Chapter 8: The Truth Hidden in the Walls
The police arrived twenty minutes later.
Not because my father wanted them to.
Because I called.
That decision changed something between us.
I saw it in his eyes.
A mixture of disappointment and understanding.
Maybe he was hurt that I didn’t trust him.
Maybe he finally understood why.
The officer took pictures of the note.
Asked questions.
Checked the damaged lock.
But there was one question he kept asking.
“Who else knew about the family situation?””
Nobody answered quickly.
Because everyone in that house had secrets.
Finally, Leon spoke.
“My wife’s sister.””
He looked at Evelyn.
“And my wife’s daughter.””
I looked at him.
“Why would someone threaten me?””
The officer looked at my father.
“Mr. Carter, do you know anyone who would want to harm your family?””
Leon looked down.
“No.””
The officer didn’t look convinced.
Neither was I.
After they left, the house felt even quieter.
Evelyn sat in the living room.
Patrice stood near the window.
My father stayed near the fireplace.
Three people.
Three versions of the truth.
And me in the middle.
“I want everything,” I said.
Nobody spoke.
I looked at them.
“Everything.””
My father sighed.
“Amara.””
“No.””
I shook my head.
“You don’t get to protect me anymore.””
The words hurt him.
I saw that.
But they were true.
“I need the truth.””
Patrice looked at Leon.
Then she sat down.
“Your mother found out something six months before she died.””
“What?””
“She found out Leon had changed his will.””
My father closed his eyes.
“Patrice.””
“No.””
She looked at him.
“She deserves to know.””
My heart started pounding.
“His will?””
Patrice nodded.
“Your father wanted to leave the house to you.””
I froze.
“What?””
Leon looked away.
“Amara…”
“You changed your will?””
“Yes.””
“When?””
“After your mother got sick.””
I frowned.
“Why?””
“Because I wanted to make sure you were taken care of.””
I looked at Patrice.
“And she knew?””
“Yes.””
Patrice’s voice was quiet.
“Your mother thought I was trying to take everything from you.””
I swallowed.
“But you weren’t?””
“No.””
She looked exhausted.
“I wasn’t.””
The answer should have relieved me.
Instead, it created more questions.
“Then why did she think that?””
Nobody answered.
Then Evelyn spoke.
“Because someone wanted her to think that.””
Everyone looked at her.
“What do you mean?”” I asked.
Evelyn leaned forward.
“Your mother received fake documents.””
“What documents?””
“Bank statements. Transfers. Messages.””
My stomach dropped.
“Someone forged them?””
“Yes.””
“Who?””
Evelyn looked at my father.
“I thought it was him.””
Leon stood.
“What?””
“You had the motive.””
His face changed.
“And I was wrong.””
The room went silent.
I looked at my father.
“You never told me about any of this.””
“I was ashamed.””
“Of what?””
He sat back down.
“Of how much I failed her.””
The honesty surprised me.
He continued.
“Your mother asked me for help. She told me she thought someone was manipulating her.””
“Did you believe her?””
He looked at the floor.
“At first, no.””
My eyes filled.
“Why?””
“Because the evidence pointed everywhere.””
“To Patrice?””
“To money.””
He swallowed.
“I thought she was scared because she was sick.””
The sentence broke something inside him.
“I should have listened.””
Nobody spoke.
Then Evelyn reached into her bag.
She pulled out an old notebook.
“This belonged to your mother.””
My heart jumped.
“What is it?””
“Her journal.””
I stared.
“You have her journal?””
“She gave it to me before she died.””
My father stood immediately.
“Evelyn.””
She looked at him.
“She wanted Amara to know.””
“Know what?””
Evelyn handed it to me.
“The name of the person who was setting everything up.””
My fingers touched the cover.
A small flower pattern.
My mother loved flowers.
I opened the first page.
The handwriting was hers.
Page after page.
Thoughts.
Fear.
Questions.
Then I reached a page near the end.
The ink looked darker.
Like she had written it quickly.
The date was three days before she died.
I read.
*I finally know who has been lying to me.*
My breath caught.
The next line.
*It was never Patrice.*
I looked up.
Everyone was watching me.
I kept reading.
*I was wrong about her. The person I trusted most is the person who betrayed me.*
My hands shook.
The final sentence on the page was underlined.
*If anything happens to me, Leon cannot know the truth until Amara is safe.*
I dropped the journal slightly.
My father went pale.
“Why does it say my name?””
Nobody answered.
Then the lights in the house suddenly went out.
The room fell into darkness.
A second later, my phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
One new message.
I opened it.
May you like
And the words on the screen made my blood run cold.
*Don’t trust your father. Your mother was right.*