Chapter 13: The Betrayal Behind the Attorney's Desk
For several seconds, I couldn't breathe.
The photograph lay between us.
James Whitmore stood outside my father's hospital room at 2:03 a.m., wearing the same dark coat he'd worn to my father's funeral.
I slowly raised my eyes.
James was standing near the door.
He looked at the photograph.
Then he looked at me.
"Olivia, I can explain.""
I pushed my chair backward.
"Don't come near me.""
He stopped.
Detective Hill immediately moved between us.
"Mr. Whitmore, I need you to step away from the table.""
James raised his hands.
"This photograph doesn't prove anything.""
I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
"You told me you didn't know what happened that night.""
"I said I didn't know what happened to your father.""
"Then why were you outside his room?""
He glanced at Nathan.
Nathan suddenly stood.
"Tell her, James!""
James's expression changed.
"Sit down, Nathan.""
"No! I'm done protecting you!""
Detective Hill ordered Nathan to remain seated.
But my brother continued.
"James was the one who told Thomas how to access the trust. He was the one who prepared the documents Daniel used. And he was there when Dad died!""
I turned toward James.
"Is that true?""
James rubbed his forehead.
"Your father was my closest friend. I never wanted any of this to happen.""
"That's not an answer.""
He finally looked at me.
"Robert discovered that Thomas had been moving money from the trust. He wanted me to help him recover it.""
"And you did?""
"Initially.""
"What happened?""
James looked toward the detective.
"I made a mistake.""
I laughed bitterly.
"A mistake? You helped steal from my father?""
"No. I helped Thomas hide the money because he threatened to expose an unrelated financial arrangement involving my brother.""
I stared at him.
"So you chose to protect Thomas.""
"I thought I could control the situation.""
"And when my father found out?""
James said nothing.
I stepped closer.
"Did you know Thomas was going to hurt him?""
His silence lasted too long.
"James!""
He closed his eyes.
"I knew Thomas intended to stop Robert from signing the new will.""
My knees weakened.
"How?""
"He said he would make sure Robert couldn't interfere with the company anymore.""
"Did you know about the medication?""
"No.""
"Did you know someone disconnected his oxygen?""
James looked down.
"I didn't know that until tonight.""
Detective Hill approached him.
"Mr. Whitmore, you're going to need to accompany us.""
James didn't resist.
But before the officers escorted him away, he turned toward me.
"Olivia, there's something you still don't understand. Your father knew he was in danger. That's why he made a second recording.""
I froze.
"What recording?""
James looked toward the metal box recovered from the archive.
"Your father didn't trust paper anymore. He recorded his final conversation with Thomas.""
Detective Hill immediately turned to an officer.
"Search the archive again.""
James continued.
"The recording isn't in the office. Robert hid it somewhere only Olivia would recognize.""
I stared at him.
"Where?""
James's eyes softened.
"Your mother's garden.""
My parents' old house had been sold years ago, but the garden remained part of the property.
My father had built a small stone fountain beside the rose bushes. When I was little, he used to hide birthday presents beneath the wooden bench nearby.
It was the place where my parents had shared their anniversary dinners.
At 9:15 a.m., Detective Hill and I arrived.
Nathan remained at the station.
James had been taken into custody for questioning.
I walked toward the fountain with an officer beside me.
The roses were overgrown.
The stone bench had cracked.
But beneath its wooden seat, I found a small metal compartment.
Inside was a digital recorder.
My father's handwriting was on a label.
For Olivia. Only if they have taken everything else.
My hands trembled.
Detective Hill connected the device to a portable speaker.
A recording began.
My father's voice filled the garden.
"Thomas, I know about the accounts.""
Another voice answered.
"You don't understand what you're risking, Robert.""
"I understand perfectly. You stole from me.""
"I borrowed money.""
"Without permission.""
A pause followed.
Then Thomas spoke again.
"You have no idea how much Daniel knows.""
My father's voice became colder.
"Daniel is a thief. You are worse. You're a man I trusted.""
There was a sound of footsteps.
Then another voice.
James.
"Robert, please. Let's handle this quietly.""
My father replied:
"There is nothing quiet about betrayal.""
A chair scraped.
Then Thomas said something that made my blood run cold.
"Your daughter is the only reason we're still negotiating. Once Daniel has married her, everything becomes easier.""
I covered my mouth.
The recording continued.
My father laughed without humor.
"You're both making one mistake.""
"What mistake?"" Thomas asked.
"You're assuming Olivia will always trust the people she loves.""
A pause.
Then my father spoke again.
"If anything happens to me, she will find out.""
The recording ended.
I stood motionless.
Detective Hill looked at me.
"There's more.""
He pressed another button.
A second recording began.
This time, my father's voice sounded weaker.
"Olivia, sweetheart, if you're hearing this, I need you to know something.""
My eyes filled.
"I made a mistake by keeping too many secrets from you. I thought protecting you meant keeping you away from the ugly parts of this world.""
He paused.
"But the truth is that the people who hurt us most are often the ones we invite into our homes.""
I began crying.
"Your mother once told me that love should never require silence. Remember that.""
There was a faint rustling sound.
Then he whispered:
"The woman you think is dead is not the woman you think she is.""
The recording stopped.
I looked at Detective Hill.
"What does that mean?""
Before he could answer, his phone rang.
He listened briefly.
Then his expression changed.
"What happened?""
A pause.
"Where is she now?""
He ended the call.
I turned toward him.
"Who?""
He looked at me.
"Dr. Mercer has been located. He's agreed to cooperate.""
"Good.""
Detective Hill hesitated.
"But he made one condition.""
"What condition?""
"He wants immunity from prosecution in exchange for revealing who actually disconnected your father's oxygen.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Who?""
The detective looked down at his phone.
"According to Dr. Mercer, it wasn't Thomas.""
I waited.
May you like
He raised his eyes.
"It was someone who had been declared dead sixteen years ago.""
