Chapter 10: My Uncle Finally Revealed Who Ordered the Murder
"Don't open that door.""
My father's voice was barely above a whisper.
Richard knocked again.
"Robert! I know you're in there. This concerns Emily and the children.""
I looked at the security director.
He immediately signaled two guards to position themselves on either side of the entrance.
My father moved closer to the door.
"How do I know you're alone?""
Richard laughed nervously.
"Because I'm your brother, you idiot.""
"That hasn't exactly been reassuring lately.""
There was a pause.
Then Richard spoke again.
"Margaret wasn't the person who ordered Michael's accident.""
I felt Lily move against my chest.
My father looked at me.
"Tell us who did.""
Richard lowered his voice.
"Open the door, and I'll explain everything.""
My father nodded toward the security director.
The guards opened the door just enough to allow Richard inside.
He looked terrible.
His expensive suit was wrinkled, his tie hung loosely around his neck, and sweat covered his forehead.
He looked at me first.
"Emily, I'm sorry.""
I stared at him.
"Don't.""
He swallowed.
"I know what you've heard.""
"You were in the car when Michael died.""
Richard looked down.
"Yes.""
"You grabbed the steering wheel.""
His eyes filled with tears.
"Yes.""
My father stepped forward.
"Then why are you still walking around?""
Richard looked at his brother.
"Because I didn't kill him.""
I felt a bitter laugh escape my throat.
"You're seriously going to argue about the difference?""
Richard rubbed his face.
"Michael was threatening to expose everything. I was supposed to scare him. I wasn't supposed to cause an accident.""
"You grabbed the steering wheel!"" I shouted.
"I panicked!""
My father grabbed his jacket.
"Enough. Who ordered you to do it?""
Richard looked toward the guards.
"Not here.""
"You're going to tell us now.""
Richard reached into his jacket and removed a small memory card.
"I recorded a conversation six months ago. Margaret and I were discussing the original inheritance. She was terrified Michael had discovered the truth.""
My father took the card.
"What truth?""
Richard swallowed.
"Margaret wasn't protecting the Carter family. She was protecting herself.""
He looked at me.
"Your mother wasn't simply adopted, Emily. Her adoption was arranged to hide her identity.""
I frowned.
"What are you talking about?""
"Your mother was the rightful heir to the original Carter estate. Margaret's father had stolen the inheritance from Eleanor's branch of the family. When he died, Margaret continued hiding the truth.""
Daniel Whitmore, who had been standing near the window, stepped forward.
"Why would she involve Michael?""
"Because Michael found the original trust. He wanted to return everything to the rightful heir.""
I looked down at Lily.
"And that heir is my daughter?""
Richard nodded.
"Yes.""
My father inserted the memory card into a secure device.
A recording appeared.
Margaret's voice came through.
"Michael cannot be allowed to reveal the original trust.""
Richard answered.
"What do you want me to do?""
"Make sure he understands the consequences.""
"And if he refuses?""
Margaret's voice became colder.
"Then make sure he never gets the chance to speak again.""
The recording ended.
My father stared at the screen.
"That's enough.""
Richard suddenly sat down.
"I've been trying to fix this.""
I turned toward him.
"By helping Margaret take my daughter?""
"No. I realized what we'd done.""
"When?""
He looked at Lily.
"When I saw the photograph of her.""
I shook my head.
"That's convenient.""
Richard reached into his briefcase.
He removed another envelope.
"This is the original document Michael was trying to protect. I found it in Margaret's house yesterday.""
My father opened it.
Inside was a handwritten letter from my mother.
I recognized her handwriting immediately.
My fingers trembled as I read.
To my daughter, Emily.
If you are reading this, the people who destroyed my family have finally reached you. I spent my life trying to protect you from a history you never asked to inherit.
Your grandmother, Eleanor, did not die without an heir. She entrusted everything to me.
I refused the money because I wanted you to grow up without fear. But now that you have a daughter, I need you to understand something.
The inheritance was never meant to make us wealthy.
It was meant to give the next generation something nobody could take away.
The truth.
I wiped my tears.
There was another paragraph.
The original document is not in the house. Michael moved it before he died. Trust no one who tells you otherwise.
I looked up.
"Where did Michael move it?""
Richard shook his head.
"I don't know.""
My father turned toward him.
"Then why did you say you had the original?""
Richard went pale.
"I have the copy. The original is somewhere else.""
Suddenly, the security director's phone rang.
He answered.
Then his expression changed.
"Mr. Ashford, we have a problem.""
"What?""
"Margaret has left police custody.""
My father frowned.
"How?""
"Her attorney obtained a temporary release pending further questioning.""
I looked toward the door.
"Where is she?""
The security director hesitated.
"Her vehicle was last seen near the private airport.""
Richard stood abruptly.
"She's leaving the country.""
My father grabbed his phone.
"Call the authorities.""
Richard looked at me.
"Emily, you need to understand something. Margaret doesn't care about the inheritance anymore.""
"What does she want?""
He stared at Lily.
"She wants the one thing Michael left behind that can identify the original heir.""
My father looked at the letter again.
Then he noticed a small handwritten number beneath my mother's signature.
*714.*
He turned toward me.
"Sweetheart, does that number mean anything?""
I stared at it.
Then I remembered something.
Michael had once told me that he kept a safety deposit box at a bank downtown.
The number on the key was 714.
I had never thought much about it.
But suddenly, everything made sense.
Before I could explain, my phone rang.
An unknown number.
I answered.
A man's voice spoke urgently.
"Mrs. Ashford, this is Officer Bennett. We found Margaret Carter's car.""
"Where?""
"At the airport.""
"Did you arrest her?""
There was a pause.
"No.""
"Why not?""
"Because she wasn't alone.""
I tightened my grip on the phone.
"Who was with her?""
The officer lowered his voice.
"Your daughter-in-law's name isn't the only one in the airport security report.""
I frowned.
"My daughter-in-law?""
He corrected himself.
"Sorry. I meant your mother-in-law.""
May you like
Then he added:
"She's traveling with a four-year-old boy named Noah.""
