Chapter 10: The Man My Father Asked Me to Protect
Thomas Bennett had been my family's attorney for nearly twenty years.
He had handled my father's estate, helped me save the construction company after Daniel's disastrous investments, and stood beside me at both my father's funeral and my wedding to Rebecca.
I had trusted him without hesitation.
Now he stood in my basement, holding a note that suggested my father had spent his final hours protecting someone from his own family.
"Who did my father ask you to protect?"" I demanded.
Thomas glanced toward Rebecca.
"Not here.""
I laughed bitterly.
"That's convenient. Every time someone in this house is asked a question, suddenly it's the wrong place to answer it.""
"This isn't about convenience, Michael. Your father specifically instructed me to keep certain information confidential until the evidence could be secured.""
"He's been dead for nine years. How much longer do you intend to keep his secrets?""
Thomas looked at the digital recorder on the workbench.
"Until I know who altered the hospital records.""
Rebecca moved closer.
"Thomas, tell him.""
He turned sharply toward her.
"You've kept quiet for six years. Don't pretend you're suddenly interested in the truth.""
Her face crumpled.
I stepped between them.
"Enough. Whatever happened that night, I'm entitled to know.""
Thomas sighed and removed a folded document from his briefcase.
"Your father contacted me at 11:18 p.m. on the night he was admitted to the hospital. He told me Daniel had returned to the house and threatened him. He also told me that someone had taken documents from his study.""
"Rebecca admitted taking them.""
"Yes. But your father didn't believe she was acting alone.""
Thomas opened the document.
It was a handwritten statement signed by my father.
I believe Daniel has convinced someone close to me that protecting him is the only way to save an innocent child. That person is frightened, and I fear Daniel will use the child's future to control them.
I read the statement twice.
"An innocent child," I murmured.
Thomas nodded.
"Ashley.""
Rebecca sat down on the bottom step.
My father's words suggested that, even before his death, he had known about Ashley's connection to Daniel. He had known Rebecca was frightened. And he had known Daniel was using the child to manipulate her.
"Why would my father care about Ashley?"" I asked.
"Because he believed she had done nothing wrong," Thomas replied.
"He wanted to make sure Daniel couldn't use her as leverage.""
I looked at Rebecca.
"Did you know my father knew Ashley was Daniel's daughter?""
She nodded miserably.
"He found out when Ashley was about three months old. Daniel told me he would destroy my life if I ever admitted it publicly.""
"And my father protected you?""
"He offered to help me leave Daniel. He said he would make sure Ashley had a future even if Daniel disappeared.""
I felt a painful mixture of anger and disbelief.
My father had tried to protect a child who wasn't even part of our family, while I had spent years believing he had left me alone to deal with Daniel's failures.
"Why didn't you take his help?"" I asked.
Rebecca stared at her hands.
"Because Daniel told me your father was planning to send him to prison. He said if I cooperated with your father, he'd make sure Ashley grew up knowing her mother had helped destroy her biological father.""
"So you chose Daniel.""
"I chose fear.""
The distinction didn't comfort me.
Thomas returned the statement to his briefcase.
"There is something else. The hospital report was altered after your father's death. The amendment changed the time of his final deterioration by almost two hours. That gave someone an opportunity to enter his room without appearing in the original timeline.""
"Who had access?""
"Hospital staff, authorized visitors, and anyone who entered using a staff access card.""
I thought of the photograph of Rebecca beside my father's bed.
"Could she have done it?""
Thomas looked at her.
"I don't know.""
Rebecca stood abruptly.
"I never touched his medical records!""
"Then help us establish what happened," I said.
She nodded, wiping her face.
"I'll tell you everything I remember.""
We returned upstairs and spread the documents across the kitchen table. Emily joined us, carrying the laptop Thomas had brought from his office.
Ashley remained in the living room, silent and pale.
Thomas explained that the recording needed to be copied and preserved before anyone listened to it. He contacted a digital forensics specialist, then began drafting a report for the authorities.
For the first time since Daniel had returned, I felt that we were taking control of the situation.
Then the doorbell rang.
A uniformed police officer stood outside with another officer in plain clothes.
I opened the door.
"Mr. Carter?"" the first officer asked.
"Yes.""
"We received a report alleging that you are withholding evidence related to a financial fraud investigation.""
Thomas immediately stepped forward.
"I'm his attorney. What evidence are you referring to?""
The second officer checked his notes.
"A recording, several documents, and a digital storage device connected to the death of Mr. Robert Carter.""
My father's name seemed to suck the air from the room.
"Who made the report?"" I asked.
The officer glanced down.
"Daniel Carter.""
I almost laughed.
My brother had threatened to release the recording, then called the police to accuse me of hiding it.
But the officer wasn't finished.
"There's also a concern that the evidence may have been altered or obtained unlawfully. We need to establish its chain of custody.""
Thomas remained calm.
"We are preserving the materials and arranging a forensic examination. We have no intention of destroying evidence.""
The officer nodded.
"Good. Because there's another issue.""
He looked at me.
"Your brother has provided a statement claiming that you were the person who authorized the original transfer of $186,000 to Northbridge Holdings.""
I stared at him.
"That's a lie.""
"Then we'll need your bank records and any relevant authorization logs.""
Thomas stepped forward.
"We'll cooperate through the proper channels.""
The officers left after arranging a formal interview.
I closed the door and turned toward the kitchen.
Rebecca was standing beside the table, staring at her phone.
"What now?"" I asked.
She looked up, terrified.
"Daniel just sent me a message.""
"What does it say?""
She handed me the phone.
*They've started asking questions. If you want Ashley to remain safe, tell Michael what happened after you left the hospital.*
Beneath the message was a photograph of a woman sitting outside a clinic.
I recognized her immediately.
Laura Mills.
The woman who had brought us the hospital photograph.
A second message appeared.
*She knows who entered the room. Make sure she never gets the chance to tell him.*
I looked at Thomas.
His face had gone completely white.
"Where is Laura now?"" I asked.
He pulled out his phone and called her.
It rang once.
Twice.
Then a man's voice answered.
"Hello, Thomas.""
Daniel.
I heard a car engine in the background.
Then he said something that made Thomas grip the counter.
"If you want Laura alive, bring me the original trust agreement.""
The call ended.
May you like
And for the first time, I understood that my brother wasn't merely trying to steal my inheritance.
He was trying to erase everyone who knew how he had obtained it.
