Chapter 13: The Last Call My Father Ever Made
“Thomas Reed was the last person my father called?””
I stared at the medical report, waiting for the words to rearrange themselves into something less horrifying.
The officer nodded.
“According to the telephone records attached to the original investigation, your father placed a call to Mr. Reed at 8:42 p.m. The emergency call came approximately an hour later.””
Chloe gripped the edge of the table.
“Was Daniel at the house when he died?””
“The records indicate he was present when emergency services were contacted,” the officer replied.
“We are reviewing the circumstances surrounding his presence.””
I looked at Chloe.
She shook her head slowly.
“He told me he had never met your father.””
I felt a bitter laugh rise in my throat.
“How many lies can one person tell before he forgets which version of himself he's supposed to be?””
Neither of us answered.
The officer collected the papers and explained that investigators would need additional interviews before drawing conclusions. Then he left us alone.
I sat motionless for several seconds.
My father had died twenty-two years ago. I had spent decades believing his death was a tragic accident, one of those terrible things that happened without warning.
Now I had evidence that he had feared someone was stealing from him, that he had arranged to meet an investigator, and that Daniel had been present shortly before he collapsed.
I wanted to call my mother.
I wanted to ask why she had let me live with unanswered questions for so long.
But she was gone.
And the one person who might have explained everything had spent the final years of her life trying to protect me from the truth.
The door opened.
Richard entered with Michael beside him.
“Sarah,” he said, “the police have asked Thomas to come in for another interview. He's agreed to cooperate fully.””
I stood.
“I need to know what happened that night.””
Michael touched my shoulder.
“We'll find out, Mom.””
Richard placed a hand on the table.
“There is something else. Thomas has admitted that he concealed part of the audit after your father's death. He claims he did so because Daniel threatened him.””
“Do you believe him?””
“I believe his statement needs to be verified against the records.””
I turned toward Michael.
“Where is Daniel now?””
“Still being interviewed,” he said.
“Chloe's provided the police with the files from their house.””
Chloe lowered her eyes.
“I've also given them access to the company records. I don't know what they'll find, but I won't protect him anymore.””
I looked at her.
For the first time, I believed she meant it.
“Then tell them everything,” I said.
“I will.””
An hour later, we were taken to another interview room.
Thomas sat at the table, his hands clasped in front of him. Without his briefcase and professional demeanor, he looked like a tired old man who had spent too many years running from his own decisions.
When he saw me, he stood.
“Sarah, I owe you an explanation.””
“You owe me nineteen years of truth.””
He lowered his eyes.
“Yes.””
I sat across from him.
“Why did my father call you that night?””
Thomas took a long breath.
“He had discovered that the trust's money was being moved through a company connected to Robert. He believed Daniel was coordinating the transfers.””
“And you knew?””
“I suspected it. I had already found evidence of unauthorized transactions, but I was afraid to report them because Daniel had threatened to destroy my career.””
“You accepted his money.””
“Yes.””
“You lied to protect him.””
“Yes.””
“Then why should I believe anything you say now?””
Thomas looked at me.
“Because I can prove what happened next.””
He opened a folder and removed a handwritten note.
It was dated the night my father died.
“I wrote this after our conversation,” he explained.
“Your father called me because he wanted to meet the following morning. He said he had discovered something that could expose the entire arrangement.””
“What?””
Thomas hesitated.
“He believed the trust wasn't the only thing being used to move money. He had found evidence that several businesses were receiving payments for services they never provided.””
Richard leaned forward.
“Shell companies?””
“Yes. But the payments were being disguised as legitimate expenses. Your father suspected the arrangement had been running for years.””
I thought about the commercial building in my mother's name, the money transferred out of its sale, and the missing royalties.
“Was my mother involved?””
Thomas shook his head.
“She was frightened. Robert had convinced her that Daniel would use his connections to take Michael away from you if she challenged the financial arrangements. She signed documents because she thought she was preventing a custody battle.””
“Did she know about the money?””
“Eventually, yes. But by then, she was afraid that exposing the scheme would destroy your family.””
“My family was already destroyed.””
Thomas closed his eyes.
“I know.””
I leaned forward.
“Tell me about the night my father died.””
Thomas's face tightened.
“He told me he was going to confront Daniel and Robert. I begged him to wait until morning, when I could bring the audit records. He refused. He said he wouldn't allow them to take another dollar from you.””
My chest ached.
That sounded exactly like my father.
He had always been stubborn when someone he loved was threatened.
“What happened when Daniel arrived?””
Thomas looked startled.
“I wasn't there.””
“Then how do you know Daniel went to the house?””
“Because Daniel called me afterward.””
The room fell silent.
“What did he say?”” Richard asked.
Thomas rubbed his forehead.
“He said your father had collapsed during an argument. He told me emergency services had been called and warned me not to mention the trust to anyone.””
“Did he say what they argued about?””
Thomas nodded reluctantly.
“He said your father had threatened to expose Robert and everyone connected to the accounts.””
I gripped the table.
“Did Daniel hurt him?””
Thomas looked at me for a long moment.
“I don't know. I wasn't present, and I won't pretend I know more than I do. But I can tell you what Daniel said next.””
He removed another paper.
It was a note from a telephone conversation, written in Thomas's handwriting.
Thomas read it aloud.
“‘The old man is gone. The trust must be transferred before anyone asks questions.’”
I felt sick.
Michael's face hardened.
“He was already thinking about the money.””
“Yes,” Thomas whispered.
Richard took the note.
“Did you report this statement to the authorities?””
“No.””
“Why?””
“Because Daniel told me he had witnesses who would claim I was responsible for the missing money. I was afraid I'd lose everything.””
I looked at Thomas.
“And I lost everything while you were afraid.””
He bowed his head.
“Yes.””
The police officer returned and asked Thomas to accompany him for further questioning. Before he left, Thomas turned toward me.
“There is one final piece of evidence your father left.””
“What?””
“A recording.””
He explained that my father had installed a small recorder in his workshop after discovering that confidential documents were disappearing. Thomas had recovered the device from the estate years earlier but had never submitted it because he feared what it might reveal.
“Where is it now?”” Richard asked.
“Locked in a safe deposit box.””
“Whose name is on the box?””
Thomas looked at me.
“Your mother's.””
My heart began pounding.
“Can we get it?””
“The bank has agreed to preserve it pending proper authorization. The police are arranging access.””
Thomas turned toward the door.
Then he stopped.
“Sarah, your father didn't just record Daniel.””
May you like
He swallowed.
“He recorded Robert, too. And if the recording contains what I think it does, it may finally explain why your mother spent the rest of her life terrified of telling you the truth.””
