Chapter 14: The Family Reunion From Hell
The Whitmore estate was surrounded by high stone walls and security cameras.
Detective Bennett's team approached from two directions.
I sat in the lead vehicle with Nia.
She hadn't spoken since we left the river.
Her wedding ring was still on her finger.
I kept looking at it.
Finally, she noticed.
"I'll take it off," she whispered.
"That isn't the point.""
"I know.""
"You stood beside me and promised to love me while planning to steal my inheritance.""
Her eyes filled.
"I know.""
"You let my mother be attacked.""
"I didn't know Andrew would hurt her.""
"But you knew he was following her.""
She lowered her head.
"Yes.""
I looked away.
There was nothing left to say.
The estate gates opened before we reached them.
A man stood beneath the entrance lights.
Daniel.
He was wearing a dark suit, with his hands visible.
He looked exhausted.
When I stepped out, he approached me.
"Michael.""
I raised my hand.
"Don't.""
He stopped.
"I need to explain.""
"You've had twenty-eight years to explain.""
Daniel nodded.
"I know.""
"Did you know my father was alive?""
"Yes.""
"Did you help him fake his death?""
"Yes.""
"Did you help Richard steal the money?""
Daniel hesitated.
"I helped them move the money. I didn't know what they planned to do with it.""
I laughed.
"That's a convenient distinction.""
He looked toward the house.
"Your father is inside.""
"Where's my mother?""
"Upstairs.""
I pushed past him.
Detective Bennett and two officers followed.
Inside, the estate looked more like a private hotel than a home.
Marble floors.
Massive chandeliers.
Paintings worth more than the apartment where my mother had raised me.
Richard stood near the fireplace.
Beside him was my father.
No wheelchair.
No hospital gown.
He was wearing the same dark blue suit from the photograph.
He looked at me.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then he smiled.
"Michael.""
I stared at him.
"Don't call me that.""
His smile disappeared.
"You're angry.""
I laughed.
"Angry?""
I stepped closer.
"You let me bury an empty coffin.""
He lowered his eyes.
"I had my reasons.""
"You watched me grow up from a distance.""
"To protect you.""
"You let Mom work herself sick.""
He said nothing.
"You let me believe you were dead.""
My voice cracked.
"And all this time, you were sitting somewhere counting eighty million dollars.""
Richard stepped forward.
"Michael, you're being emotional.""
I turned toward him.
"You don't get to speak.""
Richard's expression hardened.
"Careful.""
Detective Bennett raised her badge.
"Richard Whitmore, we have enough evidence to detain you pending further investigation into financial fraud, attempted murder, and conspiracy.""
Richard laughed.
"On whose evidence?""
She held up the brown folder.
"Your entire financial operation.""
He looked at Nia.
"You ungrateful little—"
"Don't," she interrupted.
Richard turned toward her.
"I gave you everything.""
"You gave me a childhood built on lies.""
"I gave you a future.""
"You gave me a husband you expected me to rob.""
Richard's face turned red.
"Everything I did was for this family!""
My father finally spoke.
"Stop pretending this was about family, Richard.""
Richard turned.
"You should keep your mouth shut.""
My father shook his head.
"You've had twenty-three years to do that.""
He reached inside his jacket.
Detective Bennett immediately raised her weapon.
"Hands where I can see them!""
My father slowly removed a folded document.
He placed it on the table.
"The original trust agreement.""
I stared.
"What's that?""
"The real agreement. The one I created before the accident.""
Bennett approached carefully.
She examined the document.
Then she looked up.
"This is dated before the crash.""
My father nodded.
"Because the original trust was legitimate. Richard and I were supposed to return the investors' money.""
"Then why did you disappear?"" I asked.
My father looked at me.
"Because I made a deal with Richard. I would disappear, and he would preserve the trust until you turned twenty-eight.""
I shook my head.
"Why twenty-eight?""
"Because that was the age I believed you would be old enough to take control.""
"And what was I supposed to do with eighty million dollars?""
"Return it.""
I stared at him.
"Then why did you sign the transfer papers?""
His expression changed.
Richard smiled.
I noticed it.
The first genuine smile he had shown all evening.
My father slowly turned toward him.
"Because he forced me.""
Richard laughed.
"No, Charles. You signed willingly.""
I frowned.
"Charles?""
My father's full name was Charles Carter.
Richard looked at me.
"Your father has been lying about one thing more than everything else.""
He pulled a second document from his jacket.
"Your father didn't create the trust to return the money.""
He placed it on the table.
"He created it to hide the money from the people who owned it.""
I looked at my father.
"Is that true?""
My father said nothing.
Richard continued.
"Your father and I were partners. We stole together. When he decided to disappear, he took the original records and left me holding the consequences.""
I looked at the documents.
"Then why did you chase him?""
"Because he took everything.""
My father finally spoke.
"Richard, that's enough.""
"No, Charles. Tell your son what happened to the investors.""
My father looked at the floor.
I felt sick.
"Tell me.""
He swallowed.
"Some of the money was never recovered.""
"How much?""
"Thirty-two million.""
I stepped backward.
"Where is it?""
My father looked at me.
"Somewhere safe.""
I shook my head.
"Where?""
He didn't answer.
Richard laughed.
"Ask your father where he buried it.""
Before I could respond, a gunshot exploded.
Everyone dropped.
A glass shattered above the fireplace.
One of the officers shouted.
"Weapon! Weapon!""
I looked up.
Daniel was standing near the staircase, holding a gun.
But he wasn't pointing it at us.
He was pointing it at Richard.
"Nobody moves!""
Richard froze.
Daniel's hands were shaking.
"Tell him the truth.""
Richard stared at his son.
"Daniel, put that down.""
"Tell him!""
My father slowly raised his hands.
Daniel looked at me.
"Michael, your father has been using all of us.""
I stared at him.
"What are you doing?""
"Ending this.""
He turned toward Richard.
"Tell him who really killed his father.""
I looked at my father.
He shook his head.
"Daniel, don't.""
Daniel's eyes filled.
"Richard didn't kill your father, Michael.""
I frowned.
"Then who did?""
Daniel looked at the man beside the fireplace.
Then he whispered:
"Your father arranged the crash.""
May you like
My father closed his eyes.
And for the first time that night, he didn't deny it.
