Chapter 5: My Sister's Midnight Confession
I didn't sleep that night.
At 12:36 a.m., the dark SUV finally drove away.
I saved the footage and sent it to Jennifer.
She called within minutes.
“Daniel, do not approach them. We need to document this.””
“I wasn't planning to.””
“Good. The threatening messages are concerning enough without adding a confrontation.””
I looked toward the bedroom.
Claire was asleep, one hand resting over her stomach.
“Jennifer, I need to ask you something. Can my father legally prevent me from selling the property?””
“Not simply by claiming ownership. But the fraudulent-looking agreement and the recorded notice will need to be addressed.””
“And if the documents are forged?””
“Then that's a different matter. We'll preserve everything and investigate.””
I thanked her and ended the call.
At 1:14 a.m., my phone rang again.
Melissa.
I stared at the screen.
For a moment, I considered ignoring it.
Then I answered.
“What?””
Her voice was unusually quiet.
“Daniel, I need to talk to you.””
“It's one in the morning.””
“I know.””
“Then talk.””
She took a shaky breath.
“Dad said you found out about Victor.””
My stomach tightened.
“How do you know that name?””
“Because I know who he was.””
I sat upright.
“Melissa, what happened in that basement?””
Silence.
Then she whispered:
“Please don't tell Dad I called.””
I moved into the hallway.
“Start talking.””
“Not over the phone.””
“Why?””
“Because he's been checking my messages.””
I closed my eyes.
“Melissa, you don't get to threaten my wife and then expect me to protect you.””
“I know.””
“Do you?””
“Yes. I know what I did to Claire was horrible.””
It was the first time she had acknowledged it.
But I wasn't interested in an apology at that moment.
“What happened to Victor?””
She began crying.
“I didn't hurt him.””
I gripped the phone.
“Then who did?””
“I don't know.””
“Melissa!””
“Dad and Mom had a huge argument that night. Victor was supposed to meet them at the house. He said Dad owed him money.””
“How much?””
“I don't know. A lot.””
“And then?””
“I was seventeen. I was downstairs because Dad had told me to get some papers from his study. I heard shouting.””
I waited.
“He said something about a second set of books. Victor kept saying the company belonged to him too.””
“What did you see?””
Melissa sniffed.
“Mom came downstairs. She was holding a brown envelope. Dad was shouting at her. Then Victor walked toward the wine cellar.””
My pulse quickened.
“And?””
“I heard something break.””
“What broke?””
“I don't know. A glass, maybe. Then Dad told me to go upstairs.””
“Did you see Victor leave?””
“No.””
“Did you see him again?””
“No.””
I stared at the dark hallway.
“Why didn't you tell anyone?””
“Because Dad said Victor had stolen money and run away. He said if I talked, we'd all lose everything.””
“Everything?””
“The house. The company. Our family.””
I almost laughed.
“Our family?””
“Daniel, please.””
I lowered my voice.
“Why are you telling me now?””
She hesitated.
“Because Dad wants me to sign something.””
“What?””
“A statement saying you agreed to transfer the house to me.””
I froze.
“Is that why you signed the other document?””
She didn't answer.
“Melissa, did you forge my signature?””
“I didn't write your name.””
“But you signed as a witness.””
“Dad told me it was a family agreement. He said you had already approved it.””
“You knew I hadn't.””
She started crying harder.
“I didn't think you'd ever find out.””
I felt a wave of disgust.
“You helped him steal my house.””
“I was trying to protect myself!””
“From what?””
Another long silence.
Then she whispered:
“Dad said if I didn't cooperate, he'd tell everyone what happened the night Victor disappeared.””
I closed my eyes.
“What happened, Melissa?””
“I told you. I didn't hurt him.””
“Then why are you afraid?””
Her answer came so quietly I almost missed it.
“Because I helped Mom move something out of the basement that night.””
“What?””
“I don't know. It was wrapped in a carpet.””
My heart began pounding.
“Where did you take it?””
“I didn't.””
“Melissa, where is it?””
“I swear I don't know.””
I heard a door slam on her end.
Her breathing changed.
“Daniel, I have to go.””
“Wait!””
Then I heard my father's voice.
“Who are you talking to?””
Melissa whispered something.
The line went dead.
At 7:30 a.m., I met Jennifer and Marcus at a private office.
I played them the recording of my conversation with Melissa.
Jennifer listened without interrupting.
When it ended, she looked at me.
“Did she consent to being recorded?””
“She called me.””
“That's not what I asked. We'll need to check the applicable recording laws before using it.””
Marcus leaned forward.
“Her statement about the carpet is significant.””
Jennifer nodded.
“But we cannot assume it proves a crime occurred.””
“What do we do?””
Marcus opened his notebook.
“We find out whether Victor Hale is actually missing or whether he simply disappeared voluntarily.””
Jennifer turned to him.
“Start with the original police report and the financial records.””
Then she looked at me.
“And Daniel, we need to discuss the property.””
I frowned.
“What about it?””
“Your father may be attempting to transfer an interest in the mansion before we can complete the sale.””
“Can he?””
“He appears to be trying.””
I shook my head.
“Why would he risk that?””
Jennifer tapped the folder.
“Because if the property is connected to an unresolved financial dispute, he may believe controlling the title gives him leverage.””
I thought about the threatening messages.
The SUV.
The hidden safe.
My sister's midnight confession.
It was beginning to look less like a family argument and more like a carefully constructed deception.
At 11:20 a.m., Marcus called.
“I found Victor.””
I nearly dropped my coffee.
“Where?””
“Not physically. His missing-person report is still open. But I found a financial record from three weeks after he disappeared.””
“What kind of record?””
“A withdrawal from an account connected to your father's old company.””
“How much?””
“Four hundred and eighty thousand dollars.””
“Who withdrew it?””
Marcus paused.
“Patricia.””
My mother.
I sat down.
“Are you certain?””
“The transaction was processed under her authorization. The money was transferred to a company registered in Delaware.””
“Whose company?””
“Melissa's.””
I stared at the wall.
My sister had been twenty-three at the time.
“What did she do with the money?””
“That's what I'm trying to establish.””
I looked at Jennifer.
She had heard the conversation.
“Daniel,” she said carefully, “we need to be prepared for the possibility that your mother and sister were involved in more than they have admitted.””
I swallowed.
“Get the records.””
“I will.””
Then my phone rang.
Mom.
I answered.
“Hello?””
Her voice was trembling.
“Daniel, your father knows Melissa spoke to you.””
“How?””
“He checked her phone.””
“What does he want?””
“He wants you to come to the house tonight.””
“Why?””
“Because he says he has the original deed.””
I frowned.
“He doesn't.””
“He says he does.””
I looked at Jennifer.
She shook her head slightly.
I asked my mother one question.
“Mom, are you safe?””
She didn't answer immediately.
Then she whispered:
“No.””
My heart dropped.
“What do you mean?””
“I found something in your father's study. Something he was going to destroy.””
“What?””
“A photograph.””
“Of Victor?””
“No.””
Her voice cracked.
“Of the night I helped your father bury the truth.””
The line went silent.
Then I heard a crash.
May you like
My mother screamed.
And someone grabbed the phone.
