Chapter 7: The Uncle Who Buried## Chapter 7: The Uncle Who Buried His Own Secret
“Margaret?””
Richard Brooks's voice echoed through the hallway.
Daniel stood motionless, His Own Secret
“Margaret?””
Richard Brooks's voice echoed through the hallway.
Daniel stood motionless, holding his father's letter in one hand and the original will in the other holding his father's letter in one hand and the original will in the other.
For twelve years, Richard had been the family's rock.
He had delivered the eulogy at Christopher's funeral. He had helped.
For twelve years, Richard had been the family's rock.
He had delivered the eulogy at Christopher's funeral. He had helped Margaret arrange the burial. He had attended every Thanksgiving dinner, every birthday celebration, and every family gathering.
He had even told Daniel that his Margaret arrange the burial. He had attended every Thanksgiving dinner, every birthday celebration, and every family gathering.
He had even told Daniel that his father would have wanted him to be strong.
Now Daniel was staring at a photograph suggesting that the same man had helped destroy his father's life.
father would have wanted him to be strong.
Now Daniel was staring at a photograph suggesting that the same man had helped destroy his father's life.
Detective Morgan noticed his expression.
“Do you know him?””
Daniel nodded.
“That's my uncle.””
“Is heDetective Morgan noticed his expression.
“Do you know him?””
Daniel nodded.
“That's my uncle.””
“Is he in this house?””
“He just arrived.””
Morgan turned toward her partner.
“Stay here with the children and secure the documents. in this house?””
“He just arrived.””
Morgan turned toward her partner.
“Stay here with the children and secure the documents. I'll speak to him.””
Margaret clutched Christopher's letter.
“No.””
The detective looked at her.
“Mrs I'll speak to him.””
Margaret clutched Christopher's letter.
“No.””
The detective looked at her.
“Mrs. Brooks?””
“I want to see my brother.””
“It's better if you remain upstairs.””
Margaret shook her head.
“I have. Brooks?””
“I want to see my brother.””
“It's better if you remain upstairs.””
Margaret shook her head.
“I have spent twelve years wondering what happened to my son. I am not hiding behind another door while my family lies to me.””
Daniel gently touched spent twelve years wondering what happened to my son. I am not hiding behind another door while my family lies to me.””
Daniel gently touched her shoulder.
“Mom, let me go first.””
She looked at him.
Then she nodded.
Daniel descended the staircase with Detective Morgan.
At the bottom, Richard her shoulder.
“Mom, let me go first.””
She looked at him.
Then she nodded.
Daniel descended the staircase with Detective Morgan.
At the bottom, Richard was removing his overcoat.
He was sixty-two, tall, broad-shouldered, and impeccably dressed in a navy suit. His silver was removing his overcoat.
He was sixty-two, tall, broad-shouldered, and impeccably dressed in a navy suit. His silver watch caught the light as he handed his coat to a house attendant.
He looked toward the staircase watch caught the light as he handed his coat to a house attendant.
He looked toward the staircase.
“There you are. What's going on?””
Daniel stopped several feet away.
“Uncle Richard.””
Richard smiled.
“Daniel.
“There you are. What's going on?””
Daniel stopped several feet away.
“Uncle Richard.””
Richard smiled.
“Daniel. What's with all the police officers?””
“Where were you twelve years ago tonight?””
The smile faded slightly. What's with all the police officers?””
“Where were you twelve years ago tonight?””
The smile faded slightly.
“What kind of question is that?””
“The night my father.
“What kind of question is that?””
“The night my father died.””
Richard adjusted his cuff.
“I was at home. You know that.””
“Do I?””
Richard stared at him.
Then he glanced toward the detective.
died.””
Richard adjusted his cuff.
“I was at home. You know that.””
“Do I?””
Richard stared at him.
Then he glanced toward the detective.
“What's this about?””
Detective Morgan stepped forward.
“I'm Detective Morgan. We'd like to ask you some questions about Christopher Brooks.””
Richard nodded politely.
“Of course. Terrible tragedy.””
Daniel watched him carefully.
“You gave“What's this about?””
Detective Morgan stepped forward.
“I'm Detective Morgan. We'd like to ask you some questions about Christopher Brooks.””
Richard nodded politely.
“Of course. Terrible tragedy.””
Daniel watched him carefully.
“You gave the eulogy.””
“Yes.””
“You told everyone my father died in a car accident.””
“He did.””
“Did the eulogy.””
“Yes.””
“You told everyone my father died in a car accident.””
“He did.””
“Did you see his body?””
Richard's jaw tightened.
“Daniel, what's happening?””
“Answer the question.””
Richard looked at the detective.
“I don't appreciate you see his body?””
Richard's jaw tightened.
“Daniel, what's happening?””
“Answer the question.””
Richard looked at the detective.
“I don't appreciate being interrogated in my own family home.””
Morgan remained calm.
“Then perhaps you can help us establish the facts.””
Richard slowly removed his watch and placed it on a nearby table.
“Christopher lost control of his vehicle. It was a terrible being interrogated in my own family home.””
Morgan remained calm.
“Then perhaps you can help us establish the facts.””
Richard slowly removed his watch and placed it on a nearby table.
“Christopher lost control of his vehicle. It was a terrible night. The roads were wet.””
Daniel stepped closer.
“Then why did my father write that you night. The roads were wet.””
Daniel stepped closer.
“Then why did my father write that you helped arrange his accident?””
For the first time, Richard stopped moving.
“What?””
Daniel held up the photograph.
Richard looked at it.
His helped arrange his accident?””
For the first time, Richard stopped moving.
“What?””
Daniel held up the photograph.
Richard looked at it.
His face changed.
Only slightly.
But enough.
“Where did you get that?””
“From my father's secret documents.””
Richard face changed.
Only slightly.
But enough.
“Where did you get that?””
“From my father's secret documents.””
Richard reached for it.
Daniel pulled it away.
“Don't touch it.””
Richard stared at him.
Then he looked toward the staircase.
Margaret was standing reached for it.
Daniel pulled it away.
“Don't touch it.””
Richard stared at him.
Then he looked toward the staircase.
Margaret was standing at the top.
“Richard,” she said.
Her voice was quiet.
He looked up.
“Margaret. at the top.
“Richard,” she said.
Her voice was quiet.
He looked up.
“Margaret. Thank God. Tell Daniel to stop this nonsense.””
She slowly descended Thank God. Tell Daniel to stop this nonsense.””
She slowly descended.
“Did you know Christopher was alive after the accident?””
Richard's expression became complicated.
“Margaret, I don't know what you've.
“Did you know Christopher was alive after the accident?””
Richard's expression became complicated.
“Margaret, I don't know what you've been told.””
“Did you?””
He looked at the floor.
That was his answer.
Margaret stopped directly been told.””
“Did you?””
He looked at the floor.
That was his answer.
Margaret stopped directly in front of him.
“You stood beside me at my son's grave.””
Richard said nothing.
“You held my hand while I cried.””
His eyes in front of him.
“You stood beside me at my son's grave.””
Richard said nothing.
“You held my hand while I cried.””
His eyes lifted.
“I was trying to protect you.””
Margaret stared at him.
“From what?””
Richard swallowed.
“From the truth.””
A lifted.
“I was trying to protect you.””
Margaret stared at him.
“From what?””
Richard swallowed.
“From the truth.””
A terrible silence followed.
Daniel's fists tightened.
“What truth?””
Richard looked at his nephew.
“Your father was going to destroy this family.””
Daniel laughed terrible silence followed.
Daniel's fists tightened.
“What truth?””
Richard looked at his nephew.
“Your father was going to destroy this family.””
Daniel laughed once.
It wasn't amusement.
It was disbelief.
“He was trying to protect it.””
“No. He was trying once.
It wasn't amusement.
It was disbelief.
“He was trying to protect it.””
“No. He was trying to give away everything your grandfather built.””
“To his own son?””
Richard's face hardened.
“To an illegitimate to give away everything your grandfather built.””
“To his own son?””
Richard's face hardened.
“To an illegitimate child.””
From the staircase, Noah began crying.
Margaret turned immediately.
“Richard, you will not speak about that boy like that.””
child.””
From the staircase, Noah began crying.
Margaret turned immediately.
“Richard, you will not speak about that boy like that.””
Richard glanced toward Noah.
“Who is he?””
Daniel's voice became cold.
“Christopher's son.””
Richard stared.
Then he looked at the teddyRichard glanced toward Noah.
“Who is he?””
Daniel's voice became cold.
“Christopher's son.””
Richard stared.
Then he looked at the teddy bear in Lily's arms.
Understanding slowly crossed his face.
“The camera.””
bear in Lily's arms.
Understanding slowly crossed his face.
“The camera.””
Daniel nodded.
“That's right.””
Richard took a step backward.
“You people have no idea what you're doing.””
Detective Morgan movedDaniel nodded.
“That's right.””
Richard took a step backward.
“You people have no idea what you're doing.””
Detective Morgan moved between him and the stairs.
“Mr. Brooks, I'd like you to remain here.””
Richard looked at her.
“Am I being detained?””
“I'm between him and the stairs.
“Mr. Brooks, I'd like you to remain here.””
Richard looked at her.
“Am I being detained?””
“I'm asking you to stay while we verify some information.””
He gave a humorless laugh.
“Then you should start with Henry asking you to stay while we verify some information.””
He gave a humorless laugh.
“Then you should start with Henry.””
Daniel turned.
“Henry already told us enough.””
Richard's expression changed.
“What did he tell you?””
“That you helped Vanessa.””
.””
Daniel turned.
“Henry already told us enough.””
Richard's expression changed.
“What did he tell you?””
“That you helped Vanessa.””
Richard closed his eyes.
For a few seconds, he seemed to be fighting something inside himself.
Then he spoke.
“Christopher calledRichard closed his eyes.
For a few seconds, he seemed to be fighting something inside himself.
Then he spoke.
“Christopher called me the night he disappeared.””
Margaret's breath caught.
“What?””
“He told me he had found the me the night he disappeared.””
Margaret's breath caught.
“What?””
“He told me he had found the financial records. He said he was going to expose everyone involved.””
“And you helped him?””
Richard looked away.
“No financial records. He said he was going to expose everyone involved.””
“And you helped him?””
Richard looked away.
“No.””
Margaret took a step back.
Daniel stared at him.
“What did you do?””
Richard's voice dropped.
“I told Vanessa.””
Margaret took a step back.
Daniel stared at him.
“What did you do?””
Richard's voice dropped.
“I told Vanessa.””
Daniel's face hardened.
“And then?””
“She said she would handle it.””
“How?””
Richard didn't answer.
Daniel.””
Daniel's face hardened.
“And then?””
“She said she would handle it.””
“How?””
Richard didn't answer.
Daniel stepped closer.
“HOW?””
Richard finally looked at him.
“She told me Christopher would be frightened. That she would take the documents and make stepped closer.
“HOW?””
Richard finally looked at him.
“She told me Christopher would be frightened. That she would take the documents and make him understand he couldn't threaten the family.””
Margaret whispered, “You knew about the car.””
Richard looked at her him understand he couldn't threaten the family.””
Margaret whispered, “You knew about the car.””
Richard looked at her.
“I knew something was going to happen.””
The words were barely audible.
But everyone heard them.
Detective Morgan immediately motioned to her partner.
“Sir, I need you to stop.
“I knew something was going to happen.””
The words were barely audible.
But everyone heard them.
Detective Morgan immediately motioned to her partner.
“Sir, I need you to stop talking until we clarify your legal status.””
Richard ignored her.
“I didn't think she would actually kill him.””
Margaret's eyes filled.
“You didn't think?””
He looked at her helpless talking until we clarify your legal status.””
Richard ignored her.
“I didn't think she would actually kill him.””
Margaret's eyes filled.
“You didn't think?””
He looked at her helplessly.
“I thought she would scare him.””
Daniel shook his head.
“My father is dead because you wanted to protect a bankly.
“I thought she would scare him.””
Daniel shook his head.
“My father is dead because you wanted to protect a bank account.””
Richard suddenly raised his voice.
“Your father was reckless! He was going to hand the estate to strangers!””
“No account.””
Richard suddenly raised his voice.
“Your father was reckless! He was going to hand the estate to strangers!””
“Noah isn't a stranger!””
“He was a child nobody knew existed!””
“He was your nephew!””
Richard's expression twisted.
Then he said something that made Margaretah isn't a stranger!””
“He was a child nobody knew existed!””
“He was your nephew!””
Richard's expression twisted.
Then he said something that made Margaret go completely still.
“Christopher wasn't even supposed to be at that bridge.””
Daniel stared.
“Where was he go completely still.
“Christopher wasn't even supposed to be at that bridge.””
Daniel stared.
“Where was he supposed to go?””
Richard looked toward Vanessa.
She had been standing near the dining room entrance, silent since the confrontation began supposed to go?””
Richard looked toward Vanessa.
She had been standing near the dining room entrance, silent since the confrontation began.
Now she spoke.
“Richard, stop.””
He turned toward her.
“You told me everything was handled.””
Vanessa's eyes narrowed.
.
Now she spoke.
“Richard, stop.””
He turned toward her.
“You told me everything was handled.””
Vanessa's eyes narrowed.
“I told you to keep your mouth shut.””
Richard laughed bitterly.
“You promised me the original will would never be found.””
Detective Morgan stepped forward.
“What“I told you to keep your mouth shut.””
Richard laughed bitterly.
“You promised me the original will would never be found.””
Detective Morgan stepped forward.
“What original will?””
Richard looked at her.
Then at Margaret.
And finally at Daniel.
“Christopher was supposed to meet his attorney at the original will?””
Richard looked at her.
Then at Margaret.
And finally at Daniel.
“Christopher was supposed to meet his attorney at the bridge. He had the documents with him. We knew he was going there.””
Margaret's voice broke.
“You knew?””
Richard bridge. He had the documents with him. We knew he was going there.””
Margaret's voice broke.
“You knew?””
Richard nodded.
“Vanessa said she would intercept him before he reached the attorney.””
“And you let her?””
Richard looked down.
“I thought she would nodded.
“Vanessa said she would intercept him before he reached the attorney.””
“And you let her?””
Richard looked down.
“I thought she would only take the documents.””
Daniel's expression was filled with disgust.
“You could only take the documents.””
Daniel's expression was filled with disgust.
“You could have called the police.””
“I was involved in the financial transfers!””
The admission silenced the room.
Richard covered his mouth.
Detective Morgan immediately have called the police.””
“I was involved in the financial transfers!””
The admission silenced the room.
Richard covered his mouth.
Detective Morgan immediately turned toward her partner.
“Document that statement.””
Richard looked around.
He seemed to realize that he had just admitted to something far larger turned toward her partner.
“Document that statement.””
Richard looked around.
He seemed to realize that he had just admitted to something far larger than he intended.
Then he reached into his jacket.
Daniel moved instinctively.
“Don't.””
Richard froze.
Slowly, he withdrew than he intended.
Then he reached into his jacket.
Daniel moved instinctively.
“Don't.””
Richard froze.
Slowly, he withdrew a folded piece of paper.
“It's a bank statement,” he said.
“From the account Vanessa used.””
a folded piece of paper.
“It's a bank statement,” he said.
“From the account Vanessa used.””
Morgan accepted it.
“Where did you get this?””
“I kept copies.””
“Why?””
Richard looked toward Margaret.
“Because I knew oneMorgan accepted it.
“Where did you get this?””
“I kept copies.””
“Why?””
Richard looked toward Margaret.
“Because I knew one day someone would come looking.””
Margaret stared at him.
“You helped them steal from the day someone would come looking.””
Margaret stared at him.
“You helped them steal from the family, and then you kept evidence to protect yourself?””
Richard lowered his eyes.
“Yes.””
Daniel shook his head.
“I don't family, and then you kept evidence to protect yourself?””
Richard lowered his eyes.
“Yes.””
Daniel shook his head.
“I don't know who you are anymore.””
Richard's voice became desperate.
“Daniel, listen. I can explain everything. Vanessa wasn't know who you are anymore.””
Richard's voice became desperate.
“Daniel, listen. I can explain everything. Vanessa wasn't working alone.
There was someone else involved. Someone who had access to Christopher's medical records after the crash.””
Detective Morgan looked up.
“ working alone. There was someone else involved. Someone who had access to Christopher's medical records after the crash.””
Detective Morgan looked up.
“Who?””
Richard hesitated.
Then he looked toward Henry.
The old house manager was standing at the bottom of the stairs.
His face had gone completely white.
RichardWho?””
Richard hesitated.
Then he looked toward Henry.
The old house manager was standing at the bottom of the stairs.
His face had gone completely white.
Richard pointed at him.
“He was the one who told us Christopher survived.””
Henry shook his head.
“No pointed at him.
“He was the one who told us Christopher survived.””
Henry shook his head.
“No.””
Richard continued.
“He told us where Christopher was being treated.””
Margaret slowly turned toward Henry.
“Henry?””
The.””
Richard continued.
“He told us where Christopher was being treated.””
Margaret slowly turned toward Henry.
“Henry?””
The old man began crying.
“I was trying to help him.””
Richard laughed bitterly.
“Then tell them where you took old man began crying.
“I was trying to help him.””
Richard laughed bitterly.
“Then tell them where you took Christopher after the crash.””
Henry looked at Margaret.
Then at Daniel.
Finally, he whispered:
“I didn't take him to a hospital.””
Margaret Christopher after the crash.””
Henry looked at Margaret.
Then at Daniel.
Finally, he whispered:
“I didn't take him to a hospital.””
Margaret's hand went to her mouth.
“Where did you take my son?””
Henry closed his eyes.
“To a private clinic outside Savannah.””
Daniel's hand went to her mouth.
“Where did you take my son?””
Henry closed his eyes.
“To a private clinic outside Savannah.””
Daniel stared.
“Why?””
Henry's voice broke.
“Because Christopher was alive, but he was unconscious. And Vanessa said she had already arranged everything stared.
“Why?””
Henry's voice broke.
“Because Christopher was alive, but he was unconscious. And Vanessa said she had already arranged everything.””
Detective Morgan stepped closer.
“What did she arrange?””
Henry looked toward the silver-haired woman in the metallic gown.
Then.””
Detective Morgan stepped closer.
“What did she arrange?””
Henry looked toward the silver-haired woman in the metallic gown.
Then he delivered the sentence that changed the investigation completely.
“She arranged for Christopher to disappear under another man's name.””
And upstairs, Daniel's phone began ringing.
The caller ID showed a he delivered the sentence that changed the investigation completely.
“She arranged for Christopher to disappear under another man's name.””
And upstairs, Daniel's phone began ringing.
The caller ID showed a number he hadn't seen in twelve years.
*CHRISTOPHER BROOKS.*
May you like
number he hadn't seen in twelve years.
*CHRISTOPHER BROOKS.*
