Chapter 9: The Letter From the Past
I read the letter standing in Thomas’s office.
I couldn’t sit.
I couldn’t breathe normally.
My father’s handwriting stared back at me.
The same handwriting I remembered from birthday cards.
From notes he left on the kitchen counter.
From the old recipes he wrote by hand.
But this wasn’t a memory.
This was a warning.
Marcus,
If you are reading this, something has happened.
I need you to understand one thing.
The people closest to you are not always the ones protecting you.
My hands tightened around the paper.
Thomas watched me carefully.
“What does it say?””
I looked up.
“You haven’t read it?””
He shook his head.
“No.””
“Why?””
“Because it wasn’t mine to open.””
I looked back down.
The letter continued.
Years ago, I discovered that someone was moving money through your company.
I tried to warn you.
But you trusted the wrong people.
I stopped reading.
Because I knew.
I knew where this was going.
My father had known.
Before I did.
Before Derrick.
Before Andre.
Before everyone.
I continued.
The person responsible was not outside your family.
It was someone you welcomed inside.
Someone who knew your routines.
Someone who knew your weaknesses.
My heart pounded.
I folded the letter.
“Who else knew about this?””
Thomas shook his head.
“I don’t know.””
“Who gave you the letter?””
“No one.””
“Then how did you have it?””
His eyes lowered.
“Your father gave it to me.””
I froze.
“When?””
“Before he died.””
My voice became quiet.
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
Thomas looked ashamed.
“Because he told me not to.””
I laughed bitterly.
“Everyone keeps making decisions for me.””
He didn’t respond.
I walked toward the door.
“Marcus.””
I stopped.
Thomas looked serious.
“You need to know something.””
“What?””
“Your accident wasn’t meant to kill you.””
I turned.
“What?””
“It was meant to scare you.””
My eyebrows tightened.
“Why?””
“Because someone wanted you to stop searching.””
I thought about Derrick.
The company.
The missing money.
The lies.
Then I thought about Jada.
The graduation.
The hospital.
The way my entire life had suddenly started connecting.
I drove home.
This time, I remembered every second.
Because I knew something.
The truth wasn’t waiting in the past anymore.
It was inside my house.
When I arrived, Camille was sitting at the table.
Two cups of coffee.
One untouched.
She looked at me.
“You know.””
I stopped.
“What?””
She looked exhausted.
“You found something.””
I walked closer.
“Did you know about my father’s letter?””
Her face changed.
A small reaction.
But enough.
I stared at her.
“Camille.””
She looked away.
“Marcus…”
“No.””
My voice broke.
“Not again.””
She closed her eyes.
“I didn’t want this.””
“Did you know?””
A long silence.
Then:
“Yes.””
The answer hurt.
I stepped back.
“How?””
“Your father gave it to me.””
“When?””
“Before he died.””
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
“My father trusted you?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
She looked at me.
“Because he knew something was wrong.””
I sat down.
“Tell me everything.””
She was quiet.
Then she said:
“Your father believed someone was trying to destroy you.””
“Who?””
She looked toward the hallway.
Toward where Jada’s room was.
Then back at me.
“I never knew for sure.””
“That’s not an answer.””
“No.””
She wiped her eyes.
“But I had a suspicion.””
My stomach tightened.
“Who?””
She whispered:
“Your mother.””
The room stopped.
I stared at her.
“My mother has been dead for ten years.””
“I know.””
“Then why are you saying her name?””
“Because she wasn’t working alone.””
I felt dizzy.
“Who was with her?””
Camille didn’t answer.
She reached into a drawer.
Pulled out a photograph.
And placed it on the table.
The picture showed three people.
My mother.
Thomas.
And someone else.
Someone I recognized instantly.
Someone who had just stood in my doorway two days ago.
Someone who claimed he came to help me.
Andre.
I looked at Camille.
“What is this?””
Her voice was barely audible.
“The reason I was afraid to tell you the truth.””
I picked up the photograph.
My hands were shaking.
Because suddenly I understood.
The biggest secret wasn’t why I missed Jada’s graduation.
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The biggest secret was that my entire family had been hiding the same thing from me.
And the person I trusted most may have been the one who started it all.