Chapter 5: My Uncle's Price for Silence
Officer Hayes ordered everyone away from the entrance.
Two additional officers arrived within minutes, and the mansion's security cameras were placed under review.
David remained outside.
He didn't attempt to leave.
Instead, he stood beside his SUV, checking his watch as though he were waiting for a business meeting.
I watched him through the glass.
The man had attended my graduation.
He had taught me how to drive.
He had once carried me on his shoulders through a crowded amusement park.
Now he was standing in my driveway while police officers prepared to question him.
"Can I speak to him?"" I asked.
Officer Hayes shook his head.
"Not without us present.""
"I want to hear what he has to say.""
"And I want you to stay alive long enough to hear it.""
My mother sat on the sofa, holding a glass of water with both hands.
Benita remained near the staircase.
She hadn't spoken since David's call.
I approached her.
"How long have you been talking to him?""
She rubbed her forehead.
"I don't know.""
"Try again.""
"Several months.""
I stared at her.
"Several months?""
She nodded.
"When?""
"Before your mother disappeared.""
I took a step backward.
"So you were already working with him when you told me she was missing?""
Benita began crying.
"Marcus, I didn't know everything.""
"But you knew enough to lie to me.""
She covered her face.
I turned away.
Officer Hayes returned from the entrance.
"Mr. Bennett, David has agreed to come inside voluntarily.""
My mother immediately stood.
"Don't let him near me.""
Hayes nodded.
"He'll remain under supervision.""
A moment later, the front door opened.
David entered wearing the same expensive watch he'd worn in the photograph.
He looked around the foyer.
His eyes stopped on the memorial.
Then he smiled.
"Well," he said, "this is dramatic.""
I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
"You think this is funny?""
David removed his coat.
"I think your mother always enjoyed making a spectacle of herself.""
My mother stood.
"Don't you dare.""
He ignored her.
Instead, he looked at the framed portrait.
"Who chose the photograph?""
I stepped forward.
"Stop.""
He turned toward me.
"Marcus. You've grown.""
"Why did you do it?""
He sighed.
"Can we have a conversation without the theatrics?""
"No.""
He glanced at Officer Hayes.
"I suppose you're recording this.""
"Everything is being documented," Hayes replied.
David nodded.
"Good. Then let's discuss the estate.""
He walked toward the memorial table and placed a leather folder beside the candles.
"Your father was a complicated man. He made decisions that affected everyone in this family.""
I looked at him.
"He left me the business.""
"Yes. Unfortunately.""
"Unfortunately?""
David smiled faintly.
"He left you an empire you don't understand.""
Samuel stepped forward.
"Richard left him the estate because he knew what you were doing.""
David's expression hardened.
"Samuel. Still playing accountant?""
"Still stealing?""
David ignored him.
He opened the folder and removed several documents.
"Marcus, I want to make you an offer.""
I laughed.
"An offer?""
"Four million dollars.""
The room went silent.
He continued.
"Sign the transfer documents, release the properties from the estate dispute, and walk away. You and Benita can start somewhere new.""
I stared at him.
"You think I would sell my mother's property after what you've done?""
"Your mother won't need it.""
Eleanor stepped forward.
"Those properties belonged to your brother.""
David looked at her.
"Richard is dead.""
"Because of you.""
The room went completely still.
David slowly turned toward my mother.
"Be careful, Eleanor.""
She lifted her chin.
"I'm finished being afraid of you.""
David laughed.
"Then perhaps you should explain to Marcus why you kept his father's last letter hidden.""
I turned.
"What?""
My mother looked at me.
"Marcus...""
David removed a second envelope from his folder.
It was identical to the one Benita had brought.
Except this one was sealed.
My name was written across it in my father's handwriting.
"Your father gave this to me," David said.
I stared at him.
"Why?""
"Because he wanted me to make sure you never read it.""
"You're lying.""
David shook his head.
"Ask Samuel.""
I looked toward Samuel.
He appeared uncomfortable.
"Richard wrote several letters during the final weeks of his life," Samuel explained.
"Some were never delivered.""
David smiled.
"One was particularly interesting.""
He placed the envelope on the table.
"Your father knew about the money. He knew about the property transfers. But he also discovered something about Eleanor.""
My mother stepped forward.
"Stop.""
David ignored her.
"He discovered that she had secretly arranged a second set of company accounts.""
I looked at my mother.
"Is that true?""
She closed her eyes.
David continued.
"Your father believed she was preparing to take the entire business away from him.""
Samuel interrupted.
"That's a lie. Eleanor was protecting the company from your fraudulent transfers.""
David turned sharply.
"You should keep quiet, Samuel.""
"Why? Because I have the original bank records?""
David's jaw tightened.
For the first time, he looked uncomfortable.
Officer Hayes noticed.
"Mr. Bennett, what are you hiding?""
David shrugged.
"Nothing.""
Samuel opened his briefcase again.
"I have something that might interest you.""
He removed a small USB drive.
"These are copies of the original financial records Richard collected before his death.""
David's expression changed.
"Where did you get those?""
"From the archive.""
David took one step toward him.
Officer Hayes immediately moved between them.
"Stay where you are.""
Samuel held up the drive.
"Every transfer. Every forged authorization. Every payment made through the companies David established.""
David laughed.
"Copies prove nothing.""
"Then perhaps the original will.""
My mother looked at Samuel.
"What original?""
He turned toward her.
"The one Richard placed in the bank vault.""
I stared at him.
"What bank vault?""
Samuel nodded.
"Your father left a second will. It was registered with an independent legal office and stored with the bank.""
David's face went rigid.
I looked at my uncle.
"What's in it?""
Samuel answered.
"Everything.""
David suddenly grabbed the folder from the table.
Papers scattered across the marble.
"That's enough!""
Officer Hayes seized his arm.
"Put it down!""
David struggled.
"I'm not going to stand here while this man destroys my family!""
"Your family?"" I shouted.
I stepped closer.
"You destroyed my family!""
David stopped struggling for a moment.
Then he looked directly at me.
"You think you're innocent, Marcus?""
I frowned.
"What?""
"You think your father was a saint? You think Eleanor told you everything?""
My mother whispered.
"Don't listen to him.""
David laughed.
"Ask her about the hospital.""
My stomach tightened.
"What hospital?""
David looked at my mother.
"Tell him.""
She said nothing.
He continued.
"Your father wasn't alone when he died.""
I stared at him.
"What are you talking about?""
David leaned closer.
"Your mother was there.""
My heart began pounding.
"Mom?""
She looked at me with tears in her eyes.
"Yes.""
I shook my head.
"You told me you arrived after the doctors called.""
"I know.""
"Why?""
She couldn't answer.
David smiled.
"Because she was the last person to see him alive.""
I felt dizzy.
My father had died after a sudden heart attack.
At least, that was what I'd been told.
Now my uncle was suggesting my mother had been there when it happened.
I turned toward her.
"Did Dad know he was dying?""
She shook her head.
"Marcus, please...""
"Did you see him before he died?""
"Yes.""
"And you never told me?""
She reached for my hand.
I pulled away.
David watched us with satisfaction.
"Now you understand why I wanted the estate.""
I turned toward him.
"No. I understand that you wanted control.""
His smile disappeared.
Officer Hayes escorted him toward the entrance.
"Mr. Bennett, you're coming with us.""
David didn't resist this time.
But before he crossed the doorway, he turned back.
"Marcus, ask your mother what happened to the final recording from the hospital.""
My mother suddenly gasped.
Samuel looked at her.
"There's another recording?""
She stood motionless.
David smiled.
"Apparently, she forgot to mention that.""
Then he was gone.
The officers followed him outside.
I turned toward my mother.
"What's the hospital recording?""
She covered her mouth.
Samuel slowly closed his briefcase.
"I think we need to find the second will first.""
But I wasn't listening anymore.
Because my mother had just whispered something I never expected to hear.
"Your father asked me to make a promise before he died.""
I stared at her.
"What promise?""
May you like
She looked directly into my eyes.
"That I would never tell you who was in the room with him.""
