Chapter 13: The Secret Behind My Grandfather's Death
Nobody spoke after Emily's confession.
My grandmother sat motionless, staring at the cassette tape as if it contained the last pieces of a life she thought she understood.
My mother gripped the back of a chair.
"That's impossible," she whispered.
"My father loved Samuel. He trusted him.""
Emily shook her head.
"Your father trusted the company more than anyone. Samuel discovered that William had been moving money into an offshore account years before Richard ever joined the scheme.""
Daniel rubbed his forehead.
"Emily, you're making accusations you can't prove.""
She turned toward him.
"I have the recording.""
"Recordings can be edited.""
"Not when the original is still in the evidence archive.""
The investigator placed the cassette inside a protective case.
"We'll have this examined. But we need you to explain exactly what you witnessed.""
Emily looked at my mother.
"Do you remember the night William called you into his study?""
Angela nodded slowly.
"He told me he was worried about the company.""
"He was more than worried. He was planning to liquidate several assets before the financial investigation began.""
My mother shook her head.
"He told me he wanted to protect Maya's inheritance.""
"He did. But he also wanted to protect himself.""
I looked at Grandma.
"Did Grandpa know Richard was stealing money?""
She nodded.
"William discovered it shortly before the fire. He confronted Richard and Vanessa.""
"Then why didn't he report them?""
Grandma looked down.
"Because Richard threatened to expose something about him.""
My mother turned sharply.
"What?""
Grandma's voice trembled.
"Your grandfather had secretly arranged for part of the company to be transferred into a trust using documents that weren't entirely legitimate. He believed he was protecting the family. But some of the paperwork violated financial regulations.""
I stared at the table.
"So everyone was hiding something?""
Emily nodded.
"That's what made them dangerous. Each person had something to lose.""
My mother looked toward Daniel.
"And you knew?""
Daniel finally sat down.
"I discovered the offshore accounts after the fire. William had asked me to locate the original documents.""
"Why didn't you tell us?""
"Because I was afraid.""
My mother laughed bitterly.
"You were afraid? Angela spent five years being treated like a criminal. Maya spent five years believing she had been abandoned. And you were afraid?""
Daniel lowered his head.
"I know.""
"Do you?""
For the first time, Daniel looked genuinely ashamed.
He reached into his jacket and removed a folded document.
"I kept this because I thought it might matter someday.""
He placed it in front of the investigator.
It was a letter dated three days before the fire.
The handwriting belonged to William Brooks.
Daniel,
If anything happens to me, make sure the original trust documents reach Angela. Richard must never gain control of the protected account. The child is the only person who can inherit it without being compromised by the company.
I read the final paragraph twice.
If Peter follows through with his plan, do not allow him to convince you that this is about protecting the family. He is protecting himself.
My mother took the letter.
"Peter was working with William?""
Emily nodded.
"Initially, yes. But William discovered that Peter had been manipulating the legal records. When Samuel found proof, William ordered him to stop investigating.""
"Why?""
"Because William believed Samuel was going to expose the entire company.""
Jonathan leaned forward.
"Then who started the fire?""
Emily closed her eyes.
"I didn't see the person who poured the accelerant. But I heard William's voice on the recording.""
The investigator looked at her.
"What did he say?""
Emily hesitated.
"Something about making sure the records never reached Angela.""
My mother covered her mouth.
The investigator opened the evidence case and examined the cassette.
"We'll need to preserve this and obtain a certified transcript.""
Emily nodded.
"There's another recording.""
Everyone turned.
She removed a second cassette from the box.
"This one was made the following morning. Samuel had already hidden it before the fire.""
My mother's hands began shaking.
"Why didn't you mention it earlier?""
"Because it identifies the person who actually entered the building.""
The investigator carefully placed the second cassette beside the first.
Then Emily said something that changed everything.
"Your grandfather didn't die of natural causes.""
Grandma Margaret stood abruptly.
"What?""
Emily looked at her.
"William was poisoned.""
My grandmother grabbed the table.
"No. He died in his sleep. The doctors said it was a heart attack.""
"That's what the medical report says. But Samuel suspected something had happened. He kept a copy of the toxicology request.""
My mother stared at Emily.
"Who would poison him?""
Emily looked toward Daniel.
Daniel's face drained of color.
"Don't.""
Emily pointed at him.
"You were the last person to visit William before he died.""
Daniel stood.
"That's not true.""
Grandma Margaret began crying.
"Daniel?""
He shook his head violently.
"I didn't kill him.""
Emily stepped closer.
"Then explain why you collected his medication from the pharmacy that evening.""
Daniel opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
The investigator moved toward him.
"Mr. Brooks, I need you to remain seated.""
But Daniel suddenly looked at me.
"Maya, listen. Your grandfather left something else. Something that proves I didn't do it.""
He reached into his pocket and removed a small silver key.
"The person who poisoned William is still alive.""
He looked at my mother.
"And she has been sitting beside you all day.""
My mother turned toward Grandma Margaret.
Grandma's face was completely white.
May you like
Then she whispered:
"Daniel, what have you done?""
