Chapter 14: The Man Who Finally Told the Truth
Richard Cole was being treated at a private medical facility in Fort Lauderdale.
According to the police, he'd been admitted two days earlier after collapsing at his apartment.
Sarah advised me not to go.
But Richard was the missing piece.
He knew about the accident.
He knew about the forged documents.
And he might know what happened to my father.
The police agreed to accompany us.
Rebecca stayed with my mother and the twins while Sarah and I drove to the facility.
When we entered Richard's room, I immediately recognized him.
His hair had turned almost completely gray, and his face looked thinner than in the photographs.
But his eyes were the same.
He watched me approach.
"Emily Wilson," he whispered.
I stopped beside the bed.
"Why did you want to see me?""
He tried to sit up.
A nurse adjusted his pillow.
"Because I owe you the truth.""
I folded my arms.
"You've had three years.""
He looked away.
"I know.""
Sarah stood beside me.
"Mr. Cole, the police are aware of the allegations involving the Wilson family. Anything you say may be used in an investigation.""
Richard nodded.
"That's why I asked for her.""
He looked directly at me.
"Your father was a good man. Better than I deserved.""
"Then why did you help destroy his family?""
Richard closed his eyes.
"Because I was drowning in debt. Your father discovered I'd been diverting money from our investment company. I thought I could replace it before he noticed.""
"But he noticed.""
"Yes.""
"And Daniel helped you?""
Richard nodded.
"Daniel had gambling debts. He was desperate. I offered him money to get access to your father's financial records.""
I felt sick.
"What about Tyler?""
"Tyler came later. He was jealous of your relationship with me.""
I stared at him.
"Why?""
Richard hesitated.
"Because he believed I was your first child's father.""
I swallowed.
"Was I?""
Richard looked at me.
"No.""
The answer came immediately.
"Emily, I never had a sexual relationship with you. I cared about your father, and I made the mistake of allowing Tyler's suspicions to become useful to me.""
I felt my shoulders loosen slightly.
"Then why did you let him believe that?""
"Because I wanted him to act irrationally. I knew he would confront me, and I hoped the confrontation would create an opportunity to get the financial records.""
Sarah's expression hardened.
"You deliberately encouraged the conflict?""
Richard nodded.
"I made a terrible decision.""
I stepped closer.
"And the accident?""
"Tyler followed your car. Daniel was in the SUV with him.""
My breath caught.
"Daniel was there?""
"Yes. Tyler was driving, but Daniel was directing him. They wanted to frighten you into leaving town so they could approach your father without interference.""
I shook my head.
"They nearly killed me.""
Richard lowered his eyes.
"I know.""
"What happened after the crash?""
"Your father hired an investigator. When he discovered Daniel's involvement, he confronted him.""
"At the hospital?""
Richard nodded.
"Daniel went there to retrieve the recording. He had already learned that your father intended to expose us.""
I gripped the bed railing.
"Did Daniel kill him?""
Richard looked at the door.
Then he whispered:
"Yes.""
My knees weakened.
"How?""
"He switched your father's medication. He knew which drugs your father was receiving because he'd obtained information from someone in the hospital.""
Sarah immediately asked, "Who?""
Richard swallowed.
"A nurse named Karen Mills. Daniel paid her.""
I looked at Sarah.
She wrote the name down.
Richard continued.
"But Daniel wasn't alone in the room.""
"Who else was there?""
Richard's eyes filled with tears.
"Your mother.""
I stepped backward.
"No.""
"Emily—"
"No. My mother told me she wasn't there.""
Richard shook his head.
"She came to the hospital after Daniel called her. She saw what he was doing.""
My throat tightened.
"Did she help him?""
"I don't know whether she understood what he was doing at first. But she knew afterward. Daniel threatened her. He told her that if she spoke, he'd accuse her of helping him.""
I felt physically sick.
Sarah interrupted.
"Mr. Cole, do you have evidence supporting these claims?""
Richard nodded weakly.
"Daniel recorded a conversation with Karen. He kept a copy in a storage unit. The access code is in my phone.""
Sarah immediately notified the officers.
Then Richard reached toward me.
"There is something else.""
I stepped closer.
"Tell me.""
"Tyler didn't come back to Miami because he wanted to see his daughters.""
I stared at him.
"What do you mean?""
"Vanessa told him the trust administrator had discovered the forged documents. He came back because he wanted to get the original USB drive before the authorities found it.""
My stomach tightened.
"Which USB drive?""
"The one your father left. The one with the complete recording.""
Sarah looked at him.
"Are you saying the recording we heard was incomplete?""
Richard nodded.
"Your father recorded another conversation. It contains Daniel explaining exactly what he did at the hospital.""
I felt my heart pounding.
"Where is it?""
"Your brother has it.""
The officers moved immediately to secure the storage unit.
But before they could leave, my phone rang.
Linda.
I answered.
"Emily, please listen to me.""
"What now?""
Her voice was trembling.
"Daniel came here.""
I stood up.
"Where are you?""
"At home. He was looking for the USB drive. When he couldn't find it, he became furious.""
"Did he hurt you?""
"No. But he left something.""
"What?""
"A photograph of your father.""
I closed my eyes.
"Mom, what are you trying to tell me?""
She began crying.
"Your father knew Daniel was dangerous. Before he died, he made me promise to protect you.""
I swallowed.
"Then why didn't you?""
"Because Daniel told me Tyler would go to prison if I spoke. He said your marriage would be destroyed. I was afraid.""
I heard a car door slam on her end.
Then she whispered:
"Emily, he's coming back.""
"Who?""
"Daniel.""
The call ended.
Sarah immediately contacted the police.
A moment later, one of the officers received an update.
Daniel had been located.
He was driving toward my mother's house.
And in the passenger seat was a small black case.
The officer looked at Sarah.
"We believe he has the original recording.""
Then my phone received one final message.
From Tyler.
If Daniel gets arrested, he'll tell them what you did before we got married.
I stared at the screen.
There was only one thing I had never told anyone.
May you like
Three years earlier, before the accident, I'd discovered something about Tyler that I'd promised to keep secret.
And now he was threatening to use it against me.
