Chapter 8: The Recording
Nobody moved.
The footsteps downstairs were slow.
Unhurried.
Almost casual.
As if the man walking through my mother's house had every right to be there.
Thomas called again.
“Evelyn, I know you're upstairs.””
Rebecca leaned toward me.
“Does this room have another exit?””
Mom shook her head.
“No.””
My heart pounded.
The old cassette recorder sat on the desk.
I pointed at it.
“What's on that?””
Mom whispered:
“Your father.””
I pressed the play button.
Static filled the room.
Then my father's voice came through.
Older than I remembered.
Tired.
Afraid.
“Evelyn, if you're hearing this, then something has gone wrong.””
My mother covered her mouth.
Rebecca froze.
My father's recording continued.
“Thomas knows about Rebecca. He knows about the trust. And he knows David will inherit control when he turns twenty-five.””
I looked at Rebecca.
The recording crackled.
“I don't trust Thomas. I don't trust his associates. And I don't believe my heart attack was natural.””
Mom began crying.
My father continued.
“If I die, Evelyn, don't tell David everything at once. He's young. Protect him until he's old enough to understand.””
I whispered:
“He knew.””
“Yes,” Mom said.
The footsteps reached the staircase.
My father's voice continued.
“And one more thing.””
The recording became quieter.
“If Thomas ever comes looking for Rebecca, do not give her to him.””
Rebecca's face went pale.
The recording clicked.
Then another voice appeared.
A woman.
Vanessa.
I nearly dropped the recorder.
Her voice was younger.
“Mr. Harper, I don't want to be part of this.””
My father answered.
“You already are.””
“What do you want me to do?””
“Tell your father to stop.””
“I tried.””
“He won't listen.””
“I can't control him.””
“No,” my father said.
“But you can expose him.””
There was a long silence.
Then Vanessa spoke.
“What if he finds out?””
“Then run.””
The recording ended.
Nobody breathed.
I stared at the machine.
“That was Vanessa.””
Rebecca nodded.
“She knew.””
“She knew about Thomas before she met me.””
“Yes.””
“And my father knew her.””
“Yes.””
I turned toward Mom.
“Why did you let me marry her?””
“I didn't know she was working with Thomas.””
“But she knew about the trust.””
“Not then.””
“Then when?””
Mom looked at the floor.
“After your wedding.””
A loud crash came from downstairs.
Someone had knocked over a chair.
Thomas shouted:
“Evelyn!””
Rebecca whispered:
“We need to move.””
Mom walked to the metal cabinet.
She opened it.
Inside was a stack of documents.
She pulled out a sealed envelope.
“This is what Thomas wants.””
“What is it?””
“The original trust agreement.””
I took it.
Rebecca looked at the envelope.
“Why didn't you give it to me?””
“Because I was waiting.””
“For what?””
“For David.””
I looked at my mother.
She continued:
“Your father didn't want Rebecca to receive the trust directly until you were ready to protect it.””
I opened the envelope.
The original document was inside.
My father's signature appeared at the bottom.
So did another.
Rebecca's.
But she couldn't have signed it.
She was four years old.
I looked closer.
The second signature belonged to a trustee.
Thomas Bell.
My blood ran cold.
“He was the trustee?””
Mom nodded.
“And he had access to the trust.””
“So he could steal from it.””
“Yes.””
“Why didn't anyone stop him?””
“Your father did.””
I heard another crash downstairs.
Then silence.
Michael's voice came through my phone.
“David, listen to me. Police are on the way.””
“How long?””
“Five minutes.””
“That's too long.””
“Stay hidden.””
I looked at the locked door.
Five minutes suddenly felt like an hour.
Then the handle moved.
Once.
Twice.
Rebecca stepped behind me.
Mom stood beside the cabinet.
The handle stopped.
A man's voice came through the door.
“David.””
I knew that voice.
Thomas Bell.
“You're old enough now to hear the truth.””
I didn't answer.
“You think Vanessa betrayed you.””
Silence.
“She didn't.””
Rebecca whispered:
“Don't listen.””
Thomas continued.
“She was trying to keep you alive.””
I looked at the recorder.
“Then why did she steal from us?””
Thomas laughed softly.
“Because your mother already stole from someone else.””
Mom flinched.
Thomas said:
“Ask her about the night Elaine died.””
Rebecca stepped forward.
“What did you say?””
“The night your mother died.””
Rebecca went rigid.
“My mother died in a car accident.””
“No.””
Thomas's voice was cold.
“She was murdered.””
Rebecca's hand flew to her mouth.
I looked at Mom.
She couldn't meet my eyes.
“Mom?””
Thomas continued.
“Ask Evelyn who was driving the other car.””
Mom whispered:
“Don't.””
“Who was it?”” I demanded.
She started crying.
“Evelyn.””
“Who?””
“Thomas.””
I stared at the door.
Thomas laughed.
“Yes.””
“I killed Elaine.””
Rebecca staggered backward.
“But your mother covered it up.””
Mom whispered:
“I didn't know it was deliberate.””
“You lied to everyone,” Thomas said.
“I was protecting Rebecca.””
“No,” he replied.
“You were protecting yourself.””
Rebecca stepped toward Mom.
“You knew?””
“I knew there was something wrong.””
“You knew?””
“I found evidence afterward.””
Rebecca's face crumpled.
“And you said nothing?””
“I was afraid Thomas would kill you too.””
Thomas spoke again.
“And I would have.””
Silence.
Then the doorknob turned.
This time, the lock began to break.
I grabbed the metal cabinet.
Rebecca whispered:
“What are you doing?””
I pointed toward the windowless wall.
“Buying time.””
I slammed the cabinet against the door.
Thomas cursed.
Then he shouted:
“David! Your wife is downstairs.””
My blood froze.
“What?””
“She came with me.””
I looked at Rebecca.
“No.””
Thomas laughed.
“Vanessa wanted to tell you herself.””
Mom whispered:
“David, don't go.””
But then I heard Vanessa's voice from downstairs.
“David!””
She screamed.
“Please!””
I ran toward the door.
Rebecca grabbed me.
“It's a trap.””
Then Vanessa screamed again.
This time, the sound ended with a sharp crash.
I looked at Mom.
She was already reaching for the hidden key.
“Open it.””
“What?””
“If that's Vanessa…”
Mom's eyes hardened.
“We can't leave her with him.””
I pulled the cabinet away.
The door burst inward.
Thomas stood in the hallway.
He was older than I expected.
Gray hair.
Thin face.
A pistol held low in his hand.
And behind him stood Vanessa.
Her hands were tied.
Blood ran from her forehead.
May you like
Thomas smiled.
“Family reunion.””
