Chapter 10: The Night My Father Finally Confessed## Chapter 10: The Night My Father Finally Confessed
By the time Daniel and I reached the house, the police were already outside
By the time Daniel and I reached the house, the police were already outside.
Two patrol cars stood across the driveway, their lights flashing against the windows.
Two patrol cars stood across the driveway, their lights flashing against the windows. A neighbor watched from behind a curtain, while Brielle stood on the front steps wearing a coat over her evening dress.
Her mascara had run.
The. A neighbor watched from behind a curtain, while Brielle stood on the front steps wearing a coat over her evening dress.
Her mascara had run.
The moment she saw me, she rushed forward.
“Maya!””
“What happened?””
“Mom locked Dad inside the study. She wouldn't let him leave.””
Daniel stepped between us.
“Where is Vanessa moment she saw me, she rushed forward.
“Maya!””
“What happened?””
“Mom locked Dad inside the study. She wouldn't let him leave.””
Daniel stepped between us.
“Where is Vanessa?””
“Upstairs. She said she was looking for something.””
I looked at the second-floor windows.
“Did she burn the letter?””
Brielle shook her head.
“I don't think so. I saw her put something into her handbag.””
“What?””
“I don't know. But she was screaming about a memory?””
“Upstairs. She said she was looking for something.””
I looked at the second-floor windows.
“Did she burn the letter?””
Brielle shook her head.
“I don't think so. I saw her put something into her handbag.””
“What?””
“I don't know. But she was screaming about a memory card.””
My stomach tightened.
She knew about the recording.
One of the officers approached.
“Are you Maya Bennett?””
“Yes.””
“Your father requested to speak with you. He's inside.””
Daniel immediately objected.
“She's sixteen. She shouldn't be handling this alone.””
The officer nodded.
“There's another adult card.””
My stomach tightened.
She knew about the recording.
One of the officers approached.
“Are you Maya Bennett?””
“Yes.””
“Your father requested to speak with you. He's inside.””
Daniel immediately objected.
“She's sixteen. She shouldn't be handling this alone.””
The officer nodded.
“There's another adult here. We'll remain present.””
I looked at Brielle.
“Come with me.””
She hesitated.
Then she followed.
The house smelled of smoke.
Not a burning house, but something here. We'll remain present.””
I looked at Brielle.
“Come with me.””
She hesitated.
Then she followed.
The house smelled of smoke.
Not a burning house, but something smaller. Paper, perhaps.
A fireplace was glowing in the living room.
On the marble hearth lay several blackened pieces of paper.
I crouched smaller. Paper, perhaps.
A fireplace was glowing in the living room.
On the marble hearth lay several blackened pieces of paper.
I crouched and examined them.
One fragment contained three handwritten words.
*Margaret knows everything.*
I stood.
“Where's Vanessa?””
Brielle pointed upstairs.
“Her bedroom.””
Daniel told the officers what we had found at the cottage.
They exchanged a and examined them.
One fragment contained three handwritten words.
*Margaret knows everything.*
I stood.
“Where's Vanessa?””
Brielle pointed upstairs.
“Her bedroom.””
Daniel told the officers what we had found at the cottage.
They exchanged a look.
One of them went upstairs.
The other escorted us toward the study.
The door was locked.
“Dad?”” I called.
A heavy sound came from inside.
“Maya?””
“It's me.””
“Thank God.””
look.
One of them went upstairs.
The other escorted us toward the study.
The door was locked.
“Dad?”” I called.
A heavy sound came from inside.
“Maya?””
“It's me.””
“Thank God.””
The officer unlocked the door.
My father stood beside his desk, his shirt collar open and his hands trembling.
He looked at me.
Then at DanielThe officer unlocked the door.
My father stood beside his desk, his shirt collar open and his hands trembling.
He looked at me.
Then at Daniel.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Finally, Richard whispered, “I'm sorry.””
I didn't move.
“You said you would tell me what happened.””
He nodded.
“Close the door.””
The officer remained nearby, leaving it partly open.
My father.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Finally, Richard whispered, “I'm sorry.””
I didn't move.
“You said you would tell me what happened.””
He nodded.
“Close the door.””
The officer remained nearby, leaving it partly open.
My father sat down.
“Your mother discovered that Vanessa and Victor had been using her designs without permission. She wanted to report them.””
“Why didn't she?””
“Because Victor threatened to destroy the company. He said he'd make sure your mother never worked in fashion again.””
Daniel's jaw sat down.
“Your mother discovered that Vanessa and Victor had been using her designs without permission. She wanted to report them.””
“Why didn't she?””
“Because Victor threatened to destroy the company. He said he'd make sure your mother never worked in fashion again.””
Daniel's jaw tightened.
“And you believed him?””
Richard looked down.
“I was trying to protect the business.””
I felt my anger rising.
“You keep saying that. What about Mom?””
He swallowed.
“Your tightened.
“And you believed him?””
Richard looked down.
“I was trying to protect the business.””
I felt my anger rising.
“You keep saying that. What about Mom?””
He swallowed.
“Your mother had arranged a meeting with Margaret Collins. She had evidence that Victor was using forged signatures to register her designs.””
“What happened?””
“Vanessa found out.””
Brielle stood near the doorway.
mother had arranged a meeting with Margaret Collins. She had evidence that Victor was using forged signatures to register her designs.””
“What happened?””
“Vanessa found out.””
Brielle stood near the doorway.
“Mom knew about the meeting?””
Richard nodded.
“She told Victor. He called me that evening and asked me to convince Eleanor to stay home.””
I stared“Mom knew about the meeting?””
Richard nodded.
“She told Victor. He called me that evening and asked me to convince Eleanor to stay home.””
I stared at him.
“And you did?””
“I called her. We argued. She said she wasn't going to let them steal everything she'd worked for.””
His voice cracked.
“I told her she was destroying our family.””
at him.
“And you did?””
“I called her. We argued. She said she wasn't going to let them steal everything she'd worked for.””
His voice cracked.
“I told her she was destroying our family.””
Daniel stood.
“You coward.””
Richard didn't defend himself.
He continued.
“Eleanor left anyway. Before she went, she gave me an envelope andDaniel stood.
“You coward.””
Richard didn't defend himself.
He continued.
“Eleanor left anyway. Before she went, she gave me an envelope and asked me to protect you.””
I felt tears gathering.
“What was in it?””
“The original trust documents. And a statement explaining everything.””
“Where is asked me to protect you.””
I felt tears gathering.
“What was in it?””
“The original trust documents. And a statement explaining everything.””
“Where is it now?””
Richard pointed toward his desk.
“Vanessa took it.””
I looked at the empty desk drawer.
“Why didn't you stop her?””
“I tried.””
He it now?””
Richard pointed toward his desk.
“Vanessa took it.””
I looked at the empty desk drawer.
“Why didn't you stop her?””
“I tried.””
He reached into his pocket and removed a small piece of paper.
It was a photograph of my mother standing in the sewing room.
On the back, she had written:
*Richard, if you cannot reached into his pocket and removed a small piece of paper.
It was a photograph of my mother standing in the sewing room.
On the back, she had written:
Richard, if you cannot protect my daughter from the people around you, at least don't become one of them.
I pressed the photograph against my chest.
My father covered his face.
“I found that after the funeral. I should have gone to the protect my daughter from the people around you, at least don't become one of them.*
I pressed the photograph against my chest.
My father covered his face.
“I found that after the funeral. I should have gone to the police. I should have protected you. Instead, I signed documents I didn't understand and let Vanessa convince me that everything would eventually disappear.””
Daniel's voice was cold.
“You knew the brake inspection police. I should have protected you. Instead, I signed documents I didn't understand and let Vanessa convince me that everything would eventually disappear.””
Daniel's voice was cold.
“You knew the brake inspection had been denied.””
Richard looked up.
“Yes.””
The room went silent.
“Did you know the brakes were defective?”” I asked.
He began crying.
“I knew there had been a warning. Victor told me the car had been checked. He said the problem was resolved.””
“Did you verify it had been denied.””
Richard looked up.
“Yes.””
The room went silent.
“Did you know the brakes were defective?”” I asked.
He began crying.
“I knew there had been a warning. Victor told me the car had been checked. He said the problem was resolved.””
“Did you verify it?””
“No.””
“Did you know Mom was driving that car?””
“Yes.””
My legs felt weak.
I gripped the back of a chair.
“Why?””
“No.””
“Did you know Mom was driving that car?””
“Yes.””
My legs felt weak.
I gripped the back of a chair.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I couldn't live with what I'd done.””
I looked at him.
“You didn't have to live with it. Mom did.””
He lowered didn't you tell me?””
“Because I couldn't live with what I'd done.””
I looked at him.
“You didn't have to live with it. Mom did.””
He lowered his head.
The silence was broken by a scream upstairs.
“Brielle!””
We rushed into the hallway.
Vanessa stood at the top of the staircase, holding a small leather case his head.
The silence was broken by a scream upstairs.
“Brielle!””
We rushed into the hallway.
Vanessa stood at the top of the staircase, holding a small leather case.
An officer was speaking to her.
“Mrs. Bennett, please put the case down.””
She tightened her grip.
“This belongs to me.””
Brielle looked up.
“Mom, just give it to them.””
Vanessa's eyes flashed.
“You have no idea what you're doing.
An officer was speaking to her.
“Mrs. Bennett, please put the case down.””
She tightened her grip.
“This belongs to me.””
Brielle looked up.
“Mom, just give it to them.””
Vanessa's eyes flashed.
“You have no idea what you're doing.””
She opened the case.
Inside was a collection of photographs, documents, and a silver USB drive.
I recognized the crescent symbol engraved on the drive.
My.””
She opened the case.
Inside was a collection of photographs, documents, and a silver USB drive.
I recognized the crescent symbol engraved on the drive.
My mother's symbol.
Daniel took a step forward.
“Where did you get that?””
Vanessa smiled.
“Eleanor left it behind.””
I looked at the drive.
“What's on it?””
Vanessa's smile widened.
“Something your mother should never have recorded.””
Then she mother's symbol.
Daniel took a step forward.
“Where did you get that?””
Vanessa smiled.
“Eleanor left it behind.””
I looked at the drive.
“What's on it?””
Vanessa's smile widened.
“Something your mother should never have recorded.””
Then she turned toward the officers.
“Before anyone takes this, I suggest you ask Richard why he was the last person to see Eleanor alive.””
My father went completely turned toward the officers.
“Before anyone takes this, I suggest you ask Richard why he was the last person to see Eleanor alive.””
My father went completely still.
I turned toward him.
“Dad?””
Vanessa descended one step.
“Go on, Richard. Tell her where you were that night.””
Richard stared at the silver USB drive.
Then still.
I turned toward him.
“Dad?””
Vanessa descended one step.
“Go on, Richard. Tell her where you were that night.””
Richard stared at the silver USB drive.
Then he whispered:
“I was in the car with her.””
May you like
he whispered:
“I was in the car with her.””
