Chapter 13: The Person Michael Trusted Most
The recording played again.
Static.
A deep breath.
Then Michael’s voice.
“Mom…”
My entire body went still.
I had waited twelve years to hear him.
But I never imagined his words would hurt this much.
“There is one person I trusted more than anyone.””
A pause.
Someone in the room whispered.
“Who?””
Michael continued.
“Someone who knew my fears. Someone who knew my plans. Someone who knew where I would be every day.””
My eyes moved slowly around the room.
Claire.
Richard.
Victor.
Everyone looked different now.
Everyone carried a secret.
Michael’s voice continued.
“And that person betrayed me.””
The recording became quiet.
Then came the sentence nobody expected.
“It was Victor.””
The room exploded.
I felt like the air had been knocked out of me.
I looked at Victor.
He didn’t move.
He didn’t defend himself.
He just stood there.
Like a man who had been waiting for this moment.
“No,” I whispered.
Victor looked at me.
“Margaret…”
“No.””
My voice shook.
“You need to explain.””
Anna looked down.
Richard smiled.
“I told you.””
Victor closed his eyes.
“I knew this day would come.””
Ethan stepped back.
“You?””
His voice broke.
“You were the person helping Grandma?””
Victor looked at him.
“I was.””
“Then why would my grandfather say that?””
Victor looked at the recorder.
“Because Michael thought I betrayed him.””
I stared.
“What does that mean?””
Victor sat down slowly.
For the first time, he looked old.
Not like a leader.
Not like a protector.
Just a man carrying years of regret.
“Because I did something I shouldn’t have.””
Nobody spoke.
Victor continued.
“The night Michael disappeared, he asked me to do one thing.””
“What?””
“He asked me to take Anna and Lily somewhere safe.””
Anna’s eyes filled.
“But you didn’t.””
Victor looked at her.
“I tried.””
Her expression hardened.
“No.””
The room became silent.
Anna stepped forward.
“You promised him.””
Victor lowered his head.
“Yes.””
“You promised Michael you would protect us.””
“I know.””
“But when they came…”
She shook her head.
“You disappeared.””
I looked at Victor.
“What happened?””
Victor took a deep breath.
“I was followed.””
He looked at me.
“I thought I could handle it.””
His voice cracked.
“I was wrong.””
Richard smiled.
“You always thought you were stronger than everyone.””
Victor ignored him.
“When I finally reached the location where Anna and Lily were supposed to be…”
He stopped.
“They were gone.””
Anna looked away.
“I thought he abandoned us.””
Victor looked at her.
“I spent years trying to find you.””
“But you didn’t find us.””
“No.””
His voice became quieter.
“Because someone erased every trace.””
Richard crossed his arms.
“And now everyone wants to blame me.””
Victor looked at him.
“You were part of it.””
Richard smiled.
“Maybe.””
That single word made everyone uncomfortable.
Then Victor looked at me.
“Michael didn’t know the whole story.””
I swallowed.
“What did he know?””
Victor looked at the recorder.
“He knew I failed.””
My eyes filled.
“You should have told me.””
“I wanted to.””
“Then why didn’t you?””
Victor looked away.
“Because Michael was still alive.””
My heart stopped.
“What?””
Everyone froze.
Victor continued.
“After he disappeared, I received messages.””
“From Michael?””
He nodded.
“He told me not to come looking.””
“Why?””
Victor’s eyes filled.
“Because he said if I found him, I would lead them straight to you.””
Silence.
I remembered the message.
Don’t trust Victor.
Suddenly, it felt different.
Maybe it wasn’t a warning.
Maybe it was a test.
Anna stepped forward.
“There’s more.””
Everyone looked at her.
She reached into her bag.
She pulled out a small notebook.
“Michael kept writing.””
She opened it.
“He wanted the truth to survive.””
She turned the pages.
Names.
Dates.
Evidence.
Then she stopped.
Her face changed.
“What?””
She looked at me.
“This page wasn’t here before.””
Victor stood.
“What do you mean?””
Anna showed us.
A new message had been written.
Only one sentence.
“Bring Margaret alone.””
My blood ran cold.
Victor immediately shook his head.
“No.””
Richard smiled.
“Looks like someone else is playing the game now.””
The lights suddenly went out.
The room disappeared into darkness.
May you like
And from outside…
A car door slammed.
