Chapter 8: The Man Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
Michael opened the email.
There were only three lines.
Your father discovered the insurance fraud.
Diane knew he was going to the police.
Richard Hale is alive.
Michael read the message again.
Then he handed the phone to Detective Bennett.
"Who sent this?""
She examined the sender information.
"An anonymous account. We'll have our technical team look into it.""
I watched Michael.
"Are you sure Richard Hale is dead?""
He nodded.
"Mom told me he died overseas six years ago. She said there was a car accident.""
"Did you attend the funeral?""
"No. His family handled everything privately.""
Detective Bennett exchanged a look with the other officer.
"That's something we'll need to verify.""
Michael paced the hospital room.
"My father died seven years ago. Richard supposedly died six years ago. Why would someone contact us now?""
I looked at the photograph.
"Maybe because someone knows we're finally asking questions.""
The detective nodded.
"That's possible.""
She requested copies of the email and arranged for an officer to accompany Michael home.
Before he left, he leaned toward me.
"Emily, I'm going to find out everything.""
I held his hand.
"Don't confront your mother.""
"I won't.""
"Promise me.""
He nodded.
"I promise.""
That afternoon, Sarah visited again.
She brought an update from Noah.
"He's been asking whether the police caught Diane," she said.
I smiled weakly.
"Tell him he's very brave.""
Sarah sat beside me.
"Emily, there's something I haven't told you.""
I looked at her.
"What?""
"After Diane offered Noah money, she came back to our house yesterday.""
My stomach tightened.
"Why?""
"She wanted to speak to my husband. She told him that if he continued helping you, she would make sure he lost his job.""
I stared at her.
"She threatened your family?""
Sarah nodded.
"She said people who interfere in private family matters usually regret it.""
I felt tears burn my eyes.
"I'm so sorry.""
Sarah reached across the bed and squeezed my hand.
"Don't apologize. Noah told the truth. That's what matters.""
She hesitated.
"There's something else. My husband recognized the man in the photograph.""
I sat upright.
"What man?""
"The one standing beside Diane.""
Sarah opened her phone and showed me a photograph she'd taken of the evidence image.
"My husband works at a property management company. He used to deal with someone who looked exactly like him.""
"Who?""
"Richard Hale.""
I stared at her.
"But Michael said he's dead.""
"That's what everyone believes.""
Sarah enlarged the photograph.
"Apparently, this man changed his name several years ago. My husband thinks he now operates a financial consultancy in another state.""
Before I could ask anything else, Michael called.
"Emily, we found him.""
I gripped my phone.
"Richard?""
"Yes. The police located a business registration under a different name. They believe he's been living in Ohio.""
"Are they going to question him?""
"They're trying to contact him.""
His voice became quieter.
"But Emily, that's not the strangest part.""
"What?""
"The insurance company found an old application with Richard's signature.""
I frowned.
"What did he sign?""
"A document appointing him as an authorized representative for your original policy.""
My throat tightened.
"Why would your father's business partner have access to my insurance?""
Michael exhaled.
"Because the policy was taken out before we got married.""
I closed my eyes.
"How is that possible?""
"I don't know. But there's a date on the application.""
He paused.
"Emily, it was opened two months before you and I met.""
I felt dizzy.
"Michael, who applied for it?""
He was silent.
Then he said, "The application lists the policyholder as your future husband.""
I almost laughed.
"Your future husband? We hadn't even met.""
"That's why this doesn't make sense.""
I stared at the ceiling.
Then a terrible thought entered my mind.
"Michael, what if someone used my identity before we met?""
He didn't answer.
A few minutes later, Detective Bennett entered my room.
She looked serious.
"Emily, we received a response from Richard Hale's attorney.""
Michael immediately asked, "Did you find him?""
"Yes. And he's willing to speak with us.""
"Where?""
The detective opened her notebook.
"He's currently in protective custody after reporting that someone has been threatening him.""
My heart began racing.
"Who?""
Detective Bennett looked directly at Michael.
"According to his statement, Diane Carter has been trying to silence him for six years.""
Michael slowly sat down.
"Why?""
The detective placed a printed photograph on the table.
It showed Diane standing outside a hospital.
Beside her was Richard Hale.
And behind them was a much younger Michael.
Michael stared at it.
"I remember this day.""
"When was it?"" I asked.
He swallowed.
"The day my father died.""
I looked at the photograph again.
"Michael, you said your father died in a car accident.""
He nodded.
"That's what Mom told me.""
Detective Bennett pointed to the date.
May you like
Then she delivered the sentence that changed everything.
"Richard Hale claims your father was alive when Diane arrived at the hospital.""
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