Chapter 10: The Grave My Father Never Visited
"Ask your father why he never told you that he was the one who put your grandfather in the ground.""
I read the message three times.
Then I looked at Dad.
He was staring through the window at Michael, his identical twin, who stood beside the black SUV with one hand resting on the roof.
"Is it true?"" I asked.
Dad didn't answer.
"Did you have something to do with Grandpa's death?""
His face crumpled.
"Ethan, there's something about that night you need to understand.""
"Then explain it.""
Detective Harris stepped between us.
"Nobody is leaving this house until we understand what's happening.""
Outside, Michael opened his arms.
"Marcus! It's been a long time!""
Dad moved toward the front door.
I grabbed his sleeve.
"Don't.""
He looked at me.
"That's my brother.""
"He's the reason Mom is dead.""
Dad's eyes filled.
"And I need to know why.""
Detective Harris instructed Officer Lewis to stay with us while he went outside.
Through the window, I watched him approach Michael.
They spoke briefly.
Michael smiled.
Then he pointed toward the house.
A moment later, Detective Harris returned.
"Mr. Michael Carter has agreed to come inside and answer questions.""
Dad laughed bitterly.
"Of course he has. He's always been good at pretending.""
The front door opened.
Michael walked in.
Standing beside Dad was like looking at two copies of the same photograph. Same height. Same dark eyes. Same sharp jawline.
But their expressions were different.
Dad looked exhausted.
Michael looked entertained.
"Marcus," he said.
Dad didn't respond.
Michael turned toward me.
"So you're Ethan. Your mother talked about you constantly.""
I stepped forward.
"Don't pretend you cared about her.""
His smile faded.
"You're young. You don't understand what happened.""
"Then tell me.""
Michael glanced at Detective Harris.
"Twenty-five years ago, our father discovered that I had been moving money out of his company. He confronted me in his office. We argued.""
Dad interrupted.
"You pushed him.""
Michael shook his head.
"He fell.""
"Into a glass cabinet?""
Michael looked away.
I felt my stomach tighten.
Dad continued.
"You told everyone he slipped on the stairs.""
"He was an old man.""
"He was fifty-eight!""
Michael sighed.
"Marcus, I didn't intend for him to die.""
Dad stepped closer.
"What did you do afterward?""
"I called Daniel.""
"Why?""
"Because he was the only person who could help me.""
Michael explained that Daniel had arrived at the office shortly after their father fell.
Together, they had moved the body and made the death appear accidental.
Dad stared at him.
"You both buried our father without telling the truth?""
Michael nodded.
"I thought I was protecting the family.""
Dad laughed.
"That's what everyone says when they steal something.""
Michael's expression hardened.
"Your wife found out.""
"Yes.""
"She threatened to expose me.""
"Because you murdered our father!""
Michael leaned forward.
"She had no proof.""
I interrupted.
"She had the company records.""
Michael looked at me.
"Exactly.""
Dad suddenly remembered something.
"The hospital.""
Michael nodded.
"Your wife had copies of everything. She kept them in a safe deposit box. I went to the hospital because I wanted the key.""
"And you impersonated me.""
"Nobody would have questioned a visitor who looked exactly like you.""
Dad's hands curled into fists.
"What did you do to Margaret?""
Michael stared at him.
"Nothing.""
"You're lying.""
"Your wife was already sick.""
"She was getting better!""
Michael's expression changed.
For the first time, he looked genuinely uncomfortable.
Detective Harris stepped forward.
"Mr. Carter, did you enter Margaret Carter's hospital room on October fourteenth?""
Michael looked at him.
"Yes.""
"Did you administer any medication?""
"No.""
"Did you remove anything?""
Michael hesitated.
"A document.""
"What document?""
"The ownership certificate.""
I stepped closer.
"Where is it?""
Michael smiled faintly.
"Somewhere safe.""
Dad shook his head.
"You stole from your own family.""
Michael looked at him.
"You have no idea what your wife did.""
"What?""
"She changed the ownership structure before she died.""
Dad frowned.
"Explain.""
Michael looked directly at me.
"Your mother didn't simply leave you forty million dollars. She transferred controlling ownership of Carter Development Group into a trust that could only be accessed by you.""
I stared at him.
"Why?""
"Because she knew I would come after it.""
Detective Harris asked, "And what happened to the original certificate?""
Michael smiled.
"That's why I came here.""
He reached into his jacket and removed a folded document.
Dad immediately stepped forward.
"Give that to the detective.""
Michael ignored him.
He placed the document on the dining table.
It was an ownership certificate.
My name was printed across the top.
But beneath it was another name.
A name that none of us expected.
*Laura Bennett.*
Michael looked at me.
"Your mother didn't trust your father with the company.""
Dad stared at the document.
"What are you saying?""
Michael leaned back.
"Your wife appointed her sister as the independent trustee. And if Laura disappears, control passes to someone else.""
"Who?"" I asked.
Michael's smile returned.
"Me.""
Detective Harris immediately picked up the document.
"Nobody touches this until it's examined.""
Michael shrugged.
"Then you'd better hurry.""
He looked toward the window.
"Because Laura won't be alive much longer if she tells you what happened that night.""
My phone vibrated.
A message from Laura.
Ethan, I'm sorry. There's something I never told you about your mother.
Then a location appeared.
May you like
And beneath it:
Come alone. I have the original recording.
