Chapter 13 - THE LAST SECRET
My mother stared at the detective.
“I don't understand.”
He placed the documents on the table.
“These transfers were made through an account in your name.”
She shook her head.
“I never opened that account.”
“That's what we're trying to determine.”
My father looked at the paperwork.
“Who had access to her identification?”
My mother thought.
Then she whispered:
“Carmen.”
I felt cold.
“When?”
“After Michael disappeared.”
“Why would she have your identity?”
“I don't know.”
The detective looked at Gabriel.
“Did Carmen ever threaten you?”
Gabriel nodded.
“Many times.”
“Why?”
“Because I knew too much.”
The detective asked:
“About what?”
Gabriel looked at me.
“Your mother's disappearance.”
My heart stopped.
“What disappearance?”
My mother closed her eyes.
Gabriel continued.
“Twenty-five years ago, your mother didn't simply leave town.”
“She was kidnapped.”
I stared at my mother.
She nodded slowly.
“I was taken after Michael disappeared.”
“By Carmen?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because she wanted the ledger.”
I felt sick.
“What happened?”
“She kept me in a house for three weeks.”
My father looked devastated.
“I found her.”
“But the ledger was already gone.”
My mother nodded.
“I had hidden it.”
“Where?”
She looked at me.
“Inside your bracelet.”
I touched the silver band.
“The bracelet Dad gave me.”
“Yes.”
My father nodded.
“I gave it to you because Michael wanted the evidence to stay close to you.”
I couldn't believe it.
The bracelet had been with me my entire life.
The evidence had been with me.
And everyone had been fighting over something I didn't even know I possessed.
The detective examined the memory chip.
“There may be more on this.”
He connected it to his laptop.
A video opened.
Michael appeared on the screen.
He looked younger.
He was sitting at a desk.
“Sofia, if you're watching this, you are old enough to know the truth.”
I couldn't breathe.
He continued.
“Victor believes the ledger contains financial evidence.”
“He is wrong.”
The screen changed.
A list appeared.
Names.
Dates.
Companies.
Then Michael said:
“The ledger is a map.”
“A map to what?”
My father leaned closer.
Michael answered:
“To the person who financed everything.”
The screen showed an account.
The owner was hidden behind several companies.
Then the final name appeared.
ELENA MORGAN.
Elise froze.
Everyone looked at her.
She whispered:
“No.”
The detective stared.
“Who is Elena Morgan?”
Elise's face had gone white.
“My mother.”
I looked at her.
“Your mother financed Victor?”
“Yes.”
“But she's dead.”
Elise nodded.
“She died five years ago.”
Michael's video continued.
“She was the original financier.”
“But she died before the final operation.”
My father looked at Elise.
“Then who took over?”
Elise shook her head.
“I don't know.”
The video suddenly glitched.
A second recording appeared.
This one was recent.
Carmen was speaking to someone.
Her face was hidden.
“You promised me protection.”
A man's voice answered.
“You failed.”
“I did everything you asked.”
“You lost control of Daniel.”
“He was weak.”
“You lost control of Victor.”
“He was arrested.”
“And now Sofia has the ledger.”
Carmen's voice became desperate.
“Then what do you want me to do?”
The man replied:
“Disappear.”
The video ended.
The detective stared at the screen.
“Who was that?”
Nobody knew.
Then Gabriel noticed something.
“Play it again.”
The video restarted.
Gabriel moved closer.
“Stop.”
The detective paused.
Gabriel pointed to the reflection in the window behind Carmen.
A man's silhouette.
And on his wrist was a silver watch.
I recognized it.
The same watch from the photograph.
My father's former business partner.
Victor's associate.
But Victor was already in custody.
I looked at my father.
“Who else owns that watch?”
He didn't answer.
Then Michael whispered:
“Richard.”
My father looked down.
“What?”
Michael stared at him.
“Your watch.”
My father slowly raised his wrist.
The same silver watch.
I stepped backward.
“No.”
My father looked at me.
“Sofia.”
“You were there.”
“I wasn't.”
“You have the same watch.”
“It was a gift.”
“From who?”
He froze.
I felt my heart sink.
“Dad.”
He closed his eyes.
“Victor.”
The room became silent.
I stared at him.
“You wore Victor's watch?”
“I used it to infiltrate his organization.”
“But the man in the video…”
“Wasn't me.”
Michael interrupted.
“I know who it is.”
Everyone looked at him.
“Who?”
Michael looked toward Gabriel.
Then toward Elise.
Then finally at me.
“Your grandfather.”
I froze.
“My grandfather?”
Michael nodded.
“Your mother's father.”
“But he's dead.”
“No.”
My mother began crying.
“He isn't.”
I couldn't breathe.
“Where is he?”
Michael looked toward the window.
“He's the person who started all of this.”
The detective immediately contacted the police.
Within minutes, officers surrounded my mother's house.
But before they could arrive, my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
A man's voice spoke.
“Hello, Sofia.”
“Who are you?”
“You've spent your entire life believing your family protected you.”
I froze.
The voice continued:
“They didn't.”
“What do you want?”
“The ledger.”
“No.”
“Then your mother dies.”
I looked at my mother.
She was safe in the hospital.
The voice laughed.
“You should look behind you.”
I turned.
A security camera near the hospital entrance had been disabled.
Someone had already entered the building.
The call ended.
I looked at my father.
“We need to move.”
He nodded.
May you like
But the detective was already running toward the hallway.
And somewhere inside the hospital, someone was coming for my mother.
