Chapter 6: The Man Who Knew Too Much
The word stayed in Harper’s mind.
Murdered.
Not an accident.
Not a tragedy.
Murder.
Suddenly every conversation Derek had ever avoided felt different.
Every angry moment.
Every secret phone call.
Every time he looked at her like he was carrying a weight too heavy to share.
Maybe he wasn’t running from his past.
Maybe he was running toward revenge.
Gabriel looked at his mother.
“Uncle Thomas was murdered?””
Eleanor nodded.
“You were too young to remember him.””
“I remember enough.””
His voice softened.
“He used to bring me comic books.””
Eleanor looked surprised.
“You remember that?””
“Of course I do.””
That was the heartbreaking part.
Children remembered love even when adults remembered pain.
Victor walked back to the table.
“Thomas was investigating problems inside the company.””
Gabriel looked at him.
“What kind of problems?””
Victor didn’t answer.
Again.
Always another secret.
Harper finally lost patience.
“No.””
Everyone looked at her.
She pointed toward the photograph.
“No more half-truths.””
Her voice shook, but she didn’t stop.
“I spent years married to a man who built his life around lies. I am done sitting in rooms where powerful people decide what I deserve to know.””
Victor studied her.
Then nodded.
“You’re right.””
He walked to the old files.
“Thomas discovered someone was stealing from the company.””
Gabriel frowned.
“Someone inside?””
“Yes.””
“Who?””
Victor looked at Eleanor.
She looked terrified.
Harper noticed.
The answer was close.
Too close.
Victor continued.
“Thomas found proof.””
“And then?””
“He disappeared.””
Harper’s heart sank.
“You mean before he died.””
Victor nodded.
“Three days later, his car was found.””
Gabriel’s face tightened.
“And Derek?””
Victor looked at him.
“Derek was the last person seen with him.””
Harper understood.
“So everyone blamed Derek.””
“Yes.””
“But Eleanor believed him?””
Eleanor answered.
“Yes.””
Her voice was quiet.
“I knew Derek didn’t kill Thomas.””
“Then why didn’t you tell anyone?””
Eleanor looked at Victor.
And Harper understood.
The answer was right there.
Fear.
Eleanor had been afraid.
But of what?
Victor noticed Harper’s expression.
“You think we were protecting ourselves.””
Harper said nothing.
Because she was.
Victor sighed.
“The person responsible had power.””
“What kind of power?””
“Enough power to destroy anyone who spoke.””
The lights above them flickered.
Not enough to go out.
Just enough to remind everyone how isolated the mansion was.
Gabriel looked toward the door.
“Where is Derek now?””
Nobody answered.
Then Harper felt something.
A strange realization.
She reached into her coat pocket.
Gabriel noticed.
“What?””
Harper slowly pulled out her phone.
“I forgot.””
She unlocked it.
There was one missed message.
From Derek.
Sent hours earlier.
Before the attack.
Before she left.
Her hands shook as she opened it.
Everyone watched.
The message was short.
One sentence.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you the truth before they found me.””
Harper’s breathing stopped.
Gabriel leaned closer.
“What does that mean?””
She looked at him.
“I don’t know.””
Then another message appeared.
A new one.
From an unknown number.
Harper stared at the screen.
The message said:
“Ask Victor Ashford what happened at Mercer Street.””
Victor saw the expression on her face.
“What is it?””
Harper looked up.
Her voice was barely a whisper.
“Someone else knows.””
The room became silent.
Gabriel looked around.
“Who?””
Nobody answered.
Then Victor’s eyes moved toward the windows.
Toward the darkness outside the mansion.
And Harper realized something.
The Ashfords weren’t just hiding from the past.
They were hiding from someone who was still out there.
May you like
Someone who knew exactly what Derek knew.
Someone who wanted the truth buried forever.
