Chapter 12: The Brother Who Refused the Money
The number rang six times before someone answered.
"Hello?""
Daniel looked at me.
I motioned for him to put the call on speaker.
"Is this Samuel?""
A long silence followed.
"Who's asking?""
"My name is Daniel Dawson.""
The silence became heavier.
Then the man on the other end laughed once.
"Well, this is interesting.""
Daniel swallowed.
"I'm trying to find you.""
"Why?""
"Because I think you're my brother.""
There was a sharp breath.
"Think?""
Daniel looked at me.
"Henry Dawson was my father.""
The man didn't answer immediately.
Then he said, "I know who Henry was.""
Daniel leaned forward.
"Did you meet him?""
"Twice.""
"Did he tell you about me?""
"Yes.""
"Then why haven't you contacted me?""
Samuel laughed bitterly.
"Because I spent thirty years being treated like a mistake. I didn't think his other son would want anything to do with me.""
Daniel's voice softened.
"I'm not calling about money.""
"That's what Thomas said.""
My stomach tightened.
"Thomas contacted you?"" I asked.
Samuel went quiet.
"Who is that?""
"My name is Margaret. I'm your mother.""
The words felt strange.
I had never imagined saying them to another child.
Samuel's breathing changed.
"Margaret Dawson?""
"Yes.""
"You're alive?""
I closed my eyes.
"Very much alive, sweetheart.""
He didn't respond.
Then I heard something that sounded like a chair moving.
"Henry told me about you.""
I began crying.
"He did?""
"He said you were the only person who ever tried to keep the family together.""
I pressed my hand against my chest.
"Why didn't he bring you home?""
Samuel was quiet for a moment.
"Because he was afraid of Thomas.""
I looked at Daniel.
Samuel continued.
"When I was eighteen, I found out my biological father was a wealthy businessman. I contacted him because I wanted to know why he had given me away.""
"What did he say?""
"He told me he hadn't wanted to give me away. He said he had made a deal with Patricia's sister to keep me safe.""
I shook my head.
"That isn't what Helen told us.""
Samuel continued.
"Then he told me about Michael.""
Daniel frowned.
"Michael?""
"My original name.""
I looked at the photograph again.
"Henry called you Michael?""
"Yes. My adoptive mother changed my name to Samuel when I was a baby.""
Daniel stared at the phone.
"So you're Michael?""
"That's what I was named at birth.""
I felt tears running down my cheeks.
The little boy in the photograph had been Samuel all along.
The child I remembered holding had been the same boy who was now speaking to us.
"Sweetheart," I whispered, "I held you once.""
Samuel didn't answer.
"I remember the photograph. You were wearing a little blue blanket. I didn't know you were Henry's child. I thought you were somebody else's baby.""
Samuel's voice cracked.
"Henry told me you had held me.""
I covered my mouth.
"Then why didn't he tell me?""
"Because he was trying to protect you from Thomas.""
Roy leaned forward.
"Samuel, Helen Whitmore says you have proof about Patricia's death.""
There was a pause.
"She told you that?""
"Yes.""
Samuel sighed.
"I have something. But I need to know why you're looking into this now.""
Daniel answered.
"Because Thomas pushed me down the stairs twenty years ago, and our father covered it up.""
Silence.
Then Samuel spoke.
"I know.""
Daniel closed his eyes.
"You know?""
"Thomas told me.""
Roy's expression hardened.
"When?""
"Three years ago. He wanted me to sign a document saying Henry had never contacted me.""
"Why?""
"Because he was trying to prove that I wasn't entitled to anything in the estate.""
I looked at the phone.
"Did you sign?""
"No.""
"Good.""
Samuel gave a bitter laugh.
"Then Thomas offered me money.""
"Two hundred thousand?""
"Yes.""
I shook my head.
"And you refused?""
"I didn't want his money. I wanted him to tell me why Patricia died.""
Roy leaned forward.
"Do you know?""
Samuel took a long breath.
"I have a recording.""
Daniel looked at me.
"What recording?""
"Thomas talking to Henry. It was made five years ago, when I visited my father for the second time.""
My heartbeat quickened.
"What does it say?""
Samuel hesitated.
"Henry was trying to convince Thomas to tell the police the truth.""
"And Thomas?""
"He admitted he had gone to the hospital to frighten Patricia. He said he wanted her to give up both children.""
I gripped the phone.
"What happened next?""
Samuel's voice dropped.
"Thomas told Henry that Patricia had threatened to expose something about the family. Something that would destroy him.""
Roy frowned.
"What?""
"I don't know. But then Thomas said something else.""
"What?""
Samuel paused.
"Henry asked him whether he had caused Patricia's death.""
I felt my entire body go cold.
"And what did Thomas say?""
Samuel answered quietly.
"He said, 'I didn't kill her, Dad. I only made sure nobody could save her.''"
Nobody moved.
Daniel covered his mouth.
I could barely breathe.
Then Samuel continued.
"There's more. After that, Henry asked Thomas about Daniel's accident.""
I closed my eyes.
"What did Thomas say?""
Samuel's voice became almost inaudible.
"He admitted he had pushed Daniel down the stairs. But he also said Henry had helped him hide what happened.""
I stared at Roy.
Henry had spent twenty years trying to repair the damage.
But he had also been part of the cover-up.
My husband had not simply been a frightened father.
He had made choices.
Terrible choices.
And two children had paid for them.
"Samuel," I whispered, "where is the recording?""
"I have it.""
"Can you bring it to us?""
"Yes. But there's something you need to understand first.""
"What?""
"Thomas knows I kept it.""
A loud crash sounded through Samuel's phone.
He gasped.
Then a man's voice shouted in the background.
"Give me the recording!""
Daniel jumped up.
"Samuel?""
The phone scraped against something.
I heard a struggle.
Then Samuel shouted:
"Mom, don't let Thomas get the original photograph!""
The call disconnected.
I stared at the phone.
Roy was already reaching for his keys.
Daniel grabbed his jacket.
"He's in trouble.""
I stood, clutching Henry's letter.
"Where is he?""
Daniel looked at the number on the screen.
Then he turned toward Roy.
"He's only fifteen minutes from here.""
Roy opened the apartment door.
"Then we'd better move.""
As we rushed toward the truck, my phone vibrated again.
A message appeared from Samuel.
It contained a photograph of a bloodstained envelope.
May you like
And beneath it were six words:
*Henry's confession is inside the original.*
