Chapter 7: The Man Behind the Accident
For several seconds, nobody moved.
I stared at Robert.
“What did you just say?””
His face had lost all color.
“Michael Bennett arranged the vehicle involved in your accident.””
Daniel stepped toward his father.
“Dad, what are you talking about?””
Robert looked at the document on the desk.
“Three months ago, Michael contacted me about a driver who had been involved in an incident near the city center. He said the driver was someone he knew and that the situation was being handled.””
I gripped the armrest of my chair.
“Someone hit my car.””
“I know.””
“The police said the other driver fled.””
Robert nodded.
“That was what I was told.””
I felt my heartbeat in my throat.
“Why would Michael have anything to do with it?””
Robert rubbed his forehead.
“Because the car belonged to a company connected to our business.””
Daniel stared at him.
“You knew this three months ago?””
“I knew a company vehicle had been involved. I didn't know Emily was the victim.””
“But you knew Michael was involved!””
Robert didn't answer.
Daniel slammed his hand against the desk.
“Jesus Christ, Dad!””
Helen moved toward him.
“Daniel, please.””
“No, Mom. He needs to explain.””
Robert looked at me.
“I am sorry.””
I shook my head.
“Don't apologize yet. Tell me everything.””
He opened the folder again and removed a printed report.
It contained the vehicle registration number, the insurance information, and the name of the company that owned the car.
I recognized the date immediately.
It was the night of my accident.
Robert pointed to a line near the bottom.
“The vehicle was assigned to Michael Bennett.””
I stared at the page.
“Was he driving?””
“No. The driver was someone employed by one of his contractors.””
“Then who was responsible?””
Robert hesitated.
“Michael told me the driver had lost control during an emergency maneuver.””
I looked at Daniel.
“That isn't what happened.””
Daniel's expression softened.
“What do you remember?””
I closed my eyes.
The memory returned in fragments.
Rain against the windshield.
A horn.
Headlights swinging across the road.
The violent impact.
My shoulder striking the driver's door.
The airbag exploding.
Then the awful silence.
“I remember another car following me,” I whispered.
Robert looked up.
“What?””
“For several minutes. I thought it was just someone going the same direction.””
I swallowed.
“Then it came closer. I moved toward the side of the road, but it moved too.””
Daniel crouched beside my chair.
“Emily, why didn't you tell the police?””
“I did. They said they couldn't establish whether the other driver had deliberately followed me.””
Robert looked genuinely disturbed.
“Michael never mentioned that.””
I stared at him.
“Maybe he didn't want you to know.””
Nobody spoke.
Then Robert's phone rang.
He glanced at the screen.
Michael Bennett.
Daniel pointed at it.
“Answer.””
Robert put the call on speaker.
“Michael.””
“Robert, where are you? I've been trying to reach you.””
“I'm at home.””
“Good. We need to talk about the wedding agreement.””
Robert looked at me.
“What agreement?””
Michael laughed.
“Don't play games. Vanessa says Daniel has started asking questions.””
Daniel leaned toward the phone.
“I have.””
Silence.
“Daniel?””
“Why did you promise Vanessa two hundred and fifty thousand dollars?””
Michael cleared his throat.
“That was a private business arrangement.””
“Using Emily's inheritance as collateral?””
“That isn't how it was structured.””
Robert interrupted.
“Michael, why was your company vehicle involved in Emily's accident?””
The silence that followed was different.
Longer.
Heavier.
Then Michael said:
“What accident?””
I almost dropped the phone.
Robert's face hardened.
“You know exactly which accident.””
“I think you've misunderstood something.””
Daniel stepped closer.
“Then come here and explain it.””
“I'm not available.””
“Of course you're not.””
Michael's voice became colder.
“Daniel, be careful. You're making accusations that could have serious consequences.””
Daniel laughed once.
“I'm not the one who needs to be careful.””
The call ended.
Robert immediately saved the recording.
Helen sat down, trembling.
“This is getting dangerous.””
I looked at her.
“It's been dangerous for months. I just didn't know it.””
Two hours later, Daniel's solicitor arrived.
His name was James Whitmore, and he had a calm, direct manner that made me feel slightly less overwhelmed.
He reviewed the documents, listened to the recording, and examined the photograph of the forged signature.
“This needs to be handled formally,” he said.
Daniel nodded.
“I want the trust protected.””
James looked at me.
“Emily, have you ever signed any document transferring your grandmother's interest?””
“No.””
“Have you authorized anyone to act on your behalf?””
“No.””
“Have you ever given Vanessa permission to access your financial records?””
“Never.””
James wrote everything down.
Then he asked about the accident.
I explained what I remembered.
When I finished, he closed his notebook.
“I recommend that you provide this information to the police. We should also request that the original vehicle records be preserved.””
Robert nodded.
“I can arrange that.””
James looked directly at him.
“Mr. Mercer, I need to ask whether you have any reason to believe Michael deliberately concealed information about the vehicle.””
Robert looked down.
“I do now.””
James placed his pen on the table.
“Then we need to establish exactly what he knew and when.””
Daniel walked toward the window.
“I want Vanessa's wedding agreement canceled.””
James nodded.
“That's separate from the criminal investigation, but we can review the contractual obligations.””
I looked at Daniel.
“Are you sure?””
He turned.
“Emily, she tried to use your inheritance to finance a business arrangement. She lied to my family. She knew you were injured and pushed you into a pool.””
He paused.
“I am very sure.””
At 8:42 p.m., my phone rang.
It was a number I didn't recognize.
I answered cautiously.
“Hello?””
A man's voice came through.
“Emily?””
“Yes.””
“My name is Thomas Reed. I'm the investigator assigned to your original car accident.””
My stomach tightened.
“Okay.””
“I received a request for additional information regarding the vehicle involved.””
I looked at Daniel.
“Who requested it?””
“Mr. Mercer contacted our office.””
I swallowed.
“Did you find something?””
There was a pause.
“Yes. The vehicle was reported stolen two days after the collision.””
I frowned.
“Stolen?””
“Yes. But there's a problem with the report.””
“What problem?””
“The theft was reported by a person who had access to the vehicle.””
I gripped the phone.
“Who?””
The investigator lowered his voice.
“Michael Bennett.””
I looked at Daniel.
His expression changed.
The investigator continued.
“And there's something else. The vehicle's tracking system was manually disabled approximately twenty minutes before the collision.””
My mouth went dry.
“Can you prove who did that?””
“We're investigating.””
Then he added:
“Emily, do you remember seeing anyone near your apartment the day before the accident?””
I thought back.
A dark sedan parked across the street.
A man standing near the entrance.
I had assumed he was waiting for someone.
“Yes,” I whispered.
“Can you describe him?””
I closed my eyes.
And suddenly, I remembered his face.
Because I had seen him again.
May you like
At Vanessa's engagement party.
Standing beside Michael Bennett.
