Chapter 16: The Man Who Was Buried## Chapter 16: The Man Who Was Buried Twice Twice
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Detective Harris stared at Victoria as if he
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Detective Harris stared at Victoria as if he hadn't heard her correctly.
“Arthur Mitchell died twenty years ago.””
Victoria nodded.
“That's what the hadn't heard her correctly.
“Arthur Mitchell died twenty years ago.””
Victoria nodded.
“That's what the family told everyone.””
Hank stepped closer.
“You're saying Derek and Richard's father is alive?””
“I'm saying I saw him six months ago.””
June gripped the edge family told everyone.””
Hank stepped closer.
“You're saying Derek and Richard's father is alive?””
“I'm saying I saw him six months ago.””
June gripped the edge of the table.
“Where?””
Victoria looked toward the warehouse entrance.
“At a private medical facility outside of the table.
“Where?””
Victoria looked toward the warehouse entrance.
“At a private medical facility outside town. Richard took me there after I agreed to help him move some documents. He introduced town.
Richard took me there after I agreed to help him move some documents. He introduced the man as his father.””
Martin shook his head.
“Arthur Mitchell was declared dead after a boating accident. His body was supposedly the man as his father.””
Martin shook his head.
“Arthur Mitchell was declared dead after a boating accident. His body was supposedly recovered.””
“Supposedly,” Victoria repeated.
“But nobody in the family was allowed to identify it. Richard recovered.””
“Supposedly,” Victoria repeated.
“But nobody in the family was allowed to identify it. Richard said the funeral had been private because his father had suffered terrible injuries.””
Harris took said the funeral had been private because his father had suffered terrible injuries.””
Harris took out his notebook.
“Who signed the death certificate?””
Victoria looked at him.
“Samuel Reed.””
The detective's expression tightened.
“Dr. Reed?””
“He was a out his notebook.
“Who signed the death certificate?””
Victoria looked at him.
“Samuel Reed.””
The detective's expression tightened.
“Dr. Reed?””
“He was a young physician then. Richard told me his father had been seriously ill, and Reed helped them arrange the paperwork.””
Hank exchanged a glance with Martin young physician then. Richard told me his father had been seriously ill, and Reed helped them arrange the paperwork.””
Hank exchanged a glance with Martin.
The same doctor who had falsified Rachel's medical records might have helped fake another death.
“Why.
The same doctor who had falsified Rachel's medical records might have helped fake another death.
“Why would Arthur pretend to be dead?”” Harris asked.
Victoria swallowed.
“Money. Insurance. Debts.
He had been involved in a financial scheme would Arthur pretend to be dead?”” Harris asked.
Victoria swallowed.
“Money. Insurance. Debts.
He had been involved in a financial scheme long before Derek and Richard took over the repair shop. His death allowed certain assets long before Derek and Richard took over the repair shop. His death allowed certain assets to be transferred without creditors finding them.””
“And Rachel discovered it?””
“She found an old insurance to be transferred without creditors finding them.””
“And Rachel discovered it?””
“She found an old insurance ledger. It showed payments continuing long after Arthur's supposed death. She started ledger.
It showed payments continuing long after Arthur's supposed death. She started asking questions.””
June felt a cold wave move through her.
“That's why she wrote his name in her notebook.””
Victoria nodded.
“Rachel believed Arthur was the person who taught Richard how to hide money. She thought asking questions.””
June felt a cold wave move through her.
“That's why she wrote his name in her notebook.””
Victoria nodded.
“Rachel believed Arthur was the person who taught Richard how to hide money. She thought he was still directing the operation.””
Harris closed his notebook.
“Where is he now?””
“I don't know. But Richard he was still directing the operation.””
Harris closed his notebook.
“Where is he now?””
“I don't know. But Richard said he would be waiting at the railway depot tonight.””
The detective immediately called his officers.
“Get units said he would be waiting at the railway depot tonight.””
The detective immediately called his officers.
“Get units to the depot. Nobody enters until we secure the perimeter.””
He turned to Victoria.
“You're coming with us.””
Victoria looked frightened.
“Richard will know I told to the depot. Nobody enters until we secure the perimeter.””
He turned to Victoria.
“You're coming with us.””
Victoria looked frightened.
“Richard will know I told you.””
“He already knows you escaped.””
“What if he gets to my sister?””
Hank you.””
“He already knows you escaped.””
“What if he gets to my sister?””
Hank answered before Harris could.
“Vanessa and Lily are under police protection. Nobody is getting near them.””
Victoria nodded, but answered before Harris could.
“Vanessa and Lily are under police protection. Nobody is getting near them.””
Victoria nodded, but her eyes remained fixed on the floor.
Harris received another call.
He listened, then looked toward Martin.
“Derek's vehicle her eyes remained fixed on the floor.
Harris received another call.
He listened, then looked toward Martin.
“Derek's vehicle was spotted heading toward the railway depot.””
Martin stood.
“Then Arthur is there.””
“Possibly. was spotted heading toward the railway depot.””
Martin stood.
“Then Arthur is there.””
“Possibly. We still don't know whether Dr. Reed is with him.””
Hank stepped toward the door.
“Let's go.””
Harris raised a hand.
“You We still don't know whether Dr. Reed is with him.””
Hank stepped toward the door.
“Let's go.””
Harris raised a hand.
“You are not part of this operation.””
“I know.””
“Then stay here.””
Hank looked him in the eye are not part of this operation.””
“I know.””
“Then stay here.””
Hank looked him in the eye.
“I've spent enough time watching powerful men frighten children. I'm not going to interfere.
“I've spent enough time watching powerful men frighten children. I'm not going to interfere with your officers. But I'm not going to pretend I don't care what happens to that boy.””
Harris studied him for a moment with your officers. But I'm not going to pretend I don't care what happens to that boy.””
Harris studied him for a moment.
“Stay behind the perimeter. Do not approach anyone.””
“Agreed.””
The convoy left the warehouse.
At.
“Stay behind the perimeter. Do not approach anyone.””
“Agreed.””
The convoy left the warehouse.
At the railway depot, the night was thick with fog. Rusted tracks ran between the railway depot, the night was thick with fog. Rusted tracks ran between abandoned storage buildings. The old station clock had stopped years earlier.
Unit 309 stood at abandoned storage buildings. The old station clock had stopped years earlier.
Unit 309 stood at the far end of the property.
Two officers approached from the north while another team secured the access road.
Harris remained the far end of the property.
Two officers approached from the north while another team secured the access road.
Harris remained behind a concrete barrier, watching the building.
A light flickered inside.
Then a man emerged.
He behind a concrete barrier, watching the building.
A light flickered inside.
Then a man emerged.
He was elderly, but he stood straight. His silver hair was neatly combed, and he wore a dark over was elderly, but he stood straight. His silver hair was neatly combed, and he wore a dark overcoat.
Harris recognized him from the old family photographs Victoria had provided.
Arthur Mitchell.
The dead man.
Arthur looked directlycoat.
Harris recognized him from the old family photographs Victoria had provided.
Arthur Mitchell.
The dead man.
Arthur looked directly at the police.
He didn't run.
Instead, he raised both hands.
“Detective,” he called.
“I wondered how at the police.
He didn't run.
Instead, he raised both hands.
“Detective,” he called.
“I wondered how long it would take you.””
Harris approached carefully.
“Arthur Mitchell?””
The old man smiled faintly.
“That's what long it would take you.””
Harris approached carefully.
“Arthur Mitchell?””
The old man smiled faintly.
“That's what my mother named me.””
“You were declared dead twenty years ago.””
“People believe what they're my mother named me.””
“You were declared dead twenty years ago.””
“People believe what they're told.””
“Where is Derek?””
Arthur glanced toward Unit 309.
“Inside.””
“And Richard?””
“Not here told.””
“Where is Derek?””
Arthur glanced toward Unit 309.
“Inside.””
“And Richard?””
“Not here.””
Harris motioned for officers to secure him.
Arthur didn't resist.
“Before you take me anywhere,” he said, “you.””
Harris motioned for officers to secure him.
Arthur didn't resist.
“Before you take me anywhere,” he said, “you should know that Rachel was not the first woman my sons tried to silence.””
Harris stopped.
“What does that mean should know that Rachel was not the first woman my sons tried to silence.””
Harris stopped.
“What does that mean?””
Arthur's smile disappeared.
“It means you're looking at a family business that began long before Derek inherited a?””
Arthur's smile disappeared.
“It means you're looking at a family business that began long before Derek inherited a repair shop.””
Inside Unit 309, officers found Derek beside an open metal cabinet.
He was holding a thick repair shop.””
Inside Unit 309, officers found Derek beside an open metal cabinet.
He was holding a thick folder.
When he saw the officers, he dropped it.
“Don't move!”” one shouted.
Derek raised folder.
When he saw the officers, he dropped it.
“Don't move!”” one shouted.
Derek raised his hands.
“I'm not armed.””
Harris entered.
“Where's Dr. Reed?””
D his hands.
“I'm not armed.””
Harris entered.
“Where's Dr. Reed?””
Derek looked at him.
“Who?””
“Don't play games.””
Derek gave a bitter laugh.
“Samuel waserek looked at him.
“Who?””
“Don't play games.””
Derek gave a bitter laugh.
“Samuel was never supposed to be part of this.””
Harris glanced at the open cabinet.
Inside were medical files, insurance policies, bank records, and photographs.
One photograph showed Rachel standing outside a hospital.
never supposed to be part of this.””
Harris glanced at the open cabinet.
Inside were medical files, insurance policies, bank records, and photographs.
One photograph showed Rachel standing outside a hospital.
Another showed Arthur Mitchell beside a much younger Richard.
The date on the back was fromAnother showed Arthur Mitchell beside a much younger Richard.
The date on the back was from six months after Arthur's supposed death.
Harris picked it up.
“You kept records of your father's six months after Arthur's supposed death.
Harris picked it up.
“You kept records of your father's visits.””
Derek's face tightened.
“He wasn't my father anymore.””
“What does that mean?””
D visits.””
Derek's face tightened.
“He wasn't my father anymore.””
“What does that mean?””
Derek looked toward the cabinet.
“Ask him.””
Harris turned.
Arthur had been brought inside.
Forerek looked toward the cabinet.
“Ask him.””
Harris turned.
Arthur had been brought inside.
For the first time, the old man's composure cracked.
“You shouldn't have brought him here,” Derek said.
Arthur smiled.
“You the first time, the old man's composure cracked.
“You shouldn't have brought him here,” Derek said.
Arthur smiled.
“You always were a disappointment.””
Derek's hands curled into fists.
“You told me everything would be finished always were a disappointment.””
Derek's hands curled into fists.
“You told me everything would be finished after Rachel died.””
“And it would have been, if you hadn't kept the boy.””
Harris looked between them.
after Rachel died.””
“And it would have been, if you hadn't kept the boy.””
Harris looked between them.
“What did Eli have to do with any of this?””
Arthur's expression turned cold.
“Rachel's trust was supposed to be ours“What did Eli have to do with any of this?””
Arthur's expression turned cold.
“Rachel's trust was supposed to be ours.””
Martin, standing behind the police line, stepped forward.
“It was created.””
Martin, standing behind the police line, stepped forward.
“It was created for her son.””
Arthur laughed.
“Her son was a liability. The money should have been controlled by the family.””
“ for her son.””
Arthur laughed.
“Her son was a liability. The money should have been controlled by the family.””
“Which family?”” Martin asked.
“The one that buried its own father alive onWhich family?”” Martin asked.
“The one that buried its own father alive on paper?””
Arthur's smile vanished.
For a moment, the old man looked genuinely dangerous.
Then Derek spoke.
“He never wanted the money paper?””
Arthur's smile vanished.
For a moment, the old man looked genuinely dangerous.
Then Derek spoke.
“He never wanted the money for us.””
Harris turned.
“What?””
Derek stared at his father.
“Arthur wanted the trust because it for us.””
Harris turned.
“What?””
Derek stared at his father.
“Arthur wanted the trust because it contains the original records of his offshore accounts. Rachel found the connection. She was going to expose him.””
Arthur stepped contains the original records of his offshore accounts. Rachel found the connection. She was going to expose him.””
Arthur stepped forward.
“Shut your mouth.””
Derek continued.
“He used Richard to move the money. He used me to keep Rachel forward.
“Shut your mouth.””
Derek continued.
“He used Richard to move the money. He used me to keep Rachel quiet. And when she wouldn't cooperate, he told us what to do.””
Harris studied him.
“Are you saying quiet. And when she wouldn't cooperate, he told us what to do.””
Harris studied him.
“Are you saying your father ordered Rachel's death?””
Derek looked down.
“I'm saying he made it clear that she couldn't your father ordered Rachel's death?””
Derek looked down.
“I'm saying he made it clear that she couldn't be allowed to testify.””
The room went silent.
Then a sharp metallic bang came from somewhere be allowed to testify.””
The room went silent.
Then a sharp metallic bang came from somewhere behind the storage cabinets.
An officer turned.
“Movement in the rear corridor!””
Harris drew his weapon.
“Police behind the storage cabinets.
An officer turned.
“Movement in the rear corridor!””
Harris drew his weapon.
“Police! Come out with your hands visible!””
A second later, a man stumbled into the doorway.
Dr. Samuel Reed.
His! Come out with your hands visible!””
A second later, a man stumbled into the doorway.
Dr. Samuel Reed.
His shirt was torn, and his face was bruised.
He looked at Derek.
Then at Arthur.
And finally at Detective Harris.
“I can prove it,” he whispered.
shirt was torn, and his face was bruised.
He looked at Derek.
Then at Arthur.
And finally at Detective Harris.
“I can prove it,” he whispered.
Arthur's face went pale.
“Samuel, don't.””
Reed raised a trembling hand.
“I have the original medicalArthur's face went pale.
“Samuel, don't.””
Reed raised a trembling hand.
“I have the original medical ledger.””
Harris approached.
“Where is it?””
Reed pointed toward the cabinet.
“Behind the false panel.””
An officer pulled it open.
Inside ledger.””
Harris approached.
“Where is it?””
Reed pointed toward the cabinet.
“Behind the false panel.””
An officer pulled it open.
Inside was a sealed envelope.
On the front, in Rachel's handwriting, were four words:
If they bury me twice.
And beneath them was a sealed envelope.
On the front, in Rachel's handwriting, were four words:
If they bury me twice.
And beneath them was a name.
Not Derek.
Not Richard.
*The person who had ordered her death.*
was a name.
Not Derek.
Not Richard.
*The person who had ordered her death.*
Arthur Mitchell.
But before Harris could open the envelope, Reed grabbed his arm.
“Detective, there's something else.””
“WhatArthur Mitchell.
But before Harris could open the envelope, Reed grabbed his arm.
“Detective, there's something else.””
“What?””
Reed looked at Arthur.
“He wasn't the only one who knew Rachel was going to die.””
Arthur smiled again?””
Reed looked at Arthur.
“He wasn't the only one who knew Rachel was going to die.””
Arthur smiled again.
And said quietly:
“Tell him who signed the second order.””
.
May you like
And said quietly:
“Tell him who signed the second order.””
