Chapter 9: The Last Secret of Thomas Harper
The police arrived forty minutes later.
But by then, Julian was gone.
So was the envelope.
The one thing that could prove Thomas Harper’s innocence had disappeared.
Again.
I stood in Thomas’s hidden room, staring at the empty table.
Twenty years ago, they stole his name.
Now they were trying to steal the truth.
Arthur walked beside me.
“I’m sorry.””
I looked at him.
“For what?””
“For everything.””
I didn’t answer.
Because apologies were becoming too easy.
Everyone was sorry after the damage was done.
Claire approached us.
“I found something.””
She held a small metal box.
“Where did you get that?””
“Behind the table.””
Arthur frowned.
“That wasn’t there before.””
I took the box.
There was a small engraving.
My name.
Evelyn.
My hands began shaking.
Thomas.
He had made something for me.
I opened it.
Inside was a recording device.
Old.
Small.
And a note.
“Press play when the truth is finally ready.””
Nobody spoke.
I pressed the button.
Static filled the room.
Then—
Thomas’s voice.
Older.
Tired.
But alive.
“Evelyn…”
I closed my eyes.
Hearing him again broke something inside me.
“If you’re listening to this, then I failed to protect you from the truth.””
Tears filled my eyes.
“I’m sorry.””
His voice paused.
“I wanted to tell you everything.””
The recording continued.
“I wanted to tell you about Daniel.””
I held my breath.
“But I was afraid.””
Thomas explained.
He had found Daniel years after losing contact.
He had planned to bring him into our lives.
But someone threatened him.
Someone knew about Daniel.
Someone knew Thomas was preparing to expose the stolen designs.
“I thought Richard was the danger.””
Thomas’s voice became quieter.
“I was wrong.””
Everyone listened.
“The person helping Richard was someone I trusted more than anyone.””
I looked at Arthur.
Then Claire.
The recording continued.
“I discovered my own brother was involved.””
My heart stopped.
Thomas had a brother.
But why had he never told me?
“He was jealous. He believed everything I had should have belonged to him.””
The recording crackled.
“His name was Michael Harper.””
I whispered:
“Michael?””
I remembered the name.
Thomas had mentioned him once.
A childhood memory.
A brother who left.
A brother who disappeared.
The recording continued.
“Michael helped Richard transfer my designs. But when I found out, he became afraid.””
Thomas paused.
“He tried to destroy the evidence.””
Claire looked at me.
“But he didn’t succeed.””
“No,” I whispered.
Thomas had hidden it.
The recording continued.
“There is one person who knows the full truth.””
The room became silent.
“Daniel.””
I looked at the phone.
Daniel was still connected.
“I left everything with him because I knew one day he would find his way back.””
Then Thomas said something that made everyone freeze.
“Evelyn, if Daniel is listening with you…”
The recording paused.
Then:
“Forgive him.””
I looked confused.
“Forgive who?””
Thomas continued.
“He carries a burden that was never his.””
Daniel spoke through the phone.
“I know what he means.””
Everyone looked.
Daniel’s voice was shaking.
“I found my uncle.””
I froze.
“What?””
“Years ago.””
The room went silent.
“He told me the truth.””
My heart raced.
“Where is he?””
Daniel answered:
“He’s been watching everything.””
The door upstairs opened.
Everyone turned.
A man stood there.
Older.
Thin.
Holding the missing envelope.
Arthur whispered:
“No.””
The man looked down.
May you like
Then said:
“My name is Michael Harper.””
