Chapter 4: The Man Who Knew My Father Wasn't Dead
Detective Bennett stared at her phone for several seconds before answering.
"Martin?""
A man's voice came through the speaker, strained and breathless.
"Laura, listen carefully. I don't have much time.""
Bennett immediately stood.
"Where are you?""
"That doesn't matter. Is Michael with you?""
She looked at me.
"He's here.""
There was a long silence.
Then the man spoke.
"Michael, if you can hear me, I need you to understand something. Your mother was right. Your father didn't die because of an accident.""
My knees nearly gave way.
I grabbed the edge of the table.
"Who is this?""
"Martin Hayes. I worked with your father.""
"Then tell me what happened to him.""
"I will. But first, you need to get away from Richard Whitmore.""
Detective Bennett raised her hand, signaling me to remain quiet.
I ignored her.
"Richard is sitting upstairs at my wedding. What does he have to do with my father?""
Martin exhaled.
"Everything.""
My mother began shaking.
Martin continued.
"Your father discovered that Richard was stealing money from their development company. Millions of dollars. When he threatened to report him, Richard arranged a meeting.""
"What happened?""
"He never came home.""
I closed my eyes.
For twenty-three years, I had believed my father died because of a wet road and a moment of bad luck.
I remembered the funeral.
The black suit my mother bought me.
The enormous wooden coffin.
The pastor telling me my father was in heaven.
I remembered asking my mother whether Dad had been scared when he died.
She had held me and said no.
Now I wondered whether she had known something all along.
"Why didn't you tell the police?"" I asked.
Martin's voice became quieter.
"Because the police report was altered. The witness statements disappeared. And the one officer who tried to investigate was transferred.""
Detective Bennett leaned closer to the phone.
"Mr. Hayes, this is Detective Bennett. I need your current location.""
"Not until you understand the danger.""
"You're speaking to a detective. Give me your location.""
Martin ignored her.
"Michael, your father left something for you. Something Richard has been trying to find for years.""
"The letter?""
"Not just the letter. There's a recording.""
I looked at my mother.
She covered her mouth.
"What recording?""
"Your father's voice. He recorded a statement explaining everything. He wanted you to hear it when you were old enough to understand.""
"Where is it?""
Martin paused.
"Your wife knows.""
I felt sick.
"Why would Nia know?""
"Because she came to me three weeks ago. She said she wanted to protect you.""
I remembered my mother's photograph.
Nia holding the brown envelope.
"Did you give her the recording?""
"No. But I told her where it was.""
"Where?""
"Inside the old family house. Behind the fireplace.""
My mother gasped.
"That's impossible.""
I turned toward her.
"What?""
She looked terrified.
"That house burned down.""
Martin's voice sharpened.
"No, Evelyn. It didn't.""
My mother shook her head.
"I saw the photographs. The police told me everything was destroyed.""
"That was the official story.""
Detective Bennett took the phone from me.
"Mr. Hayes, I need you to explain exactly what you know.""
Before he could answer, a loud crashing sound came through the speaker.
Then a man's voice shouted something indistinct.
Martin whispered, "They're here.""
"Who's there?"" Bennett demanded.
"Richard's men.""
The line went dead.
Detective Bennett immediately called her station.
"I need a location trace on this number. Send two units to his last registered address. Possible witness in immediate danger.""
I stared at her.
"Are you telling me someone is trying to kill him?""
"I'm telling you that we need to find him.""
My mother slowly pushed herself upright.
"Michael, we have to go to the house.""
"What house?""
"The old one. Where your father lived.""
I shook my head.
"Mom, you said it burned down.""
"I believed that.""
She looked at the detective.
"Can you take us there?""
Bennett hesitated.
"Not without backup.""
"Then get backup.""
My mother sounded different now.
The frightened woman who had collapsed in my wedding ballroom was disappearing.
In her place was the woman who had worked two jobs, buried her husband, and raised a son without ever asking anyone for help.
She reached for my hand.
"Your father didn't leave you those things for nothing.""
I nodded.
But before we could move, my phone rang.
Nia.
I stared at her name.
Detective Bennett shook her head.
"Don't answer.""
I declined the call.
A second later, a message appeared.
You have no idea what your mother has done. If you go to that house, you'll understand why she never told you the truth.
I read it twice.
Then another message came.
Ask her what happened the night your father died.
I turned slowly toward my mother.
"Mom?""
She looked at me.
"What happened that night?""
Her face crumpled.
For several seconds, she couldn't speak.
Then she whispered five words.
"I was in the car too.""
I stared at her.
"What?""
May you like
She lowered her eyes.
"I wasn't supposed to survive either.""
