Chapter 6: The Message That Changed Everything
Darius stared at the photograph on his phone.
The man standing outside his house was unmistakably his uncle, Richard Mitchell.
But it wasn't Richard's presence that frightened him.
It was the way he was looking toward Kayla's bedroom window.
For years, Richard had been the friendly uncle who brought Kayla birthday presents, took family photographs, and told everyone how much he loved his brother's little girl.
Now Darius understood that the smile had concealed something much uglier.
“Evelyn!”” he shouted.
She appeared at the office doorway.
“Mr. Mitchell?””
“Take Kayla downstairs. Lock the safe-room door. Don't open it for anyone except me.””
Evelyn immediately understood that something was wrong.
“Is someone outside?””
“Just do what I say.””
She hurried upstairs.
Nathan stood beside the security monitor, watching Richard move toward the west entrance.
“Darius, we need to talk.””
“Not now.””
“There's something about Dad's estate you don't understand.””
Darius turned sharply.
“You've had two years to explain it.””
“I was trying to protect you.””
“By hiding the truth about Renee?””
Nathan lowered his eyes.
“I made mistakes.””
“You signed documents that allowed someone to steal from my daughter. You watched Renee suffer. And now you want me to believe you were protecting us?””
Nathan didn't answer.
A loud metallic crash came from the west side of the house.
Both men turned.
The security monitor flickered.
One camera went black.
Then another.
Nathan whispered, “He's inside.””
Darius grabbed his phone.
“Security, respond to the west entrance immediately.””
No answer.
He tried again.
Nothing.
Then a voice came through the intercom.
“Mr. Mitchell?””
Darius recognized it.
Marcus.
His private investigator.
The man he had trusted to uncover the truth.
“Marcus, where are you?””
A pause.
Then Marcus answered.
“I'm sorry, Darius. I tried to keep you out of this.””
Darius felt his stomach tighten.
“Open the cameras.””
“I can't.””
“Why?””
“Because Richard has the master access code.””
Darius looked at Nathan.
His brother's face had turned white.
“What have you done?”” Darius demanded.
Nathan shook his head.
“Nothing.””
Then another crash echoed through the hallway.
Upstairs, Evelyn had reached Kayla's bedroom.
The little girl was sitting on the bed, holding her stuffed rabbit.
“Miss Evelyn, what's happening?””
Evelyn forced a smile.
“Nothing you need to worry about, sweetheart.””
“Is Daddy angry?””
“No, baby. He's making sure everyone is safe.””
Kayla touched the short curls above her ear.
“Can I have my purple ribbon?””
Evelyn's heart broke.
“Of course.””
She found the ribbon in the dresser and tied it gently around the little girl's remaining hair.
Kayla looked at herself in the mirror.
“Mommy used to tie it like this.””
“I remember.””
“Do you think she would like it?””
Evelyn smiled.
“She would love it.””
Then they heard footsteps outside.
Evelyn froze.
Someone was walking toward the bedroom.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
She moved Kayla behind her.
“Stay close to me.””
The bedroom door handle turned.
A man's voice came through.
“Evelyn, open the door.””
She recognized Marcus.
“Mr. Mitchell told me not to let anyone in.””
“Darius is downstairs. He needs Kayla.””
“No. He told me to keep her here.””
Marcus sighed.
“Evelyn, don't make this difficult.””
Kayla clutched her uniform.
“Miss Evelyn?””
Evelyn held her finger to her lips.
Then she heard something slide beneath the door.
A photograph.
She picked it up.
It showed Renee Mitchell sitting in a hospital bed.
On the back, someone had written:
Ask what happened to the medicine.
Evelyn's hands trembled.
Before she could react, Marcus knocked again.
“Open the door.””
This time, his voice was colder.
Downstairs, Darius had found the old security control panel.
He entered the emergency code.
Nothing happened.
The screen displayed a warning.
*SYSTEM ACCESS RESTRICTED.*
Nathan stepped closer.
“Let me try.””
Darius grabbed his arm.
“Don't touch it.””
“Darius, I know how Dad configured this system.””
“You also knew how he configured the trust, apparently.””
Nathan looked at him.
Then he whispered, “Dad wasn't the only one who had access.””
Darius released his arm.
“What does that mean?””
“Richard had a second administrator account. He created it years ago.””
“Why?””
“To monitor the property.””
Darius stared.
“Why would he monitor my house?””
Nathan swallowed.
“Because he knew where the original documents were hidden.””
A sound came from behind them.
Someone had entered through the kitchen.
Darius turned.
A tall figure stepped into the hallway.
Richard.
He wore a dark coat and carried a leather briefcase.
“Hello, boys.””
Darius moved in front of Nathan.
“Stay away from my family.””
Richard smiled.
“Your family? That's an interesting word.””
“What do you want?””
“The documents.””
“They're already with the police.””
Richard's smile disappeared.
“Don't lie to me.””
Darius took out his phone.
“I have recordings. Financial records. Renee's statement. Everything.””
Richard slowly placed his briefcase on the counter.
“Your wife should have kept her nose out of things that didn't concern her.””
Darius felt rage rising in his chest.
“She was protecting her daughter.””
“She was destroying a very profitable arrangement.””
“Did you have her killed?””
Richard's expression remained calm.
“Your wife was ill.””
“Answer me!””
Richard sighed.
“Renee was given a treatment she should never have received. That's all you need to know.””
Darius stared at him.
Then Richard added:
“And now you're making the same mistake she did.””
He reached into his coat.
Nathan suddenly stepped forward.
“Richard, stop!””
Richard turned.
“You should have stayed out of this, Nathan.””
Nathan shook his head.
“I'm done.””
Richard laughed.
“After all the money I gave you?””
Nathan looked at Darius.
Then back at his uncle.
“I don't want another dollar.””
Richard's face hardened.
“Then you'll lose everything.””
Before anyone could move, the front door burst open.
Police officers rushed inside.
“Hands where we can see them!””
Richard slowly raised his arms.
But as an officer approached, he looked directly at Darius.
“You think this ends with me?””
Darius didn't answer.
Richard smiled.
“Ask your fiancée who really arranged Renee's final treatment.””
Twenty minutes later, Richard was taken away.
Nathan sat on the living-room sofa, his face buried in his hands.
Darius stood near the window.
His phone rang.
Detective Bennett.
“Mr. Mitchell, we recovered something from Richard's vehicle.””
“What?””
“A folder containing medical records and a handwritten note.””
“What's in the note?””
The detective paused.
“It's addressed to Brittany Collins.””
Darius felt his stomach tighten.
“Read it.””
Detective Bennett took a breath.
“'The first part is complete. Renee is no longer a problem. Now get close to Darius and secure the inheritance.''”
Darius closed his eyes.
“There's more.””
The detective continued.
“'If the girl becomes an obstacle, use the arrangement we discussed.''”
Darius gripped the phone.
“What arrangement?””
“We're trying to establish that.””
May you like
Then she added something that made his blood run cold.
“Mr. Mitchell, the note is dated three weeks before Brittany first met you.””
