Chapter 13: The Recording From the Night My Father Died
By the time Rachel and I reached my house, my hands were shaking so badly I could barely hold the steering wheel.
Jordan had sent one final message.
*I'm in Maya's room. Mom is downstairs. Please hurry.*
I called him again.
No answer.
Rachel immediately contacted the police and explained that a twelve-year-old boy had reported feeling unsafe with an adult who had previously threatened him.
Then she called Michael Grant.
"We need someone there," she told him.
"Immediately.""
When we pulled into the driveway, Tasha's car was parked outside.
The front door was open.
I ran inside.
"Tasha!""
She appeared in the hallway holding a black phone.
Her expression changed when she saw me.
"Laura.""
"Where are the children?""
"Upstairs.""
"Move.""
She stepped into my path.
"You're making a terrible mistake.""
I looked at the phone in her hand.
"Is that the phone Jordan found?""
Tasha closed her fingers around it.
"Give it to me.""
"No.""
"That phone doesn't belong to you.""
"Then why are you so frightened of me seeing what's on it?""
Her face tightened.
Rachel entered behind me.
"Tasha, please put the phone down. We're not here to argue.""
Tasha laughed bitterly.
"Of course you're not. You've already decided I'm the villain.""
I stared at her.
"You shoved my daughter.""
"She was making a scene.""
"She's eight!""
Tasha rolled her eyes.
"You're acting as though I committed a crime because I lost my temper.""
Rachel stepped forward.
"That's enough. The police are on their way.""
Tasha looked toward the door.
Then she did something I hadn't expected.
She threw the phone onto the hallway table.
"There. Take it.""
I didn't touch it.
"Why?""
"Because I'm tired.""
Her voice cracked.
For the first time, she looked less angry than exhausted.
"I've spent months trying to keep everything together.""
I stared at her.
"You mean keeping your affair secret?""
"No.""
She looked directly at me.
"Keeping Daniel from destroying everyone.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"What does that mean?""
Tasha sat down on the bottom stair.
Then she began crying.
Not the quiet, controlled tears she had used before.
These were ugly, desperate sobs.
"Your father knew," she whispered.
I froze.
"Knew what?""
"Everything.""
Rachel immediately took out her phone.
"Be specific, Tasha.""
Tasha wiped her face.
"Twenty years ago, my father worked for your dad. He handled property records and investment paperwork. When the company started growing, Patrick convinced him to move money through several shell companies.""
I stared at her.
"Patrick?""
She nodded.
"Your father discovered it. He confronted him. But by then, Evelyn had become involved.""
"How?""
"Evelyn had access to Daniel's business records. She helped Patrick create false loan documents.""
I looked at the phone on the table.
"And you?""
Tasha lowered her eyes.
"I was working as a temporary assistant at the property office. I copied some documents for Patrick.""
My stomach twisted.
"You helped them?""
"At first.""
"What changed?""
She looked at me.
"Your father found out I was involved. He didn't report me immediately. He gave me a chance to fix things.""
I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
My father had known Tasha for twenty years.
He had given her a chance.
And she had repaid him by betraying his daughter.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because Daniel promised he could fix everything.""
Rachel interrupted.
"How does the recording fit into this?""
Tasha glanced at the phone.
"Your father recorded a meeting with Patrick. He wanted proof that the money had been stolen.""
"Where is it?""
"On that phone.""
I looked at the device.
"Why do you have it?""
"Because your father gave it to me.""
I felt my breath catch.
"When?""
"The night he died.""
The hallway went silent.
I took one step closer.
"Tell me exactly what happened.""
Tasha stared at her hands.
"Your father called me that evening. He said he needed help recovering the original documents from Patrick. He was afraid Patrick would destroy them.""
"And you went?""
"Yes.""
"Where?""
"To the old property office.""
I remembered the building.
My father had sold it years ago.
Tasha continued.
"Patrick was already there. Evelyn came later. They argued. Your father told them he was going to expose everything.""
I swallowed.
"What happened next?""
"Patrick threatened him.""
Rachel leaned forward.
"Did he touch him?""
Tasha shook her head.
"Not while I was there.""
"Then what?""
"Your father told me to take the phone and leave. He said he had already made arrangements with Samuel.""
I felt my chest tighten.
"And you left?""
She nodded.
"When I reached the parking lot, I heard shouting. Then a crash.""
"What did you do?""
"I turned around.""
Her voice became barely audible.
"Your father was on the floor.""
I gripped the hallway table.
"Was he alive?""
"Yes.""
"Did you call an ambulance?""
Tasha started crying harder.
"I panicked.""
I stared at her.
"What do you mean you panicked?""
"Patrick told me to leave. He said the police would blame me because my fingerprints were on the documents.""
"You left my father lying on the floor?""
She covered her face.
"I was twenty years old. I was terrified.""
"Did you call anyone?""
"No.""
I felt something inside me break.
My father had died in a hospital two hours later.
The official explanation had been a sudden medical emergency.
I had spent four years believing nobody could have done anything to save him.
But Tasha had been there.
She had known.
And she had said nothing.
Rachel spoke firmly.
"Did you tell the authorities any of this?""
Tasha shook her head.
"Patrick said he would make sure I went to prison. He told me he had copies of every document I'd ever handled.""
"And Daniel?"" I asked.
Tasha looked up.
"Daniel found out about the phone years later. He wanted the recording.""
"Why?""
"Because it proves the money was moved before your father died.""
I stared at her.
"Then why didn't you give it to him?""
"Because your father told me to give it to you if anything happened.""
For several seconds, I couldn't speak.
Tasha continued.
"I kept it hidden. Daniel didn't know where it was until Jordan found it.""
A noise came from upstairs.
"Mommy?""
Maya appeared at the top of the stairs.
Jordan stood behind her.
I immediately went to them.
"Are you both okay?""
Maya nodded.
Jordan looked at Tasha.
"Why did you come here?""
Tasha lowered her head.
"I needed to talk to Laura.""
Jordan shook his head.
"You always say that before you do something bad.""
Tasha flinched.
The police arrived a few minutes later.
They separated everyone and took statements. Rachel explained the financial documents and the newly disclosed information about my father's death.
Tasha was asked to provide a formal account of what she had witnessed.
Before she left with the officers, she turned toward me.
"Laura?""
I didn't answer.
She looked at Maya.
"I never wanted to hurt her.""
I stepped between them.
"Then you should have protected her.""
Tasha lowered her eyes.
The officers escorted her outside.
I thought the worst was over.
Then Rachel picked up the black phone.
"Laura, we need to examine this properly.""
She connected it to a secure device.
There were dozens of audio files.
Most were old recordings.
One was labeled with a date.
The night my father died.
Rachel pressed play.
A man's voice filled the room.
My father's.
"If anything happens to me, Laura must know who really owns the company.""
Then another voice answered.
Patrick.
"You're too late, Robert.""
A third voice spoke.
Evelyn.
"Daniel will handle the rest.""
My blood ran cold.
Then my father's voice returned.
"Daniel doesn't know what you did.""
A pause.
May you like
And then Patrick said something that made Rachel stop the recording.
"That's because Daniel isn't the person we're protecting.""
