Chapter 8: The Missing Page
Vivian stood at the top of the stairs, gripping the torn page so tightly that her knuckles had turned white.
Water dripped from my coat onto the hardwood floor.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Then Daniela stepped forward.
“You.””
Vivian’s eyes lowered to her.
“I didn't hurt you.””
“You stood there while they tied me up.””
“I tried to stop them.””
“You ran.””
Vivian flinched.
“I was afraid.””
Daniela laughed bitterly.
“So was I.””
I kept my eyes on the page.
“Bring it down.””
Vivian shook her head.
“No.””
“Then tell me what it says.””
Her eyes flicked toward Victor.
He stood beside me, tense and watchful.
“You brought a lawyer.””
“He's my attorney.””
“He was Michael's attorney.””
“Yes.””
“That makes him part of this.””
Victor's voice was firm.
“Vivian, come downstairs.””
She didn't move.
“I can't.””
“Why?””
“Because Richard is coming.””
My stomach tightened.
“How do you know?””
“Because he followed you here.””
Victor immediately looked toward the front windows.
“Did you see him?””
“Yes.””
“How long ago?””
“Ten minutes.””
I glanced at the clock.
We had been inside less than five.
Vivian walked down three steps.
“He knows about the page.””
“Then give it to me,” I said.
“He'll kill you.””
“He already tried.””
She looked at me.
“No, Helen.””
Her voice cracked.
“Tonight wasn't the first time.””
I felt something cold spread through my chest.
“What do you mean?””
Vivian held the page against her chest.
“Michael wasn't the only person Richard tried to kill.””
Daniela whispered, “My dad knew.””
“Yes.””
“How?””
“Because he was there.””
I looked up sharply.
“There for what?””
Vivian closed her eyes.
“Thomas's death.””
The name struck me.
Her brother.
The man who had supposedly died in a car accident three days before Michael.
“You told me Thomas died in a crash,” I said.
“He didn't.””
“Then what happened?””
Vivian slowly came down the stairs.
“Thomas found the accounts.””
“What accounts?””
“Money moving through shell companies. Names. Bribes.
Payments to officials. People inside banks. People inside law firms.””
She reached the bottom.
“And your husband found him before Richard did.””
Victor stared at her.
“Why wasn't this in the official file?””
“Because Richard paid someone to make it disappear.””
“Who?””
Vivian's lips tightened.
“I don't know.””
I stepped closer.
“You know enough.””
She looked at me for a long moment.
Then she held out the page.
I took it.
Michael’s handwriting covered both sides.
The top half continued where his letter had been torn.
*The person closest to us is not the person you think.*
My breath stopped.
Below it:
*I have reason to believe Richard has someone inside the house. Someone who knows where I keep the evidence. Someone who has earned your trust.*
I read the sentence twice.
Then I saw the next line.
*I suspect this person has already spoken to Helen.*
I felt dizzy.
“That's impossible.””
Victor leaned over my shoulder.
“Keep reading.””
The final paragraph was worse.
*If I die before I can expose them, don't trust anyone who claims they are helping you. Especially the one who tells you to run.*
I lowered the page.
“Who told you to run?”” Victor asked.
I looked at him.
“No one.””
“Think.””
I searched my memory.
The night before Michael died.
He had been frightened.
I had left for my sister’s house after our argument.
But before I left, someone had called me.
A woman.
I had forgotten.
No caller ID.
A soft voice.
Helen, you need to leave the house tonight.
I had assumed it was a friend.
Someone who knew about our argument.
But who?
I looked at Vivian.
“You called me.””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Yes.””
Daniela stared at her.
“You knew?””
“I knew something was going to happen.””
“Why didn't you warn Mom properly?””
“I tried.””
“You told her to run!””
“I didn't know Richard would come that night.””
“You knew enough!””
Vivian's voice broke.
“I was trying to save your mother!””
Daniela stepped toward her.
“You helped destroy our family.””
“I know.””
“No. You don't.””
Her voice rose.
“You watched my father die.””
“I didn't!””
“Then who did?””
Vivian looked at me.
And whispered, “Richard.””
A floorboard creaked above us.
Everyone froze.
Then another.
Victor moved toward the staircase.
“Someone else is upstairs.””
Vivian shook her head.
“No.””
She looked terrified.
“He shouldn't be here yet.””
A man's voice came from the hallway.
“Shouldn't I?””
Richard appeared.
He wasn't holding the gun this time.
He didn't need to.
He held a phone.
He pressed the screen.
A video began playing.
My heart stopped.
It showed Michael.
Alive.
Sitting at his desk.
The recording was grainy, but his face was unmistakable.
Daniela moved closer.
“Dad.””
I couldn't breathe.
Michael looked directly into the camera.
“If you're seeing this, something has gone wrong.””
The recording paused.
Then resumed.
“I don't know whether I'll survive the next forty-eight hours.””
Daniela covered her mouth.
Michael continued.
“Helen, you may blame yourself. Don't.””
I started crying before I could stop myself.
“This was never about Vivian.””
Richard watched silently.
Michael's eyes shifted slightly, as though he were looking at someone standing beside the camera.
“And if Adrian tells you he can protect my family, don't trust him.””
Victor went rigid.
I turned toward him.
“Why would Michael say that?””
Victor said nothing.
On the video, Michael continued.
“Adrian is loyal to whoever pays him.””
The recording stopped.
Daniela stared at Victor.
“You hired Adrian.””
Victor shook his head.
“No.””
“Dad said his name.””
“I knew of him. Michael knew of him. That doesn't mean I hired him.””
Richard smiled.
“Victor is lying.””
Victor turned toward him.
“You would know.””
Richard shrugged.
“I know everyone involved.””
I looked at Richard.
“You killed Michael.””
“Yes.””
Daniela gasped.
He said it without emotion.
No hesitation.
No shame.
Just a fact.
“You shot him?””
Richard nodded.
“He was going to expose everything.””
“Then why was his death called an accident?””
“Because I had help.””
I felt my stomach drop.
“Who?””
Richard looked at me.
“Someone you trusted.””
The words from Michael’s letter echoed in my mind.
Someone who has earned your trust.
I turned slowly toward Victor.
He stared back at me.
“Helen,” he said.
Then he raised both hands.
“Don't.””
Richard laughed.
“Now you see it.””
Victor's face hardened.
“You've been feeding her lies for eight years.””
“No.””
“You told her the trust would protect Daniela.””
“It does.””
“You told her Michael died because of the Salgados.””
“I never told her that.””
Richard looked at me.
“You did.””
Victor shook his head.
“Helen, listen to me.””
I stepped backward.
“Did you know Richard planned to kill Michael?””
“No.””
“Did you know about the company?””
“Yes.””
“Did you know Vivian called me?””
“Yes.””
“Did you know about Adrian?””
“Yes.””
My voice broke.
“What don't you know?””
Victor’s face changed.
The calm attorney I had trusted for eight years finally looked exhausted.
“There is one thing I didn't know.””
“What?””
“Who betrayed Michael from inside your home.””
I stared at him.
Richard smiled.
“I can tell you.””
Victor snapped, “Don't.””
Richard reached into his coat.
Victor drew a small handgun.
The room exploded into chaos.
“Down!”” Victor shouted.
A gunshot cracked through the house.
Glass shattered.
Daniela screamed.
I grabbed her and pulled her behind the dining table.
Another shot.
Then silence.
I looked up.
Richard was gone.
The front door stood open.
Victor was on one knee, clutching his shoulder.
“Are you hurt?”” I asked.
“It's nothing.””
Blood soaked his shirt.
Daniela crawled toward him.
“You're bleeding.””
“I'll survive.””
I looked toward the door.
Richard had escaped.
But Vivian was still standing there.
Crying.
She walked toward us.
“I know who betrayed Michael.””
I stared at her.
“Who?””
She looked at Daniela.
“Someone you never suspected.””
I waited.
Vivian reached into her coat and pulled out a second photograph.
This one showed Michael, me, and another person standing in front of our old house.
I recognized the person immediately.
My knees nearly gave out.
It was the woman who had called me the night before Michael died.
The woman who had told me to leave.
The woman whose identity I had never known.
Daniela stared at the photograph.
“Mom…”
May you like
Vivian whispered her name.
And the name she spoke belonged to someone who had been part of our family for years.
