Chapter 4: The Man Who Came Back From the Dead
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
The photograph lay on the memorial table between the white flowers and the candles. My father's face stared back at me, younger than I remembered, but unmistakably his.
Beside him stood Benita.
Behind them stood Uncle David.
The same uncle who had hugged me at my father's funeral, promised to look after our family, and disappeared overseas less than a year later.
I picked up the photograph.
"When was this taken?""
Samuel Reed loosened his tie.
"Three weeks before your father died.""
I looked at him.
"You told me Uncle David had moved to London.""
"He did.""
"Then why is he standing beside my father?""
Samuel hesitated.
"Because he came back.""
Benita suddenly spoke.
"Samuel, don't pretend you weren't involved.""
He turned toward her.
"Not now, Benita.""
"You're standing there acting like some innocent witness. You were the one who arranged the meetings!""
Officer Hayes stepped between them.
"Both of you, stop. One person speaks at a time.""
I placed the photograph down.
"Samuel, I want the truth. All of it.""
He opened his briefcase again and removed a thick brown folder.
"Your father discovered that David had been secretly borrowing money against properties owned by the family business. At first, the transactions appeared legitimate. Then Richard discovered that several properties had been transferred into companies he didn't recognize.""
"How much money?""
"Approximately four million dollars.""
I stared at him.
"Four million?""
Samuel nodded.
"Your father confronted David. He demanded the money be returned and threatened to report him.""
My mother sat down slowly.
"Richard told me he was going to fix everything," she whispered.
I turned toward her.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because your father begged me not to involve you. He said David was dangerous.""
Samuel placed another document on the table.
"Your father also changed his will.""
I examined the paperwork.
The document transferred controlling ownership of Bennett Property Holdings to me.
My father's signature appeared at the bottom.
"When?""
"Two days before his death.""
I looked up.
"Was this legally registered?""
"Yes. I handled the filing myself.""
Benita laughed bitterly.
"Convenient.""
Samuel ignored her.
"Your father knew David would try to challenge the inheritance. He wanted you to have complete control before anything happened.""
"Then why did nobody tell me?""
My mother wiped her eyes.
"Because David threatened us.""
"What?""
"He said if we challenged him publicly, he would expose financial information that could destroy your father's reputation. He also threatened to make sure you never received anything.""
I shook my head.
"So everyone just kept quiet?""
Samuel nodded.
"Your mother was frightened. I was trying to collect enough evidence to protect the estate.""
I turned toward Benita.
"And where do you fit into all this?""
She looked at the floor.
Samuel answered.
"David approached her.""
Benita immediately raised her head.
"That's not what happened.""
"Then tell Marcus why you were photographed with him.""
She swallowed.
"I met David because he contacted me.""
"Why?""
"He said he wanted to help Marcus secure his inheritance.""
I stared at her.
"You expected me to believe that?""
"He showed me documents proving that your mother had been hiding money. He said she was planning to sell the properties without telling you.""
My mother shook her head.
"Those documents were forged.""
Benita raised her voice.
"How was I supposed to know that?""
Samuel leaned forward.
"Because I told you.""
Silence.
I looked at him.
"What did you tell her?""
"That the documents were false. I warned her that David was manipulating her.""
Benita's eyes narrowed.
"And you told me to trust you?""
"I told you to stop signing documents you didn't understand.""
She looked at me.
"Marcus, I was trying to protect our future.""
I took a slow breath.
"Our future?""
She stepped closer.
"Yes. Our future. We were married. I thought I was building something for us.""
"You were trying to transfer my mother's property into a company under your name.""
She started crying.
"I made mistakes.""
"An accident is a mistake. Planning to take someone's property is a decision.""
Her face crumpled.
Officer Hayes wrote something in his notebook.
Samuel removed another paper from the folder.
"This is the transfer request Benita attempted to submit after Eleanor disappeared.""
I examined it.
The property was listed under a company called Bennett Legacy Investments.
The registered director was Benita.
But there was another name beneath hers.
David Bennett.
I felt my stomach turn.
"Why is my uncle's name here?""
Samuel looked at me.
"Because he was supposed to receive most of the money once the transfer was completed.""
Benita shook her head violently.
"That's not true!""
"Then explain your signature.""
"I didn't know what he was planning!""
Samuel pointed to the final page.
"You signed the agreement.""
Benita suddenly looked toward the front door.
I noticed.
Officer Hayes noticed too.
"Mrs. Bennett, are you expecting someone?""
"No.""
"Then why do you keep looking outside?""
She didn't answer.
A strange vibration came from inside her handbag.
She pulled out her phone.
I saw the screen light up.
One message.
From a contact saved simply as D.
Benita tried to turn the screen away.
But I had already seen the message.
*HE KNOWS ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPH. GET RID OF THE RECORDING. I'M COMING.*
I reached for her wrist.
"Who is D?""
She jerked backward.
"Nobody.""
"Show me your phone.""
"No!""
Officer Hayes immediately intervened.
"Mr. Bennett, step back. Mrs. Bennett, please put the phone on the table.""
Benita held it against her chest.
"You're all making a terrible mistake.""
My mother stood.
"Benita, where is David?""
"I don't know!""
Samuel closed his briefcase.
"She's lying.""
Benita turned on him.
"You don't know anything!""
Then she looked directly at me.
"Marcus, you have to believe me. David said he was going to make everything right.""
I stared at her.
"When?""
She hesitated.
"Tonight.""
"Where?""
She looked at the floor.
Samuel answered for her.
"He's coming here.""
Before anyone could respond, headlights swept across the glass entrance doors.
A black SUV pulled into the driveway.
My mother grabbed my arm.
"Marcus, don't go near that door.""
I watched the vehicle stop.
The driver's door opened.
A familiar figure stepped out.
Silver hair.
Broad shoulders.
A dark coat.
Even from inside the house, I recognized the way he walked.
My uncle.
David Bennett.
He looked toward the mansion and smiled.
Then he lifted his phone.
My phone immediately rang.
An unknown number.
I answered.
A familiar voice came through.
"Hello, nephew.""
My hands tightened around the phone.
"David.""
He laughed softly.
"I see you've found my old photograph.""
"Why did you do this?""
There was a pause.
Then he said something that made my blood run cold.
"Because your father made the same mistake you're making now.""
"What mistake?""
"Trusting the wrong people.""
I looked at my mother.
She was trembling.
David continued.
"Come outside, Marcus. We need to discuss your inheritance.""
Then the line went dead.
Officer Hayes moved toward the entrance.
But before he could reach it, David's voice came through the phone again.
One final message.
"Bring Benita with you. She knows what really happened to your father.""
I turned slowly toward my wife.
May you like
Her face had gone completely white.
And for the first time, I wondered whether my father had died knowing exactly who would betray him next.
