Chapter 8: The Evidence He Left Behind
James spent the night in custody.
But I didn’t feel relieved.
Not completely.
Because people like James didn’t spend months creating a plan without leaving something behind.
And I was right.
The next morning, Detective Miller came to my house.
She placed a folder on the table.
“We found financial records.””
I opened it.
Inside were transfers.
Payments.
Names.
My company.
My wife.
James.
The evidence was overwhelming.
But then Detective Miller looked serious.
“There’s a problem.””
I looked up.
“What?””
“James wasn’t acting alone.””
My stomach dropped.
“What do you mean?””
She pointed at one page.
“This account received payments from an outside source.””
I looked at the name.
A company I didn’t recognize.
“Who owns it?””
She hesitated.
“We’re investigating.””
I leaned back.
So even James had someone above him.
Someone pulling strings.
Then Ethan walked into the room.
He stopped when he saw Detective Miller.
“Is everything okay?””
I forced a small smile.
“We’re figuring things out.””
He nodded.
But he didn’t leave.
That was unusual.
“Dad?””
“Yeah?””
“I need to tell you something.””
My attention shifted.
“What?””
He looked nervous.
“Before Mom died…”
He stopped.
I immediately sat up.
“Your mother?””
He nodded.
“She told me something.””
I felt my heart tighten.
“What did she tell you?””
Ethan looked down.
“She said if anything happened to her, I should give you something.””
My breath caught.
“What something?””
“I didn’t know where it was.””
“Ethan.””
He took out his phone.
“I found it last night.””
He opened a hidden folder.
Inside was a photo.
A picture of a small key.
My eyes widened.
“Where did you get this?””
“Mom left it in one of my old books.””
I stared at the screen.
A key.
With a number engraved on it.
4729.
Detective Miller leaned closer.
“Does that number mean anything?””
I shook my head.
“No.””
Ethan looked at me.
“She said you would understand when the time came.””
My chest tightened.
His mother had known.
Somehow, she had known there was danger.
Before she died.
I spent the next hour searching through old memories.
Then I remembered.
A safety deposit box.
At the bank.
Years ago, my wife and I had rented one.
But after Ethan’s mother passed away, I forgot about it.
I grabbed my jacket.
“We’re going to the bank.””
When we arrived, the manager checked the records.
Then his expression changed.
“Mr. Hayes?””
“Yes?””
“This box was accessed six months ago.””
I froze.
“By who?””
He looked at the screen.
“Your wife.””
Vanessa.
I turned toward her.
She was standing behind us.
I hadn’t even noticed she followed.
Her face was pale.
“Vanessa?””
She didn’t answer.
The manager continued.
“She removed one item.””
“What item?””
He looked at the record.
“A sealed envelope.””
I stared at Vanessa.
“You took something from my son’s mother?””
She looked away.
“I was scared.””
“Again?””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“I didn’t know what it was.””
“You opened it.””
She shook her head.
“No.””
I stepped closer.
“Then where is it?””
Silence.
Finally, Vanessa whispered:
“I gave it to James.””
The room went quiet.
Ethan looked shocked.
“Why?””
Vanessa looked at him.
And for the first time, she looked ashamed.
“Because he told me it would help me understand your father’s finances.””
I couldn’t believe it.
“You trusted him?””
“I was desperate.””
“You trusted him over me.””
She cried.
“I know.””
The bank manager cleared his throat.
“There is something else.””
Everyone turned.
“What?””
He looked uncomfortable.
“When your wife accessed the box, she wasn’t alone.””
My eyes narrowed.
“Who was with her?””
The manager looked at the file.
Then said:
“Someone claiming to be Ethan’s legal guardian.””
My blood ran cold.
“Who?””
He looked at the signature.
And my heart stopped.
May you like
Because the name written there was not Vanessa.
It was Ethan’s mother.
