Chapter 10: The Man in the Police Report
I stared at the paper until the words blurred.
*Richard Carter was seen arguing with the victim shortly before the accident.*
My father.
The man who raised me.
The man who told me every night that I was safe.
His name was sitting on a police report connected to my mother’s death.
I couldn’t move.
“Emily…”
Dad’s voice sounded distant.
I looked up slowly.
“Is it true?””
His face collapsed.
“Not the way it looks.””
I laughed softly.
That was the same sentence everyone used when something was exactly as bad as it looked.
“Then tell me how it looks.””
Nobody spoke.
Margaret Ellis lowered her eyes.
Daniel stepped closer to the desk.
“Richard, now is the time to stop hiding.””
Dad looked at him.
“You don’t know what happened.””
“No,” Daniel replied.
“But Emily deserves to.””
My father sat down.
For the first time in my life, he looked old.
Not tired.
Broken.
“I did argue with your mother that night.””
My heart sank.
“About what?””
He stared at his hands.
“About Daniel.””
The room became silent.
Dad continued.
“Your mother had told me the truth about him. About you. About the trust.””
I swallowed.
“And you were angry?””
“Yes.””
The honesty hurt.
“But not because of Emily.””
He looked at me.
“I was angry because I thought I had lost everything.””
My eyes burned.
“You thought you lost me?””
He nodded.
“I spent years believing you were my daughter. Then one night, your mother told me the truth.””
His voice cracked.
“But when I looked at you, nothing changed.””
I looked away.
“I still loved you.””
Daniel remained silent.
Dad continued.
“Your mother wanted to meet Vanessa because she believed Vanessa knew something about Daniel’s company.””
Margaret nodded.
“She was right.””
Dad looked at her.
“What?””
Margaret opened another file.
“Your wife discovered that Vanessa had been moving money through fake accounts.””
My stomach tightened.
“So Vanessa was stealing?””
“Yes.””
Daniel looked at the documents.
“She used the trust as a final step.””
Margaret nodded.
“But your mother discovered the plan.””
Dad closed his eyes.
“Then why was I on the report?””
Margaret hesitated.
“Because someone changed the witness statement.””
Everyone froze.
“What?””
She pulled out another document.
“The original statement was different.””
Daniel grabbed it.
“What did it say?””
Margaret looked at me.
“It said Richard Carter was trying to stop the person responsible.””
My breathing stopped.
“Someone changed it?””
“Yes.””
Dad looked confused.
“Who?””
Margaret didn’t answer.
Instead, she placed another photo on the desk.
A security camera image.
A person standing near my mother’s car.
The picture was blurry.
But the person’s clothing was clear.
A dark jacket.
A silver watch.
And a familiar face.
Daniel whispered:
“No.””
I looked at him.
“You know him?””
Daniel’s expression changed.
“That’s not possible.””
“Who is it?””
He stared at the picture.
“That’s my former business partner.””
My stomach tightened.
“The same person?””
Daniel nodded.
“The one who helped create the company.””
Margaret said quietly:
“Your uncle.””
I looked at my father.
“What?””
Margaret pointed at the image.
“Your uncle was involved.””
Dad stood up.
“My brother?””
“Yes.””
The room spun.
My uncle.
The person who sent me birthday cards.
The person who cried at my graduation ceremony.
The person who told me I reminded him of my mother.
“No.””
Dad shook his head.
“No, you’re wrong.””
Margaret looked at him sadly.
“I wish I was.””
Daniel picked up another document.
“Wait.””
Everyone looked at him.
He scanned the page.
“This isn’t about the money.””
“What do you mean?””
He looked at me.
“The money was only one part.””
My hands went cold.
“Then what was the real goal?””
Daniel slowly turned the page.
A company name appeared.
My mother’s company.
But underneath it was a transfer agreement.
A transfer agreement with a new owner.
I read the name.
*Carter Holdings LLC.*
My father’s company.
I looked at him.
“Dad?””
He looked confused.
“I didn’t sign this.””
Margaret nodded.
“That’s why we need to find out who did.””
Then her phone rang.
She answered.
Her face changed immediately.
“What happened?””
A few seconds passed.
Then she looked at me.
“Emily…”
“What?””
She lowered the phone.
“Someone broke into your father’s house.””
Dad froze.
“What did they take?””
Margaret swallowed.
“Nothing.””
“Then why are you worried?””
She looked directly at me.
“Because they didn’t steal anything.””
A pause.
“They were looking for something.””
Daniel stood.
“What?””
May you like
Margaret whispered:
“Your mother’s original evidence file.””
