Chapter 4: The Photograph That Changed Everything
For several seconds after Samuel mentioned Diane's name, I couldn't hear anything except the sound of my own breathing.
My wife had been standing beside Brielle when my SUV was taken in for service.
Not visiting.
Not passing by.
Standing beside her.
“Mr. Carter?”” Samuel asked through the phone.
“Are you still there?””
I tightened my grip on the device.
“Yes. I'm here.””
“There's something you need to understand. I didn't know who you were back then. I was just doing my job. But when the police came, my supervisor told me to change the inspection report.””
“Who was your supervisor?””
“Frank Miller. He owned the repair shop.””
“And what did he tell you?””
Samuel hesitated.
“He said a woman had paid him to make sure the original inspection never reached the insurance company.””
My stomach tightened.
“Which woman?””
“I didn't see her clearly. But I remember her voice.””
“Did you recognize it?””
“I think so.””
I looked across the reception hall.
Diane was sitting on the edge of a chair, crying into a napkin.
“Samuel, I need you to send me those photographs.””
“I can meet you tomorrow.””
“Tonight.””
“Mr. Carter, I don't think that's safe.””
I lowered my voice.
“Why?””
“Because someone called me yesterday asking whether I still had the original records.””
The hairs on my arms stood up.
“Who?””
“I don't know. But they knew my home address.””
Before I could respond, the call disconnected.
I stared at my phone.
Daniel approached me.
“What happened?””
I looked at him.
“The mechanic says your mother was with Brielle when they brought my SUV in for service.””
Daniel's face changed.
“No.””
“I wish I could tell you otherwise.””
He turned toward Diane.
“Mom!””
She looked up.
“What?””
“Were you with Brielle when Dad's SUV was serviced two days before the accident?””
Diane stood.
“Daniel, please don't do this.””
“Answer me!””
She looked at me.
Then she whispered, “Yes.””
The single word seemed to drain the air from the room.
Daniel stepped backward.
“Why?””
Diane wiped her cheeks.
“Brielle told me the car needed a routine inspection. Your father had been working too much. She said she wanted to make sure everything was safe.””
I stared at her.
“Did you know something was wrong with the brakes?””
“No.””
“Did you see anyone working on them?””
“I wasn't inside the garage the entire time.””
“That isn't what I asked.””
She shook her head.
“I didn't know, Marcus.””
I wanted to believe her.
God help me, part of me still wanted to believe her.
But the woman standing in front of me had signed documents transferring my authority to Brielle while I was lying in a hospital bed.
She had hidden those documents.
She had watched me struggle to walk while telling me recovery was unlikely.
And now she was asking me to accept another explanation.
I couldn't.
“Daniel,” I said quietly, “take your mother home.””
He stared at me.
“Dad, what about you?””
“I'll be fine.””
“I'm not leaving you alone.””
“I'm not alone. I have people I can trust.””
He looked confused.
I reached into my jacket and pulled out a business card.
“Call Thomas. Tell him I need him here.””
Thomas Reed was my former head of security. He had retired eighteen months before my accident, but he still answered my calls.
Daniel nodded.
Diane approached me.
“Marcus, please. Don't bring Thomas into this.””
I looked at her.
“Why?””
“Because this is a family matter.””
I gave her a cold smile.
“My brakes were cut, Diane. That's not a family disagreement.””
She began crying again.
Before she could say anything, the hallway door opened.
Brielle walked back into the reception hall.
She had changed out of her lavender dress and was now wearing a black coat. Her handbag hung from one shoulder.
She stopped when she saw us.
“What's going on?””
I looked at her.
“Where are you going?””
“Home.””
“Sit down.””
She laughed nervously.
“I'm not a child, Marcus.””
“No. You're an adult who apparently arranged a service appointment for my SUV.””
Her face went pale.
Diane closed her eyes.
Brielle looked at her aunt.
Then back at me.
“Who told you that?””
I smiled.
“That's what you're worried about?””
She placed her handbag on the table.
“You don't understand.””
“Then explain it.””
Brielle glanced at Daniel.
“Can we talk without him?””
Daniel stepped forward.
“No. Whatever you have to say, say it in front of me.””
She rolled her eyes.
“Fine.””
I watched her carefully.
“Why did you take my SUV to Frank Miller's garage?””
She swallowed.
“Because you asked me to.””
I shook my head.
“I didn't.””
“You were busy.””
“I didn't.””
Her voice became sharper.
“You were always giving me responsibility for things. You said I should learn how the company operated.””
“Company operations have nothing to do with cutting brake lines.””
Her eyes widened.
“I never said anything about brake lines!””
There it was.
The mistake.
I hadn't mentioned brake lines.
Daniel noticed too.
“Why did you bring that up?””
Brielle's mouth opened.
Then closed.
She looked at Diane.
And Diane looked away.
I leaned forward.
“Brielle, I want you to think very carefully before you answer my next question.””
She crossed her arms.
“What?””
“Who told you I would never walk again?””
She didn't respond.
I continued.
“And why did you look so frightened when I stood up?””
Her face twisted.
For the first time, I saw genuine anger beneath her polished appearance.
“Because you ruined everything!””
Daniel stared at her.
“What?””
Brielle immediately covered her mouth.
But the words had already escaped.
I slowly straightened in my chair.
“Ruined what?””
She backed toward the door.
Nothing about her looked confident anymore.
May you like
Then she said something that made Diane collapse into the nearest chair.
“You weren't supposed to survive the crash.””
