Chapter 7: The Secret My Father Buried
At 8:47 that evening, I received a photograph from my father.
It showed a small brown envelope sitting on the passenger seat of his car.
Beneath it, he had written:
*Come alone. Don't tell Julian. And Maya, whatever you hear tonight, please let me explain before you decide I'm a monster.*
I read the message three times.
Julian stood across the room, studying the documents we'd recovered from the storage unit.
"He's asking you to meet him alone?"" he asked.
I nodded.
"That's a terrible idea.""
"He says Vanessa has something on him.""
Julian closed the folder.
"Vanessa has been controlling people with secrets for years. Don't assume your father is telling you the entire truth.""
I picked up my coat.
"Then I'll find out what he's hiding.""
Julian reached into his desk drawer and handed me a small recording device.
"Keep this switched on.""
I looked at it.
"Are you expecting him to confess to something?""
"I'm expecting him to tell you what he thinks you need to hear.""
I slipped the recorder into my pocket.
Before I left, Julian caught my arm.
"One more thing. Your mother didn't trust Vanessa, but she never stopped believing Richard could make things right.""
I looked at him.
"Did she love him?""
"Very much.""
"Then why did she keep secrets from him?""
Julian lowered his eyes.
"Because love doesn't always mean trust.""
My father was waiting in the underground parking garage of an abandoned office building.
He stood beside his car, wearing a dark coat.
He looked older than I remembered.
His hair had gone almost completely gray, and his hands shook as he opened the passenger door.
"Thank you for coming.""
I didn't get inside.
"Tell me what happened the night Mom died.""
He looked around the empty garage.
"Get in, Maya.""
"No. Not until you answer me.""
He swallowed.
"Your mother called me that evening. She wanted me to come home immediately.""
"Why?""
"She had discovered the original transfer documents. She knew Vanessa had been moving money.""
"And you signed them.""
He closed his eyes.
"Yes.""
The answer was quiet.
But it hit me like a slap.
"Why?""
"Vanessa told me the agreement was temporary. She said the company was in financial trouble and needed restructuring.""
"Mom warned you.""
"I know.""
"Then why didn't you listen?""
His eyes filled with tears.
"Because I was afraid.""
I stared at him.
"Afraid of what?""
He opened the passenger door and removed the brown envelope.
"Vanessa had shown me documents suggesting that your mother's company was involved in serious financial irregularities. She said Julian was using her to hide money.""
"And you believed her?""
"I didn't know what to believe.""
He handed me the envelope.
Inside was a printed email exchange between Vanessa and someone named Samuel Reed.
The first message was dated two days before my mother's death.
*Vanessa:* The situation is getting worse. Claire has discovered the original account transfers.
*Samuel:* I told you not to involve me in this.
*Vanessa:* You already are involved. If she talks, we both lose everything.
I looked up.
"Who's Samuel Reed?""
"Your mother's doctor.""
I continued reading.
The next email contained a sentence that made my fingers go numb.
*Vanessa:* Make sure the next appointment happens before Friday. I need her unable to attend the board meeting.
I looked at my father.
"What does that mean?""
He rubbed his face.
"I found those emails after your mother was admitted to the hospital.""
"Why didn't you give them to the police?""
"Because there was another message.""
He removed a second page.
It was an email from Vanessa.
*Richard knows about the transfer. If Claire tells him everything, he'll have to choose between his wife and the company.*
Below it was my father's reply.
*I won't let this destroy my family.*
I looked at him.
"You knew she was planning something.""
"I knew Vanessa was angry. I didn't know she would go that far.""
"Did you know Mom had been exposed to chemicals?""
He looked down.
"Yes.""
My stomach tightened.
"How?""
He took a long breath.
"The hospital called me. They said the tests showed traces of an industrial solvent. They asked whether your mother had been exposed to chemicals at work.""
"And?""
"I told them I didn't know.""
"Did you?""
He nodded slowly.
"Yes.""
I stepped backward.
"What?""
"Your mother had been working with a new fabric treatment. Vanessa told me she had accidentally spilled some of it in the studio.""
I stared at him.
"You knew?""
"I thought it was an accident!""
"And you never told anyone?""
He began crying.
"I was scared, Maya. Vanessa told me the company would collapse if the chemical exposure became public. She said there were people who would lose their jobs. She said she had already spoken to the doctor.""
I felt physically sick.
My mother had been dying.
And my father had been worried about the company's reputation.
"Did Mom ask for you?""
He covered his face.
"Yes.""
"What did she say?""
His voice broke.
"She asked me to bring you to the hospital.""
I couldn't breathe.
"Did you?""
He shook his head.
"Vanessa told me you were too young. She said seeing your mother like that would traumatize you.""
I stared at him.
"She was my mother.""
"I know.""
"She wanted me there.""
"I know, sweetheart.""
"No, you don't!""
My voice echoed through the garage.
I stepped closer.
"You let her die thinking I wasn't coming.""
My father broke down.
"I thought she would recover.""
I wiped my face.
"Did you?""
He looked at me.
"Did you think she would recover, or did you just hope she wouldn't tell anyone what Vanessa had done?""
He didn't answer.
That was answer enough.
For several minutes, neither of us spoke.
Then my father reached into his coat and removed a small black object.
A voice recorder.
"Your mother gave me this the day before she died.""
I stared at it.
"Why?""
"She wanted me to hear something.""
He pressed play.
A woman's voice filled the garage.
My mother's.
"Richard, if you're listening to this, I need you to understand that Vanessa isn't acting alone. I found the original treatment records. Someone changed the chemical composition after I approved the sample.""
There was a pause.
Then she continued.
"I believe someone deliberately exposed me. I don't know whether it was intended to harm me or silence me, but I know it wasn't an accident.""
My father pressed his lips together.
The recording continued.
"Please protect Maya. The trust is already in place. Don't let anyone persuade you to change it. And Richard...""
My mother paused.
"I still love you. But I don't know if I can forgive what you've done.""
The recording ended.
I stood completely still.
My father looked at me.
"I've carried that recording for eight years.""
"Why?""
"Because I was afraid.""
I shook my head.
"You keep saying that.""
"I know.""
"Then stop being afraid.""
He looked at me.
I took the recording device from his hand.
"Give me everything. The emails, the hospital records, the original documents. All of it.""
He nodded.
"I will.""
"And Dad?""
"Yes?""
"If you lie to me again, I won't give you another chance.""
He lowered his head.
"I understand.""
I turned toward the exit.
Then I heard him say something behind me.
"Maya, there's one more thing.""
I stopped.
"Vanessa wasn't the person who approved the chemical change.""
I slowly turned.
"Who was?""
He looked directly at me.
"Your stepsister.""
I felt the blood drain from my face.
"Brielle?""
He nodded.
"She was working in the company laboratory that week. Vanessa said she was only helping with samples.""
I couldn't speak.
My father looked at the floor.
"There's a signed approval form.""
I stared at him.
"Where is it?""
He pointed toward the brown envelope.
"Vanessa has the original.""
My phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
May you like
One message.
*If you want the truth about Brielle, stop trusting your father. He's still hiding the most important part.*
