Chapter 8: The Two Hundred Thousand Dollar Secret
We left the stadium through the players' entrance.
Nobody spoke during the drive.
Evelyn sat in the back seat with the leather folder on her lap. Marcus drove. I sat beside him, holding the USB drive so tightly that its edges dug into my palm.
Arthur followed in his old pickup truck.
I watched his headlights in the rearview mirror.
For the first time in my life, I wasn't sure I wanted him to follow me home.
We stopped at a twenty-four-hour diner on the edge of town.
The place was nearly empty.
A waitress named Debbie brought us coffee without asking questions. She recognized me from the championship broadcast and congratulated me.
I managed a weak smile.
Then Evelyn placed Richard's envelope on the table.
"Open it.""
Inside were bank statements, transfer records, and a photocopy of a cashier's check.
The check had been issued three days after Michael's funeral.
Payable to Arthur Carter.
Amount: $200,000.
My stomach tightened.
"Arthur said it was my money.""
Evelyn nodded.
"That's what he told me ten years ago.""
I looked at her.
"You knew?""
"I knew about the payment. I didn't know where the money went.""
Arthur sat across from me.
His hands were clasped tightly around a coffee mug.
"I can explain.""
"Then do it.""
He took a breath.
"After your father died, Richard approached me. He said Michael had left money intended for your education. He offered to transfer it to an account I could manage as your guardian.""
"Two hundred thousand dollars?""
"Yes.""
"Why was it paid to you instead of me?""
"Because you were ten.""
I looked at the statement.
"Where did it go?""
Arthur hesitated.
"I put it into a trust.""
Evelyn leaned forward.
"Which trust?""
Arthur reached into his jacket and removed a folded piece of paper.
It was an account statement from a local bank.
The balance was zero.
I stared at it.
"What happened to the money?""
Arthur rubbed his forehead.
"The account was closed.""
"By whom?""
"Me.""
My stomach dropped.
"Why?""
"Because Richard told me the account was being investigated. He said if I didn't withdraw the money, it could be frozen.""
"Then what did you do with it?""
Arthur looked at me.
"I gave it back.""
I blinked.
"To Richard?""
He nodded.
I couldn't believe it.
"You returned two hundred thousand dollars to the man who stole from my father?""
"I thought I was protecting you.""
Evelyn pushed the bank statement toward him.
"Then why did you sign this?""
Arthur looked down.
It was a withdrawal receipt.
His signature appeared beneath the amount.
$200,000.
But there was something else.
The transaction had been completed at 11:42 a.m.
The date was November 18.
I looked at Evelyn.
"What's wrong?""
She pointed to the next page.
A second transfer had occurred that same afternoon.
Another $200,000.
This time, the money had gone into an account belonging to Richard Vale.
But the account number was different.
I looked at Arthur.
"You said you returned the money.""
"I did.""
"Then what's this second transfer?""
Arthur stared at the paper.
"I've never seen that.""
Marcus leaned over the table.
"Let me see.""
He studied the account number.
Then he sat back.
"That's not Richard's personal account.""
"Whose is it?"" I asked.
Marcus looked uncomfortable.
"It's a company account.""
"Which company?""
He pointed to the printed name.
BENNETT FAMILY HOLDINGS.
I stared at the words.
My father's company.
I turned toward Arthur.
"Why was money being transferred through a company account after Dad died?""
Arthur shook his head.
"I don't know.""
Evelyn looked at Marcus.
"Do you?""
Marcus didn't answer.
I slammed my hand against the table.
"Somebody needs to stop protecting everybody!""
The waitress glanced toward us.
I lowered my voice.
"Tell me.""
Marcus looked at the account statement.
"Michael created that company shortly before his death. He wanted to move the trust money into a protected investment account.""
"Then why was the account being used by Richard?""
"Because Richard had control of the company's paperwork.""
I looked at Arthur.
"How?""
Arthur swallowed.
"Your father gave him temporary access.""
"Why?""
"Because he believed Richard could help protect the investment.""
I stared at the documents.
My father had trusted Richard.
Arthur had trusted Richard.
Marcus had trusted Richard.
And Richard had used every bit of that trust to take something from us.
Evelyn opened her folder and removed a small notebook.
"This is why I came back.""
She placed it beside the bank statements.
It was an old financial ledger.
My father's handwriting covered the pages.
"Michael kept a record of every transfer," she explained.
"He suspected someone was using the company to move money after his death.""
I flipped through the pages.
Most entries were numbers and account references.
Then I found a line written in red ink.
*$200,000 — ARTHUR — HOLD UNTIL NOAH TURNS 21.*
I looked up.
Arthur's face had gone white.
"What does that mean?""
Evelyn pointed to the next line.
*If Arthur refuses, contact Evelyn.*
I felt a chill.
My father had anticipated this.
He had known Arthur might refuse to cooperate.
He had even written instructions for what should happen if he did.
"Where is the original money?"" I asked.
Evelyn shook her head.
"I don't know.""
Marcus leaned closer.
"Maybe the bank still has the original account records.""
Evelyn nodded.
"That's what I was trying to establish before my cousin died.""
I frowned.
"Your cousin?""
"The woman whose obituary Richard showed us. She worked at the bank for years. She was the one who helped Michael create the account.""
I looked at her.
"Why would Richard send me that photograph?""
"To make you believe I was dead. He wanted you to stop looking.""
I stared at the ledger.
Then I noticed something written on the inside cover.
A name.
Linda Harper.
The nurse from the hospital photograph.
Beside it was a telephone number.
I showed Evelyn.
She looked stunned.
"Michael had her number?""
"Apparently.""
Marcus reached for his phone.
"I can call her.""
"No," Evelyn said immediately.
"Why?""
"Because Richard may be monitoring her.""
I looked at the number.
There was a handwritten note beneath it.
She has the original hospital recording.
My pulse quickened.
"What recording?""
Evelyn looked at me.
"The hospital had security cameras in the corridor outside your mother's room. Your father believed someone had erased the footage.""
"Then how could Linda have it?""
"Because she copied it before it disappeared.""
Arthur leaned forward.
"That footage could prove Richard was there.""
Evelyn nodded.
"And perhaps show who entered Sarah's room.""
I looked at the phone number.
For ten years, the truth had been sitting in someone's hands.
Someone who might still be alive.
I dialed.
One ring.
Two.
Three.
A woman answered.
"Hello?""
I swallowed.
"Is this Linda Harper?""
"Who is this?""
"My name is Noah Bennett. I'm Michael and Sarah Bennett's son.""
There was a long silence.
Then I heard a shaky breath.
"Oh, my God.""
"Did you know my mother?""
"I took care of her.""
"Did you keep the hospital footage?""
The woman began crying.
"Your father told me to give it to you when you turned twenty-one.""
I looked at the ledger.
My twenty-first birthday was only six weeks away.
"Why didn't you contact me?""
"Because the man who visited your father after the funeral told me what would happen if I did.""
My blood ran cold.
"Who?""
Linda whispered a name.
"Arthur Carter.""
I looked up.
Arthur was staring directly at me.
I slowly lowered the phone.
"Linda, are you sure?""
"Yes.""
"Why would Arthur threaten you?""
She began crying harder.
"Because he told me that if I ever showed anyone the recording, he would make sure the truth about your mother came out.""
I stared at Arthur.
He stood abruptly.
"Noah, hang up.""
I pulled the phone away.
"Why?""
"Because she's lying.""
Linda heard him.
Then she said something that made Arthur collapse back into his chair.
"Ask him about the blue hospital key.""
I looked at Arthur.
"What blue hospital key?""
He didn't answer.
Linda continued.
"Your mother gave it to Arthur the night she died. It opened the cabinet where she kept the original documents.""
I turned toward Evelyn.
She looked confused.
"Sarah had no hospital key," she whispered.
Linda's voice became urgent.
"Noah, listen to me. Your mother wasn't the only person in that room that night.""
I tightened my grip on the phone.
"Who else was there?""
Linda took a trembling breath.
"Someone who wasn't supposed to be anywhere near the hospital.""
Then the call disconnected.
I stared at the screen.
Arthur slowly stood.
His face was wet with tears.
"Noah, there's something I need to tell you.""
Before he could continue, Evelyn's phone rang.
She answered.
A man's voice came through the speaker.
"Mrs. Bennett? This is Detective Holloway.""
Evelyn stiffened.
"How did you get this number?""
"I need you to bring Noah to the police station immediately.""
"Why?""
There was a pause.
Then Holloway said:
"Because we have just found the vehicle involved in Michael Bennett's death.""
I looked at Arthur.
May you like
Holloway continued.
"And the registration belongs to Arthur Carter.""
