Chapter 5: My Brother-in-Law's Confession
I couldn't speak.
Robert looked up from his phone.
Evelyn covered her mouth.
Finally, I managed to ask, "What did you just say?""
Andre sighed.
"I know how that sounds.""
"How did you help Vanessa find me?""
"Marcus, I need to explain.""
"Then explain!""
"I was drowning in debt. I had borrowed money from people I shouldn't have borrowed from. Vanessa approached me and offered to help.""
I stared at the wall.
"Why would Vanessa help you?""
"She said she knew someone who could get me out of trouble.""
"Dr. Harrison?""
"Yes.""
I pressed my fingers against my forehead.
"What did you give her?""
Andre didn't answer.
"What did you give her, Andre?""
"Your address. Your work information. Details about your insurance policy.""
I felt sick.
"You sold information about my family?""
"I didn't know what they were planning!""
"You gave a stranger information about my dead wife's finances!""
Andre's voice cracked.
"She told me she wanted to help you move on. She said Danielle had wanted you to find happiness again.""
I laughed without humor.
"Danielle didn't even know this woman was planning to marry me.""
"That's not what Vanessa told me.""
I looked at Robert.
He motioned for me to put the call on speaker.
I did.
Robert spoke calmly.
"Mr. Williams, this is Marcus's attorney. We need you to tell us exactly what happened.""
Andre hesitated.
"Are you recording this?""
"Not without your consent. But we strongly recommend that you preserve every message, email, and document connected to Vanessa and Dr. Harrison.""
Andre exhaled.
"There's something else.""
My stomach tightened.
"What?""
"Vanessa didn't just want information about Marcus. She wanted something Danielle had hidden.""
"The blue envelope?""
"No. Something bigger.""
I looked at the envelope on Robert's desk.
"What?""
Andre lowered his voice.
"Danielle had discovered that someone was moving money out of a medical assistance account connected to her treatment.""
Robert leaned forward.
"Whose account?""
"An account established through a charitable foundation. It was supposed to help families pay for specialized cancer treatment.""
I frowned.
"Danielle never told me about that.""
"She found out after she noticed that some of the payments listed on her hospital statements didn't match the services she received.""
Robert immediately opened his laptop.
"Do you have any records?""
"I have copies of some emails. I kept them because I was afraid.""
"Afraid of whom?""
"Vanessa.""
I closed my eyes.
"Why didn't you come to me?""
Andre's answer was quiet.
"Because she told me if I spoke, she'd make sure the police found out about the money I had taken.""
Silence filled the room.
Then I asked, "What money?""
Andre began crying.
"I took some of the foundation money, Marcus.""
Robert straightened.
"How much?""
"Twenty-five thousand dollars.""
I stared at the phone.
"You stole money intended for sick families?""
"I was desperate. I thought I'd replace it before anyone noticed.""
"Did Vanessa know?""
"She arranged it.""
Robert immediately wrote something down.
"Did Dr. Harrison authorize the transfers?""
"Yes.""
I felt anger rising in my chest.
My wife had been fighting for her life while the people supposedly helping her were stealing money.
And her own brother had participated.
"Andre, listen carefully. Did Danielle know?""
"I think she found out.""
"What do you mean, you think?""
"Three days before she died, she called me. She said she had proof that the foundation account was being used to pay personal expenses.""
My throat tightened.
"What did you tell her?""
"I told her she was confused.""
I stood up.
"You lied to your dying sister?""
"I was scared!""
"She was dying, Andre!""
"I know!""
His crying became louder.
Then he said something I hadn't expected.
"She asked me to come to the hospital that night. She wanted to give me something. I never went.""
I slowly sat down.
"What was it?""
"A flash drive.""
Robert immediately looked at Evelyn.
"Do you know anything about that?""
Evelyn shook her head.
Andre continued.
"Danielle told me the drive contained recordings and financial records. She said if anything happened to her, I should give them to you.""
"Where is it?""
"I don't know.""
I rubbed my face.
"Andre, what do you mean you don't know?""
"I never collected it. But Vanessa told me she found it after Danielle died.""
Robert's expression darkened.
"Did she tell you what was on it?""
"She said it contained information that could send Dr. Harrison to prison.""
I looked at the blue envelope.
"Then why didn't she destroy it?""
Andre paused.
"Because she was looking for something specific.""
"What?""
"Proof that Danielle had changed her life insurance beneficiary.""
My heart started pounding.
"Changed it to whom?""
Andre's voice dropped.
"To Nia.""
I looked at Robert.
He slowly nodded.
That explained the fraudulent amendments.
Danielle had apparently changed the policy to make sure our daughter was protected.
And someone had been trying to reverse her decision.
Then Andre added another detail.
"Marcus, there's one more thing. Vanessa wasn't acting alone.""
I gripped the phone.
"Who else?""
"Someone in your company.""
My stomach dropped.
"That's impossible.""
"She had access to your business schedule, your travel dates, and your financial records.""
I looked at Robert.
He mouthed one word.
"Who?""
Andre swallowed.
"Your business partner.""
I felt the room go cold.
For twelve years, I had trusted that man with my company.
He had attended Danielle's funeral.
He had held my shoulder when I cried.
He had even stood beside me at my wedding to Vanessa.
"What's his name?"" I demanded.
Andre answered.
"Charles Bennett.""
I ended the call without saying goodbye.
Robert immediately searched his phone.
Then he turned the screen toward me.
A photograph showed Charles entering a restaurant.
He wasn't alone.
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The woman beside him was Vanessa's sister, Patricia.
And the date was two days ago.
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