Chapter 7: The Man Who Was Supposed to## Chapter 7: The Man Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
My uncle had been dead for nineteen years.
At least, that was what his death certificate said.
I stared at James Whitmore across Be Dead
My uncle had been dead for nineteen years.
At least, that was what his death certificate said.
I stared at James Whitmore across the restaurant table, waiting for him to explain how a dead man could possibly be holding the restaurant table, waiting for him to explain how a dead man could possibly be holding the key to my mother's inheritance.
"You're telling me Thomas is alive?"" I asked.
James shook his head.
"I'm telling the key to my mother's inheritance.
"You're telling me Thomas is alive?"" I asked.
James shook his head.
"I'm telling you I don't believe he died.""
Daniel closed his briefcase.
"That's a serious allegation. Do you have evidence?""
James reached into his leather bag and removed another envelope.
"Your uncle you I don't believe he died.""
Daniel closed his briefcase.
"That's a serious allegation. Do you have evidence?""
James reached into his leather bag and removed another envelope.
"Your uncle was supposed to have died in a boating accident off the coast of Maine. The authorities recovered a damaged boat, some personal belongings, and a body that was identified as his.""
"Was the body examined?""
"Yes. But was supposed to have died in a boating accident off the coast of Maine. The authorities recovered a damaged boat, some personal belongings, and a body that was identified as his.""
"Was the body examined?""
"Yes. But the identification was based on dental records.""
I frowned.
"What's wrong with that?""
"Thomas had undergone extensive dental surgery two years earlier. His records were incomplete. Margaret knew that the identification was based on dental records.""
I frowned.
"What's wrong with that?""
"Thomas had undergone extensive dental surgery two years earlier. His records were incomplete. Margaret knew that.""
I felt a chill run through me.
"Then why was the identification accepted?""
"Because Richard confirmed it.""
Daniel leaned forward.
"Are you suggesting your father helped someone fake Thomas's death?""
James looked.""
I felt a chill run through me.
"Then why was the identification accepted?""
"Because Richard confirmed it.""
Daniel leaned forward.
"Are you suggesting your father helped someone fake Thomas's death?""
James looked down.
"I'm suggesting Richard knew more than he admitted.""
My phone vibrated again.
Another message from the unknown number.
*Your father has already lost one person. Don't make him down.
"I'm suggesting Richard knew more than he admitted.""
My phone vibrated again.
Another message from the unknown number.
Your father has already lost one person. Don't make him lose another.
I showed Daniel.
His expression hardened.
"That's enough. We're contacting the police and arranging immediate protection.""
I stood.
"Take me to my father.""
By the time we reached Connecticut, two lose another.*
I showed Daniel.
His expression hardened.
"That's enough. We're contacting the police and arranging immediate protection.""
I stood.
"Take me to my father.""
By the time we reached Connecticut, two security officers were already outside my father's house.
The front gate stood open.
My heart began pounding.
I rushed through the entrance.
"Dad!""
A nurse appeared from the hallway.
"Ms. Carter?""
"Where is he?""
"He's upstairs. He's all right.""
I nearly collapsed with relief.
I security officers were already outside my father's house.
The front gate stood open.
My heart began pounding.
I rushed through the entrance.
"Dad!""
A nurse appeared from the hallway.
"Ms. Carter?""
"Where is he?""
"He's upstairs. He's all right.""
I nearly collapsed with relief.
I climbed the stairs two at a time.
My father was sitting in his bedroom, wearing his gray cardigan. A security officer stood beside the window.
He looked up when I entered.
"Evelyn? What's climbed the stairs two at a time.
My father was sitting in his bedroom, wearing his gray cardigan. A security officer stood beside the window.
He looked up when I entered.
"Evelyn? What's happened?""
I crossed the room and hugged him.
"Someone is threatening us.""
His expression changed.
"What do you mean?""
I showed him the photograph.
He stared at it for several seconds.
Then he placed the phone on the bedside table.
"Victoria.""
I stepped back.
"You know who sent it?""
He shook his head.
"But I know who would benefit from frightening you happened?""
I crossed the room and hugged him.
"Someone is threatening us.""
His expression changed.
"What do you mean?""
I showed him the photograph.
He stared at it for several seconds.
Then he placed the phone on the bedside table.
"Victoria.""
I stepped back.
"You know who sent it?""
He shook his head.
"But I know who would benefit from frightening you.""
I sat on the edge of his bed.
"Dad, we found the trust.""
His face went pale.
"What trust?""
"The one containing Mom's shares.""
He looked away.
I continued.
"James Whitmore.""
I sat on the edge of his bed.
"Dad, we found the trust.""
His face went pale.
"What trust?""
"The one containing Mom's shares.""
He looked away.
I continued.
"James Whitmore gave us the records. He says Uncle Thomas was the designated custodian of the original ownership certificate.""
My father closed his eyes.
For a long moment, he said nothing.
Then he whispered, "Thomas is alive.""
I felt the air leave my lungs.
"You knew?""
He nodded.
"Yes.""
"All these years?""
"Yes.""
I stood abruptly.
"You gave us the records. He says Uncle Thomas was the designated custodian of the original ownership certificate.""
My father closed his eyes.
For a long moment, he said nothing.
Then he whispered, "Thomas is alive.""
I felt the air leave my lungs.
"You knew?""
He nodded.
"Yes.""
"All these years?""
"Yes.""
I stood abruptly.
"You let me believe my uncle was dead?""
"Evelyn, please.""
"No. Don't tell me to calm down. I want an explanation.""
My father looked exhausted.
"Thomas disappeared because he was afraid.""
"Afraid of Victoria?""
"Afraid of what she knew let me believe my uncle was dead?""
"Evelyn, please.""
"No. Don't tell me to calm down. I want an explanation.""
My father looked exhausted.
"Thomas disappeared because he was afraid.""
"Afraid of Victoria?""
"Afraid of what she knew.""
"What did she know?""
He rubbed his forehead.
"Twenty years ago, Thomas was involved in the company's original financing arrangements. He discovered that Victoria had been transferring money through several offshore.""
"What did she know?""
He rubbed his forehead.
"Twenty years ago, Thomas was involved in the company's original financing arrangements. He discovered that Victoria had been transferring money through several offshore accounts.""
"Then why didn't he report her?""
"Because he had signed some of the documents.""
I stared at him.
"Was he involved?""
"Initially, yes. He believed the payments were legitimate. When he discovered what was happening, he tried to correct it.""
"And Victoria threatened him?""
My accounts.""
"Then why didn't he report her?""
"Because he had signed some of the documents.""
I stared at him.
"Was he involved?""
"Initially, yes. He believed the payments were legitimate. When he discovered what was happening, he tried to correct it.""
"And Victoria threatened him?""
My father nodded.
"She told him that if he went to the authorities, she would make sure he was charged with financial fraud.""
I looked at him.
"So you helped him disappear?""
"I father nodded.
"She told him that if he went to the authorities, she would make sure he was charged with financial fraud.""
I looked at him.
"So you helped him disappear?""
"I helped him leave the country.""
"Why?""
"Because I believed it was the only way to keep him alive.""
I shook my head.
"You could have told me.""
"You were seventeen.""
"And then I was helped him leave the country.""
"Why?""
"Because I believed it was the only way to keep him alive.""
I shook my head.
"You could have told me.""
"You were seventeen.""
"And then I was eighteen. Then twenty. Then thirty. You had nineteen years to tell me.""
He looked down.
"I know.""
I sat again.
"Where is he?""
My father hesitated.
"London eighteen. Then twenty. Then thirty. You had nineteen years to tell me.""
He looked down.
"I know.""
I sat again.
"Where is he?""
My father hesitated.
"London.""
"Does he still have the certificate?""
"I believe so.""
"Then why hasn't he contacted me?""
My father looked at me.
"Because he thinks I'm responsible for your mother's death.""
I went still.
"What?""
He swallowed.
"Thomas believed I knew Victoria was planning something that night. He thought I could have stopped it.""
.""
"Does he still have the certificate?""
"I believe so.""
"Then why hasn't he contacted me?""
My father looked at me.
"Because he thinks I'm responsible for your mother's death.""
I went still.
"What?""
He swallowed.
"Thomas believed I knew Victoria was planning something that night. He thought I could have stopped it.""
"Could you?""
My father didn't answer.
I stared at him.
"Dad.""
He closed his eyes.
"Your mother called me from the warehouse. She said she had discovered that the ownership documents had"Could you?""
My father didn't answer.
I stared at him.
"Dad.""
He closed his eyes.
"Your mother called me from the warehouse. She said she had discovered that the ownership documents had been altered.""
"Then?""
"I told her to come home. I said we'd discuss everything in the morning.""
"And?""
"Victoria called me fifteen minutes later. She said been altered.""
"Then?""
"I told her to come home. I said we'd discuss everything in the morning.""
"And?""
"Victoria called me fifteen minutes later. She said Margaret was being unreasonable and that she was going to the warehouse to collect some documents.""
I felt my hands trembling.
"You knew Victoria was going there?""
"Yes.""
"Did you tell Mom?""
He shook Margaret was being unreasonable and that she was going to the warehouse to collect some documents.""
I felt my hands trembling.
"You knew Victoria was going there?""
"Yes.""
"Did you tell Mom?""
He shook his head.
"Why not?""
His eyes filled.
"Because I thought I could control the situation.""
I stood.
"She died that night.""
"I know.""
"And you let me believe it was an accident.""
"I was his head.
"Why not?""
His eyes filled.
"Because I thought I could control the situation.""
I stood.
"She died that night.""
"I know.""
"And you let me believe it was an accident.""
"I was trying to protect you.""
"From the truth?""
He began crying.
I had seen my father cry only twice before.
Once at my mother's funeral.
And once when he learned he had suffered a stroke.
Now I was watching the man trying to protect you.""
"From the truth?""
He began crying.
I had seen my father cry only twice before.
Once at my mother's funeral.
And once when he learned he had suffered a stroke.
Now I was watching the man I had admired my entire life fall apart beneath the weight of a secret.
But I couldn't comfort him yet.
Not until I knew everything.
"Did you see her after the accident?""
He nodded.
"At the hospital.""
"Was she conscious?""
I had admired my entire life fall apart beneath the weight of a secret.
But I couldn't comfort him yet.
Not until I knew everything.
"Did you see her after the accident?""
He nodded.
"At the hospital.""
"Was she conscious?""
He looked at me.
"Briefly.""
"What did she say?""
His voice broke.
"She asked me where the certificate was.""
I stopped breathing.
"What certificate?""
"The original ownership certificate.""
I grippedHe looked at me.
"Briefly.""
"What did she say?""
His voice broke.
"She asked me where the certificate was.""
I stopped breathing.
"What certificate?""
"The original ownership certificate.""
I gripped the edge of the chair.
"And what did you tell her?""
"That Thomas had it.""
He wiped his face.
"Then she asked me to promise something.""
"What?""
"That I would never let Victoria take the company.""
I stared at him.
"Did you promise?""
He nodded.
"Yes.""
I looked at the window.
For the first time, I the edge of the chair.
"And what did you tell her?""
"That Thomas had it.""
He wiped his face.
"Then she asked me to promise something.""
"What?""
"That I would never let Victoria take the company.""
I stared at him.
"Did you promise?""
He nodded.
"Yes.""
I looked at the window.
For the first time, I understood why my father had spent years protecting Victoria.
He wasn't protecting her.
He was protecting the secret of what had happened to my mother.
And every time he signed another agreement, approved another understood why my father had spent years protecting Victoria.
He wasn't protecting her.
He was protecting the secret of what had happened to my mother.
And every time he signed another agreement, approved another payment, or kept me away from the company, he was trying to prevent the truth from reaching me.
It didn't make him innocent.
But it made his silence even more painful.
My father reached for my hand.
"Evelyn, there's something else.""
I turned payment, or kept me away from the company, he was trying to prevent the truth from reaching me.
It didn't make him innocent.
But it made his silence even more painful.
My father reached for my hand.
"Evelyn, there's something else.""
I turned.
"What?""
He looked directly at me.
"Victoria didn't act alone that night.""
"Who helped her?""
He hesitated.
Then he whispered:
"Martin Collins.""
An hour later, Daniel and I were in the study.
He had arranged for additional security and instructed the legal team to preserve the documents from the warehouse.
My father had agreed.
"What?""
He looked directly at me.
"Victoria didn't act alone that night.""
"Who helped her?""
He hesitated.
Then he whispered:
"Martin Collins.""
An hour later, Daniel and I were in the study.
He had arranged for additional security and instructed the legal team to preserve the documents from the warehouse.
My father had agreed to provide a formal statement the following morning.
I was looking through the old ledger when Daniel received a call.
He listened without speaking.
Then his expression changed.
"Are you certain?""
A pause.
"Send me the details immediately.""
He ended the call.
"What happened?"" I asked.
"Martin Collins has disappeared.""
I looked to provide a formal statement the following morning.
I was looking through the old ledger when Daniel received a call.
He listened without speaking.
Then his expression changed.
"Are you certain?""
A pause.
"Send me the details immediately.""
He ended the call.
"What happened?"" I asked.
"Martin Collins has disappeared.""
I looked up.
"What?""
"His office was found empty. His company phone has been switched off. His apartment is vacant.""
I stood.
"Did he know we had spoken to James?""
"Possibly.""
"Where is Victoria?""
"Her attorney says she's at home.""
I laughed without humor.
"Of course he does up.
"What?""
"His office was found empty. His company phone has been switched off. His apartment is vacant.""
I stood.
"Did he know we had spoken to James?""
"Possibly.""
"Where is Victoria?""
"Her attorney says she's at home.""
I laughed without humor.
"Of course he does.""
Daniel placed his phone on the desk.
"There's more. The company's original document archive was accessed remotely this afternoon.""
"By whom?""
"We're tracing the login.""
I stared at him.
"What was accessed?""
"The digital acquisition.""
Daniel placed his phone on the desk.
"There's more. The company's original document archive was accessed remotely this afternoon.""
"By whom?""
"We're tracing the login.""
I stared at him.
"What was accessed?""
"The digital acquisition records. Specifically, the files relating to your mother's ownership transfer.""
I closed the ledger.
"Then someone is trying to destroy the evidence.""
Daniel nodded.
"And there's another detail.""
He turned his screen toward me.
An email had arrived from an address I recognized.
Thomas Carter.
The subject line contained four records. Specifically, the files relating to your mother's ownership transfer.""
I closed the ledger.
"Then someone is trying to destroy the evidence.""
Daniel nodded.
"And there's another detail.""
He turned his screen toward me.
An email had arrived from an address I recognized.
Thomas Carter.
The subject line contained four words.
I have your mother's certificate.
I opened the email.
There was only one sentence.
Evelyn, if you want the truth about that night, come to London alone.
words.
I have your mother's certificate.
I opened the email.
There was only one sentence.
Evelyn, if you want the truth about that night, come to London alone.
My hands went cold.
Daniel immediately shook his head.
"Absolutely not.""
I looked at him.
"He's my uncle.""
"He's also a man who has been missing for nineteen years.""
"He may be the only person who can prove whatMy hands went cold.
Daniel immediately shook his head.
"Absolutely not.""
I looked at him.
"He's my uncle.""
"He's also a man who has been missing for nineteen years.""
"He may be the only person who can prove what happened.""
"Then we'll arrange a secure meeting.""
I read the email again.
A second attachment appeared beneath the message.
It was a photograph.
An older man stood outside a London railway station, holding a newspaper.
His face was thinner than I remembered.
His hair was white.
But happened.""
"Then we'll arrange a secure meeting.""
I read the email again.
A second attachment appeared beneath the message.
It was a photograph.
An older man stood outside a London railway station, holding a newspaper.
His face was thinner than I remembered.
His hair was white.
But I recognized his eyes.
Uncle Thomas.
On the back of the photograph was a handwritten date.
Tomorrow.
And beneath it, a message.
Your mother didn't die in that accident, Evelyn. I saw who was driving.
I recognized his eyes.
Uncle Thomas.
On the back of the photograph was a handwritten date.
Tomorrow.
May you like
And beneath it, a message.
Your mother didn't die in that accident, Evelyn. I saw who was driving.
