Chapter 8: The Evidence Hidden in Grandpa's Safe
The words followed me all the way back to Grandpa's house.
The brakes had been tampered with.
I sat in the back of Daniel's car, holding my mother's letter.
Alexander sat beside me.
Neither of us spoke.
Every time I closed my eyes, I imagined my mother driving along a quiet road, unaware that something was wrong with her car.
I imagined her reaching for the brake pedal.
I imagined her calling my name.
Then I opened my eyes and looked at Alexander.
He was staring out the window.
His jaw was clenched.
"Are you angry?"" I asked.
He turned toward me.
"Yes.""
"At Grandma?""
"At everyone who knew something and kept it from us.""
I looked down.
"Do you think she hurt Mom?""
He took a slow breath.
"I don't know, Maya.""
"But you think she might have.""
He didn't answer immediately.
Then he said, "I think we need proof before we accuse anyone.""
Daniel glanced at us through the rearview mirror.
"Your father is right. We have evidence of financial misconduct and interference with medical records. The accident requires a separate investigation.""
When we arrived at Grandpa's house, a police officer was waiting near the entrance.
Daniel recognized him.
"Detective Harris?""
The officer nodded.
"Mr. Brooks. I received your message.""
I became nervous.
"Why is the police here?""
Daniel turned toward me.
"Marcus asked that the original investigation materials be preserved. We need to make sure nothing has been removed or altered.""
The officer introduced himself.
"I'm Detective Harris. I knew your grandfather.""
I looked at him.
"You did?""
He nodded.
"Marcus came to see me several months ago. He was worried about something he had discovered.""
"What?""
Detective Harris glanced at Daniel.
"That's what we're trying to establish.""
We entered the house.
Everything looked the same.
The grandfather clock still stood beside the staircase.
The family photographs were still arranged along the hallway.
And Grandpa's slippers were still beside his favorite armchair.
I stopped.
"Can I go upstairs?""
Daniel nodded.
"Stay with Alexander.""
We walked toward Grandpa's study.
The detective examined the cabinet.
"Was this locked?""
"Yes," I said.
"Who had access?""
"My grandfather. Grandma. And Mr. Brooks.""
Daniel corrected me.
"Marcus also had a spare key hidden in his desk.""
The detective checked the cabinet.
"Was anything removed?""
Daniel shook his head.
"Not that I'm aware of.""
He opened the bottom drawer.
Inside was a small metal safe.
I had never seen it before.
Grandpa had mentioned a safe once, but he'd joked that it contained nothing more interesting than old receipts.
Daniel took a key from his briefcase.
"Marcus gave me this several weeks ago.""
He unlocked the safe.
Inside were three folders, a USB drive, and a sealed envelope.
The first folder contained the original vehicle inspection report.
Detective Harris examined it carefully.
He read the first page.
Then the second.
His expression changed.
"Where did Marcus obtain this?""
"From the investigator he hired," Daniel answered.
The detective placed the report on the desk.
"According to this document, the brake line had been damaged before the collision.""
Alexander stepped forward.
"Was it deliberate?""
The detective pointed to a photograph.
"The damage appears consistent with intentional interference. The original report recommended further forensic examination.""
"Was that examination done?"" Daniel asked.
The detective checked the notes.
"No.""
"Why not?""
The detective continued reading.
"The vehicle was released to the insurance company before the follow-up examination could be completed.""
Alexander stared.
"Who authorized that?""
The detective looked at the bottom of the report.
"Claire Bennett.""
Silence.
I looked toward the door.
Grandma was standing there.
I hadn't heard her enter.
She was holding a handbag.
"Why are the police in my house?""
Detective Harris turned.
"Mrs. Bennett, this is Marcus's property, and we're reviewing evidence he preserved.""
"That doesn't give you the right to search my belongings.""
"We haven't searched your belongings.""
"Then leave.""
Daniel spoke calmly.
"Claire, this house is now controlled by the estate trust. You were notified of the arrangements.""
She looked at me.
"You brought the police into your grandfather's house?""
I swallowed.
"They're investigating Mom's accident.""
Her face changed.
"That accident was thirteen years ago.""
"Mom's brakes were damaged.""
Claire looked at the report.
Then she turned toward Daniel.
"That document is meaningless.""
The detective raised an eyebrow.
"Why?""
"Because the car was old. The brakes had problems.""
"That's not what the original mechanic reported.""
Grandma's voice became sharper.
"Elizabeth was a careless driver.""
Alexander took a step forward.
"Don't you dare blame her.""
Claire looked at him.
"She was always distracted.""
"She was driving our daughter to the hospital.""
Grandma went silent.
I looked at her.
"Why was Mom taking me to the hospital?""
Alexander turned toward me.
"You were sick, sweetheart.""
I frowned.
"I don't remember.""
"You had a high fever. Your mother was taking you to the emergency department when the accident happened.""
I looked at the report.
My mother had been driving me to get medical help.
I felt sick.
"Was I in the car?""
Alexander nodded.
"Yes.""
"Did I get hurt?""
"Yes, but you survived.""
I stared at him.
"Did Mom save me?""
He closed his eyes.
"She tried to protect you.""
The detective looked at the report again.
"There's something else.""
He turned to Grandma.
"The vehicle had been serviced two days before the collision.""
Claire said nothing.
"The mechanic's statement says the brakes were functioning normally when the vehicle left the workshop.""
Daniel frowned.
"Then how was the damage discovered?""
The detective pointed to a photograph.
"An inspection conducted after the collision found evidence of interference near the brake line.""
He paused.
"Someone had worked on the vehicle after it left the garage.""
I stared at Grandma.
She was trembling.
"Did you touch Mom's car?"" I asked.
"No!""
Her answer came too quickly.
The detective noticed.
"Mrs. Bennett, where were you on the evening before the accident?""
"At home.""
"Can anyone confirm that?""
"Marcus.""
Daniel shook his head.
"Marcus was attending a business dinner that evening.""
Grandma looked at him.
"You're mistaken.""
"I have the calendar.""
She turned toward the detective.
"This is harassment.""
He remained calm.
"Then let's establish the facts.""
Daniel opened the second folder.
It contained several photographs of a dark vehicle parked outside my mother's apartment.
The same vehicle appeared in three different locations.
Alexander stared.
"I've seen that car before.""
Daniel looked at him.
"Where?""
"Outside Elizabeth's apartment. I thought it belonged to someone in the neighborhood.""
The detective studied the photographs.
"Do you recognize the driver?""
Alexander leaned closer.
Then his face changed.
"That's Claire's former assistant.""
Grandma immediately stepped forward.
"Those photographs are old!""
Daniel checked the dates.
"They were taken during the weeks before the accident.""
I looked at her.
"Why was your assistant following Mom?""
Claire shook her head.
"I don't know.""
The detective removed another document.
"According to the investigator's report, the assistant was dismissed shortly after the accident.""
Daniel looked at the name.
"Richard Hale.""
Alexander frowned.
"Where is he now?""
The detective checked his notes.
"Marcus's investigator located him two weeks ago.""
I looked up.
"Is he alive?""
"Yes.""
"Can we talk to him?""
The detective nodded.
"That is the next step.""
Grandma suddenly grabbed her handbag.
"I'm leaving.""
The detective stepped aside but stopped her before she reached the door.
"Mrs. Bennett, I need to ask you a few more questions.""
"I've already answered everything.""
"Not about the assistant.""
She looked at him.
"I don't remember him.""
Daniel raised the old photograph.
"Then perhaps this will refresh your memory.""
Grandma stared at it.
Her face became completely expressionless.
Then she whispered:
"He wasn't supposed to be involved.""
The detective immediately took out his notebook.
"What does that mean?""
She looked around.
For a moment, I thought she might finally tell us everything.
Instead, she turned toward me.
"Maya, come here.""
I stayed beside Alexander.
"No.""
Her eyes widened.
"I am still your grandmother.""
"Then why did you lie to me?""
She pressed her lips together.
"Because you don't know what happened.""
"Then tell me.""
She looked toward the detective.
Then toward Daniel.
Finally, she turned back to me.
"Your mother was going to destroy everything Marcus had built.""
Alexander shook his head.
"She wanted to leave and raise her daughter. That's all.""
Claire's eyes flashed.
"She knew about the money!""
Daniel looked up.
"What money?""
Grandma froze.
The detective stepped closer.
"What money, Mrs. Bennett?""
She closed her eyes.
Then she spoke.
"Elizabeth found out that I had been transferring money from Marcus's company.""
Daniel immediately opened the third folder.
"How much?""
Grandma didn't answer.
"How much, Claire?""
She looked at the floor.
"More than six hundred thousand.""
Alexander stared at her.
"Elizabeth knew?""
"Yes.""
"Did she threaten to tell Marcus?""
Claire nodded slowly.
"She said she would tell him everything.""
I felt my stomach turn.
"Is that why someone followed her?""
Grandma looked at me.
"I didn't ask anyone to hurt her.""
The detective wrote something down.
"Who tampered with the vehicle?""
"I don't know.""
"Who ordered it?""
"I don't know!""
Her voice broke.
Alexander stepped closer.
"Did you know the brakes had been damaged before she got into the car?""
Claire began crying.
"I didn't know she was going to take that road.""
The room fell silent.
Detective Harris looked at her sharply.
"What road?""
Grandma covered her mouth.
She had said too much.
Daniel looked at the photograph again.
"Mrs. Bennett, how would you know which road she was taking?""
Claire shook her head.
"I need a lawyer.""
The detective nodded.
"That's your right.""
He closed his notebook.
Then Daniel picked up the sealed envelope from the safe.
"This is addressed to me.""
He broke the seal.
Inside was a handwritten letter from Grandpa.
Daniel read it silently.
His expression changed.
"What is it?"" Alexander asked.
Daniel handed him the page.
"Marcus wrote this after speaking with Richard Hale.""
Alexander read the first paragraph.
Then he stopped.
"Good God.""
I looked at him.
"What?""
He handed the letter to Daniel.
Daniel read aloud.
"Richard admitted that Claire instructed him to monitor Elizabeth because she believed Elizabeth was planning to expose the financial transfers.""
He turned the page.
"Richard also stated that he was paid to access the vehicle before the accident.""
The detective's expression hardened.
"Did he admit to damaging the brakes?""
Daniel shook his head.
"No. He claimed he was instructed to make the car unsafe enough to frighten Elizabeth into changing her plans.""
Alexander looked horrified.
"Someone was supposed to scare her?""
Daniel nodded.
"According to Richard, he was told the vehicle would be inspected before Elizabeth used it again.""
The detective took the letter.
"Where is Richard now?""
"At a hotel. Marcus's investigator has his contact information.""
The detective immediately stepped aside to make a call.
I looked toward Grandma.
She was sitting in a chair, crying into her hands.
I approached her slowly.
"Did you know Mom could die?""
She looked up.
"No.""
"Did you know the car wasn't safe?""
She began shaking her head.
"I never wanted that.""
"Then why didn't you tell Grandpa?""
Her lips trembled.
"I was afraid.""
I stepped backward.
I didn't know whether I believed her.
Daniel placed the letter on the desk.
"There is one more thing Marcus wrote.""
He turned to the final paragraph.
If Richard's statement is true, then Claire may not have intended Elizabeth's death.
He paused.
"But Marcus added another sentence.""
Daniel looked at me.
"He wrote: 'The person who knows whether Claire intended more than a warning is the person who spoke to Elizabeth after Richard left the property.''"
Alexander frowned.
"Who was that?""
Daniel checked the letter.
There was a name.
*Dr. Samuel Whitmore.*
The detective lowered his phone.
"Then we need to speak to him again.""
Daniel looked at the medical records.
"Unfortunately, there's something the doctor didn't tell us yesterday.""
"What?"" I asked.
Daniel turned the page.
"Dr. Whitmore wasn't the only person who visited Elizabeth in her hospital room that night.""
He pointed to another name in the visitor log.
Someone whose identity had been written in a different color of ink.
May you like
Someone whose signature appeared beside the time of the final medical entry.
*Richard Hale.*
