Chapter 6 - The Woman Who Knew Too Much
Robert arrived at our house that afternoon.
He looked at the cassette recorder and immediately recognized it.
“Where did you get that?”
“Someone left it at our door,” Ethan replied.
Robert sat down slowly.
“Daniel.”
“You know he's alive?” I asked.
Robert nodded.
“I received a letter from him several months ago.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because he asked me not to.”
I laughed bitterly.
“Everyone in this family seems to know something about my life except me.”
Robert lowered his head.
“Your mother asked me to protect you.”
“By lying?”
“By keeping you away from what happened.”
I placed the photograph on the table.
“Who is the man in this picture?”
Robert stared at it.
Then his eyes filled with tears.
“Your father.”
The room went silent.
“My father died when I was twelve.”
Robert shook his head.
“No, Claire. He disappeared.”
I felt Ethan reach for my hand.
Robert explained that my father, Michael, had been the financial manager responsible for the trust's second account. He discovered unauthorized transfers and confronted the person behind them.
A week later, he vanished.
The family was told he had died in an accident.
My mother never believed it.
“Did Diane have anything to do with his disappearance?” I asked.
Robert looked toward the window.
“She knew about the missing money. She knew who had access to the account. But I don't know whether she knew what happened to Michael.”
“That's not an answer.”
“No. It's the truth.”
Before he could say more, the doorbell rang.
Ethan checked the security monitor.
His face hardened.
“Vanessa.”
She stood outside holding a folder.
I almost laughed.
“Of course.”
Ethan opened the door but didn't invite her inside.
“What do you want?”
“Dad told me you were investigating the company.”
“Why?”
“Because I need to explain something.”
I crossed my arms.
“Then explain.”
Vanessa stepped inside.
For once, she wasn't wearing designer clothes or a confident smile. Her eyes were swollen.
“Mom told me you were planning to take the house,” she said.
“The house belongs to my company.”
“I know that now.”
“Then you should also know the agreement has been violated.”
She looked at Ethan.
“I didn't know she would hit Claire.”
“That's not the issue,” he said.
Vanessa placed the folder on the table.
“Those transfers were supposed to be temporary. Mom said the company needed cash to settle a private debt.”
“What debt?” I asked.
Vanessa swallowed.
“Someone was threatening her.”
“Who?”
“I don't know his real name. She called him Mr. Gray.”
Robert suddenly stood.
“Where did you hear that name?”
Vanessa looked frightened.
“He called the house twice. Mom told me not to answer.”
Robert's face had gone pale.
“Did he leave a message?”
Vanessa nodded.
“He said the money belonged to him. He said if we didn't return it, he would expose what happened twenty years ago.”
I looked at Robert.
He wasn't surprised.
He was terrified.
“Who is Mr. Gray?” Ethan asked.
Robert slowly sat down.
“Michael.”
My father.
The man everyone believed was dead.
My phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
A message appeared.
Your mother told you about the trust. Good. Now ask Robert what he did the night your father disappeared.
I looked up.
Robert was already reaching for his coat.
“Where are you going?” I demanded.
He stopped.
Then he turned around.
“Claire, I need to tell you something before Michael comes looking for you.”
“What?”
Robert's voice broke.
“Your father didn't disappear because he stole the money.”
May you like
He swallowed.
“He disappeared because he discovered that Diane had been stealing from the trust for years.”
