Chapter 9: The Truth That Destroyed the Family
James stared Chapter 9: The Truth That Destroyed the Family
James stared at his sister.
“My father killed someone?””
Amara nodded, tears gathering in her eyes.
“That's what Thomas told me.””
“You've known this?””
“For three years.””
James stepped away from the cabinet.
“And you worked for me while believing I was the son of a murderer?””
“I didn't know whether it was true.””
“Then why didn't you tell me?””
“Because Thomas said he'd use the evidence to at his sister.
“My father killed someone?””
Amara nodded, tears gathering in her eyes.
“That's what Thomas told me.””
“You've known this?””
“For three years.””
James stepped away from the cabinet.
“And you worked for me while believing I was the son of a murderer?””
“I didn't know whether it was true.””
“Then why didn't you tell me?””
“Because Thomas said he'd use the evidence to destroy you.””
James laughed once, without humor.
“He's been threatening our destroy you.””
James laughed once, without humor.
“He's been threatening our family for eight years. Why would you believe him?””
“Because he showed me photographs.””
“What family for eight years. Why would you believe him?””
“Because he showed me photographs.””
“What photographs?””
Amara reached into her bag and pulled out a sealed envelope.
Inside were three images.
The photographs?””
Amara reached into her bag and pulled out a sealed envelope.
Inside were three images.
The first showed David Carter standing beside a black sedan outside a warehouse.
The second showed a man lying on the pavement, first showed David Carter standing beside a black sedan outside a warehouse.
The second showed a man lying on the pavement, blood staining the concrete beneath his head.
The third showed David walking away from the scene.
James stared at blood staining the concrete beneath his head.
The third showed David walking away from the scene.
James stared at the photographs.
“Where did these come from?””
“Thomas gave them to me.””
“When?””
“Three years ago. Shortly the photographs.
“Where did these come from?””
“Thomas gave them to me.””
“When?””
“Three years ago. Shortly before I applied to Carter Capital.””
James looked up sharply.
“You applied to my company because of me?””
Am before I applied to Carter Capital.””
James looked up sharply.
“You applied to my company because of me?””
Amara nodded.
“I wanted to know whether you were involved in the trust. I thought if I worked close enough to you, I could findara nodded.
“I wanted to know whether you were involved in the trust. I thought if I worked close enough to you, I could find the records without exposing you to Thomas.””
“You could have simply told me who the records without exposing you to Thomas.””
“You could have simply told me who you were.””
“I didn't know whether you would believe me.””
James looked at the photographs again.
“And you decided you were.””
“I didn't know whether you would believe me.””
James looked at the photographs again.
“And you decided to investigate me instead?””
“I was trying to protect you.””
“By hiding the to investigate me instead?””
“I was trying to protect you.””
“By hiding the truth?””
Amara flinched.
“I know how that sounds.””
“No, I don't think you do.””
James placed truth?””
Amara flinched.
“I know how that sounds.””
“No, I don't think you do.””
James placed the photographs on the cabinet.
“You spent three years working for me. You watched me walk into the office every morning the photographs on the cabinet.
“You spent three years working for me. You watched me walk into the office every morning. You reviewed my investment decisions. You knew where I lived, who I trusted, and how I operated.””
His voice grew quieter.
“And every day. You reviewed my investment decisions. You knew where I lived, who I trusted, and how I operated.””
His voice grew quieter.
“And every day, you chose not to tell me you were my sister.””
Amara's tears spilled over, you chose not to tell me you were my sister.””
Amara's tears spilled over.
“I know.””
James turned away.
For several seconds, he could hear only the wind moving through the old house.
Then he asked, “Did you find.
“I know.””
James turned away.
For several seconds, he could hear only the wind moving through the old house.
Then he asked, “Did you find anything that proves these photographs are real?””
Amara wiped her face.
“No. Thomas anything that proves these photographs are real?””
Amara wiped her face.
“No. Thomas refused to give me the originals. He said the negatives were kept in a private archive.””
“Where?””
“I don't know.””
“Then how do you refused to give me the originals. He said the negatives were kept in a private archive.””
“Where?””
“I don't know.””
“Then how do you know my father killed that man?””
“I don't.””
James turned back toward her.
“Then why did you say it?””
know my father killed that man?””
“I don't.””
James turned back toward her.
“Then why did you say it?””
“Because the man in the photograph was found dead, and Thomas told me“Because the man in the photograph was found dead, and Thomas told me my father had been responsible. He said David disappeared because he knew he would be arrested.””
James stared at her.
my father had been responsible. He said David disappeared because he knew he would be arrested.””
James stared at her.
“What was the man's name?””
Amara hesitated.
“Peter Lawson.””
The name landed like“What was the man's name?””
Amara hesitated.
“Peter Lawson.””
The name landed like a blow.
Richard's former financial consultant.
The man connected to the missing trust money.
The man whose records a blow.
Richard's former financial consultant.
The man connected to the missing trust money.
The man whose records had vanished.
James picked up the photograph again.
“When was this taken?””
“Thomas said had vanished.
James picked up the photograph again.
“When was this taken?””
“Thomas said it was taken eight years ago.””
“The night my mother died?””
Amara nodded.
James it was taken eight years ago.””
“The night my mother died?””
Amara nodded.
James looked toward the window.
Outside, headlights illuminated the front garden.
A car door slammed.
looked toward the window.
Outside, headlights illuminated the front garden.
A car door slammed.
Then another.
Amara grabbed his arm.
“James, we need to leave.””
He looked at her.
“Then another.
Amara grabbed his arm.
“James, we need to leave.””
He looked at her.
“Not until I know why Thomas is here.””
“Because he thinks I have the original trust deed.””
“DoNot until I know why Thomas is here.””
“Because he thinks I have the original trust deed.””
“Do you?””
Amara hesitated.
Then she opened her bag and removed a small leather notebook.
“I you?””
Amara hesitated.
Then she opened her bag and removed a small leather notebook.
“I have something better.””
She handed it to him.
Inside were handwritten notes, have something better.””
She handed it to him.
Inside were handwritten notes, bank account numbers, and a list of payments made by Meridian Advisory. Several pages contained copies of bank account numbers, and a list of payments made by Meridian Advisory. Several pages contained copies of email exchanges between Thomas Reed and Peter Lawson.
James scanned the first page.
A email exchanges between Thomas Reed and Peter Lawson.
James scanned the first page.
A message dated eight years earlier caught his attention.
**Thomas: Evelyn has discovered the missing transfers. She wants message dated eight years earlier caught his attention.
*Thomas: Evelyn has discovered the missing transfers. She wants to tell James. We need to resolve this before she contacts the bank.*
Lawson's reply followed to tell James. We need to resolve this before she contacts the bank.**
Lawson's reply followed.
*Peter: If she speaks, the entire structure collapses. What about David?*
Thomas's response was brief.
*Thomas: David is no longer our problem.*
James felt.
*Peter: If she speaks, the entire structure collapses. What about David?*
Thomas's response was brief.
*Thomas: David is no longer our problem.*
James felt his pulse hammering.
He turned the page.
Another message appeared.
**Peter: The payment was supposed to be final. If David returns, everything comes his pulse hammering.
He turned the page.
Another message appeared.
*Peter: The payment was supposed to be final. If David returns, everything comes out.*
Thomas had replied:
*Thomas: He won't return. Make sure the records reflect that.*
James looked up.
“Where did you get this out.**
Thomas had replied:
*Thomas: He won't return. Make sure the records reflect that.*
James looked up.
“Where did you get this?””
“I found it in an archive Thomas thought had been destroyed.””
“Does it include the original messages?””
“No. These?””
“I found it in an archive Thomas thought had been destroyed.””
“Does it include the original messages?””
“No. These are printed copies.””
“Then we need the source.””
Amara nodded.
“I know.””
A loud knock shook are printed copies.””
“Then we need the source.””
Amara nodded.
“I know.””
A loud knock shook the front door.
“Amara!”” a man's voice called.
“Open the door.””
She went rigid.
Thomas the front door.
“Amara!”” a man's voice called.
“Open the door.””
She went rigid.
Thomas.
James moved toward the hallway.
“Stay behind me.””
“No,” Amara whispered.
“You don't understand what he's capable of.””
James stopped.
“Then tell me.””
Am.
James moved toward the hallway.
“Stay behind me.””
“No,” Amara whispered.
“You don't understand what he's capable of.””
James stopped.
“Then tell me.””
Amara looked toward the door.
“Thomas didn't just threaten our family. He paid people to keep our father away from us. He used the trust to finance the arrangement, thenara looked toward the door.
“Thomas didn't just threaten our family. He paid people to keep our father away from us. He used the trust to finance the arrangement, then blamed David when the money disappeared.””
“Why?””
“Because David discovered that Thomas had been stealing from Evelyn's inheritance. He wanted to blamed David when the money disappeared.””
“Why?””
“Because David discovered that Thomas had been stealing from Evelyn's inheritance. He wanted to take the records to the police.””
Another knock sounded.
Harder this time.
“Amara, I know James is inside. Don't make take the records to the police.””
Another knock sounded.
Harder this time.
“Amara, I know James is inside. Don't make me repeat myself.””
James opened the door.
Thomas Reed stood on the porch wearing a charcoal over me repeat myself.””
James opened the door.
Thomas Reed stood on the porch wearing a charcoal overcoat and a neatly pressed white shirt. He was in his sixties, with silver hair and a face that mightcoat and a neatly pressed white shirt. He was in his sixties, with silver hair and a face that might have looked kind if not for the cold calculation in his eyes.
Two men stood behind him have looked kind if not for the cold calculation in his eyes.
Two men stood behind him.
Thomas smiled at James.
“You look just like your father.””
James remained in the doorway.
“You're not coming inside.””
Thomas glanced past.
Thomas smiled at James.
“You look just like your father.””
James remained in the doorway.
“You're not coming inside.””
Thomas glanced past him toward Amara.
“She has something that belongs to me.””
James shook his head.
“Nothing in this house belongs to you.””
Thomas sighed.
“James, I understand that you're angry. him toward Amara.
“She has something that belongs to me.””
James shook his head.
“Nothing in this house belongs to you.””
Thomas sighed.
“James, I understand that you're angry. Your mother was a good woman, but she was never particularly sensible about money.””
James's jaw tightened.
“Don't talk about her.””
“ Your mother was a good woman, but she was never particularly sensible about money.””
James's jaw tightened.
“Don't talk about her.””
“Then don't force me to explain things you'd rather not hear.””
“Explain them.””
Thomas looked toward the garden.
“Your father stoleThen don't force me to explain things you'd rather not hear.””
“Explain them.””
Thomas looked toward the garden.
“Your father stole money from the trust. When Peter Lawson discovered the theft, David pan money from the trust. When Peter Lawson discovered the theft, David panicked.
He confronted him. The situation became violent.””
James stared at him.
“You're saying my father killed Peter Lawson.””
“I'm saying theicked. He confronted him. The situation became violent.””
James stared at him.
“You're saying my father killed Peter Lawson.””
“I'm saying the evidence suggests it.””
“And what happened to the body?””
Thomas's smile faded slightly.
“Ask your father.””
“Where is he?””
Thomas leaned closer.
“You evidence suggests it.””
“And what happened to the body?””
Thomas's smile faded slightly.
“Ask your father.””
“Where is he?””
Thomas leaned closer.
“You don't know, do you?””
James said nothing.
Thomas shook his head.
“Your father has spent years hiding from the consequences of don't know, do you?””
James said nothing.
Thomas shook his head.
“Your father has spent years hiding from the consequences of his choices. He left your mother to deal with the fallout. He abandoned you. And now you want to believe his choices.
He left your mother to deal with the fallout. He abandoned you. And now you want to believe he was some kind of hero.””
Amara stepped forward.
“Stop lying.””
Thomas looked at her.
“You have he was some kind of hero.””
Amara stepped forward.
“Stop lying.””
Thomas looked at her.
“You have no idea what your father did.””
“I know what you did.””
His expression hardened.
“You no idea what your father did.””
“I know what you did.””
His expression hardened.
“You know what I allowed you to see.””
Amara raised the notebook.
“I have the records.””
Thomas's eyes moved to it.
For the know what I allowed you to see.””
Amara raised the notebook.
“I have the records.””
Thomas's eyes moved to it.
For the first time, the composure slipped.
“Give me that.””
“No.””
“You don't understand what's first time, the composure slipped.
“Give me that.””
“No.””
“You don't understand what's inside.””
“I understand that you stole money from our mother.””
Thomas stepped onto the porch.
James blocked his path.
“Stay inside.””
“I understand that you stole money from our mother.””
Thomas stepped onto the porch.
James blocked his path.
“Stay where you are.””
Thomas looked at him with open contempt.
“You've built a company on the money I helped protect.””
James stared at him.
“What where you are.””
Thomas looked at him with open contempt.
“You've built a company on the money I helped protect.””
James stared at him.
“What?””
“Your first investment came from a fund that should have belonged to the?””
“Your first investment came from a fund that should have belonged to the family. Your mother moved money into your business because she believed you would succeed. She used family.
Your mother moved money into your business because she believed you would succeed. She used the trust to finance your first office, your first employees, your first acquisition.””
James felt a cold wave the trust to finance your first office, your first employees, your first acquisition.””
James felt a cold wave move through him.
“That's a lie.””
“Is it?””
Thomas pulled a folded document from his coat.
“Your first move through him.
“That's a lie.””
“Is it?””
Thomas pulled a folded document from his coat.
“Your first company received $180,000 from a holding account linked to Northbridge Legacy Trust. You thought it came from an anonymous investor.””
James remembered.
company received $180,000 from a holding account linked to Northbridge Legacy Trust. You thought it came from an anonymous investor.””
James remembered.
The money had arrived when his company was close to collapse. The investor had requested no board seat and no public recognition.The money had arrived when his company was close to collapse. The investor had requested no board seat and no public recognition. James had believed it was a vote of confidence from someone who understood his business plan.
He had used the James had believed it was a vote of confidence from someone who understood his business plan.
He had used the funds to pay his employees and keep the company alive.
Thomas watched the realization spread across his face.
“Your mother wanted you to have it funds to pay his employees and keep the company alive.
Thomas watched the realization spread across his face.
“Your mother wanted you to have it. She believed it was your inheritance.””
James took the document.
The account number matched the records in the storage unit.
But. She believed it was your inheritance.””
James took the document.
The account number matched the records in the storage unit.
But the transfer authorization had been signed by Thomas Reed.
“Why did you let me believe it was an anonymous investment?””
“Because you would the transfer authorization had been signed by Thomas Reed.
“Why did you let me believe it was an anonymous investment?””
“Because you would have refused the money if you knew where it came from.””
James looked up.
“You don't know that.””
“I knew your father. I knew your have refused the money if you knew where it came from.””
James looked up.
“You don't know that.””
“I knew your father. I knew your mother. And I knew you would rather fail than accept anything you thought you mother. And I knew you would rather fail than accept anything you thought you hadn't earned.””
Thomas's expression softened into something almost paternal.
“You see, James, I wasn't your enemy. I was the person who made hadn't earned.””
Thomas's expression softened into something almost paternal.
“You see, James, I wasn't your enemy. I was the person who made sure you had a future.””
Amara shook her head.
“He's trying to confuse sure you had a future.””
Amara shook her head.
“He's trying to confuse you.””
Thomas ignored her.
“Your mother wanted you to succeed. I helped her make that possible. Then your father ruined you.””
Thomas ignored her.
“Your mother wanted you to succeed. I helped her make that possible. Then your father ruined everything by trying to expose the everything by trying to expose the trust.””
James looked at the document again.
If Thomas was telling the truth about the money, then his success had begun with funds connected trust.””
James looked at the document again.
If Thomas was telling the truth about the money, then his success had begun with funds connected to his mother's inheritance.
That didn't make Thomas honest.
It didn't make the missing transfers legitimate.
But it meant the story was more to his mother's inheritance.
That didn't make Thomas honest.
It didn't make the missing transfers legitimate.
But it meant the story was more complicated than James wanted to believe.
“Where is my father?”” James asked again.
Thomas's face went still.
“I can take you to him.””
Amara grabbed complicated than James wanted to believe.
“Where is my father?”” James asked again.
Thomas's face went still.
“I can take you to him.””
Amara grabbed James's arm.
“No.””
Thomas raised an eyebrow.
“Why not? Isn't James's arm.
“No.””
Thomas raised an eyebrow.
“Why not? Isn't that what you've wanted?””
James studied him.
“What do you want in return?””
“The notebook.””
“No that what you've wanted?””
James studied him.
“What do you want in return?””
“The notebook.””
“No.””
“Then you can spend the rest of your life wondering whether your father murdered.””
“Then you can spend the rest of your life wondering whether your father murdered Peter Lawson.””
James stepped closer.
“If my father killed someone, I'll find out the truth. If you stole money, I'll find Peter Lawson.””
James stepped closer.
“If my father killed someone, I'll find out the truth. If you stole money, I'll find out that truth too. And if you used my mother's death to cover your tracks, I'll make sure everyone knows.””
Thomas's smile disappeared.
“You think out that truth too. And if you used my mother's death to cover your tracks, I'll make sure everyone knows.””
Thomas's smile disappeared.
“You think money can protect you from me?””
“No.””
James held up the notebook.
“I think evidence can.””
For a moment, the two men stood face money can protect you from me?””
“No.””
James held up the notebook.
“I think evidence can.””
For a moment, the two men stood face-to-face.
Then Thomas stepped backward.
“You have until midnight,” he said.
“Give-to-face.
Then Thomas stepped backward.
“You have until midnight,” he said.
“Give me the notebook, and I'll tell you where David is.””
James said nothing.
Thomas turned toward the steps.
As he reached the gate, he looked back at Amara.
me the notebook, and I'll tell you where David is.””
James said nothing.
Thomas turned toward the steps.
As he reached the gate, he looked back at Amara.
“You should have stayed lost.””
Then he walked away.
James shut the door.
Am“You should have stayed lost.””
Then he walked away.
James shut the door.
Amara leaned against the wall, breathing hard.
Richard's earlier warning returned to James's mind: someone was watching the family, and every personara leaned against the wall, breathing hard.
Richard's earlier warning returned to James's mind: someone was watching the family, and every person who had tried to expose the truth had been threatened.
He looked at the notebook.
“Amara, we need to get this who had tried to expose the truth had been threatened.
He looked at the notebook.
“Amara, we need to get this to Daniel.””
She nodded.
“I've already made a copy.””
James looked at her sharply to Daniel.””
She nodded.
“I've already made a copy.””
James looked at her sharply.
“Where?””
“Encrypted storage. The access key is with Olivia.””
He stared at her.
“You involved Olivia?””
“.
“Where?””
“Encrypted storage. The access key is with Olivia.””
He stared at her.
“You involved Olivia?””
“Only because I needed someone who could verify the records without alerting Thomas. She doesn't know who I am.””
James exOnly because I needed someone who could verify the records without alerting Thomas. She doesn't know who I am.””
James exhaled.
“Good. We'll have Daniel preserve everything.””
His phone rang.
David Carter.
James answered immediately.
“Dad?””
Hishaled.
“Good. We'll have Daniel preserve everything.””
His phone rang.
David Carter.
James answered immediately.
“Dad?””
His father's voice sounded strained.
“James, listen carefully. Thomas is on his way to you.””
“He just left.””
“No, son father's voice sounded strained.
“James, listen carefully. Thomas is on his way to you.””
“He just left.””
“No, son. The man who came to the house was not Thomas.””
James froze.
He looked at Amara.
Then at the front door.
“What do you mean?””
“The real. The man who came to the house was not Thomas.””
James froze.
He looked at Amara.
Then at the front door.
“What do you mean?””
“The real Thomas is with me.””
James's blood ran cold.
“Where are you?””
“An old warehouse near Thomas is with me.””
James's blood ran cold.
“Where are you?””
“An old warehouse near the river. I found the original trust deed, but I was followed.””
A crash sounded through the phone.
David gasped.
Then another voice spoke the river. I found the original trust deed, but I was followed.””
A crash sounded through the phone.
David gasped.
Then another voice spoke.
“David, give me the papers.””
James recognized the voice.
Thomas.
His.
“David, give me the papers.””
James recognized the voice.
Thomas.
His father whispered one final sentence.
“James, whatever you do, don't trust the man standing outside your door father whispered one final sentence.
“James, whatever you do, don't trust the man standing outside your door.””
The call ended.
At that exact moment, someone knocked.
Three slow.””
The call ended.
At that exact moment, someone knocked.
Three slow, deliberate knocks.
James turned toward the entrance.
Amara whispered, “Who is it?””
James didn't answer.
He approached, deliberate knocks.
James turned toward the entrance.
Amara whispered, “Who is it?””
James didn't answer.
He approached the door and looked through the narrow window.
A man stood on the porch.
Silver hair.
Charcoal overcoat.
Cold the door and looked through the narrow window.
A man stood on the porch.
Silver hair.
Charcoal overcoat.
Cold, familiar eyes.
Thomas Reed.
The real one.
And in his hand was a, familiar eyes.
Thomas Reed.
The real one.
And in his hand was a photograph of David Carter, kneeling on a concrete floor with blood running down his forehead.
Thomas raised the photograph to the photograph of David Carter, kneeling on a concrete floor with blood running down his forehead.
Thomas raised the photograph to the glass.
Then he smiled.
“Now,” he said through the door, “shall we discuss your inheritance?””
glass.
May you like
Then he smiled.
“Now,” he said through the door, “shall we discuss your inheritance?””
