Chapter 13: The Secret Behind the Family Portrait
“Your father left you something. Unfortunately, Marcus found it first.””
I stared at the photograph.
The family portrait was lying against the fireplace. The small compartment behind it stood open.
Whatever my father had hidden was gone.
I showed Detective Maddox.
“We need to get back to Atlanta.””
She immediately contacted the officers stationed near my property.
“Do not enter the house without backup. We have two potentially dangerous suspects inside, and we believe they're searching for evidence.””
Daniel looked at me.
“Lauren, we need to find out what was hidden behind that painting.””
I nodded.
Then my phone rang.
The caller ID showed Marcus.
I answered.
“What do you want?””
His voice was almost cheerful.
“Hello, sweetheart.””
I felt sick hearing him use that word.
“Don't call me that.””
He chuckled.
“You've certainly become difficult these past few days.””
“What did you find behind the painting?””
There was a pause.
“Your father was a very interesting man. He left behind quite a collection of secrets.””
“Give it back.””
“Come home, Lauren. We need to talk.””
“I'm not coming anywhere near you.””
His voice became colder.
“Then perhaps you should ask Daniel why he never told you about the money your father left him.””
I turned toward Daniel.
Marcus continued.
“Your precious investigator has been getting paid from the same trust account he's supposedly protecting.””
The call disconnected.
I slowly lowered my phone.
Daniel looked at me.
“What did he say?””
I repeated Marcus's words.
Daniel closed his eyes.
“There's something I need to explain.””
I stepped backward.
“Of course there is.””
He reached into his briefcase and removed a bank statement.
“Your father established a private investigation fund before disappearing. It was intended to pay for research into the stolen company assets and protect the evidence.””
“And you received money from it?””
“Yes.””
“How much?””
“About seventy-five thousand dollars over several years.””
I stared at him.
“You were paid to investigate my family?””
“I was paid to investigate the people stealing from your family. Your father arranged it. Your mother approved it.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I didn't want you to believe I was helping you for money.””
I laughed bitterly.
“That's exactly what it looks like.””
Daniel lowered the statement.
“I understand.””
Detective Maddox interrupted.
“We can discuss this later. Right now, we need to recover whatever was taken from the house.””
She turned toward me.
“Do you know anything about the compartment?””
I shook my head.
“Only that my father hid something there.””
My mother's final note was still in my hand.
I read it again.
*The truth is behind the portrait of the four of us.*
Then I remembered something.
“When I was little, Dad used to tell me that the painting was our family tree.””
Daniel looked up.
“What?””
“He said every family had roots, but ours had a secret. Whenever I asked what he meant, he'd tap the wooden frame and smile.””
I closed my eyes.
“He also used to keep a small silver key in his desk. He called it the key to the truth.””
Daniel immediately opened his briefcase.
He removed the brass key my father had given him.
“Could this be it?””
I examined it.
The shape looked familiar.
“Yes.””
Detective Maddox looked toward the officers.
“Let's move.””
We reached the house shortly after sunset.
Police vehicles surrounded the property.
The front door stood open.
An officer approached us.
“Detective, we've secured the perimeter. We believe Bennett and Mitchell are still inside.””
Maddox instructed everyone to wait until the house had been cleared.
Several minutes later, an officer emerged.
“Two individuals located. One male detained in the study. Another male detained near the back entrance.””
“Marcus and Bennett?””
“Yes.””
I exhaled.
For the first time in days, I felt the slightest sense of relief.
Then the officer added:
“We recovered a metal case. It's been placed in the study.””
I looked at Daniel.
“The compartment.””
We entered with Detective Maddox.
The family portrait was lying on the floor.
The wall behind it contained a rectangular opening.
Inside was a small metal case.
Daniel examined the lock.
The brass key fit perfectly.
I turned it.
The case opened.
Inside were three USB drives, a handwritten ledger, and a sealed envelope.
My father's handwriting appeared across the front.
*For my daughters.*
I opened it.
Lauren and Emily,
If you have found this, then the people I feared have finally exposed themselves.
I spent years trying to understand why our family was targeted. It began with a company called Mitchell Development Group. Your uncle Robert, Richard Bennett, and Marcus's father used it to divert money from investors and conceal ownership of several properties.
I discovered the scheme and intended to report it.
But someone inside our family betrayed me.
I turned the page.
The most important evidence is on the USB marked BLUE. It contains the original financial records and the recording of the meeting where the agreement was made.
I looked at the three drives.
One was marked BLUE.
Another was marked RED.
The last had no label.
Daniel picked up the ledger.
“Lauren, this is bigger than the house.””
He opened it to the final page.
Several names were listed beside payment amounts.
Marcus Mitchell.
Richard Bennett.
Robert Mitchell.
And one more.
Emily Mitchell.
I looked at my sister.
She covered her mouth.
“I didn't know about this.””
Detective Maddox examined the entries.
“These appear to be payments made over several years. We'll need financial investigators to authenticate them.””
Then Daniel found a second envelope beneath the ledger.
It contained a photocopy of a photograph.
Four men sat around a conference table.
My father was among them.
So was Marcus's father.
Richard Bennett.
And the fourth man was someone I had never expected to see.
Daniel Hayes.
I turned slowly toward him.
“That's you.””
His face went pale.
“Yes.””
“You told me you were hired after my mother contacted you.””
“I was.””
“But this photograph is twenty years old.””
He stared at it.
“My father was involved with Mitchell Development Group. I attended one meeting when I was younger. I didn't know what they were discussing.””
“Then why didn't you tell me?””
Daniel took a breath.
“Because I recognized the other men when I first saw your documents. I wanted to make sure I wasn't mistaken before involving you.””
Detective Maddox picked up the photograph.
“We'll need a complete explanation from everyone in this picture.””
Before Daniel could answer, an officer entered.
“Detective, Marcus is asking to speak with Lauren.””
I looked toward the hallway.
“Why?””
The officer hesitated.
“He says he knows where your father is.””
I felt my blood turn cold.
“My father is at the hospital.””
May you like
The officer shook his head.
“Not anymore.””
