Chapter 14: The Last Lie Marcus Told
My father had disappeared from the hospital.
The medical staff confirmed that a man matching his description had entered his room shortly before midnight.
By the time anyone realized he was gone, he had already left.
Detective Maddox immediately issued an alert.
I turned toward Marcus, who was being held in the hallway.
“Where is my father?””
He looked at me with a faint smile.
“Now you're finally asking the right questions.””
“Where is he?””
“Safe, for now.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“Marcus, whatever game you're playing is over.””
Marcus laughed.
“Is that what you told Lauren when you started investigating her family?””
Daniel's jaw tightened.
I looked at Marcus.
“Why did you take him?””
“I didn't.””
“Then who did?””
He leaned closer.
“Your uncle.””
Robert Mitchell.
My father's brother.
The man who had allegedly betrayed him decades earlier.
“Why would Uncle Robert take Dad?””
Marcus shrugged.
“Because your father has something Robert wants.””
“The evidence?””
“Something much more valuable.””
Detective Maddox stepped between us.
“Enough. You're going to tell us where Robert is.””
Marcus smiled.
“I'm afraid I don't know.””
She looked at him.
“You were just discussing him.””
“I said he's responsible. I didn't say I knew where he was.””
I stared at Marcus.
“You're lying.””
He looked directly at me.
“Lauren, you should know by now that everyone in this family lies.””
Then he turned toward Daniel.
“Especially people who claim to be investigators.””
Detective Maddox ordered Marcus taken into a separate interview room.
Before the officers led him away, he looked back at me.
“One more thing, sweetheart. Ask Daniel what happened to the original recording from the meeting twenty years ago.””
Daniel went rigid.
I turned toward him.
“What recording?””
He didn't answer.
Detective Maddox arranged separate interviews.
Emily was questioned about the financial transfers.
Vanessa agreed to provide a full statement.
Daniel remained in the study while I waited outside.
After nearly an hour, he finally emerged.
I stood.
“Tell me everything.””
He looked exhausted.
“My father was an accountant for Mitchell Development Group. He attended the meeting in that photograph because he was asked to review some investment documents.””
“And you?””
“I was twenty-three. I was there to collect him.””
“What happened?””
Daniel looked at the photograph.
“I overheard an argument. Your father accused the others of stealing money from investors. Robert said he had already arranged the transfers. Bennett threatened to destroy the records.””
“And your father?””
“He told me to leave.””
I waited.
Daniel swallowed.
“Two days later, he disappeared.””
I stared at him.
“You never reported what you heard?””
“I did. But the police said there wasn't enough evidence. My father had financial problems, and they suspected he'd left voluntarily.””
“Did you ever find him?””
“No.””
I sat down.
“So you recognized the names because your father was involved.””
“Yes.””
“And you still approached me?””
“Because your mother contacted me. She knew my father's connection to the company and believed I could help recover the missing records.””
I looked at him.
“Did you know Marcus was planning to kill me?””
“No.””
“Did you know he was drugging me?””
“No.””
“Did you know my mother was alive?””
“I suspected it.””
I closed my eyes.
“Daniel, I don't know what to believe anymore.””
He sat opposite me.
“I understand. But there's one thing I can prove.””
He placed his phone on the table.
A recording appeared on the screen.
It was dated six months earlier.
My mother's voice came through.
“Daniel, if Lauren ever discovers what happened, you must tell her the truth about the money. Don't let her believe you were involved in stealing it.””
Daniel's voice followed.
“I won't.””
My mother continued.
“And if Robert returns, don't let him near my daughters.””
The recording ended.
I looked at Daniel.
“Why did you keep this?””
“Because your mother wanted you to hear it only when the time was right.””
I rubbed my forehead.
Then the interview-room door opened.
Detective Maddox stepped out.
“We have a development.””
“What?””
“Marcus has agreed to cooperate.””
I almost laughed.
“Why would he?””
“Because we recovered the original insurance application, the financial ledger, and Vanessa's recordings. He's realized he cannot deny everything.””
She placed a printed statement on the table.
“Marcus claims Richard Bennett arranged the attempted poisoning and the fraudulent guardianship petition. He says Robert Mitchell controlled the missing trust funds.””
“And what does Marcus admit?””
“He admits participating in the insurance scheme, forging your medical records, and attempting to obtain control of the property.””
My stomach tightened.
“Does he admit what happened on Sunday?””
Detective Maddox nodded.
“He says the plan was to stage a medical emergency and make your death appear accidental.””
I covered my mouth.
Then she added:
“However, he insists the plan was changed yesterday after your mother was found.””
“Changed how?””
“He says Robert wanted to eliminate the remaining witnesses before the evidence reached investigators.””
I looked at Daniel.
“Then where is my father?””
Detective Maddox received a call.
She listened.
Then her expression hardened.
“We've located Robert's vehicle.””
“Where?””
“Near an abandoned property outside Macon.””
“Was my father with him?””
“We don't know.””
A second call came through.
Detective Maddox answered.
This time, she listened without speaking.
Then she looked directly at me.
“Lauren, your father has been found.””
I stood.
“Is he alive?””
“Yes.””
I nearly collapsed with relief.
But the detective wasn't finished.
“He's been injured. And before he was taken to the hospital, he gave officers a statement.””
“What did he say?””
She looked at her notes.
“He identified the person who originally arranged the financial scheme.””
I swallowed.
“Robert?””
“No.””
She turned the page.
“Your father says the person who created the entire operation was Marcus's mother.””
I frowned.
“Marcus's mother died years ago.””
Detective Maddox nodded.
“According to your father, she didn't die either.””
The room went silent.
I stared at her.
“What?””
“She has been living under another identity. And your father says she is the person who has been directing Robert and Richard Bennett all these years.””
I slowly sat down.
All this time, I'd thought Marcus was the mastermind.
But he'd been following someone else's instructions.
Someone who had spent decades protecting the family's stolen fortune.
And now that the evidence was about to come out, she had one final move.
Detective Maddox received another message.
She read it.
Then she looked up.
“Lauren, we need to move your mother immediately. Someone has just entered her hospital room.””
We arrived at the medical center with two police vehicles.
An officer was already standing outside Room 308.
The door was open.
The bed was empty.
My mother's personal belongings were scattered across the floor.
I ran inside.
“Mom!””
A nurse appeared from the corridor.
“She was taken through the service entrance.””
“By whom?””
“We thought it was a hospital transfer. The man showed identification.””
Detective Maddox immediately contacted security.
I looked at the empty bed.
For the second time in my life, someone had taken my mother away from me.
Then I noticed a piece of paper beneath the chair.
I picked it up.
It was a handwritten note.
*Lauren, don't follow me. I know who is behind everything. I have to finish this before they hurt you again.*
At the bottom was my mother's signature.
I turned toward Detective Maddox.
“She left voluntarily.””
The detective examined the note.
“Maybe. But we can't assume that until we verify it.””
My phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
My mother's voice came through.
“Lauren, sweetheart. I need you to listen.””
“Mom, where are you?””
“Somewhere safe.””
“Come back. The police are looking for you.””
“I know.””
“Then why did you leave?””
She was quiet for a moment.
Then she whispered:
“Because Marcus's mother wants to meet me.””
I felt my stomach tighten.
“Why?””
“To give me the original company ledger.””
“And then?””
My mother exhaled.
“Then we're going to expose the person who destroyed our family.””
The call disconnected.
A message arrived seconds later.
An address.
May you like
And four words.
*Bring the blue USB. Alone.*
