Chapter 8: What They Hid
Darius couldn't breathe.
His father stood in the doorway as if twenty-five years had been nothing more than a long weekend.
Samuel Coleman slowly entered the church.
His cane tapped against the polished floor.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Nobody spoke.
Then Darius shouted, “You’re alive.””
Samuel stopped.
“Yes.””
Darius crossed the room.
“You're alive.””
“I am.””
“You let us bury an empty coffin.””
Samuel looked at him.
“I had to disappear.””
“You let my mother die believing you were dead.””
Samuel's expression cracked.
“I know.””
“You let me grow up thinking I wasn't worth staying for.””
“I know.””
Darius shoved him.
It was not enough to hurt him, but enough to make several guests gasp.
Samuel stumbled.
Malik caught his arm.
“Darius!””
Darius backed away, shaking.
“You don't get to walk in here like nothing happened.””
Samuel steadied himself.
“I didn't come for forgiveness.””
“Then why are you here?””
Samuel looked at Malik.
“To tell you what your father did.””
Malik's face hardened.
“You knew my father.””
“I knew him very well.””
“What happened the night he disappeared?””
Samuel looked toward Evelyn.
“She knows.””
Evelyn stepped forward.
“I know what I saw.””
Samuel shook his head.
“No. You know what you were told to believe.””
Evelyn's lips trembled.
“Then tell him.””
Samuel turned to Malik.
“Your father was stealing money.””
Malik swallowed.
“From whom?””
“People who trusted him.””
Darius interrupted.
“And you helped him.””
Samuel nodded.
“Yes.””
Malik stared.
“So my father wasn't innocent.””
“No.””
“But you were.””
“No.””
The answer stunned Malik.
Samuel continued.
“We both made mistakes.””
“What kind?””
“Fraud. False accounts. Hidden transfers.””
The officer immediately opened her folder.
“Do you have proof?””
Samuel looked at the metal box.
“Everything is there.””
Malik looked inside.
“But why did my father disappear?””
Samuel's eyes lowered.
“Because he discovered I was going to expose him.””
Darius shook his head.
“You told us Dad ran away because he was afraid of prison.””
Samuel looked at him.
“He wasn't afraid of prison.””
“Then what?””
“He was afraid of someone else.””
Tiana whispered, “Who?””
Samuel looked at her.
“You know.””
She shook her head.
“I don't.””
“You heard the tape.””
Tiana's face went pale.
Malik turned toward her.
“What tape?””
“The one in the box.””
Tiana swallowed.
“I heard it three months ago.””
“Who played it for you?””
She looked at Samuel.
“He did.””
Darius stared at his father.
“You contacted her?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because she was looking for the same truth.””
Malik's voice became cold.
“Why would she be looking?””
Tiana finally stepped forward.
“My father disappeared too.””
Malik frowned.
“What?””
“My father wasn't just a businessman. He was involved with your father's company.””
Samuel nodded.
“Both families were connected.””
Tiana looked at Malik.
“When my father died, I found documents hidden in his house.””
“What documents?””
“Transfers. Payments. Names.””
“Your father's name?””
“Yes.””
“Mine?””
“Yes.””
Malik looked toward Evelyn.
“Your name?””
Evelyn didn't answer.
Tiana whispered, “Yes.””
Malik looked stunned.
“What did you do?””
Evelyn covered her mouth.
Samuel answered.
“She didn't steal anything.””
“Then why was her name there?””
“Because your father used her account.””
Evelyn's eyes closed.
Malik stared.
“You used Mom's account?””
“No.””
Samuel corrected himself.
“Your father used it without her knowing.””
Malik's breathing slowed.
“So Dad stole money through her?””
“Yes.””
“Then why did you let her take the blame?””
“I didn't.””
“Someone did.””
Samuel nodded.
“That's why I disappeared.””
The officer stepped closer.
“Who framed Evelyn?””
Samuel looked at her.
“That's the question.””
Darius shook his head.
“You know who.””
Samuel's jaw tightened.
“I know who ordered it.””
“Who?””
Samuel looked toward Tiana.
She began crying.
“Don't,” she whispered.
Malik turned.
“Tiana?””
Samuel said quietly, “Her father.””
Malik froze.
Tiana shook her head.
“My father didn't do that.””
“He did.””
“No.””
“He threatened Evelyn.””
“No.””
“He threatened your family.””
Tiana backed away.
“You're lying.””
Samuel's voice hardened.
“I watched him.””
Tiana covered her ears.
“I don't want to hear this.””
Malik approached her.
“Did you know?””
“No.””
“Did you know your father was involved?””
“I suspected.””
“Did you know he threatened my mother?””
“No.””
Samuel interrupted.
“He also ordered the attack that made your father disappear.””
Malik's face went cold.
“My father was attacked?””
Samuel nodded.
“He survived.””
Everyone stared.
Malik whispered, “Survived?””
“He escaped.””
“Where?””
Samuel pointed at the old photograph.
“In the photograph.””
Malik looked down.
The picture showed three people outside a building.
Evelyn.
His father.
Samuel.
He looked closer.
There was a fourth figure in the background.
A man partially hidden behind a car.
Malik's eyes widened.
“That isn't Tiana's father.””
Samuel shook his head.
“No.””
“Then who?””
Samuel looked toward the wedding guests.
One person slowly stood.
An elderly Black man in the second row.
Tiana screamed.
“Granddad?””
The old man stared at Samuel.
Samuel tightened his grip on the cane.
“Your grandfather was the man who gave the order.””
Tiana's grandfather slowly reached into his jacket.
The officer immediately drew herself between him and the crowd.
“Sir, keep your hands where I can see them.””
He stopped.
Then slowly pulled out a folded document.
“I came to give this to Malik.””
Malik stared at him.
“What is it?””
The old man looked at Evelyn.
“Her husband's final confession.””
Evelyn began sobbing.
Malik reached for the paper.
But before he could take it, Tiana whispered—
“Malik, don't.””
He looked at her.
“Why?””
May you like
She stared at the document.
“Because I know what's written on it.””
