Chapter 7: The Recording That Changed Everything
The recording stopped.
Nobody moved.
I stood beside the equipment table, staring at the little black recorder as though it had just opened a grave.
My mother's voice was still inside my head.
Arthur, did you know he was going to kill me?
I looked at the man who had raised me.
The man who had taught me to ride a bicycle, held my hand during thunderstorms, and sat beside me when I had nightmares about losing my parents.
The man I had called Dad for ten years.
"Answer me.""
Arthur's lips trembled.
"Noah...""
"Did you know?""
He looked down.
"Please let me explain.""
"Did you know Richard was going to kill my mother?""
Arthur shook his head.
"I swear to you, I didn't.""
"Then why did she ask you that?""
He rubbed his face.
"I don't know what she was told.""
Evelyn laughed bitterly.
"She was told because you brought Richard into her house.""
Arthur turned toward her.
"I didn't know what he intended to do.""
"You opened the door for him.""
"I thought he wanted to talk!""
"You knew Sarah was frightened. You knew Michael had gone to the police. You knew Richard had been threatening them for weeks.""
Arthur's voice rose.
"I was trying to protect everyone!""
Evelyn stepped closer.
"By helping the man who destroyed our family?""
Marcus suddenly slammed his hand against the table.
"Enough!""
We all turned.
Marcus was breathing heavily.
"You're both acting like Arthur is the only person who made mistakes that night.""
I looked at him.
"What did you do?""
Marcus avoided my eyes.
"What did you do?"" I repeated.
He walked toward the stadium seats and sat down.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he reached into his jacket and removed a small photograph.
It showed three men standing outside the transportation company's warehouse.
Arthur.
Marcus.
Richard Vale.
All three were smiling.
The date was printed beneath the image.
November 12.
The same day as the email.
The same day my father had discovered the forged accounts.
I looked at Marcus.
"Why were you all together?""
Marcus stared at the photograph.
"Because Richard had offered us a deal.""
"What deal?""
"Money. Protection. A way out.""
I felt sick.
"Who is us?""
"Arthur and me.""
Arthur immediately shook his head.
"That's not how it happened.""
Marcus turned toward him.
"Then tell him what happened.""
Arthur's eyes filled with tears.
"I was desperate. I had debts. My business was failing. Richard knew I was struggling, and he offered me money to help with your care.""
"Twenty-five thousand dollars?""
Arthur nodded.
"Yes.""
"Was that all?""
He looked away.
I understood.
"How much?""
Marcus answered.
"Fifty thousand.""
I turned toward Arthur.
"Fifty?""
"Twenty-five was a loan," Arthur whispered.
"The other twenty-five was supposed to be payment for helping him locate Michael's documents.""
I stepped backward.
"You took money to help Richard find my father's evidence?""
Arthur's voice broke.
"I never gave him everything.""
"But you gave him enough.""
He nodded.
For the first time, he didn't defend himself.
I looked down at my championship trophy.
A few hours earlier, I had stood beneath the stadium lights and told thousands of people that Arthur was the man who had chosen me.
Now I wondered whether he had chosen me because he loved me or because he felt responsible for what happened to my parents.
"Did you ever love me?"" I asked.
Arthur looked up sharply.
"More than anything.""
"Then why did you let me grow up believing my father died in an accident?""
"Because I was afraid.""
"Of Richard?""
"Of losing you.""
I laughed, but there was no humor in it.
"You lost me tonight.""
Arthur covered his mouth.
Evelyn placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Come with me, Noah. We need to leave.""
Before I could respond, the stadium security guard approached.
"Everything okay over here?""
Evelyn immediately closed the folder.
"Yes. We're leaving.""
The guard looked toward the parking lot.
"There's a man outside asking for Mr. Carter.""
Arthur went rigid.
"Who?""
The guard checked his phone.
"Richard Vale.""
I looked at the entrance.
Richard had supposedly left.
Now he was back.
Evelyn whispered, "He knows about the recording.""
Marcus stood.
"We need to get out of here.""
But Arthur shook his head.
"No. Not until I talk to him.""
I grabbed his arm.
"Are you insane?""
Arthur looked at me.
"Richard won't stop until he gets that USB drive.""
"Then we give it to the police.""
"Not Detective Holloway.""
"He's retired!""
Arthur's expression changed.
"That doesn't mean he stopped having friends.""
A security guard approached again.
"Mr. Carter, the gentleman says he has something important for Noah.""
I looked toward the entrance.
Richard stood beneath the floodlights.
He wasn't smiling anymore.
He held up a photograph.
Then he called my name.
"Noah! Before you decide your father was murdered, perhaps you should ask Arthur what happened to the money he received after Michael died.""
I turned toward Arthur.
"What money?""
Arthur's face drained of color.
Richard smiled.
"Ah. He hasn't told you that part.""
He lifted his voice.
"Ask him about the two hundred thousand dollars deposited into his account three days after your father's funeral.""
Arthur closed his eyes.
Evelyn stepped forward.
"You're lying, Richard.""
Richard shrugged.
"Then perhaps the bank statements will clear things up.""
He placed a large envelope on the security table.
"Have a good night, Noah.""
Then he walked away.
I looked at Arthur.
Two hundred thousand dollars.
Three days after my father's funeral.
I wanted him to deny it.
I wanted him to tell me Richard was inventing another lie.
Instead, Arthur whispered:
"That money wasn't mine.""
"Whose was it?""
May you like
He looked at me.
"Yours.""
