Chapter 5 - SIX YEARS AGO
Sarah refused to speak at first.
Thomas found her at her home after midnight.
She opened the door.
Saw his face.
And immediately began crying.
“You found out.”
Thomas stepped inside.
“You knew.”
“Yes.”
“You knew who was behind everything.”
Sarah wiped her eyes.
“I knew part of it.”
“Tell me.”
She closed the door.
“Six years ago, your wife called me at 11:40 p.m.”
Thomas's heart pounded.
“What did she say?”
“She said she had found proof that Martin and Richard were stealing from you.”
“And?”
“She said she was going to meet someone.”
“Who?”
“Evelyn.”
Thomas froze.
Sarah continued.
“Your wife trusted her.”
“Why?”
“Because Evelyn had been investigating Martin too.”
Thomas sat.
“What happened next?”
“Your wife never came home.”
Thomas stared.
“You told me she died in an accident.”
“She did.”
“Then why are you talking like there was more?”
“Because the accident wasn't random.”
Sarah's voice broke.
“Her brakes had been tampered with.”
Thomas felt numb.
“Why didn't the police find that?”
“Because the mechanic's report was changed.”
“By Richard?”
“Yes.”
Thomas stood.
“And you let me believe it was an accident?”
“I was afraid.”
“You're my sister.”
“I know.”
“You should have told me.”
“I tried.”
Thomas looked at her.
“What stopped you?”
Sarah's eyes filled with tears.
“You.”
Thomas frowned.
“You were grieving. You had Genevieve. You were threatening to destroy anyone you thought responsible.”
Thomas remembered.
He had spent months consumed by rage.
Sarah continued.
“I knew if I told you without proof, you would kill someone.”
Thomas said nothing.
“So I started investigating quietly.”
“For six years?”
“Yes.”
“Evelyn helped.”
Sarah nodded.
“Genevieve helped too.”
Thomas closed his eyes.
His entire family had been protecting him from the truth.
And he had mistaken their silence for betrayal.
“What about Toby?”
“Richard discovered Genevieve's investigation.”
Sarah swallowed.
“He threatened Toby.”
Thomas's hands curled into fists.
“Where is Richard now?”
Sarah looked at him.
“He's not the one you should worry about.”
“Then who?”
She hesitated.
“Martin.”
Thomas's phone rang.
David.
“Sir, we have a problem.”
“What?”
“Martin disappeared.”
Thomas's stomach dropped.
“Where?”
“His house is empty.”
“Family?”
“Gone too.”
Thomas looked at Sarah.
Then his phone received a message.
A video.
Thomas opened it.
Martin stood in a dark warehouse.
Behind him were Genevieve and Toby.
Thomas stopped breathing.
Martin looked into the camera.
“Thomas.”
Thomas's blood turned cold.
“You should have married Evelyn.”
The video ended.
Thomas immediately called David.
“Find them.”
“We're already trying.”
Thomas grabbed his coat.
Sarah stopped him.
“Thomas.”
“What?”
“This is what they want.”
He turned.
“They want you angry.”
“I don't care.”
“They want you to come alone.”
Thomas stared at her.
Then he understood.
Martin wasn't simply kidnapping Genevieve.
He was forcing Thomas into a trap.
Thomas looked at Sarah.
“Then we don't give him what he wants.”
For the first time in six years, the Vance family moved together.
Not separately.
Not through secrets.
May you like
Together.
And waiting inside the warehouse was the final piece of the truth.
