Chapter 9: The Last Lie
Michael stood in the doorway as if he'd arrived for a routine business meeting.
His suit was immaculate. His tie was perfectly straight in the doorway as if he'd arrived for a routine business meeting.
His suit was immaculate. His tie was perfectly straight. The gun in his right hand was the only thing that disturbed the illusion.
Catherine pressed. The gun in his right hand was the only thing that disturbed the illusion.
Catherine pressed herself against the headboard.
I stepped in front of her.
"Put the gun down.""
herself against the headboard.
I stepped in front of her.
"Put the gun down.""
Michael smiled.
"You sound like Richard.""
"Don't say his nameMichael smiled.
"You sound like Richard.""
"Don't say his name.""
"Why? He was a good man. Stubborn, but good.""
"You murdered him.""
Michael tilted.""
"Why? He was a good man. Stubborn, but good.""
"You murdered him.""
Michael tilted his head.
"That's a very serious accusation.""
"You told my father you killed Thomas.""
"I told his head.
"That's a very serious accusation.""
"You told my father you killed Thomas.""
"I told him Thomas had made a mistake.""
"You said you'd make sure he couldn't talk.""
Michael's smile faded.
"And your him Thomas had made a mistake.""
"You said you'd make sure he couldn't talk.""
Michael's smile faded.
"And your father decided to play hero.""
I felt my hands shaking.
"Why?""
"Because he believed father decided to play hero.""
I felt my hands shaking.
"Why?""
"Because he believed the world worked according to rules. Contracts. Promises. Sign the world worked according to rules.
Contracts. Promises. Signatures."" Michael stepped farther into the room.
"He thought he could protect everyone byatures."" Michael stepped farther into the room.
"He thought he could protect everyone by hiding a few documents.""
Catherine reached for the call button beside her bed.
Michael pointed hiding a few documents.""
Catherine reached for the call button beside her bed.
Michael pointed the gun at her.
"Don't.""
She froze.
I looked at him.
"Leave her out of this.""
"She the gun at her.
"Don't.""
She froze.
I looked at him.
"Leave her out of this.""
"She was never supposed to survive.""
The words landed with horrifying simplicity.
Catherine's was never supposed to survive.""
The words landed with horrifying simplicity.
Catherine's face went white.
Michael glanced at the flash drive in his left hand.
"This contains the final recording. The one Vanessa face went white.
Michael glanced at the flash drive in his left hand.
"This contains the final recording. The one Vanessa stole. It also contains copies of the trust documents and a list of every account connected to the operation stole. It also contains copies of the trust documents and a list of every account connected to the operation.""
"Then give it to the police.""
He laughed.
"You really have no idea how the world works.""
"I.""
"Then give it to the police.""
He laughed.
"You really have no idea how the world works.""
"I know how murder works.""
For the first time, his expression changed.
He looked almost offended.
"Richard know how murder works.""
For the first time, his expression changed.
He looked almost offended.
"Richard was going to destroy everything. He had discovered that Thomas had been moving money through companies was going to destroy everything. He had discovered that Thomas had been moving money through companies connected to people who didn't tolerate betrayal.
He wanted to expose the operation, return connected to people who didn't tolerate betrayal. He wanted to expose the operation, return the stolen assets, and hand over every name.""
"And you killed him to stop that the stolen assets, and hand over every name.""
"And you killed him to stop that.""
"I tried to convince him to cooperate.""
"And when he refused?""
Michael looked at the floor.
"When he refused.""
"I tried to convince him to cooperate.""
"And when he refused?""
Michael looked at the floor.
"When he refused, I made a decision.""
My stomach twisted.
"You killed him.""
"I protected myself.""
I stared at him.
"That's what you tell yourself?""
, I made a decision.""
My stomach twisted.
"You killed him.""
"I protected myself.""
I stared at him.
"That's what you tell yourself?""
He raised the gun slightly.
"Your father had a choice. So did ThomasHe raised the gun slightly.
"Your father had a choice. So did Thomas. So did Vanessa. So did your mother.""
He looked directly at me.
"Everyone has. So did Vanessa. So did your mother.""
He looked directly at me.
"Everyone has a choice, Marcus. The difference is that some people understand the cost.""
I wanted to hit him.
Instead a choice, Marcus. The difference is that some people understand the cost.""
I wanted to hit him.
Instead, I forced myself to keep talking.
"Why did you let me work with you for eight years?""
", I forced myself to keep talking.
"Why did you let me work with you for eight years?""
"Because you were useful.""
The answer was immediate.
"You were talented. Ambitious. You trusted me.Because you were useful.""
The answer was immediate.
"You were talented. Ambitious. You trusted me. I could guide your business, control your legal affairs, and keep an eye on the I could guide your business, control your legal affairs, and keep an eye on the trust.""
He stepped closer.
"And you made it very easy.""
I felt the words trust.""
He stepped closer.
"And you made it very easy.""
I felt the words like a knife.
"You were my friend.""
"No," Michael said quietly like a knife.
"You were my friend.""
"No," Michael said quietly.
"I was your guardian. Your father was gone, your mother was frightened, and you needed someone to tell you what to do.""
He smiled.
"I was your guardian. Your father was gone, your mother was frightened, and you needed someone to tell you what to do.""
He smiled.
"You were grateful. That was the best part.""
Catherine suddenly spoke.
"You were grateful. That was the best part.""
Catherine suddenly spoke.
"Thomas knew what you were.""
Michael turned toward her.
"Thomas was a fool.""
"He tried to leave.""
.
"Thomas knew what you were.""
Michael turned toward her.
"Thomas was a fool.""
"He tried to leave.""
"He tried to take money that belonged to me.""
"It was his company.""
"It was my"He tried to take money that belonged to me.""
"It was his company.""
"It was my work!""
His voice erupted through the room.
For the first time, I saw the rage work!""
His voice erupted through the room.
For the first time, I saw the rage beneath his polished exterior.
Michael took a breath and lowered his voice.
"Thomas thought beneath his polished exterior.
Michael took a breath and lowered his voice.
"Thomas thought he could walk away with twelve million dollars and start a new life. He thought Catherine would he could walk away with twelve million dollars and start a new life. He thought Catherine would protect him. He thought his son would inherit everything.""
He looked at me.
"And Richard thought protect him. He thought his son would inherit everything.""
He looked at me.
"And Richard thought he could adopt you and erase me.""
I swallowed.
"Why did you want the he could adopt you and erase me.""
I swallowed.
"Why did you want the trust?""
"Because Thomas had placed assets beyond my reach. I built trust?""
"Because Thomas had placed assets beyond my reach. I built the operation that generated the money, and he planned to leave me with nothing the operation that generated the money, and he planned to leave me with nothing.""
"So you killed him.""
"I removed an obstacle.""
"And Richard?""
"He found the original agreement. He was.""
"So you killed him.""
"I removed an obstacle.""
"And Richard?""
"He found the original agreement. He was going to expose me. I couldn't allow that.""
I stared at him.
"You killed the only going to expose me. I couldn't allow that.""
I stared at him.
"You killed the only father I'd ever known.""
Michael's expression softened in a way that made me feel sick.
"I gave father I'd ever known.""
Michael's expression softened in a way that made me feel sick.
"I gave you a life, Marcus.""
"No. He did.""
For a moment, the room was you a life, Marcus.""
"No. He did.""
For a moment, the room was silent.
Then Michael raised the gun toward Catherine.
"Enough. Give me the brass key.""
I didn't move.
"The silent.
Then Michael raised the gun toward Catherine.
"Enough. Give me the brass key.""
I didn't move.
"The key isn't here.""
"Don't lie to me.""
"I gave it to Detective Brooks.""
His eyes key isn't here.""
"Don't lie to me.""
"I gave it to Detective Brooks.""
His eyes narrowed.
"You wouldn't.""
"I did.""
Michael struck me across the face with the gun.
Pain exploded through narrowed.
"You wouldn't.""
"I did.""
Michael struck me across the face with the gun.
Pain exploded through my cheek, and I stumbled against the bedside table.
Catherine screamed.
Michael grabbed my collar and my cheek, and I stumbled against the bedside table.
Catherine screamed.
Michael grabbed my collar and pulled me upright.
"Where is the key?""
I tasted blood.
"Go to hell.""
He shoved pulled me upright.
"Where is the key?""
I tasted blood.
"Go to hell.""
He shoved me toward the wall.
"You're just like him.""
Then a voice sounded me toward the wall.
"You're just like him.""
Then a voice sounded from the corridor.
"Atlanta Police! Drop the weapon!""
Michael spun around.
A gunshot cracked from the corridor.
"Atlanta Police! Drop the weapon!""
Michael spun around.
A gunshot cracked through the room.
The window shattered.
Catherine screamed and ducked beneath the blanket through the room.
The window shattered.
Catherine screamed and ducked beneath the blanket.
I threw myself toward Michael, grabbing his gun arm as he tried to aim.
I threw myself toward Michael, grabbing his gun arm as he tried to aim at the doorway.
We crashed into a chair.
The weapon fell beneath the bed.
Michael at the doorway.
We crashed into a chair.
The weapon fell beneath the bed.
Michael punched me in the stomach, and I doubled over.
He scrambled toward the gun.
I caught punched me in the stomach, and I doubled over.
He scrambled toward the gun.
I caught his ankle.
He kicked free and reached beneath the bed just as two officers rushed his ankle.
He kicked free and reached beneath the bed just as two officers rushed into the room.
"Hands! Show me your hands!""
Michael raised into the room.
"Hands! Show me your hands!""
Michael raised his empty palms.
"Don't shoot! I'm unarmed!""
The lie was almost impressive his empty palms.
"Don't shoot! I'm unarmed!""
The lie was almost impressive.
The gun lay inches from his fingers.
An officer kicked it away while another forced.
The gun lay inches from his fingers.
An officer kicked it away while another forced him onto the floor.
Michael began shouting about unlawful entry, police misconduct him onto the floor.
Michael began shouting about unlawful entry, police misconduct, and his rights.
Then Detective Brooks appeared in the doorway.
Her face was tight with fury.
"Michael, and his rights.
Then Detective Brooks appeared in the doorway.
Her face was tight with fury.
"Michael Grant, you're under arrest for attempted murder, assault, obstruction of justice, and multiple financial crimes. Additional Grant, you're under arrest for attempted murder, assault, obstruction of justice, and multiple financial crimes. Additional homicide charges will be pursued as the evidence is reviewed.""
Michael turned toward me as the homicide charges will be pursued as the evidence is reviewed.""
Michael turned toward me as the officers hauled him upright.
"You think you've won?""
I wiped the blood from my mouth.
"No.""
officers hauled him upright.
"You think you've won?""
I wiped the blood from my mouth.
"No.""
He smiled.
"Good. Because you haven't.""
Detective Brooks tookHe smiled.
"Good. Because you haven't.""
Detective Brooks took the silver flash drive from the floor where it had fallen.
Michael's the silver flash drive from the floor where it had fallen.
Michael's smile disappeared.
"That belongs to me.""
"No," Catherine said from the smile disappeared.
"That belongs to me.""
"No," Catherine said from the bed.
"It belongs to the people you hurt.""
The detective secured the drive in bed.
"It belongs to the people you hurt.""
The detective secured the drive in an evidence bag.
Then she looked at me.
"Mr. Carter, are you injured?""
"I'll be fine.""
an evidence bag.
Then she looked at me.
"Mr. Carter, are you injured?""
"I'll be fine.""
A medic entered to examine my face.
As theA medic entered to examine my face.
As the officers escorted Michael out, he twisted around one last time.
"Ask Vanessa officers escorted Michael out, he twisted around one last time.
"Ask Vanessa who was in the car with Richard that night!""
I froze.
"What who was in the car with Richard that night!""
I froze.
"What did you say?""
Michael laughed as he was dragged into the corridor.
"Ask her!""
Detective Brooks followed did you say?""
Michael laughed as he was dragged into the corridor.
"Ask her!""
Detective Brooks followed him out, ordering an officer to preserve every piece of evidence from the room.
C him out, ordering an officer to preserve every piece of evidence from the room.
Catherine looked at me.
"Marcus, I think he's trying to manipulate you.""
"Maybe.""
Butatherine looked at me.
"Marcus, I think he's trying to manipulate you.""
"Maybe.""
But I remembered the photograph of my father and Daniel.
I remembered Vanessa's confession.
And I remembered the photograph of my father and Daniel.
I remembered Vanessa's confession.
And I remembered the cassette recording in which my father's voice had been interrupted by a crash.
Something about the night of I remembered the cassette recording in which my father's voice had been interrupted by a crash.
Something about the night of the accident was still missing.
An officer returned with my phone.
" the accident was still missing.
An officer returned with my phone.
"Mr. Carter, Detective Brooks asked me to give you this. She said there's beenMr.
Carter, Detective Brooks asked me to give you this. She said there's been a development.""
A message appeared on the screen from Vanessa's attorney.
*My client is prepared to testify in exchange for consideration a development.""
A message appeared on the screen from Vanessa's attorney.
My client is prepared to testify in exchange for consideration regarding her role in the financial crimes.
Below it was a second message.
She claims she knows who was regarding her role in the financial crimes.
Below it was a second message.
She claims she knows who was driving the second vehicle the night Richard Carter died.
I looked at Catherine.
She was staring at the message driving the second vehicle the night Richard Carter died.*
I looked at Catherine.
She was staring at the message.
"Who was it?"" I asked.
Her lips parted.
Then she whispered, "No.
"Who was it?"" I asked.
Her lips parted.
Then she whispered, "No.""
I turned toward her.
"What?""
Catherine shook her head.
"That can't be true.""
"Who was in.""
I turned toward her.
"What?""
Catherine shook her head.
"That can't be true.""
"Who was in the car?""
She looked at me with tears in her eyes.
"Your mother.""
My world stopped.
"No the car?""
She looked at me with tears in her eyes.
"Your mother.""
My world stopped.
"No.""
"Marcus—"
"No. Mom was home that night.""
Catherine closed.""
"Marcus—"
"No. Mom was home that night.""
Catherine closed her eyes.
"That's what she told you.""
I stepped away from the bed.
For the second her eyes.
"That's what she told you.""
I stepped away from the bed.
For the second time in less than an hour, everything I believed about my family began to collapse.
I called Detective time in less than an hour, everything I believed about my family began to collapse.
I called Detective Brooks.
She answered immediately.
"Mr. Carter, we're transporting Michael to the station. What's Brooks.
She answered immediately.
"Mr. Carter, we're transporting Michael to the station. What's wrong?""
"Vanessa says my mother was in the car the night my father died.""
There was a long pause wrong?""
"Vanessa says my mother was in the car the night my father died.""
There was a long pause.
Then Detective Brooks said something I would never forget.
"Mr. Carter, we found a second vehicle.
Then Detective Brooks said something I would never forget.
"Mr. Carter, we found a second vehicle registered to Evelyn Carter in the original accident file.""
My throat tightened.
"Why wasn't it investigated?""
"Because the vehicle was reported stolen registered to Evelyn Carter in the original accident file.""
My throat tightened.
"Why wasn't it investigated?""
"Because the vehicle was reported stolen the morning after the accident.""
I gripped the phone.
"By whom?""
Detective Brooks hesitated.
"By the morning after the accident.""
I gripped the phone.
"By whom?""
Detective Brooks hesitated.
"By your mother.""
I looked toward Catherine.
She was crying silently.
And for the first time, I wondered whether the woman your mother.""
I looked toward Catherine.
May you like
She was crying silently.
And for the first time, I wondered whether the woman who had spent twelve days trying to return to me had also spent eighteen who had spent twelve days trying to return to me had also spent eighteen years hiding the truth about the night my father died.
