Chapter 14: The Last Lie
The figure entered slowly.
An old man.
Gray hair.
A scar running from his cheek to his jaw.
Daniel Price.
The police surrounded him within seconds.
“Put your hands where we can see them!””
Daniel smiled.
“I didn't come here to fight.””
He looked directly at Terrence.
“I came for my son.””
Terrence's face twisted.
“I'm not your son.””
Daniel laughed softly.
“You've been told that your entire life.””
I stepped between them.
“Why did my father hide the truth?””
Daniel looked at me.
“Because he was afraid of what I'd become.””
“You killed people.””
“So did he.””
“You tried to kill Raymond.””
“He deserved it.””
“And my husband?””
Daniel's smile disappeared.
“I never killed him.””
My husband stepped forward.
“Then who did?””
Daniel looked at him.
“You know who.””
My husband went pale.
“Lennox.””
She froze.
Daniel nodded.
“She killed him.””
Terrence turned toward his wife.
“No.””
Lennox shook her head violently.
“No.””
Daniel continued.
“She found him eight months ago.””
I looked at Lennox.
“Is that true?””
Tears ran down her face.
“He was dying.””
My husband whispered, “You knew where I was.””
“Yes.””
“And you killed me?””
“I didn't.””
Daniel interrupted.
“She gave him the wrong medication.””
Lennox screamed.
“I was trying to save him!””
Terrence stepped backward.
“You killed him.””
“I didn't know it would…”
Her voice broke.
“I thought he was going to expose everything.””
My husband stared at her.
“You let me die.””
“I was scared.””
“You let Margaret grieve me.””
“I had no choice.””
“There is always a choice.””
Lennox collapsed into the nearest chair.
I looked at Daniel.
“Why come now?””
He reached into his coat and pulled out another envelope.
“Because Raymond is dying.””
Raymond stiffened.
Daniel continued.
“And because your father left one final instruction.””
He handed me the envelope.
My fingers trembled as I opened it.
Inside was a single page.
*Margaret, if you are reading this, then all three men have finally returned to the same house.*
I looked up.
“All three?””
My husband.
Raymond.
Daniel.
The letter continued.
*You were never supposed to know the truth about Terrence. But the truth is this: his blood does not make him my heir. His choices do.*
I looked at my son.
The next line was underlined.
*Give him the trust only if he chooses his mother over the money.*
Terrence stared at me.
I continued.
*If he chooses the money, destroy the trust.*
My husband whispered, “Your father knew this day would come.””
Daniel looked toward the basement.
“The evidence is in the trust.””
Raymond suddenly coughed.
Blood appeared at the corner of his mouth.
The officer called for medical assistance.
Raymond grabbed my hand.
“Margaret.””
I leaned toward him.
“I need to tell you something before I die.””
“Tell me.””
“I wasn't the one who ordered your husband's death.””
I looked at Daniel.
“Then who?””
Raymond's eyes moved toward Lennox.
“She was.””
Lennox stopped crying.
“No.””
Raymond nodded.
“She ordered it because she believed your husband had the evidence.””
Lennox whispered, “You promised you'd never tell.””
Raymond looked at her.
“I promised nothing.””
Terrence stared at his wife.
“Why?””
“Because I needed the trust.””
“You had my house.””
“I needed everything.””
She looked at me.
“Your father had hidden millions.””
I shook my head.
“You destroyed your own marriage for money.””
“No.””
Her eyes hardened.
“I destroyed it because I finally realized what your family had done to mine.””
She looked at Raymond.
“You killed my mother.””
Raymond went silent.
Daniel stared at him.
“So that's the truth.””
I looked at Raymond.
“Did you?””
He didn't answer.
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“You really thought you could bury all of it.””
Then he pointed toward the basement.
“The last box contains the original ledger.””
Raymond whispered, “Don't open it.””
I looked at him.
“Why?””
“Because it has the name of the person who started all of this.””
I descended the stairs.
Everyone followed.
At the bottom, I opened the final box.
Inside was an old leather ledger.
I opened the first page.
The handwriting belonged to my father.
The first transaction was dated forty years ago.
The recipient's name was written clearly.
*MARGARET HAYES.*
I stopped breathing.
Terrence whispered, “Mom?””
I turned the page.
There were payments.
Dozens of them.
All made before I had even met my husband.
And beside every payment was the same note:
*For her protection.*
Then I found the final page.
My father's last words were written across it.
May you like
*Margaret, I am sorry. You were never my victim.*
*You were my partner.*
