Chapter 17: The Last Ride
The basement fell silent.
I could hear the rain striking the small windows near the ceiling.
"Who drove my father?"" I asked.
Thomas didn't answer immediately.
"Thomas!""
"Patricia.""
I looked at Rachel.
She shook her head slowly.
"That's impossible," I said.
"Patricia wasn't involved in the accident.""
"She wasn't driving when it happened," Thomas replied.
"But she arranged the meeting and accompanied your father to the location.""
Detective Grant stepped closer to the phone.
"Mr. Whitaker, you need to explain exactly what happened.""
"I will. But I won't do it over the phone.""
"Where are you?""
"I'll meet you at the old courthouse parking lot. Tomorrow morning.""
Detective Grant immediately objected.
"That's not happening without protective arrangements.""
Thomas gave a bitter laugh.
"You think I don't know that? I've been hiding for twenty-seven years.""
"Then give us your location.""
"No.""
The call ended.
I stared at the phone.
"He's running again.""
Rachel shook her head.
"He's afraid.""
"Everyone is afraid. My mother was kidnapped. My sister's inheritance was stolen.
My wife helped a criminal. And my father's best friend has been hiding for nearly three decades.""
Vanessa flinched at the word wife.
I didn't look at her.
Detective Grant collected the documents and arranged for officers to escort Mom to a safe location.
Richard insisted on accompanying her.
Before leaving, Mom held my face between her hands.
"Marcus, I need you to hear something.""
I looked at her.
"Your father loved you. Whatever you discover, don't let the lies erase that.""
I swallowed.
"I just want to know what happened.""
"I know.""
She kissed my forehead.
"And I want you to know that none of this was your fault.""
After she left, I turned to Rachel.
"Why did Thomas contact you instead of Richard?""
"Because he didn't trust the legal system.""
"Yet he trusted you?""
She gave me a sad smile.
"He didn't trust me. He trusted that I was angry enough to make sure the truth came out.""
The next morning, Detective Grant arranged a controlled meeting.
Thomas arrived at the courthouse parking lot shortly after nine.
He was older than I remembered from the photographs.
His hair was white.
His shoulders were bent.
But I recognized his face.
The same face that had smiled at me from the front row at my wedding.
The same face that had told me my father would have been proud.
He stepped out of a gray sedan and stopped when he saw me.
"Marcus.""
I didn't move.
"Don't call me that like we're family.""
He lowered his head.
"Fair enough.""
Detective Grant introduced herself and explained that the conversation was being recorded.
Thomas nodded.
Then he reached into his coat and removed a sealed envelope.
"This is the original authorization.""
Richard, who had joined us, took it.
He examined the paper.
His eyes widened.
"This is the missing document.""
Thomas nodded.
"Your father signed it the night before he died. It authorized the recovery of funds from several accounts, including the one created using Marcus's identity.""
I looked at the document.
My name appeared near the bottom.
"What did my father authorize?""
"An independent trust arrangement. He wanted the recovered money protected from Daniel and Thomas. He wanted Olivia's share preserved, and he wanted you to have access when you reached forty-five.""
"Why didn't I know?""
"Because Daniel was trying to use your identity to take control of the account.""
Thomas looked at me.
"Your father believed that if Daniel knew you were the beneficiary, he'd target you.""
I stared at him.
"And Patricia?""
"She was supposed to deliver the document to Richard Cole. But after your father's death, she discovered that Daniel had already obtained a copy.""
Richard examined the signature.
"This is genuine.""
Thomas nodded.
"There's something else.""
He opened the envelope and removed a second sheet.
It was a handwritten statement.
My father's handwriting.
He had written it two days before the accident.
If anything happens to me, do not assume the person who appears to be helping the family is innocent. Daniel is not working alone. Thomas has agreed to cooperate, but I cannot trust him completely.
I looked at Thomas.
"You knew he wrote this?""
"Yes.""
"And you still helped Daniel?""
Thomas closed his eyes.
"I was already involved. I thought I could fix it before your father discovered everything.""
"Instead, you let him die believing you were betraying him.""
Thomas's face crumpled.
"I have lived with that every day.""
Detective Grant interrupted.
"Mr. Whitaker, did you arrange the meeting that took place on the evening of Mr. Bennett's accident?""
"Yes.""
"Who attended?""
"Your father, Daniel, Patricia, and me.""
"Where?""
"At a private office near the industrial district.""
"Why did you leave?""
"Daniel and your father argued. Patricia took your father outside. I stayed with Daniel.""
"And then?""
Thomas stared at the pavement.
"About forty minutes later, I received a call. Patricia said there had been an accident.""
I felt my throat tighten.
"Did she say what happened?""
"She said your father had been driving alone.""
I stepped closer.
"Was that true?""
Thomas looked at me.
"I don't know.""
The answer made my stomach turn.
"You don't know?""
"I wasn't there when the car left. I never saw the accident. I only know Patricia told me he was alone.""
Detective Grant took notes.
"Did you ever report your suspicions?""
"No.""
"Why not?""
"Because Daniel told me he had evidence that would make me look responsible for the financial fraud. I was already guilty of that. I was afraid no one would believe me.""
I looked at the original authorization.
"Then why come forward now?""
Thomas reached into his pocket.
He removed a small photograph.
It showed my father standing beside a dark sedan.
The date was visible.
The night of the accident.
On the back, my father's handwriting read:
If Thomas disappears, find the driver.
I looked up.
"Who was driving?""
Thomas shook his head.
"I don't know.""
But Rachel, standing beside Detective Grant, suddenly spoke.
"I do.""
Everyone turned toward her.
She took the photograph from my hand.
"Patricia told me before she died.""
I felt my pulse quicken.
"Who?""
Rachel looked at my mother, who had arrived with Richard.
Eleanor's face had gone pale.
Rachel whispered:
"Daniel Mercer.""
My mind struggled to accept it.
"Daniel was driving my father's car?""
Rachel shook her head.
"No. He was driving the other vehicle.""
Detective Grant stepped forward.
"Do you have evidence?""
Rachel nodded.
"Patricia kept a photograph of the damaged vehicle. She said Daniel had borrowed it from a company account that night.""
Thomas looked horrified.
"She never told me that.""
Rachel continued.
"She said Daniel followed your father after the meeting. But she never claimed he caused the accident.""
I looked at Detective Grant.
"Then what happened?""
She answered carefully.
"We don't know yet. A photograph and an account record are not enough to establish responsibility for a fatal collision.""
I nodded, barely able to breathe.
Then Thomas spoke again.
"There's one more person who knows what happened.""
I turned toward him.
"Who?""
He looked at Richard.
"Patricia's final attorney.""
Richard frowned.
"Patricia had several attorneys.""
"Not the one who handled her estate. The one who witnessed her last statement.""
He paused.
"His name was Jonathan Pierce.""
I stared at Jonathan's name in the documents.
The same attorney who had accepted Daniel's money.
The same man whose credentials had been used to attempt the fraudulent transfer.
The same man who had remained silent while we searched for answers.
I pulled out my phone and called him.
He answered after the second ring.
"Marcus?""
"Where are you?""
A pause.
"At my office.""
"Stay there.""
"Why?""
"Because we need to talk about Patricia's final statement.""
His breathing changed.
Then he said something that made my blood run cold.
"Marcus, don't go near my office.""
"Why?""
May you like
"Because Daniel is already here.""
The call disconnected.
