Chapter 7: The Man Who Knew My Father's Secret
I read the message three times.
Your father didn't die that night by accident either.
For seventeen years, I'd believed my father had suffered a sudden heart attack at work. I remembered the funeral, my mother's tears, and the way relatives whispered that he had worked too hard.
Nobody had ever suggested otherwise.
Now, standing inside a police station with evidence that my wife's death might have been deliberate, I was beginning to question everything I'd ever been told.
Detective Morgan noticed my expression.
“Michael, what's wrong?””
I handed her my phone.
She read the message, then looked toward the interview rooms.
“Don't respond. We'll have our technical team examine it.””
“Thomas Reed is here, isn't he?””
“Yes.””
“Then I want to speak to him.””
“Not alone.””
We entered a small interview room. Daniel stayed with Sophie in the family waiting area, while Detective Morgan and another officer accompanied me.
Thomas Reed sat at the table.
He was in his late fifties, with thinning gray hair and a silver watch on his left wrist.
The same watch from the bedroom video.
When he saw me, he smiled weakly.
“Michael. You look like your father.””
I didn't sit.
“Don't mention my father.””
Thomas lowered his eyes.
“I deserve that.””
Detective Morgan placed a recording device on the table.
“You requested this meeting, Mr. Reed. Explain why.””
Thomas rubbed his hands together.
“Because Amanda has gone too far. She was supposed to secure the inheritance, not involve a child.””
I leaned forward.
“Supposed to?””
He looked at me.
“Richard promised me the money would be divided. Amanda would marry you, become Sophie's guardian, and gain access to the trust. Richard would control the properties. I would receive enough to disappear.””
I stared at him.
“And my wife?””
Thomas looked toward the detective.
“I didn't kill Emily.””
“Then why were you at the accident?””
He swallowed.
“Because I was ordered to follow her.””
“By whom?””
“Richard.””
I gripped the edge of the table.
“What happened that night?””
Thomas stared at his watch.
“Emily had discovered the original financial records. She was driving to meet someone who could help her expose the scheme. Richard told me to stop her.””
“How?””
“I was supposed to frighten her. Make her hand over the documents.””
“And instead?””
Thomas's eyes filled with tears.
“Another car came from the opposite direction. It struck her driver's side. I was behind her. I saw everything.””
“Did you recognize the driver?””
He nodded.
“Richard Collins.””
The room went silent.
Detective Morgan leaned forward.
“Are you saying Richard deliberately struck Emily's vehicle?””
Thomas nodded again.
“He had followed her for several miles. I saw him accelerate before the collision.””
My throat tightened.
“Why didn't you tell the police?””
“Because Richard showed me photographs of my daughter. He said he'd make sure she disappeared if I talked.””
“Amanda?””
Thomas looked down.
“Yes.””
I felt sick.
“You helped them threaten my child.””
“I know.””
“You entered her bedroom.””
“I was looking for the evidence Emily had hidden.””
“You stood over my four-year-old daughter while she slept!””
Thomas flinched.
“I never intended to hurt her.””
I slammed my palm against the table.
“Intentions don't matter when a man sneaks into a little girl's bedroom!””
Detective Morgan stood.
“Mr. Bennett, please.””
I stepped away, breathing hard.
Thomas reached into his jacket.
The officer immediately ordered him to keep his hands visible.
“It's a photograph,” Thomas said.
“I brought something for Michael.””
He slowly placed it on the table.
It showed my father standing beside a younger Richard Collins.
Behind them was a large office building.
I recognized the location.
My father's former workplace.
On the back, someone had written:
The first agreement. September 2009.
I picked it up.
“Why do you have this?””
“Because your father discovered the same financial scheme years before Emily did.””
I felt my knees weaken.
Thomas continued.
“Your father was an accountant. He discovered that Richard had been moving money through shell companies. He confronted him. A week later, he died.””
Detective Morgan's expression hardened.
“Are you suggesting his death was deliberate?””
“I believe Richard arranged it.””
I stared at the photograph.
“Who was driving the car that night?””
Thomas hesitated.
“Richard wasn't alone.””
“Who was with him?””
He looked directly at me.
“Your father's business partner.””
I almost stopped breathing.
“My father didn't have a business partner.””
Thomas shook his head.
“He did. A man named David Bennett.””
My uncle.
The man who had helped raise me after my father died.
The man who had attended my wedding preparations.
The man who had once held Sophie in his arms and called her his little princess.
I shook my head.
“No. David wouldn't do that.””
Thomas looked genuinely frightened.
“Michael, he's the reason Richard still has access to your family.””
Before I could respond, Detective Morgan's phone rang.
She stepped into the hallway.
When she returned, her face had changed.
“Mr. Reed, you're coming with us.””
Thomas stood abruptly.
“What happened?””
“Your daughter has been located.””
He looked relieved.
“Where?””
Detective Morgan stared at him.
“She was found unconscious in her apartment twenty minutes ago.””
Thomas grabbed the table.
“What?””
“Someone entered her apartment. She's alive, but she's been taken to hospital.””
Thomas's face crumpled.
Then he turned toward me.
“Michael, you have to believe me. Richard knows where you are. And David is coming for Sophie.””
My phone vibrated.
A photograph appeared.
It showed Daniel sitting in the waiting room with Sophie asleep against his shoulder.
The message beneath it contained just six words.
*Your brother isn't who you think.*
May you like
I ran toward the waiting room.
Because suddenly, I wasn't sure Sophie was safe with anyone.
