Chapter 7: My Father's Voice
For several seconds after Nicole hung up, nobody moved.
My father stared at his phone as though it had become something dangerous.
"She's lying," he finally said.
Margaret didn't respond.
I looked at the black USB drive inside the evidence envelope.
"Mom said the recording would explain everything.""
Dad shook his head.
"Your mother would never have recorded me without telling me.""
Margaret placed both hands on the desk.
"Richard, we need to consider every possibility. If Nicole knows what's on that drive, someone may have already accessed the original.""
"Are you suggesting I had something to do with Isabelle's death?""
"I'm suggesting we listen before making assumptions.""
Dad walked toward the window.
Outside, people crossed the street carrying shopping bags. A delivery truck stopped at the traffic light. Somewhere, a child laughed.
Ordinary life continued.
But ours had just fallen apart.
Margaret called a forensic specialist she trusted. Within an hour, a technician named James arrived with a secure laptop and an evidence extraction kit.
He connected the USB drive.
Three folders appeared.
FINANCIAL RECORDS.
ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION.
PERSONAL RECORDINGS.
James opened the last folder.
There were four audio files.
The first was dated October 10, eight years earlier.
The day before my mother signed the final trust documents.
Margaret looked at Dad.
"Are you ready?""
He nodded.
James pressed play.
My mother's voice filled the office.
"Daniel, I know about the transfers. I have the bank statements, and I know Nicole has been helping you.""
A man's voice answered.
"Isabelle, you're making a mistake.""
"Then explain why six hundred thousand dollars disappeared from my accounts.""
"Your husband authorized those transfers.""
"No. Richard never signed anything.""
There was a long silence.
Then Daniel spoke again.
"You should have stayed out of it.""
Mom's voice trembled.
"Are you threatening me?""
"I'm warning you.""
The recording ended.
Dad leaned against the wall.
"Daniel told me he was borrowing money. He said Isabelle had agreed.""
Margaret looked at him.
"Did you ever sign any authorization?""
"No.""
James opened the second recording.
This one was much shorter.
A woman's voice spoke first.
Nicole.
"She won't stop asking questions.""
Daniel replied, "Then we need to make sure she can't ask anymore.""
I felt my stomach twist.
Nicole continued.
"What about Richard?""
"He'll believe whatever I tell him.""
Then came a sentence that made my father sit down.
Daniel said, "And if the accident happens, he'll be too busy grieving to ask the right questions.""
The audio stopped.
Dad covered his face.
"Dear God.""
I reached for his hand.
"Listen to the rest, Dad.""
He nodded slowly.
James opened the third file.
This time, there was background noise. A car engine. Wind. A door closing.
Then my father's voice emerged.
"Isabelle, please come home. We can discuss this.""
My mother answered.
"Richard, I can't trust anyone right now.""
"Why are you saying that?""
"Because Daniel told me you signed the papers.""
"What papers?""
"The insurance authorization. The one that gives him access to the accounts if something happens to me.""
Dad suddenly stood.
"I never signed that!""
The recording continued.
My mother's voice became tearful.
"Then why does your signature appear on it?""
"I don't know, Isabelle. I swear to you, I don't know.""
There was a pause.
Then Dad's recorded voice said something that made the room go silent.
"Maybe you should just let Daniel handle everything.""
I turned toward him.
Dad looked horrified.
"I don't remember saying that.""
James stopped the recording.
Margaret frowned.
"That doesn't necessarily mean the audio is authentic.""
Dad shook his head.
"I was exhausted back then. Daniel kept telling me Isabelle was paranoid. He said she was accusing everyone.""
I remembered the funeral.
Dad had barely spoken for weeks. Daniel had organized everything, handled the paperwork, and answered questions from relatives.
Nicole had moved into our house less than a year later.
My mother had been gone, and the people she feared had taken control of everything.
James examined the audio files.
"There's something unusual about this third recording.""
"What?"" Margaret asked.
"The voice segments appear to have been edited. The background noise changes between sentences.""
Dad looked at him.
"Could someone have cut my words together?""
"Possibly. I need more time to establish that.""
James opened the final recording.
A date appeared.
October 13.
The night my mother died.
A man's voice whispered.
"Is the road clear?""
A second voice answered.
"Yes. She's alone.""
Then came a sound like a car door slamming.
The first man spoke again.
"Make sure she never reaches the police.""
A few seconds later, the recording ended.
I felt dizzy.
"Who were those men?""
James replayed the audio.
Margaret leaned toward the laptop.
"Wait.""
She pointed to the second voice.
"Play that again.""
James did.
The man said, "She's alone.""
Margaret's face changed.
"I know that voice.""
Dad turned.
"Whose is it?""
She looked directly at him.
"Your former business partner. The man who sold you the construction company.""
Dad shook his head.
"That's impossible. He moved overseas years ago.""
Margaret opened her contacts.
"His name is Victor Hayes.""
She searched for him.
Then she stopped.
A recent photograph appeared on her screen.
Victor Hayes was standing outside a restaurant.
Beside him was Nicole.
And behind them, smiling at the camera, was Daniel.
The photograph had been posted three days earlier.
Dad slowly backed away from the desk.
"They're all still together.""
Margaret picked up her phone.
"I'm contacting the police.""
But before she could make the call, James noticed something else.
The final audio file contained hidden metadata.
He opened the details.
A location appeared.
A private storage facility outside town.
And beneath it was a note.
*Original recording device stored in Unit 19.*
Dad stared at the screen.
"There's another copy?""
James nodded.
"Looks like it.""
Margaret immediately called Officer Harris.
But when the officer answered, his first words made my blood run cold.
"Ms. Collins, we have a problem. Daniel has been released.""
"Released? On what grounds?""
"Someone provided documents proving the bank incident was a misunderstanding.""
Dad grabbed the phone.
"Where is he now?""
The officer hesitated.
"We believe he's heading toward the storage facility.""
Dad looked at me.
Then at the screen.
May you like
Unit 19.
We were already too late.
