Chapter 8: The Secret My Father Buried
I called the number back immediately.
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
Again.
Straight to voicemail.
I stared at the screen.
A part of me wanted to believe it was a mistake.
A cruel prank.
Anything except the truth.
But then I looked at Emily’s handwriting.
The letter.
The warning.
The necklace.
The ring.
Everything connected.
“Who was Thomas?”” Vanessa asked.
I looked up.
She was standing near the window.
The same woman I thought I knew.
The same woman who now seemed to know pieces of my life I had never shared.
“He was my father’s business partner.””
Vanessa nodded slowly.
“And he disappeared?””
“Yes.””
“After your father died?””
I stared at her.
“How do you know that?””
She didn’t answer.
That bothered me more than anything.
“You knew about my family before we met.””
She looked down.
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Vanessa sat down.
“Because Emily asked me to investigate.””
The room went silent.
“What?””
“She knew something was wrong.””
I looked at the letter.
“You were helping her?””
“Yes.””
“Then why did you lie?””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Because after Emily died, I was scared.””
“Of what?””
“Of the people who wanted her silent.””
My mother suddenly stood.
“Enough.””
Everyone looked at her.
Her voice shook.
“Daniel, you need to stop before you destroy everything.””
I stared at her.
“Everything?””
She nodded.
“You don’t understand what you’re touching.””
I laughed bitterly.
“My wife died. My daughter’s memories were stolen. Someone hid information about my family for years.””
I pointed at the letter.
“And you’re telling me I should stop?””
My mother looked away.
That was when I knew.
She had more secrets.
I turned to Vanessa.
“What did Emily find?””
Vanessa took a deep breath.
“She found financial records.””
“From my father’s company?””
“Yes.””
“What kind of records?””
She hesitated.
“Money transfers.””
“To who?””
She looked at my mother.
Then at me.
“That’s the part Emily never discovered.””
“Why?””
“Because she died before she could.””
The words hit me.
I grabbed the table.
“Don’t say it like that.””
Vanessa looked down.
“I’m sorry.””
My mother walked toward me.
“Daniel.””
I stepped away.
“No.””
She stopped.
“I need answers.””
“You’re angry.””
“Yes.””
“You don’t know everything.””
“Then tell me.””
She opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
That silence was enough.
I walked outside.
The cold air hit my face.
I needed space.
I needed to think.
But before I reached the car, my phone buzzed.
A text message.
From Thomas.
I opened it.
There was an address.
And one sentence.
Come alone if you want the truth about your father.
I stared at it.
“Daniel?””
I turned.
Vanessa was standing behind me.
“How much did you hear?””
“Enough.””
She looked at the message.
“Don’t go.””
I frowned.
“Why?””
“Because this is what happened to Emily.””
The words stopped me.
“What do you mean?””
“She followed the evidence.””
My stomach tightened.
“And?””
Vanessa looked terrified.
“And someone noticed.””
I looked at the address.
“You’re saying someone hurt Emily?””
Vanessa didn’t answer.
She didn’t need to.
A sound came from behind us.
A car door closing.
We both turned.
A black SUV was parked across the street.
The driver’s window lowered.
A man looked directly at us.
Then drove away.
Vanessa’s face went white.
“Who was that?””
She whispered:
“I don’t know.””
But I knew she was lying.
Because her expression wasn’t confusion.
It was recognition.
“Vanessa.””
She looked at me.
“Tell me.””
Her lips trembled.
“That was the man Emily was afraid of.””
My heart stopped.
“Who?””
May you like
She looked toward the disappearing car.
“The person who knew about the letter before we did.””
