Chapter 6: The Man Who Watched My Mother Die
“Richard, I was there that night.””
Martin's words seemed to suck all the air out of the room.
My father stood motionless, staring at the man who had been his closest friend for twenty-two years.
Detective Bennett slowly closed the folder in her hands.
“Mr. Cole, I want you to explain exactly what you mean.””
Martin looked at her, then at my father.
“I was at the house the night Sarah died.””
Dad's jaw tightened.
“You told me you were in Boston.””
“I lied.””
“You told me you hadn't seen her for three days.””
“I lied about that too.””
My father took one step toward him.
“Why?””
Martin lowered his head.
“Because your mother asked me to.””
Dad stared at him.
“My mother?””
Martin nodded.
“Eleanor knew something was wrong before Sarah's accident. She had discovered irregularities in the company's accounts. She believed someone was watching Sarah, and she asked me to keep an eye on her.””
“Why didn't she tell me?””
“Because she believed you were being watched too.””
Dad let out a bitter laugh.
“So my own mother didn't trust me?””
“She trusted you more than anyone. That's why she wanted to protect you.””
I watched Martin's hands.
They were shaking.
For the first time, the polished attorney who always wore expensive suits and spoke with perfect confidence looked like an ordinary frightened man.
“What happened that night?”” I asked.
Martin looked at me.
“Your mother called me at 8:40 p.m. She said she'd found something in the company's financial records. She wanted to meet me at the house.””
“Did you?””
“Yes.””
“What did she tell you?””
He swallowed.
“She showed me bank transfers connected to three companies. One of them was registered under a false identity. But the money eventually led back to Daniel Price.””
Dad gripped the back of a chair.
“Daniel.””
Martin nodded.
“Sarah wanted to go to the police. I advised her to wait until we had copies of everything.””
“Why?””
“Because Daniel had access to the company's internal systems. I thought we could identify everyone involved before making an accusation.””
Dad's voice became colder.
“And then?””
“Sarah said she was leaving to pick up something from a storage facility. She believed the original ledger was there.””
I frowned.
“What time?””
“Shortly after nine.””
“And you let her drive away?””
Martin closed his eyes.
“Yes.””
Dad stepped forward.
“Why didn't you stop her?””
“Because I didn't know someone had already followed her.””
The room went silent.
Martin continued.
“About fifteen minutes after she left, I received a phone call. It was Daniel.””
“What did he say?””
“He asked whether Sarah had told me anything.””
Dad's face hardened.
“What did you tell him?””
“I said no.””
“Then?””
“He told me to forget everything I'd seen that evening.””
I felt sick.
“You knew he was dangerous.””
“I suspected it.””
“And you said nothing?””
Martin looked at me.
“I was afraid.””
Dad slammed his hand against the table.
“She was my wife!””
Martin flinched.
“I know.””
“She was the mother of my child!””
“I know, Richard.””
“And you let me spend seven years believing she died because of an accident!””
Martin's eyes filled with tears.
“I know.””
Detective Bennett interrupted.
“Mr. Cole, did you contact the police after receiving Daniel's call?””
“No.””
“Did you report the financial fraud?””
“No.””
“Did you preserve the documents Sarah showed you?””
Martin hesitated.
“Yes.””
“Where?””
“In a safety deposit box.””
Dad stared at him.
“You've had evidence all these years?””
Martin nodded.
“I couldn't bring myself to destroy it. But I couldn't bring myself to expose it either.””
“That's not protection,” I said.
Martin looked at me.
“It's cowardice.””
Nobody answered.
Then Detective Bennett's phone rang.
She stepped toward the window.
“Yes?””
A pause.
“What do you mean she's gone?””
She listened.
“Did anyone see where she went?””
Another pause.
“Understood.””
She ended the call.
Dad turned immediately.
“Victoria?””
“The officers stationed at your estate found the entrance empty. Her suitcase was left behind. She's disappeared again.””
Dad looked toward the security feed.
“Then we're going after her.””
“No,” Detective Bennett replied.
“We're going to secure your son and locate both Victoria and Daniel.””
My father shook his head.
“She's holding evidence about my wife's death.””
“And she knows you're emotional. That's exactly why she wants you to come alone.””
Dad fell silent.
I looked at the photograph still displayed on the laptop.
Victoria's handwritten note.
Then I noticed something.
“Wait.””
Everyone turned toward me.
“What?”” Dad asked.
I pointed at the paper.
“Look at the bottom.””
There was a small mark beneath Victoria's message.
A blue symbol.
Three circles connected by a line.
I recognized it immediately.
It was the logo of an old storage company.
“Grandma used to take me there,” I said.
Martin leaned closer.
“Where?””
“Bluebird Storage. She had a unit there before she died.””
Dad looked at him.
“Did you know about that?””
Martin nodded slowly.
“Yes.””
“What's inside?””
“I don't know. Eleanor never told me.””
Detective Bennett immediately took a photograph of the symbol.
“Where is this facility?””
I gave her the address.
Dad reached for his coat.
“I'll come with you.””
The detective shook her head.
“Mr. Hayes, you'll remain with your son.””
“I'm not letting another person disappear with evidence about my wife.””
“Then let us do our job.””
Dad looked at me.
For a moment, I thought he would argue.
Instead, he crouched in front of me.
“Listen carefully. You're staying with David. You don't open the door for anyone. Not Martin, not Victoria, not anybody unless Detective Bennett authorizes it.””
I nodded.
He touched my cheek gently.
“I'm going to find out what happened to your mother.””
I watched him leave.
Martin followed the detective.
But just before he reached the door, he turned around.
“James.””
I looked up.
“There is something else your grandmother told me.””
“What?””
Martin hesitated.
“She said Sarah didn't die with the evidence.””
I frowned.
“What does that mean?””
He glanced toward the hallway.
“She said your mother left a message somewhere only you would think to look.””
Then he walked away.
I sat alone for several minutes.
My father's first wife.
My grandmother.
Victoria.
Daniel.
Martin.
Everyone seemed to know something about my mother except me.
Then David approached.
“James, we should move.””
“Where?””
“To the guest security room.””
I stood.
As we walked through the corridor, my phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
One message.
*Your grandmother wasn't the only one who knew the truth. Your mother left you something before she died. Check the music box.*
I stopped walking.
The music box.
My mother had given me one when I was six.
A little wooden box with a dancing ballerina.
I hadn't seen it in years.
It was in the attic.
And suddenly I remembered something.
The ballerina had never been able to turn properly.
Because something inside the box had always rattled.
I looked at David.
“Can we go to the attic?””
He shook his head.
“Not without clearance.””
“Please. It's about my mother.””
He studied my expression.
Then he spoke into his radio.
“Control, this is David. I need authorization to search the attic for a family keepsake.””
A voice answered.
“Stand by.””
Seconds passed.
Then the radio crackled.
“Negative. Nobody enters the attic.””
David frowned.
“Who issued that order?””
The answer came.
“Mr. Price.””
I stared at him.
Daniel was supposed to be at an abandoned warehouse.
But somehow, he was still giving orders inside our house.
And whoever was following us had just made one thing clear.
May you like
The truth about my mother was hidden somewhere in the attic.
Someone was desperate to keep me away from it.
