Chapter 7: The Photograph in Richard Cole's Office
“Your sister came to see me this morning. She brought something that belonged to Michael.””
Richard's words kept repeating in my head.
Dad was already halfway to the front door when I caught up with him.
“I'm coming.””
“No, Maya.””
“Dad, Vanessa is my sister.””
“And Richard Cole is a man who just admitted he's been hiding something from our family for eleven years.””
“Exactly. I'm not staying here wondering what happened.””
Grandpa stepped between us.
“Daniel, take her. But don't go looking for a fight. Find out what Richard knows, then bring everything to the attorney.””
Dad hesitated.
Finally, he nodded.
Grandma hugged me before we left.
“Be careful, sweetheart.””
I promised I would.
But I wasn't sure what I was walking into.
Richard Cole's office was located above an auto repair shop on the edge of town. The building looked older than I expected. The sign outside had faded, and one of the windows was covered with brown paper.
Dad parked across the street.
“Stay close to me,” he said.
We entered through a narrow staircase.
A bell rang above the office door.
Richard was standing behind a desk, holding a photograph.
He looked to be in his late fifties, with gray hair and a tired face.
When he saw Dad, he lowered the photograph.
“Daniel.””
“Where's Vanessa?””
Richard glanced at me.
“She left.””
“When?””
“About twenty minutes ago.””
“Where did she go?””
“I don't know.””
Dad stepped closer.
“You spoke to my daughter. You told her something about my brother. I want to know what.””
Richard placed the photograph on the desk.
“Then perhaps you should look at this first.””
I moved toward it.
The picture showed Uncle Michael standing beside a blue pickup truck.
He was smiling.
Beside him stood a little girl wearing a pink jacket.
Vanessa.
She couldn't have been older than six.
Dad picked up the photograph.
“Where did you get this?””
“Michael gave it to me.””
“When?””
“A few weeks before the accident.””
Dad turned the picture over.
There was a handwritten date.
And beneath it, a message.
For the two people I promised to protect.
Dad frowned.
“Who are the two people?””
Richard looked directly at him.
“Your daughters.””
My stomach tightened.
“What?””
Richard sighed.
“Michael knew something was wrong in your household long before he died.””
Dad shook his head.
“That makes no sense.””
“Your brother was worried about Linda.””
“Why?””
“Because he believed she was moving money out of a joint business account.””
Dad stared at him.
“Linda wasn't involved in Michael's business.””
“She wasn't officially involved.””
Richard opened a drawer and removed a thick envelope.
Inside were photocopies of financial records.
Several transactions had been made from the business account to a personal account belonging to Linda.
The first was dated eleven years ago.
The last was dated two weeks before Michael died.
Dad studied the numbers.
“How much?””
“Forty-seven thousand dollars.””
I covered my mouth.
Richard continued.
“Michael discovered the transfers. He confronted Linda. She claimed the money was repayment for a personal loan.””
“Was it?””
“No. There was no loan.””
Dad's face hardened.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Michael asked me not to.””
“Why?””
Richard looked down.
“Because he thought Linda would use the children to protect herself.””
The room went silent.
Dad placed the papers on the desk.
“Explain the accident.””
Richard took a slow breath.
“Michael was supposed to meet me that evening. He had copies of the financial records and intended to give them to his lawyer. But Linda called him.””
Dad's eyes narrowed.
“How do you know?””
“Because I saw the call on his phone.””
“What did she say?””
“She told him Vanessa was with her and wanted to see him.””
I stared at the photograph.
“Was Vanessa really with Uncle Michael that night?””
Richard nodded.
“She was.””
Dad gripped the edge of the desk.
“Why did Linda tell me she was at home?””
Richard looked uncomfortable.
“Because she didn't want you asking questions.””
Dad's voice became dangerously quiet.
“What happened?””
Richard pushed another document across the desk.
It was a police accident report.
The report stated that Michael's vehicle had lost control during heavy rain and struck a roadside barrier.
The driver died at the scene.
A passenger was transported to the hospital.
The passenger's name had been blacked out in the copy.
I pointed at it.
“Why is the name hidden?””
“Because the original report involved a minor.””
Dad snatched the paper.
“Vanessa was injured?””
“Physically, she recovered.””
“Why wasn't I told?””
Richard looked at him.
“Because Linda told the authorities that you had given permission for Michael to take her.””
Dad's expression changed.
“I never gave permission.””
“I know.””
Richard opened another folder.
Inside was a handwritten statement.
It was signed by Linda.
The statement said she had authorized Michael to take Vanessa for an evening drive.
Dad read it.
Then he read it again.
“That signature is real.””
Richard nodded.
“Linda admitted she let Vanessa go with him. But she also told me she had no idea they would be involved in the accident.””
Dad looked up.
“Was the accident really an accident?””
Richard didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he placed a small flash drive on the desk.
“Michael left this with me.””
“What is it?””
“Copies of the business records. And a recording.””
Dad picked it up.
“What recording?””
“His final conversation with Linda.””
My stomach turned.
“Why didn't you give this to the police?””
Richard looked at me.
“Because I was afraid.””
Dad stared at him.
“Of what?””
“Of being blamed for the missing money. I had my own financial problems then. Michael was my business partner. If the records came out, I could have lost everything.””
“So you stayed quiet?””
Richard nodded.
“Yes.””
Dad's voice cracked.
“My brother died. My daughter was in that car. And you stayed quiet?””
“I know.””
“Eleven years!””
“I know!””
Richard slammed his palm against the desk.
“I've regretted it every day.””
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then I asked the question that had been haunting me.
“Why did Vanessa come here today?””
Richard looked at me.
“She wanted the original photograph and the flash drive.””
“Why?””
“She said she wanted to protect her mother.””
Dad closed his eyes.
“Of course she did.””
Richard continued.
“She also asked me about the money.””
“What money?”” Dad asked.
“The twenty thousand dollars Linda paid me.””
Dad stepped closer.
“You said that payment wasn't for Michael's debt.””
“It wasn't.””
“Then what was it for?””
Richard looked at me before answering.
“Linda wanted me to destroy the remaining financial records.””
Dad went completely still.
“And did you?””
“No.””
Richard opened a drawer and removed a small notebook.
“I kept everything.””
He handed it to Dad.
There were handwritten entries documenting every payment Linda had made.
The most recent entry was dated six weeks earlier.
Beside it was a note.
*Final payment pending. Release original documents after confirmation.*
Dad looked up.
“What final payment?””
Richard pointed to the next line.
*$12,000 — Vanessa Carter.*
My heart dropped.
“Vanessa paid you twelve thousand dollars?””
“Not yet,” Richard said.
“She promised to bring it.””
Dad looked at the door.
“Where did she get that kind of money?””
Richard hesitated.
Then he answered.
“From the same education fund your mother has been draining.””
Dad turned toward me.
I felt sick.
My sister had destroyed my dress, tried to cancel my scholarship, and apparently planned to pay a man to destroy evidence connected to our uncle's death.
Then Richard said something that changed everything.
“There's one more thing, Daniel.””
Dad looked at him.
“Michael didn't die immediately.””
The room seemed to stop.
“What?””
“He was conscious for several minutes after the crash. He managed to call someone.””
“Who?””
Richard looked toward the photograph.
“Your wife.””
Dad staggered backward.
And before he could ask another question, Richard's office door opened.
Vanessa stood in the doorway.
May you like
Her eyes went straight to the flash drive in Dad's hand.
“Give that to me,” she said.
