reached into his jacket.
He removed a small photograph.
It showed him standing beside Daniel Carter and Detective Reed.
All three were smiling.
The date was printed beneath it.
Twenty-three years earlier.
I stared at him.
"You told us you were helping my mother.""
Richard's expression hardened.
"I was.""
"Then why were you standing with them?""
He looked at me.
"Because I was trying to stop something worse.""
"By helping them?""
He suddenly placed the photograph on the table.
"Your mother asked me to hide the original records. I did exactly what she requested.""
"Then why did Michael tell us to check the mineral rights?""
Richard's jaw tightened.
"Because he doesn't understand what happened.""
My father stepped closer.
"Then explain it.""
Richard looked at Arthur.
Then at me.
And finally, he said something that made the room go silent.
"Your mother didn't disappear because she was afraid of Daniel.""
He paused.
"She disappeared because she discovered that your father had been using the property to hide money long before Daniel ever entered the picture.""
I stared at Arthur.
"Dad?""
My father looked at the floor.
Richard continued.
"And the person who helped Margaret disappear was the same person who arranged the transfer of your brother.""
I felt my stomach twist.
"Who?""
Richard looked directly at my father.
"Arthur Bennett.""
My father didn't deny it.
Instead, he reached into his coat and removed a photograph.
It showed my mother holding two newborn babies.
He placed it on the table.
Then he looked at me.
"Son, I didn't tell you the truth because I was trying to protect you.""
I stared at him.
"From what?""
His voice broke.
"From the fact that one of those children wasn't Margaret's.""
I looked at the photograph.
Then at the hospital records.
Then at the names on the bracelets.
My father continued.
"Your mother and Evelyn gave birth on the same night. But one child was already dead when they arrived at the hospital.""
I stopped breathing.
"What?""
Arthur's eyes filled with tears.
"Daniel arranged for the babies to be switched. He wanted to control both families through the children.""
I stared at him.
"Which child died?""
He couldn't answer.
Then my phone vibrated again.
Michael had sent a final message.
*Marcus, I'm sorry. I should have told you sooner.*
A second message followed.
*Nia isn't your sister. She's your father's daughter.*
I looked at Nia.
She was standing in the doorway.
Her face had gone completely white.
May you like
And my father whispered the words that would change everything.
"That's why I never told you who her real mother was.""
