Chapter 7: The Lawyer Who Knew Too Much
Richard read the message again.
*Don't trust Samuel. He knows exactly what happened to Amelia.*
His fingers tightened around the phone.
Across the living room, Samuel Whitmore was speaking to the court investigator on speakerphone. He looked perfectly calm, adjusting his glasses and arranging the documents on the coffee table.
The same man who had represented Richard for twenty years.
The same man who had promised to protect his family.
The same man whose name was written on Evelyn's final letter.
Richard slowly slipped his phone into his pocket.
He needed answers.
But he needed to be careful.
“Samuel,” he called.
The lawyer looked up.
“Yes, Richard?””
“Would you come into the study? There's something I'd like to discuss privately.””
Samuel glanced at Michael and Vanessa.
“Of course.””
Richard walked ahead.
Once they entered the study, he closed the door.
Samuel placed his briefcase on the desk.
“What's happened?””
Richard didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he removed Evelyn's letter from his pocket and placed it on the desk.
Samuel glanced at the handwriting.
His face changed.
Only slightly.
But Richard noticed.
“Where did you get that?”” Samuel asked.
“From my wife's old box.””
Samuel picked it up.
His eyes moved across the first paragraph.
Then he stopped at the final page.
Richard watched him carefully.
“Do you recognize the name?””
Samuel lowered the letter.
“Richard, this is an old family matter.””
“It's my family.””
“I know.””
“Then tell me why my wife's letter says you knew what happened to Amelia.””
Samuel took off his glasses.
For a long moment, he didn't speak.
Then he sat down.
“Because I did.””
Richard felt his stomach tighten.
“You knew?””
Samuel nodded.
“I knew Amelia had been threatened.””
Richard stared at him.
“By whom?””
“Edward.””
“My brother?””
“Yes.””
“And you never told me?””
Samuel rubbed his forehead.
“I was trying to protect you.””
Richard let out a bitter laugh.
“That's becoming a very popular excuse.””
Samuel looked up.
“Edward had evidence that could have destroyed your company. He believed your father had stolen his inheritance. He wanted control of Evelyn Holdings, and he was willing to use Amelia to get it.””
Richard leaned forward.
“What happened the night she died?””
Samuel looked toward the window.
“Amelia contacted me that afternoon. She said she had discovered the original ownership records. She wanted me to meet her.””
“Did you?””
“Yes.””
Richard's voice cracked.
“Where?””
“At the old Coleman office.””
Richard stood.
“Why wasn't I there?””
“Because Amelia specifically asked me not to tell you.””
“Why?””
“She believed you were already being watched.””
Richard turned away.
His hands were trembling.
He remembered that evening.
He had been at home, waiting for Amelia to arrive for dinner.
He had called her three times.
No answer.
Then the police had arrived.
A wet road.
A damaged vehicle.
A fatal accident.
And a daughter who never came home.
Richard slowly turned back.
“Did you see the accident?””
Samuel shook his head.
“No.””
“Did you see her before she died?””
Samuel hesitated.
“Yes.””
Richard's voice dropped.
“Was she alive?””
Samuel closed his eyes.
“Yes.””
The room went silent.
Richard gripped the back of his chair.
“What?””
“She arrived at the office. She was frightened. She had the original documents and a letter from Evelyn.””
“Then what happened?””
“Someone followed her.””
“Who?””
Samuel looked directly at him.
“I never saw his face.””
Richard stared.
“Did you call the police?””
“Yes.””
“Did you call me?””
“No.””
Richard's expression hardened.
“Why?””
Samuel swallowed.
“Because Edward called me first.””
Richard took a step backward.
“What did he say?””
“He told me that if I contacted you, Michael would be next.””
Richard froze.
Samuel continued.
“Edward knew your son was alone at the mansion. He said he had people watching him.””
Richard looked down.
Michael.
Seventeen years old.
A boy who had already lost his mother.
And Richard had no idea that someone had threatened him.
“What happened to Amelia?””
Samuel's voice became almost inaudible.
“She was taken from the road before the police arrived.””
Richard stared at him.
“What?””
“She was still alive when I reached the scene. Someone had moved her into another vehicle.””
Richard's breathing became uneven.
“Who?””
“I don't know. By the time I reached the hospital, the records had already been altered.””
Richard gripped the desk.
“You told me she died at the scene.””
“I was told that.””
“By whom?””
Samuel didn't answer.
Richard's eyes narrowed.
“Samuel.””
The lawyer finally whispered:
“By the doctor who signed the death certificate.””
Richard felt cold.
“Dr. Warren?””
Samuel looked up sharply.
Richard understood immediately.
The same doctor whose false medical report had been used against him.
The same name that had appeared in the guardianship application.
For twenty-five years, he had believed Amelia was dead.
And now the man connected to that belief was appearing in the middle of another conspiracy.
“Where is Amelia's original medical record?”” Richard asked.
Samuel looked down.
“Richard—”
“Where is it?””
“I don't know.””
Richard picked up the letter.
“You have one chance to tell me everything.””
Samuel remained silent.
Then his phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
Richard noticed the caller's name.
*Vanessa Coleman.*
Samuel declined the call.
Richard slowly shook his head.
“Why is my daughter-in-law calling you?””
Samuel stood.
“Richard, listen to me. There are things you don't understand.””
“Then explain them.””
“I can't.””
Richard stepped toward the door and opened it.
“Get out.””
Samuel stared at him.
“Richard—”
“Get out of my house.””
Samuel picked up his briefcase.
At the doorway, he stopped.
“I never wanted Amelia hurt.””
Richard's eyes filled.
“But you let me bury her.””
Samuel lowered his head.
Then he left.
Michael had been standing in the hallway.
He had heard enough to understand that something terrible had happened twenty-five years earlier.
When Samuel passed him, Michael stepped aside.
Then he entered the study.
“Dad?””
Richard was standing beside the desk.
“Not now.””
“Was Mom really alive after the accident?””
Richard looked at him.
“I don't know.””
“Samuel said she was.””
“Samuel has been lying to us for twenty-five years.””
Michael lowered his eyes.
“I remember that night.””
Richard turned.
“What?””
“I remember Uncle Edward coming to the house.””
Richard went completely still.
“You were seventeen.””
Michael nodded.
“I was in the upstairs bedroom. I heard him arguing with Mom.””
“What did he say?””
Michael swallowed.
“He said she had stolen something from him.””
Richard's voice became rough.
“What else?””
“He said if she didn't give it back, he would take it himself.””
Richard moved closer.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
Michael looked ashamed.
“Because Uncle Edward came upstairs afterward.””
“What did he do?””
“He told me Mom had left because she didn't want me anymore.””
Richard closed his eyes.
Michael continued.
“I believed him. I thought she had chosen to leave.””
Richard stared at his son.
“And you never asked me?””
Michael shook his head.
“I was angry. I thought you knew.””
Richard felt a deep ache in his chest.
Two children.
Two different lies.
One family destroyed by people who had known exactly where to place the knife.
“Michael,” Richard said quietly, “did you ever receive a letter from your mother?””
Michael looked toward the blue box.
“There was one.””
Richard's eyes widened.
“Where?””
“I gave it to Vanessa.””
Richard froze.
“When?””
“Four years ago.””
Richard slowly turned toward the hallway.
Vanessa stood near the staircase.
She had heard everything.
Michael looked at her.
“You told me it was meaningless.””
Vanessa didn't move.
“You said Mom was trying to manipulate me from beyond the grave.””
Richard's voice became dangerously quiet.
“Where is the letter?””
Vanessa smiled faintly.
“Gone.””
Michael shook his head.
“You said you burned it.””
“I did.””
“Why?””
Vanessa looked at Richard.
“Because it contained lies.””
Richard stepped toward her.
“What lies?””
Vanessa lifted her chin.
“The truth about your family.””
Before Richard could respond, Michael's phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
His expression changed.
It was an unknown number.
He answered.
A woman's voice came through.
“Michael?””
He froze.
“Who is this?””
“My name is Grace Miller. I used to work at St. Mary's Hospital.””
Michael looked at Richard.
The woman continued.
“I knew your mother.””
Richard moved closer.
“Put her on speaker.””
Michael did.
Grace's voice trembled.
“I'm calling because I heard someone has been looking into Amelia Coleman's medical records.””
Richard leaned toward the phone.
“Who are you?””
“I'm the nurse who was on duty the night she was brought in.””
Richard's knees weakened.
“Was my daughter alive?””
Grace was silent.
Then she whispered:
“Yes.””
Richard closed his eyes.
Michael grabbed the edge of the desk.
Grace continued.
“She was conscious when she arrived. She kept asking for her father.””
Richard's face crumpled.
“What happened to her?””
“I was ordered to transfer her to a private facility.””
“By whom?””
Grace took a shaky breath.
“Dr. Warren.””
Richard looked at Michael.
Then Grace spoke again.
“But Mr. Coleman, there's something you need to know.””
“What?””
“Your daughter wasn't transferred alone.””
Richard's blood ran cold.
“Who was with her?””
May you like
Grace whispered:
“Your wife.””
