Chapter 11: The Recording From the Night Thomas Disappeared
Caleb didn't panic.
He checked the mirrors, changed lanes, and took the next exit.
The black SUV followed.
"Sarah, put your seat belt on.""
I grabbed the handle above the passenger door.
"Who is that?""
"I don't know.""
The SUV accelerated.
It came alongside us.
Through the tinted window, I could make out two silhouettes.
Then the passenger window lowered.
A man held up a phone.
On its screen was a photograph of me.
My stomach turned.
Caleb suddenly swerved into a busy gas station.
The SUV continued past the entrance.
He drove behind the building and stopped near a row of delivery trucks.
"Stay here.""
He got out and spoke to a station attendant.
Within minutes, we were sitting inside a different vehicle.
Caleb had arranged for a colleague to meet us there.
We reached Charleston just after midnight.
The address Marcus had provided belonged to an old office building near the waterfront.
A security guard escorted us upstairs.
Marcus stood inside a conference room.
His tie was loose, his shirt sleeves rolled up, and his face looked exhausted.
For the first time in years, he didn't appear wealthy or powerful.
He looked frightened.
He placed a sealed envelope on the table.
"Before you open this, I need you to hear me.""
I remained standing.
"Go ahead.""
"I know what the email said. I know what you found in the bank.""
"Then you know I have no reason to trust you.""
He nodded.
"You're right.""
He opened a folder and removed several printed emails.
"I was twenty-three when Dad first told me about you.""
My heart pounded.
"Before our wedding?""
"Yes.""
"Then you knew.""
"I knew you were his daughter. I didn't know Thomas had legally adopted you or that he intended to give you the trust.""
"Did you marry me because of the inheritance?""
Marcus looked down.
"I was supposed to get close to you. That was Daniel's idea.""
The room became very still.
"Explain.""
Marcus rubbed his forehead.
"Daniel believed Dad had hidden valuable assets under your name. He wanted me to marry you, gain your trust, and eventually convince you to transfer everything into the family company.""
I stared at him.
"And you agreed?""
"At first.""
"At first?""
He looked at me.
"Then I fell in love with you.""
I almost laughed.
"Don't.""
"I'm telling the truth.""
"You spent eleven years making me believe I was your equal while secretly knowing I was the daughter your father had protected.""
Marcus lowered his eyes.
"I was afraid to tell you.""
"Afraid of losing me?""
He didn't answer.
"Or afraid I'd discover what you had done?""
His silence told me enough.
Caleb opened the envelope.
Inside was a small USB drive and a handwritten note.
Richard Hale had signed the note as a witness.
Caleb connected the drive to the conference room computer.
A video appeared.
Thomas Carter sat in his study.
He looked tired but alert.
"If Sarah is watching this, then I have failed to protect her.""
He paused.
"I need my daughter to know that none of what happened was her fault.""
I felt tears gathering.
Thomas continued.
"James Anderson was my best friend. He discovered that our business partners were stealing company funds. When he tried to expose them, they framed him for embezzlement.""
A photograph appeared beside him.
It showed James standing beside Margaret.
"Margaret and James had already fallen in love. When James disappeared, Margaret was pregnant.""
I closed my eyes.
"Thomas continued to protect Margaret and Sarah. I loved them both, but I made a terrible mistake by allowing Evelyn's family to believe I had abandoned them.""
He leaned closer to the camera.
"Daniel discovered the truth about James. He used that information to blackmail me. He wanted control of Carter Industries, and Evelyn helped him.""
Marcus stared at the screen.
Then Thomas said something that made the room freeze.
"Marcus, if you're watching this, I know you were approached by your brother. I know he asked you to marry Sarah.""
Marcus slowly sat down.
Thomas continued.
"You were my son. I wanted to believe you would choose what was right.""
The screen flickered.
Then Thomas looked directly into the camera.
"But there is something you don't know. The man who arranged James Anderson's disappearance was not Daniel.""
Caleb leaned forward.
Thomas reached for a document.
"The original investigation identified a second person. Someone who had access to the hospital, the police records, and the family accounts.""
He held the document toward the camera.
The image became clearer.
A signature appeared.
Evelyn Carter.
Marcus stood abruptly.
"No...""
Thomas continued.
"Your mother helped arrange James's disappearance. She also knew Margaret was being held against her will after Thomas's death was reported.""
I felt sick.
Marcus covered his face.
"Mom...""
The recording continued.
"I have arranged for James to be released from hiding. If he returns, he can testify about the original fraud and the threats made against Margaret.""
A knock sounded in the recording.
Thomas looked toward the door.
His expression changed.
"Someone is here.""
He stood.
Then he turned back toward the camera.
"Sarah, if you ever meet James, tell him I kept my promise.""
The video stopped.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Then Marcus whispered:
"I saw my father that night.""
Caleb turned toward him.
"What?""
Marcus's eyes were wet.
"I went to the hospital. Daniel told me Dad was dying. He gave me a folder and told me to remove the original medical records.""
"Did you?""
Marcus nodded.
"Yes.""
I stared at him.
"You helped them.""
"I was twenty-four. Daniel told me Dad was having delusions. He said the company would collapse if the medical records became public.""
"And you believed him?""
"I wanted to.""
He looked directly at me.
"But there's something else I haven't told you.""
Caleb stood.
"Marcus, choose your next words carefully.""
Marcus reached into his pocket and placed a photograph on the table.
It showed Evelyn standing beside a younger Daniel.
They were outside a hospital.
Between them stood a third person.
James Anderson.
My biological father.
The photograph was dated three days after Thomas supposedly died.
Marcus whispered:
"Daniel didn't just hide James.""
May you like
He pointed at the man in the photograph.
"He kept him prisoner.""
