Chapter 7: The Woman Who Finally Told the Truth
I read the photograph of the handwritten note three times.
Diane Whitmore.
Ryan had apparently planned to sacrifice his own mother.
My father stood beside me in the kitchen, reading the same message over my shoulder.
“Who wrote it?”” he asked.
“Richard, according to the police.””
“Then we need to find him.””
Marcus called before either of us could say more.
“The police recovered the note from the storage unit. They also found a laptop with messages between Richard and Ryan.””
“What do the messages say?”” my father asked.
Marcus paused.
“Richard believed Ryan was planning to transfer the remaining funds into a private account and disappear.””
“Where?””
“We haven't established that yet.””
I sat down.
“Is there anything about Diane?””
“Yes. Several messages suggest Richard believed she had helped Ryan create false investment documents.””
My father closed his eyes.
“Get the detective on the line.””
A few minutes later, Detective Miller joined the call.
He explained that the blood found in Richard's study belonged to Richard, but the amount recovered wasn't necessarily evidence of a fatal injury.
A broken glass cabinet had caused additional cuts, making the scene difficult to interpret.
“Has he been found?”” I asked.
“Not yet. But we've identified a vehicle connected to him.””
“Where?””
“Near a private medical clinic outside the city.””
My father looked at me.
“Was he injured?””
“We don't know. We're checking the clinic records.””
The call ended.
I walked toward the window.
For the first time in days, I felt exhausted rather than angry.
My father approached quietly.
“You should sleep.””
“I can't.””
“Maya.””
I turned.
“What if Richard is dead?””
“Then the police will find out what happened.””
“And what if Ryan hurt him?””
My father didn't answer.
Because we both knew it was possible.
At 9:15 the following morning, Detective Miller called.
Richard Whitmore had been found.
He was alive.
A hospital had reported an unidentified man with injuries consistent with a fall. His identity was confirmed after fingerprint checks.
He was being treated for a fractured wrist, several cuts, and a concussion.
The detective said Richard was conscious and willing to speak.
But he had made one condition.
He wanted to talk to me.
My father immediately objected.
“Absolutely not.””
Detective Miller explained that Richard had specifically requested my presence because he claimed he had information about Ryan's plans.
Marcus recommended that we meet at the hospital under police supervision.
By noon, I was sitting beside Richard's hospital bed.
He looked much older than he had at Thanksgiving.
His left arm was wrapped in a cast. A bandage covered his forehead.
When he saw me, he tried to sit up.
“Don't,” I said.
He looked at me for a long moment.
Then he whispered, “I'm sorry.””
I folded my hands.
“For what?””
“For what my family did to you.””
I stared at him.
“Did you know Ryan was using me?””
Richard closed his eyes.
“Yes.””
The answer hurt more than I expected.
“When?””
“About six months ago.””
“Six months?””
He nodded weakly.
“I found the financial documents. I saw the payments to Ryan's company. I confronted him.””
“What did he tell you?””
“He said it was temporary. That he was moving money between accounts to finance an acquisition.””
“And you believed him?””
“No.””
His voice cracked.
“I knew it was wrong.””
“Then why didn't you report him?””
Richard looked at the ceiling.
“Because I was involved.””
I felt my stomach turn.
“How?””
He explained that Daniel Cross had approached him almost two years earlier with an investment proposal.
Northstar Strategic Consulting was created to receive consulting payments and distribute funds to several private investors.
Richard had signed documents without understanding the full structure.
Eventually, he discovered that the money was being taken from Bennett Holdings through unauthorized transactions.
By then, he had already received payments.
He was afraid of going to prison.
“So you helped Ryan hide the money?””
Richard nodded.
“And you allowed him to date me?””
“I didn't know about you at first.””
“When did you find out?””
“When Ryan brought your photograph home.””
I looked at him.
“What photograph?””
Richard pointed weakly toward his bedside table.
A nurse handed me a small envelope.
Inside was a photograph of Ryan and me outside a restaurant.
On the back, someone had written:
Alexander Bennett's daughter.
I felt cold.
Richard continued.
“Ryan told me you were ordinary. He said you were working in finance and didn't have much money. He thought you were completely disconnected from your father's company.””
I looked at the photograph.
“Then he discovered who I was?””
“Yes. But he didn't tell me immediately. He wanted to make sure you were genuinely connected to the family before he changed his approach.””
I swallowed.
“Did he ever love me?””
Richard's eyes filled with tears.
“I don't know, Maya. But I know he was willing to destroy your father's company to get what he wanted.””
I placed the photograph down.
“What happened last night?””
Richard's breathing became uneven.
“Ryan came to the house. He wanted the storage unit keys.””
“Why?””
“He knew I had kept copies of the original documents. He said he needed to destroy them before the police found them.””
“And you refused?””
“Yes.””
Richard looked away.
“He became furious. He pushed me into the cabinet. When I fell, he took the keys and left.””
“Did Diane see?””
Richard nodded.
“She was there.””
“Did she help him?””
“No. She tried to stop him.””
I remembered the red stain on Diane's coat.
Richard continued.
“She cut her hand on the broken glass when she tried to pull him away.””
That explained the stain.
But it didn't explain the note.
“Why did you write my name?””
Richard looked directly at me.
“Because I knew Ryan would blame his mother if the police found the documents. He told me he had already prepared evidence suggesting Diane approved the transfers.””
I stood.
“He was going to frame her?””
“Yes.””
Richard reached for my hand but stopped before touching it.
“There's something else.””
“What?””
“Ryan has a second identity.””
I frowned.
“What do you mean?””
“His advisory company is registered under his name, but the person controlling the offshore account is listed as a different beneficiary.””
“Who?””
Richard swallowed.
Then he whispered a name.
“Olivia Mercer.””
I stared at him.
“That doesn't make sense. Olivia has been cooperating with the investigation.””
“She's cooperating now. But she was involved before she turned against Ryan.””
The hospital room seemed to grow smaller.
Richard continued.
“Ryan and Olivia created a private agreement. If the acquisition succeeded, she would receive control of the subsidiary. Ryan would receive the remaining funds.””
“Why would Olivia help us?””
“Because Ryan changed the agreement. He planned to leave her with the legal responsibility while taking the money.””
I looked toward Detective Miller.
“Did you know this?””
He shook his head.
“Not yet.””
Richard closed his eyes.
“I have the original agreement.””
“Where?””
“Ryan has a copy. But the original is hidden somewhere in his office.””
I stepped closer.
“Where exactly?””
Richard struggled to speak.
“Behind the photograph.””
“What photograph?””
“The family portrait in his office.””
I felt a chill.
The portrait.
I remembered seeing it during my visit.
A photograph of Ryan, Diane, Richard, and Vanessa standing outside their house.
Richard whispered, “Look behind it. There's a safe.””
Detective Miller immediately contacted his team.
Before leaving, I turned toward Richard.
“One more question.””
He looked at me.
“Why did Diane tell me I didn't belong in your family?””
Richard's expression crumbled.
“Because she knew Ryan had been lying to you. She thought if she pushed you away, you would leave before he could use you.””
I stared at him.
“That doesn't excuse what she said.””
“No,” he whispered.
“It doesn't.””
I walked out of the hospital with Detective Miller.
Outside, my father was waiting.
He opened the car door.
“What did he say?””
I looked at him.
“Ryan has been planning this for almost two years.””
My father nodded grimly.
“And Olivia?””
I hesitated.
“She may have been more involved than we thought.””
My phone rang.
An unknown number.
I answered.
A woman's voice came through.
“Maya, it's Olivia.””
I stopped walking.
“Where are you?””
“I need to see you.””
“Why?””
Her voice trembled.
“Because Ryan knows I've been cooperating with the police.””
A pause.
“And he just sent me a message.””
“What did it say?””
May you like
Olivia whispered:
“He says if I don't meet him tonight, he'll release the recording of what really happened to your father.””
