Chapter 7: The Missing Nine Years
For several seconds, I couldn't move.
My phone remained pressed against my ear even though Vanessa had already hung up.
Mom stared at me.
“What did she say?””
I lowered the phone.
“She said Dad didn't die naturally.””
Mom's face went white.
Daniel immediately locked the bank office door.
“Ellen, nobody leaves this room.””
The bank manager nodded.
Mom gripped the edge of the desk.
“No.””
I looked at her.
“Mom?””
“No,” she repeated.
“Your father died in the hospital. His heart stopped.””
“That's what the death certificate says.””
“Because that's what the doctors told me.””
Daniel stepped closer.
“Mrs. Carter, did your husband ever complain about being sick before he died?””
Mom shook her head.
“He was tired.””
“How tired?””
“He couldn't sleep. He said someone was following him.””
My chest tightened.
“Why didn't you tell me that?””
“Because you were getting married.””
She looked at me.
“Your father didn't want you involved.””
Daniel opened his briefcase.
“I need to show you something.””
He removed a photocopy of a medical report.
I recognized the hospital logo.
My father's hospital.
The date was nine years ago.
I read the first line.
*Patient presented with suspected cardiac event.*
Then I reached the second page.
My hands began shaking.
“What is this?””
Daniel pointed to a section near the bottom.
“Your father's toxicology report.””
I scanned it.
Several substances were listed.
One was unfamiliar.
“What does this mean?””
“It means your father had a chemical in his bloodstream that shouldn't have been there.””
Mom covered her mouth.
“You knew?””
Daniel nodded.
“I suspected.””
“Why didn't you tell the police?””
“Because the report was changed.””
“What?””
“The original report disappeared.””
I looked at him.
“Then where did this copy come from?””
“Your father mailed it to me three days before he died.””
I stared at the document.
“Why?””
Daniel took out another sheet.
A handwritten note.
My father's handwriting.
*Anthony knows. Vanessa knows. If David asks questions, tell him the truth.*
I looked up.
“Anthony and Vanessa?””
Daniel nodded.
“They were working together.””
Mom suddenly stood.
“No.””
Her voice broke.
“She wasn't even married to David then.””
“Not yet,” Daniel said.
I felt sick.
“What was she doing with Anthony before our wedding?””
Daniel looked at me.
“Trying to gain access to your father's company.””
I remembered Vanessa telling me she'd met my father only after we'd started dating.
Another lie.
“How did she meet him?””
“Through Westbridge.””
“Anthony worked there?””
“He advised the company.””
I looked at Mom.
“And Dad discovered something.””
“Yes.””
“What?””
Daniel's expression darkened.
“Money was disappearing.””
“How much?””
“Millions.””
My stomach dropped.
“From where?””
“Investors. Retirement accounts. Small businesses. People who trusted Westbridge.””
“And Dad?””
“He was one of the people who figured out where it was going.””
I looked down at the medical report.
“Bellrose.””
Daniel nodded.
“Bellrose was created after Westbridge collapsed.””
“By Vanessa?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“To move the stolen assets into legitimate-looking investments.””
I stared at him.
My wife.
The woman who had slept beside me for twelve years.
The woman who complained about my mother needing a ride.
The woman who had accepted my mother's money.
She had apparently built an entire financial network around deception.
But there was still something I couldn't understand.
“Why marry me?””
Daniel's eyes met mine.
“Because your father had something she couldn't get any other way.””
“The trust.””
“The trust.””
I thought about the condition.
Forty-five.
Six weeks away.
My hands curled into fists.
“She was waiting for my birthday.””
“Yes.””
“And Anthony?””
“He wanted the same thing.””
“Then why did Vanessa tell me to leave the bank?””
Daniel looked toward the locked door.
“Because she knows Anthony has stopped following the plan.””
I frowned.
“What plan?””
Daniel hesitated.
Then he said, “She was supposed to transfer the trust into a shell company.””
“And?””
“She did.””
I felt my heart pound.
“But the beneficiary changed.””
“Yes.””
“To Anthony.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Daniel's voice dropped.
“Because Vanessa tried to keep the money for herself.””
Mom looked at me.
“So they turned on each other.””
“Exactly.””
The pieces began fitting together.
Vanessa had been stealing.
Anthony had been controlling the larger operation.
My father had discovered them.
He had tried to protect Mom.
Then he died.
Vanessa married me.
She waited.
She forged documents.
And now, after twelve years, the entire scheme was collapsing.
But something still didn't make sense.
“Daniel.””
“Yes?””
“Why did you help them?””
He went still.
Mom looked at him.
I stepped closer.
“You said you handled Dad's accounts.””
“Yes.””
“You said you were investigating Bellrose.””
“Yes.””
“But you've known about Vanessa for years.””
Daniel didn't answer.
My voice hardened.
“How long have you known she was involved?””
He looked down.
“Since before your father died.””
Mom gasped.
“You knew?””
“I tried to stop it.””
“But you didn't.””
“No.””
“Why?””
His face tightened.
“Because I made a mistake.””
“What mistake?””
“I trusted Anthony.””
Daniel pulled out a final document.
It was a transfer authorization.
His signature was on it.
I stared.
“You signed this.””
“Yes.””
“You helped move the money.””
“I thought it was legitimate.””
“You thought?””
“I was told your father approved it.””
“But he didn't.””
“No.””
Daniel looked at Mom.
“I discovered the truth too late.””
I stepped backward.
“How much?””
“What?””
“How much money did you move?””
Daniel swallowed.
“Six hundred thousand.””
Mom began crying.
I felt something cold settle inside me.
For years, I'd believed my father died because his heart failed.
Now I was learning that the people around him had been moving money behind his back.
And one of them had helped.
I looked at Daniel.
“Why should I trust you?””
“You shouldn't.””
His answer surprised me.
“Not yet.””
He reached into his briefcase and removed a small flash drive.
“This is everything your father collected.””
I took it.
“What is it?””
“Bank records. Emails. Audio files.””
“Audio?””
“Your father recorded conversations.””
“With Vanessa?””
“With Anthony.””
I stared at the drive.
“Where did you get this?””
“Your father gave it to me the night before he died.””
“Then why didn't you give it to me?””
“Because I was afraid.””
“Of Anthony?””
Daniel shook his head.
“Of what would happen to you.””
Before I could respond, every light in the bank office went out.
Mom screamed.
Emergency lights flickered red.
Ellen grabbed her phone.
“What happened?””
Daniel moved toward the door.
“Don't open it.””
A shadow appeared beneath the gap.
Someone was standing outside.
Then three slow knocks sounded.
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
A man's voice came through the door.
“David.””
I knew that voice.
I had heard it once.
In an old recording.
Anthony Reed.
“You've been looking for me,” he said.
Daniel's face drained of color.
Anthony continued.
“So now I'm giving you a choice.””
I looked at the flash drive in my hand.
“What choice?””
His voice became almost gentle.
“Come with me.””
May you like
A pause.
“Or your mother dies.””
