Chapter 5 - THE EVIDENCEThe police took Margaret into custody.
But Arthur couldn't celebrate.
He sat beside Claire in the hospital while doctors examined Noah.
The baby was physically unharmed.
Claire held him against her chest.
Arthur stood beside the window.
Thomas sat across the room.
“You okay?” Thomas asked.
Arthur nodded.
“No.”
Thomas gave a faint smile.
“Me neither.”
Claire looked at Thomas.
“Thank you.”
Thomas lowered his eyes.
“I should have come sooner.”
Arthur turned.
“Why didn't you?”
“Fear.”
“Of Margaret?”
“Of everything.”
Thomas looked at Noah.
“I spent my whole life believing I had no family.”
Arthur walked over.
“You do now.”
Thomas looked at him.
Arthur held out his hand.
Thomas stared at it for several seconds.
Then he took it.
The brothers shook hands.
It was awkward.
But it was a beginning.
Later that night, Arthur met with the detective.
“We found something,” the detective said.
He placed a sealed evidence bag on the table.
Inside was a phone.
“Where did you get it?”
“From Margaret's car.”
Arthur stared.
“What does it contain?”
“Messages.”
“To whom?”
“Victor Hale.”
Arthur's jaw tightened.
“Read them.”
The detective opened the phone.
The messages were terrifying.
Margaret had discussed the trust.
Noah.
Claire.
And Richard's death.
Arthur read one message.
He knows too much.
Another:
Richard must never reach the authorities.
Then:
If necessary, make it look like an accident.
Arthur's hands began shaking.
“Who sent these?”
The detective pointed.
Margaret.
The messages had been sent three days before Richard died.
Arthur closed his eyes.
“My father was murdered.”
“Yes.”
“By Victor?”
“We don't know yet.”
Arthur looked at the detective.
“Find him.”
Victor had disappeared.
His office was closed.
His home was empty.
His bank accounts had been drained.
The next morning, Evelyn called.
“Arthur.”
“What happened?”
“Victor came to see me.”
Arthur stood.
“When?”
“Last night.”
“What did he want?”
“To know where Thomas was.”
Arthur's blood ran cold.
“Did you tell him?”
“No.”
“Where is he now?”
“I don't know.”
Evelyn paused.
“But he left something.”
“What?”
“A key.”
Arthur drove to her house.
The key belonged to a storage facility.
Inside the unit were boxes belonging to Richard.
Arthur opened the first.
Financial records.
The second.
Photographs.
The third.
A tape recorder.
Arthur pressed play.
His father's voice filled the room.
“If you're hearing this, I failed to protect my family.”
Arthur closed his eyes.
Richard continued.
“Margaret believes money is power. She is wrong.”
Claire stood beside Arthur.
“Family is power.”
Arthur nodded.
The recording continued.
“There is evidence proving what she and Victor have done. I hid it where neither could find it.”
A pause.
“Arthur, if you ever hear this, forgive me.”
Arthur's eyes filled with tears.
“I should have told you everything.”
The recording ended.
Thomas looked around.
“Where would Dad hide evidence?”
Arthur thought.
“The lake house.”
They drove there immediately.
The lake house had been abandoned for years.
Inside, everything was covered with dust.
Arthur remembered visiting as a child.
He walked into the study.
A painting hung above the fireplace.
His father's favorite.
Arthur removed it.
Behind it was a safe.
He entered the combination from an old birthday memory.
The safe opened.
Inside was a folder.
Arthur pulled it out.
The folder contained bank records, photographs, and a letter.
But before he could read it, the door slammed.
Victor stood behind them.
He held a gun.
“Put the folder down.”
Claire stepped backward.
Arthur moved in front of her.
Victor looked at Thomas.
“You ruined everything.”
Thomas answered,
“No. You did.”
Victor's hands trembled.
“You don't understand.”
Arthur stared.
“You killed my father.”
Victor's face collapsed.
“I didn't pull the trigger.”
“Then who did?”
Victor looked toward the window.
“Robert.”
Arthur frowned.
“Who is Robert?”
Victor swallowed.
“Your mother's brother.”
Claire gasped.
Arthur knew the name.
Robert had disappeared from the family years earlier.
Victor continued.
“Robert wanted the company.”
“And Margaret wanted the trust.”
“Yes.”
“They worked together.”
“Yes.”
“Why are you telling me?”
Victor lowered the gun.
“Because Robert is going after Thomas next.”
A shot exploded.
Victor dropped.
Arthur grabbed Claire.
Thomas pulled them behind the wall.
Another shot struck the window.
Someone was outside.
Arthur looked at Victor.
Blood spread across his shirt.
Victor whispered,
“Run.”
Thomas opened the back door.
They escaped into the woods.
Behind them, the lake house caught fire.
Arthur looked back.
The evidence was burning.
But he had already taken the folder.
He held it tightly against his chest.
Inside was the truth his father had died protecting.
May you like
And now the man who ordered the murder knew Arthur had it.
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