Chapter 14: The Truth About Both Daughters
We took Daniel to the hospital.
Doctors confirmed that he was severely malnourished and still recovering from his injuries. He needed surgery to repair damage to his leg, but he was conscious and able to speak.
Detective Bennett stayed with us while another team searched the farmhouse.
Richard was still missing.
The metal case had already provided enough evidence to support several criminal investigations.
But Daniel insisted that I read the letter before anyone left.
It was written by Richard's former business partner, Jennifer Miller.
Rebecca's mother.
I unfolded it carefully.
Michael,
If Daniel has managed to get this letter to you, then Richard has finally gone too far.
I knew about the accounts he opened under other people's names. I knew he had been using medical information to identify vulnerable people.
I also knew he had another family.
Sarah and Emily.
Richard told me he had ended that relationship before we met. He said Emily was a child from a previous marriage and that he had no contact with her.
I believed him.
But when I became pregnant with Rebecca, I discovered that he had lied about almost everything.
I tried to leave.
He threatened to take my daughter away.
He told me he had people who could make me look unstable and unfit to raise a child.
I stayed because I was afraid.
Then I discovered the insurance scheme.
Richard had been using Rebecca's identity to create financial accounts and obtain credit. He had also forged my signature on documents I had never seen.
I confronted him.
Two weeks later, I was dead.
The official report said I had died in a car accident.
But I don't believe it was an accident.
Please protect Rebecca.
And please tell Emily that none of this was her fault.
I folded the letter.
Rebecca was crying quietly.
"My mom knew about Emily?""
Daniel nodded.
"She found out shortly before she died.""
Rebecca looked at me.
"Does that mean my mother was murdered?""
Detective Bennett answered carefully.
"It means we're reopening the investigation into her death. We have enough information to examine the original evidence again, but we won't make assumptions until the forensic results are complete.""
Rebecca nodded.
I put my hand on her shoulder.
"Whatever happens, you're not going through this alone.""
Daniel reached for her hand.
"Your mother was brave, sweetheart. She tried to stop him.""
Rebecca began crying harder.
Then Sarah and Emily arrived at the hospital.
Emily rushed into Daniel's room.
"Uncle Daniel!""
He opened his arms.
"There's my favorite troublemaker.""
She hugged him so tightly that he winced.
"Careful, kid. I'm held together with hospital tape.""
Emily laughed through her tears.
"I thought you were dead.""
Daniel touched her cheek.
"I know.""
She looked at him.
"Richard told me he loved me.""
Daniel's expression softened.
"Maybe he believes that. But love isn't something you announce in front of a camera. It's something you prove when nobody is watching.""
Emily lowered her eyes.
"I called Michael a fake father.""
Daniel looked toward me.
Then he turned back to her.
"Your uncle Michael sold his house to save you. He worked himself sick to give you opportunities. If that isn't fatherhood, I don't know what is.""
Emily began sobbing.
She turned toward me.
"Michael, I'm sorry.""
I pulled her into my arms.
"I know.""
"No, you don't. I was cruel to you.""
"You made a mistake.""
"I believed him.""
I held her face gently.
"Emily, listen. You were eighteen years old. Richard spent years manipulating you. You don't have to spend the rest of your life punishing yourself for believing someone who knew exactly what to say.""
She hugged me again.
This time, she didn't let go.
Sarah stood near the doorway.
When our eyes met, the warmth in the room disappeared.
Daniel noticed.
"Sarah, you need to tell Michael the rest.""
Sarah closed her eyes.
"Daniel...""
"Now.""
I looked between them.
"What rest?""
Sarah sat down.
"Three months before Daniel's accident, Richard contacted me. He said he had evidence that your cancer treatment might not be successful.""
I stared at her.
"That was when he started discussing the insurance?""
She nodded.
"But there was another reason I kept meeting him.""
"What?""
Sarah began crying.
"Richard told me he had information about the person who had accessed your medical records. He said if I cooperated, he would give me the name.""
"And did he?""
She shook her head.
"No. He used that promise to keep me involved.""
Daniel leaned forward.
"Sarah, tell him what you discovered.""
She looked at me.
"The person who accessed your medical records wasn't a stranger.""
My chest tightened.
"Who?""
She swallowed.
"It was someone who worked in the medical billing department at your hospital. Someone who had access to your insurance information and knew your diagnosis.""
"What's the person's name?""
Sarah looked down.
"Linda.""
I frowned.
"Linda who?""
"My sister.""
For several seconds, I couldn't speak.
Sarah's younger sister had attended our wedding. She'd visited our house countless times. She'd even brought Emily gifts for graduation.
"You're telling me your sister gave Richard my medical records?""
Sarah nodded.
"She admitted it yesterday.""
Emily stared at her mother.
"Why would Aunt Linda do that?""
Sarah looked devastated.
"Richard promised her money. He told her he needed the information to arrange treatment for Michael.""
I stood.
"Did she know what he was planning?""
"She says she didn't.""
Daniel shook his head.
"That's not true.""
He reached for a folder beside his bed.
"Richard recorded her conversation.""
He handed the device to Detective Bennett.
She played the file.
Linda's voice filled the room.
"I've given you everything you asked for. You said Michael wouldn't know.""
Richard laughed.
"He doesn't need to know.""
"What about the insurance?""
"Once the transfer is complete, we'll have what we need.""
Linda hesitated.
"And Sarah?""
"She'll do what I tell her. She's too afraid of losing her family.""
The recording ended.
Detective Bennett immediately made another call.
Emily looked sick.
"Everyone knew something except me.""
I held her hand.
"Not everyone.""
She looked at me.
"You didn't know, either.""
I nodded.
And for the first time, I understood that the real damage Richard had caused wasn't just financial.
He had turned people who loved each other into strangers.
An hour later, Detective Bennett returned.
"We've located Richard.""
I stood.
"Where?""
"At Nashville International Airport.""
"Is he trying to leave?""
She nodded.
"He has a ticket booked under another identity.""
Daniel gripped the bed railing.
"Don't let him leave.""
Detective Bennett looked at him.
"We won't.""
She headed toward the door.
But before she left, my phone rang.
An unknown number.
I answered.
Richard's voice came through.
"Michael, I think we should finally talk.""
I looked at the detective.
"You're surrounded.""
He laughed.
"Not yet.""
Then he said something that made my blood turn cold.
"Before you celebrate, you should know that the money from Emily's college account was only part of what I transferred.""
I gripped the phone.
"What else did you take?""
Richard paused.
"Ask Sarah what she signed six months ago.""
The call disconnected.
I turned toward my wife.
She looked horrified.
"Sarah?""
She shook her head.
"I don't know what he's talking about.""
Then Detective Bennett's phone rang.
She listened.
Her expression changed.
"Mr. Carter, we have a serious problem.""
She lowered the phone.
"The insurance company has confirmed that your policy was transferred into a new ownership structure six months ago.""
My stomach dropped.
"That's impossible. I never signed anything.""
The detective nodded.
"We know.""
She placed a document on the table.
The transfer had been authorized by a power of attorney.
And the signature belonged to Daniel.
My brother stared at the page.
Then he whispered:
"That's not my signature.""
Detective Bennett looked at him.
"Then who forged it?""
Daniel turned toward Sarah.
His expression was filled with disbelief.
"Sarah, tell me you didn't sign the document.""
Sarah covered her mouth.
May you like
And I realized Richard hadn't finished stealing from our family.
He had found another way to make us destroy each other.
