Chapter 3: The Secret My Father Took to His Grave
I had spent most of my childhood believing my father was a good man.
His name was Richard Bennett.
He had built a successful property business from almost nothing. He worked long hours, wore the same silver watch every day, and always made time to take me fishing on Sunday mornings.
When he died, I was twenty-two.
My mother told me he had suffered a sudden heart attack.
I remembered the funeral.
I remembered the black suit that didn't fit properly.
I remembered my mother sitting in the front row, holding a handkerchief and refusing to let go of my hand.
And I remembered Samuel Reed standing near the back of the church.
He had been my father's closest business associate.
Now Benita was asking me to question everything.
"Who is Samuel Reed?"" I asked.
My mother looked toward Officer Hayes.
"Marcus, this isn't the time.""
"Then when is?""
She lowered her eyes.
Benita gave a short, bitter laugh.
"See? She still wants to control what you know.""
I turned toward her.
"Don't speak unless I ask you a question.""
Her mouth closed.
Officer Hayes stepped between us slightly.
"Mr. Bennett, we need to keep everyone calm. If there's information relevant to this investigation, it should be documented properly.""
I nodded.
"Fine. Then document this.""
I pointed at the financial transfer request.
"Why was my father's accountant involved in this?""
My mother took a long breath.
"Samuel wasn't only your father's accountant.""
I waited.
"He was his business partner.""
"That doesn't explain anything.""
"He was also the person your father trusted with his private financial records.""
I frowned.
"Okay. And?""
My mother looked at me.
"Your father and Samuel had a disagreement shortly before Richard died.""
"What kind of disagreement?""
"Money.""
Benita folded her arms.
"Not just money.""
I turned toward her.
"What do you know?""
She hesitated.
Then she pulled a folded document from the inside of her shopping bag.
Officer Hayes immediately stepped forward.
"Put that on the table, please.""
Benita obeyed.
The paper was an old photocopy of a company registration document.
I recognized the business name.
Bennett Property Holdings.
It was one of the companies my father had established.
But the names listed beneath the directors were unfamiliar.
One belonged to my mother.
The other belonged to Samuel Reed.
I stared at the page.
"Why is this important?""
Benita looked at me.
"Because your father was preparing to remove Samuel from the business.""
My mother shook her head.
"That's not true.""
Benita pointed at the document.
"Then why did Richard secretly change the ownership structure three weeks before he died?""
My mother didn't answer.
I turned toward her.
"Mom?""
She pressed her lips together.
"Your father discovered missing money.""
"How much?""
"Almost two million dollars.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Two million?""
"Over several years," she said.
"Money was being transferred through companies that didn't appear on the official accounts.""
"Who was taking it?""
My mother looked toward the document.
"Your father suspected Samuel.""
Benita shook her head.
"Your father suspected the wrong person.""
Silence settled over the foyer.
I looked at her.
"What are you saying?""
She took a shaky breath.
"Samuel didn't create those companies. He was helping someone hide the money.""
"Who?""
Benita looked at my mother.
"Eleanor.""
My mother's face went pale.
I stared at her.
"Mom?""
She immediately shook her head.
"Marcus, listen to me.""
"Is it true?""
"Your father misunderstood what was happening.""
"Did you take the money?""
"No!""
Her voice cracked.
Officer Hayes raised a hand.
"Let's slow down. Mrs. Bennett, do you have documentation supporting your explanation?""
My mother nodded.
"Some of it. Samuel has the original records.""
Benita laughed.
"Of course he does.""
My mother looked at her.
"You're making a terrible mistake.""
Benita's expression changed.
For a moment, she looked almost amused.
Then she said something I couldn't understand.
"You're the one who made the mistake when you trusted Samuel.""
My mother gripped the edge of the table.
Officer Hayes noticed.
"Do you know where Mr. Reed is?""
Eleanor nodded.
"He was supposed to meet us here.""
I looked toward the front door.
"Here?""
"Yes.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I wanted to make sure you were safe before I brought him into this.""
I stepped away from the memorial.
"Safe from my own wife?""
My mother looked at me sadly.
"Safe from everyone involved.""
Officer Hayes checked his watch.
"Has he confirmed he's coming?""
"He said he'd arrive at four.""
I looked at the clock above the staircase.
It was already four fifteen.
My mother reached into her pocket and removed a small folded note.
"He gave me this before I left the property.""
She handed it to Hayes.
The officer unfolded it.
His expression changed almost immediately.
"What is it?"" I asked.
Hayes read it again.
Then he looked at my mother.
"Did Mr. Reed tell you who else might be involved?""
"He said there was one more person.""
"Who?""
My mother looked toward the staircase.
"I don't know.""
Benita suddenly began shaking.
I noticed.
So did Officer Hayes.
"Mrs. Bennett," he said, "why are you reacting like that?""
She wiped her face.
"I'm cold.""
"That's not what I asked.""
She looked at me.
"Marcus, please. We need to talk alone.""
I laughed in disbelief.
"Alone? You've had six months of telling me whatever you wanted while my mother was missing.""
"Please.""
"No.""
She took another step toward me.
"Your mother is not telling you everything.""
I stared at her.
"Neither are you.""
For several seconds, we stood facing each other.
Then she lowered her voice.
"Do you remember the night your father died?""
My expression hardened.
"Of course I remember.""
"Do you remember who called you?""
I frowned.
"What?""
"Your mother told you that the hospital called. But that's not what happened.""
I turned toward Eleanor.
She looked devastated.
Benita continued.
"Your father called me before he died.""
I felt the blood drain from my face.
"Why would he call you?""
"Because he knew I was going to marry you.""
I stared at her.
We had been dating for nearly three years before my father died. Benita had visited our house regularly. My father had always been polite to her, although my mother often complained that she was too interested in our family's finances.
"What did he say?"" I asked.
Benita swallowed.
"He told me to stay away from his business.""
"Why?""
"Because he believed I was working with Samuel.""
I shook my head.
"That's impossible. You hadn't even married me.""
"I know.""
She looked down.
"He also told me that if anything happened to him, I should make sure you never trusted your mother with the company.""
My mother stepped forward.
"That's enough.""
Benita ignored her.
"Your father was afraid of what she might do.""
I looked at my mother.
"Is that true?""
She shook her head.
"Your father was sick, Marcus. He was confused about certain things.""
"Was he?""
"Yes.""
Benita laughed.
"Then why did he leave a letter?""
I froze.
"What letter?""
She reached into her shopping bag again and removed a small white envelope.
It was old.
The edges were yellow.
My name was written across the front in my father's handwriting.
I recognized it instantly.
My knees nearly gave way.
"Where did you get that?""
Benita held it carefully.
"Samuel gave it to me.""
My mother rushed forward.
"Don't open that!""
Officer Hayes immediately intervened.
"Nobody touches it until we establish what it is.""
I stared at the envelope.
My father's handwriting.
My name.
A letter I had never seen.
"Why do you have that?"" I whispered.
Benita looked at me.
"Because your father knew the truth.""
My mother began crying.
"Marcus, please. Your father loved you.""
"Then why did he leave me a letter I never received?""
She looked away.
That was enough.
I felt something inside me break.
Officer Hayes took the envelope and examined the seal.
"It appears to have been opened and resealed.""
Benita nodded.
"Samuel gave it to me like that.""
"Why didn't you give it to Marcus?""
She looked at me.
"Because I was waiting for the right time.""
I almost laughed.
"The right time?""
She stepped closer.
"I wanted to protect you.""
I shook my head.
"Stop saying that.""
Then, before anyone could speak, a loud knock sounded against the front door.
Three sharp knocks.
Officer Hayes turned.
"Stay where you are.""
He approached the entrance and opened it.
A man in a dark gray suit stood outside.
His hair was neatly combed, and he carried a leather briefcase.
I recognized him immediately.
Samuel Reed.
My father's closest business associate.
The man who had attended every family Christmas dinner.
The man who had helped my mother manage the properties.
The man Benita had just accused of hiding millions of dollars.
He stepped into the foyer and looked at the memorial.
Then he looked at my mother.
"Eleanor," he said quietly.
"I'm sorry it came to this.""
My mother didn't move.
Officer Hayes approached him.
"Mr. Reed, I'm Officer Hayes. We need to ask you some questions.""
Samuel nodded.
"Of course.""
Then he looked at me.
"Marcus.""
I couldn't hide my anger.
"Did you know my mother was alive?""
He paused.
"Yes.""
"Did you know she was being held somewhere?""
His jaw tightened.
"Yes.""
"Did you know my wife was involved?""
Samuel looked at Benita.
Then he placed his briefcase on the memorial table.
"I know more than you think.""
He opened it and removed a thick folder.
Inside were bank statements, property documents, and several photographs.
But one photograph made my blood run cold.
It showed my father standing outside a hospital.
The date printed on the back was two days before his death.
Beside him stood Benita.
And standing behind them, with one hand resting on my father's shoulder, was another man.
A man I had not seen in years.
My uncle.
David Bennett.
My father's younger brother.
The man who had supposedly moved overseas shortly after the funeral.
I stared at the photograph.
"Why is Uncle David in this?""
Samuel slowly closed the folder.
"Because your father didn't die from a heart attack, Marcus.""
My mother covered her mouth.
Benita stopped crying.
Samuel looked directly at me.
"And the person who arranged your mother's disappearance wasn't acting alone.""
He glanced toward the front door.
"Your uncle has been back in the country for three weeks.""
Then he placed another document on the table.
It contained a name beneath a transfer authorization.
Not Benita's.
Not Eleanor's.
*DAVID BENNETT.*
Samuel lowered his voice.
"Marcus, before you accuse anyone else, you need to understand one thing.""
I stared at him.
"What?""
He looked toward the portrait of my mother.
"Your father left you control of the entire estate. And someone has been trying to get you to sign it away since the day he died.""
My heart began pounding.
I looked at Benita.
Then at my mother.
Then at the photograph of my father.
Suddenly, the memorial in my foyer didn't feel like a place to mourn someone who had disappeared.
May you like
It felt like the beginning of a much bigger crime.
And somewhere outside that house, my uncle knew we had found the evidence.
