Chapter 13: The Last Person My Father Trusted
The man stepped out of the SUV slowly.
He looked older than I expected.
Gray hair.
Expensive suit.
Calm eyes.
The kind of person who didn’t need to raise his voice because he was used to people listening.
Evelyn walked beside him.
She looked completely different from the woman who had stood in my dining room the night before.
There was no anger.
No panic.
Only confidence.
“Sarah,” she said.
I held the flash drive tightly in my hand.
“Who is he?””
She smiled.
“Someone who can explain everything.””
I looked at Daniel.
He was frozen.
The fear on his face told me this man was more dangerous than Evelyn.
The man stopped a few feet away.
“My name is Richard Hale.””
The name meant nothing to me.
But it meant something to Daniel.
Daniel took a step back.
“You.””
Richard looked at him.
“You’ve grown.””
Daniel’s jaw tightened.
“You were supposed to be gone.””
Richard smiled.
“And you were supposed to keep your mouth shut.””
I felt a cold feeling move through me.
I looked at Evelyn.
“What is happening?””
She sighed.
“You always wanted the truth.””
She gestured toward Richard.
“Now you can have it.””
I didn’t trust her.
Not for a second.
But I needed answers.
“Why did my father die?””
Richard looked at me.
“Because he made a mistake.””
My hands curled into fists.
“What mistake?””
“He trusted people.””
I stared at him.
“That’s not an answer.””
Richard stepped closer.
“Your father discovered something he should not have discovered.””
“The fraud?””
“No.””
The word surprised me.
“Then what?””
Richard looked at Evelyn.
Then back at me.
“Your father discovered that the company he built had been used for something much bigger.””
I frowned.
“What does that mean?””
Michael had said hidden accounts.
Financial fraud.
But Richard’s words sounded different.
More serious.
Daniel spoke quietly.
“Mom knew.””
Evelyn looked at him.
“Be quiet.””
“No.””
Daniel shook his head.
“Not anymore.””
For the first time, Evelyn looked disappointed.
Not angry.
Disappointed.
Like he had failed a test.
“You really are choosing her.””
Daniel looked at me.
“I should have chosen her years ago.””
The words surprised me.
Evelyn’s expression hardened.
Richard interrupted.
“This emotional reunion is unnecessary.””
I turned toward him.
“You knew my father.””
“Yes.””
“How?””
“I worked with him.””
I laughed bitterly.
“Everyone worked with my father.””
Richard ignored that.
“He was brilliant.””
The compliment sounded almost insulting.
“Then why did you help destroy him?””
The man’s face remained calm.
“I didn’t.””
“You expect me to believe that?””
“I expect you to understand something.””
He looked directly at me.
“Your father was not killed because of money.””
The air became heavy.
“Then why?””
Richard glanced at the flash drive in my hand.
“Because of what he recorded.””
My heart stopped.
The recordings.
Daniel had said his mother admitted everything.
Richard knew.
“You know what’s on this?””
“Yes.””
“Then why are you here?””
His expression changed slightly.
Because for the first time, I saw urgency.
“Because if you listen to that recording, you will learn the truth.””
I stared at him.
“That sounds like exactly what you don’t want.””
Richard said nothing.
Evelyn stepped forward.
“Sarah, please.””
I almost laughed.
Please.
After everything.
“You don’t get to say that anymore.””
Her face hardened.
“You think Daniel gave you the truth?””
She looked at the flash drive.
“He gave you half of it.””
I froze.
“What?””
Daniel looked confused.
“Mom, what are you talking about?””
Evelyn smiled.
“He never told you what happened after your father died.””
I looked at Daniel.
He went pale.
“What happened?””
Nobody answered.
Then Richard said quietly:
“Daniel wasn’t just a witness.””
My stomach dropped.
“What does that mean?””
Richard looked at him.
“Tell her.””
Daniel closed his eyes.
And I knew.
Before he even spoke.
I knew.
“I was there.””
My breath caught.
“Where?””
“The night your father died.””
The world seemed to stop.
Daniel’s voice broke.
“I wasn’t just outside the house.””
I stared at him.
“Daniel…”
May you like
He looked at me with tears in his eyes.
“I was inside.””
