Chapter 7: The Woman My Father Buried
Marcus stared at the woman standing on his porch.
His mother's sister.
For twenty years, he'd believed Eleanor Williams had been an only child.
His father had never mentioned a sister. There were no family photographs, no Christmas cards, no birthday calls. Nothing.
Now an elderly woman stood outside his house, holding a photograph of his dead mother and claiming to know who had killed her.
"You're my mother's sister?""
Claire Reed nodded.
"Her younger sister.""
Marcus looked over his shoulder.
Olivia had appeared in the hallway.
The moment she saw Claire, she stopped walking.
"Oh, my God.""
Claire looked at her.
"Hello, Olivia.""
Olivia covered her mouth.
"You knew?""
Claire nodded sadly.
"I've been trying to reach you for years.""
Marcus stepped aside.
"Everybody inside. Now.""
Claire entered slowly, holding a leather handbag against her chest. She looked around the living room, examining the photographs on the walls.
Her gaze stopped at a framed picture of Richard and Eleanor on their wedding day.
For several seconds, she said nothing.
Then she whispered, "He kept it.""
Marcus closed the door.
"Who?""
"Richard.""
She pointed toward the photograph.
"He kept that picture after everything he did.""
Marcus felt his jaw tighten.
"You're going to explain that sentence.""
Claire sat down.
"I loved my sister. I loved her more than anyone in this world. When she married Richard, I was happy for her. He was charming, successful, and seemed devoted to her.""
"What happened?""
"Money happened.""
Claire opened her handbag and removed an old photograph.
It showed two young women standing beside a lake.
One was Eleanor.
The other was Claire.
"We inherited our parents' manufacturing business. Eleanor was the older sister, so she managed most of it. Richard became involved after they married.""
Marcus sat opposite her.
"That's what Patricia told me.""
Claire nodded.
"Richard convinced Eleanor to sell the company. He promised to use the proceeds to expand his business. She agreed because she trusted him.""
"And?""
"Within two years, millions had disappeared.""
Olivia leaned against the wall.
"Thomas?""
Claire looked at her.
"Thomas helped him.""
Marcus shook his head.
"You're saying my father stole from my mother?""
Claire's expression softened.
"Not at first. Your father made a mistake. He invested money in a project that failed.
Then he borrowed from another account to cover the loss. Eventually, he couldn't put everything back.""
Marcus stared.
"Why didn't Mom leave?""
"Because she was pregnant with you. And because she believed Richard could fix things.""
Claire paused.
"Then she discovered that Thomas had been moving money without her knowledge.""
Marcus remembered the photograph of his mother beside Michael Reed.
"Who was Michael?""
Claire's eyes filled.
"My husband.""
Marcus went still.
"The man in the photograph?""
"Yes.""
"Why was he meeting my mother?""
"Because he was investigating the financial records.""
Marcus leaned forward.
"Was he an accountant?""
"He was a forensic auditor. Eleanor asked him to examine the company accounts after she found discrepancies.""
Claire removed a folded document from her handbag.
"This is the last letter my sister wrote to me.""
Marcus took it.
The paper was yellowed and creased.
He recognized the handwriting immediately.
Claire,
I think I've made a terrible mistake. Richard knows I've been asking questions, and Thomas has stopped pretending everything is normal.
Michael believes money has been moved through accounts connected to the company. He wants me to report it.
I'm afraid of what will happen to the children if I do.
Marcus stopped reading.
His eyes moved to the next paragraph.
If anything happens to me, please make sure Marcus knows that I loved him. Make sure Olivia knows, too. And please don't let them believe their father was the man he pretended to be.
Marcus lowered the letter.
"She wrote this before she died?""
Claire nodded.
"Three days before the accident.""
The room became silent.
Marcus looked at her.
"Why didn't you come to the funeral?""
Claire's face crumpled.
"Because Richard told me Eleanor didn't want me there.""
Marcus stared.
"What?""
"He said my sister had blamed me for the financial investigation. He told me she wanted no contact with me.""
"That's a lie.""
"I know that now.""
"How?""
Claire removed another document.
"A letter from the hospital. Your father intercepted it. He told them I was no longer an authorized family contact.""
Marcus stood.
He walked toward the fireplace, trying to control the anger building inside him.
His father had hidden an entire branch of his family.
He had separated two sisters.
He had allowed his children to grow up believing their mother had no surviving relatives.
And if Claire was telling the truth, he had done it to protect a secret.
"Who killed her?"" Marcus asked.
Claire looked at him.
"Thomas.""
Olivia gasped.
Marcus shook his head.
"Do you have proof?""
Claire nodded.
"Michael found the original garage inspection report. Your mother's car had been examined two days before the accident. The brake lines were deliberately damaged.""
Marcus felt sick.
"Where is the report?""
"Michael kept a copy.""
"Where?""
Claire hesitated.
"With the blue ledger.""
Marcus turned toward Olivia.
She nodded.
"I have it.""
Claire looked surprised.
"You found it?""
Olivia nodded.
"Dad gave it to me before he died.""
Claire closed her eyes.
"Then he finally did the right thing.""
Marcus returned to the table.
"Why did Dad give it to Olivia?""
"Because he knew Thomas was watching him. He couldn't trust anyone at the company.""
Marcus frowned.
"Then why didn't he give it to me?""
Claire looked directly at him.
"Because he was afraid you'd confront Thomas before you had evidence.""
Marcus lowered his head.
For the first time, he wondered whether his father's final years had been filled with regret.
Whether Richard had spent every day knowing that the man he called brother might have killed the woman he loved.
Claire reached into her handbag again.
"There is something else.""
She placed a small photograph on the table.
It showed Thomas standing outside a hospital room.
Beside him was Robert Hayes.
The date was written underneath.
Six days before Richard died.
Marcus looked at the photograph.
"Why is this important?""
Claire pointed to the hospital room number.
"Because your father was inside.""
Marcus frowned.
"Thomas visited him?""
"Yes.""
"That's normal. He was family.""
Claire shook her head.
"Look at the time.""
Marcus checked the photograph.
11:46 p.m.
He looked up.
"What?""
"Your father was admitted to intensive care that evening. His medical records show that he was sedated by 10:30.""
Marcus stared.
"So?""
Claire's voice dropped.
"Thomas wasn't visiting your father.""
She pointed toward Robert.
"He was carrying a document.""
Marcus leaned closer.
A thin folder was visible beneath Robert's arm.
On its cover were three handwritten words.
*FINAL WILL — ORIGINAL.*
Marcus looked at Olivia.
"Is that the will you found?""
Olivia shook her head.
"No. The one I found was inside Dad's study.""
Claire nodded.
"Because there were two.""
Marcus frowned.
"Two?""
"Your father signed an updated will shortly before his death. He left instructions that the original be delivered to Daniel Brooks.""
Marcus looked confused.
"Daniel never received it.""
"Exactly.""
Claire leaned forward.
"Thomas intercepted it.""
Marcus's phone began vibrating.
Daniel.
He answered immediately.
"Daniel, tell me you found something.""
Daniel's voice was urgent.
"Marcus, I need you to get Olivia and leave the house.""
"Why?""
"Someone accessed your father's study.""
Marcus looked toward the hallway.
"What?""
"The security company just called. Your alarm was triggered fifteen minutes ago.""
Marcus felt his stomach tighten.
"Nobody has been there.""
Daniel lowered his voice.
"Then someone has a key.""
A crash sounded upstairs.
Everyone turned.
Olivia screamed.
Marcus ran toward the staircase.
At the top, the door to his father's study stood open.
A man in dark clothing was inside, pulling papers from the desk.
"HEY!""
The man spun around.
Marcus charged.
They collided against the bookshelf. Books fell to the floor. The intruder shoved Marcus backward and sprinted toward the hallway.
Olivia appeared behind him.
"Marcus!""
The man reached the staircase.
Claire shouted from below.
"Thomas!""
The intruder froze.
For one second, his face turned toward the light.
Marcus recognized him.
It wasn't Thomas.
It was Derek Miller.
The same man who had been arrested the previous night.
He was supposed to be in police custody.
Marcus lunged again, grabbing his jacket.
Derek twisted free and ran down the stairs.
But before he reached the front door, two police officers entered.
"POLICE! HANDS WHERE WE CAN SEE THEM!""
Derek raised his hands.
Marcus stood at the top of the staircase, breathing hard.
Detective Harris entered behind the officers.
He looked up at Marcus.
"Mr. Williams, are you all right?""
Marcus nodded.
Then he pointed toward Derek.
"How did he get out?""
Harris looked uncomfortable.
"He was released temporarily after providing information about the financial conspiracy.""
Marcus stared.
"Released?""
"We had no reason to believe he would return here.""
Derek suddenly laughed.
"You still don't understand, do you?""
Marcus walked down two steps.
"Understand what?""
Derek looked directly at him.
"Your uncle isn't the one who's been protecting the money.""
He smiled.
"He's been protecting you.""
Then he looked toward Claire.
"And she knows exactly why.""
Claire's face went pale.
May you like
Derek turned back to Marcus.
"Ask her what happened the night your father died.""
