Chapter 8: The Police Found the Man Who Killed My Husband
The photograph slipped from my father's fingers.
I stared at the twisted metal and shattered windshield.
It was Michael's car.
I recognized the license plate.
I had seen that same photograph in the police report three weeks after his funeral.
But there was something different about this one.
The back contained a handwritten note.
*Richard paid the driver. Margaret approved the payment.*
My knees nearly gave out.
My father caught my elbow.
"Emily, sit down.""
I shook my head.
"Who wrote that?""
The officer answered.
"We believe it was Kevin Brooks, the maintenance contractor.""
Daniel stepped forward.
"Kevin was working for Margaret?""
"We haven't confirmed that yet," the officer replied.
"But we found several payments to accounts associated with him.""
Richard suddenly laughed.
"This is absurd. Anyone can write a note.""
The officer turned toward him.
"Mr. Ashford, we haven't accused you of anything.""
Richard's face tightened.
"Then stop looking at me.""
Margaret moved closer to him.
"Richard, don't say another word.""
I looked at her.
"How can you stand there?""
She blinked.
"What?""
"Michael was your son. How could you help someone kill him?""
Her expression hardened.
"Don't be ridiculous.""
I took one step toward her.
"You knew what happened.""
Margaret looked at Lily.
"Emily, you're grieving. You're imagining things.""
My father stepped between us.
"That's enough.""
The female officer approached Margaret.
"Ma'am, we'd like you to come with us for questioning.""
Margaret immediately straightened.
"Do you know who I am?""
"Yes, ma'am. And I'd still like you to come with us.""
Richard pulled out his phone.
"I'm calling my attorney.""
The officer nodded.
"You're welcome to do that.""
Margaret turned toward me one last time.
"You have no idea what you're destroying.""
I stared back.
"My husband is dead. My daughter is being threatened. Whatever you're worried about losing, you've already destroyed.""
She looked away.
The officers separated them.
Richard was escorted toward the entrance while Margaret remained near the reception desk.
Then the security director approached my father.
"Mr. Ashford, we've located Kevin Brooks.""
"Where?""
"Police custody. He's agreed to speak with investigators.""
My father nodded.
"Good.""
But the director hesitated.
"There's something else. Kevin says he has information about Michael's accident.""
My heart began racing.
"Can I speak to him?""
The officer shook his head.
"Not right now. We need to establish the circumstances first.""
I looked at my father.
"Please.""
He gently squeezed my shoulder.
"We'll find out what happened.""
Two hours later, I was sitting in a private hotel suite.
Lily was asleep in her bassinet.
My father sat beside me while Daniel waited near the window.
The police had taken Margaret and Richard for questioning. Neither had been formally charged.
I kept staring at Michael's photograph.
"Do you think he knew he was going to die?"" I asked.
My father looked down.
"I don't know, sweetheart.""
"He tried to warn me.""
"I know.""
I picked up my phone and opened our old messages.
The last message Michael had sent me was from the night before his accident.
*Tell our little girl Daddy loves her more than anything.*
I pressed the phone against my chest.
Then a knock came at the door.
The security director entered.
"Mr. Ashford, the police have an update.""
My father stood.
"What is it?""
"They recovered Kevin's phone. There's a recording from the night of Michael's accident.""
I felt my heart stop.
"Play it.""
The director hesitated.
"It's difficult to listen to.""
"I don't care.""
My father looked at me.
"Are you sure?""
I nodded.
The recording began.
At first, there was only road noise.
Then Michael's voice.
"Richard, pull over. I'm not signing anything.""
A second voice answered.
"You're making a mistake, Michael.""
"I've seen the transfers. I know what you've done.""
A door slammed.
Then came Richard's voice.
"Your mother has spent twenty years protecting this family. You have no idea what you've put at risk.""
Michael replied.
"You mean the money you stole?""
There was a sharp noise.
Then Michael shouted.
"Get your hands off the wheel!""
The recording ended.
I covered my mouth.
My father stood motionless.
The security director spoke quietly.
"There's another file.""
He opened it.
This time, the recording was a phone conversation.
Richard's voice came through.
"Kevin, make sure the police report says it was weather-related. Nobody needs to know there was another person in the vehicle.""
Kevin answered.
"What about the woman?""
Richard paused.
"Which woman?""
"Michael's wife. She knows something.""
Richard laughed.
"She doesn't know anything. She's busy raising a baby.""
Then he said something that made my blood run cold.
"Once the child is in Margaret's custody, we can finish what Michael started.""
My father turned toward the security director.
"Is that everything?""
"No, sir.""
The director looked at me.
"Kevin also mentioned another person involved in the accident.""
"Who?""
He opened a final recording.
A woman's voice came through.
I recognized it instantly.
Margaret.
"Richard, did you make sure Michael's wife never received the original trust papers?""
Richard answered.
"Yes. But Michael hid the documents somewhere.""
Margaret sighed.
"Then find them. I don't care how long it takes.""
The recording continued.
"And Richard?""
"Yes?""
"Emily must never discover that Lily isn't the only child Michael fathered.""
I froze.
My father slowly turned toward me.
Daniel stepped away from the window.
The recording ended.
I looked at the security director.
"What did she mean?""
He didn't answer.
Then my phone rang.
It was an unfamiliar number.
I answered.
"Hello?""
A woman's trembling voice whispered:
"Emily? My name is Sophie Carter. I'm Michael's daughter.""
I couldn't move.
May you like
She continued.
"And I think your daughter is in danger because of me.""
Related Stories
