Chapter 6: The Woman Who Knew Too Much
Nobody spoke after the video ended.
The silence was worse than any confession.
Because now I knew one thing.
My wife had been connected to my father’s secrets long before she ever met me.
I turned slowly.
Vanessa was crying.
“Tell me.””
Her eyes lifted.
“Michael…”
“Tell me why my father had a picture of you.””
She looked down.
“I didn’t want you to find out like this.””
I laughed bitterly.
“How else was I supposed to find out?””
She had no answer.
Detective Harris stepped between us.
“Mrs. Bennett, we need the complete story.””
Vanessa sat down.
For the first time, she looked like someone who had stopped running.
“My father knew Daniel.””
I frowned.
“Your father?””
She nodded.
“My father worked with him.””
I stared.
“How?””
“Years ago, before I met you, my family was involved with Victor’s company.””
Detective Harris looked surprised.
“You never mentioned this.””
“Because I was ashamed.””
She wiped her face.
“Daniel wasn’t just Victor’s associate. He helped move money.””
My chest tightened.
“So my father was right.””
“Yes.””
“Then why the photo?””
Vanessa took a deep breath.
“Because I was the one who found the evidence.””
The room went quiet.
“What evidence?””
She looked at me.
“The proof that Victor and Daniel were stealing from your father.””
I stepped back.
“You?””
“Yes.””
“Then why didn’t you tell him?””
Her eyes filled with regret.
“Because Daniel threatened my family.””
I shook my head.
“You’re telling me you had evidence that could have saved my father’s company, and you stayed silent?””
“I was twenty-five!””
Her voice cracked.
“I was scared.””
I looked away.
The anger was still there.
But so was something else.
Confusion.
Detective Harris asked:
“Where is the evidence now?””
Vanessa hesitated.
“I don’t know.””
That answer made me look at her.
“You don’t know?””
“No.””
She reached into her purse.
She pulled out an old envelope.
“I kept one thing.””
Inside was a small piece of paper.
An address.
Detective Harris read it.
His face changed.
“Where is this?””
Vanessa whispered:
“The place Daniel used as a storage facility.””
I looked at her.
“And Ryan knows about it?””
She nodded.
“He’s been searching for it.””
My phone buzzed.
Another message.
This time from Ryan.
I opened it.
*You finally found the workshop. Good.*
My stomach dropped.
Another message arrived.
*Now you can help me find what your father stole from mine.*
I stared at the screen.
Then a final message appeared.
*Come alone, Michael. Or Vanessa pays for your father’s mistakes.*
I looked up.
Detective Harris immediately saw my face.
“What happened?””
I showed him.
His expression hardened.
“No.””
I shook my head.
“He has Vanessa.””
“No, Michael. He wants you to think that.””
I looked toward my wife.
She was trembling.
Detective Harris took the phone from my hand.
“This isn’t about revenge.””
“Then what is it about?””
He stared at the message.
“Control.””
I didn’t understand.
Then he pointed at the address Vanessa had given us.
“Because if Ryan is looking for what Daniel lost…”
He paused.
“…and your father hid it…”
My heart sank.
“What?””
Detective Harris looked at me.
“Your father may not have left you an inheritance.””
He tapped the address.
“He may have left you a weapon.””
Before I could respond, the workshop lights suddenly went out.
Darkness swallowed the room.
Vanessa gasped.
A sound came from the doorway.
Someone was inside.
Then a familiar voice spoke from the shadows.
“Michael…”
I froze.
Because I knew that voice.
It was impossible.
It belonged to a man who had been dead for eight years.
“Your father should have destroyed that video.””
May you like
The lights flickered back on.
And standing in the doorway was Victor Hale.
