Chapter 9: The Brother Who Never Died
My father didn't move.
He stood beside the window, staring at the elderly man in the passenger seat of Richard's sedan.
For eight years, he had believed his older brother was dead.
Now that same man was sitting outside our house as though he had simply been away on holiday.
“Daniel,” Margaret whispered.
My father turned.
“Don't say another word.””
He picked up his phone and called Detective Harris.
Now that same man was sitting outside our house as though he had simply been away on holiday.
“Daniel,” Margaret whispered.
My father turned.
“Don't say another word.””
He picked up his phone and called Detective Harris.
When the detective answered, Dad spoke quickly.
“Richard Bennett is at my house. He has brought Andrew with him. Yes, Andrew Bennett. The brother who supposedly died in 2010.””
He listened.
“No, I'm.
When the detective answered, Dad spoke quickly.
“Richard Bennett is at my house. He has brought Andrew with him. Yes, Andrew Bennett. The brother who supposedly died in 2010.””
He listened.
“No, I'm not letting them leave.””
After ending the call, he looked at Thomas.
“Lock the doors.””
Thomas nodded.
I moved closer to the window.
Richard was standing beside the car, adjusting his jacket. He looked completely relaxed.
not letting them leave.””
After ending the call, he looked at Thomas.
“Lock the doors.””
Thomas nodded.
I moved closer to the window.
Richard was standing beside the car, adjusting his jacket. He looked completely relaxed.
Then he looked directly toward the upstairs window.
He smiled.
It was the same polite smile he had worn at my birthday dinner.
The same smile he had given me when Claire handed me the garbage bag.
My stomach turned.
“Dad,” IThen he looked directly toward the upstairs window.
He smiled.
It was the same polite smile he had worn at my birthday dinner.
The same smile he had given me when Claire handed me the garbage bag.
My stomach turned.
“Dad,” I whispered.
“He knew.””
My father nodded.
“I think he did.””
The doorbell rang.
Once.
Then twice.
Dad walked into the foyer.
I followed him, with Thomas close behind.
Claire and Margaret remained in the living whispered.
“He knew.””
My father nodded.
“I think he did.””
The doorbell rang.
Once.
Then twice.
Dad walked into the foyer.
I followed him, with Thomas close behind.
Claire and Margaret remained in the living room.
When my father opened the front door, Richard stood on the porch holding the bouquet.
“Daniel,” he said warmly.
“I heard you had a difficult evening.””
room.
When my father opened the front door, Richard stood on the porch holding the bouquet.
“Daniel,” he said warmly.
“I heard you had a difficult evening.””
Dad didn't move.
“What do you want?””
Richard glanced past him.
“To see how everyone is doing.””
“Leave.””
Richard sighed.
“Come on. We've known each other for years.””
“Not anymore.””
His expression changed slightly.
Then he lifted the flowers.
“These areDad didn't move.
“What do you want?””
Richard glanced past him.
“To see how everyone is doing.””
“Leave.””
Richard sighed.
“Come on. We've known each other for years.””
“Not anymore.””
His expression changed slightly.
Then he lifted the flowers.
“These are for Emma. I thought she'd appreciate them after the birthday disaster.””
I stared at the bouquet.
White lilies.
My mother's favorite flowers.
“You can keep them,” I said.
Richard looked at me.
“Still upset about the for Emma. I thought she'd appreciate them after the birthday disaster.””
I stared at the bouquet.
White lilies.
My mother's favorite flowers.
“You can keep them,” I said.
Richard looked at me.
“Still upset about the cake?””
I felt sick.
He knew.
He had been there.
He had watched.
And now he stood at my front door pretending to care.
“ cake?””
I felt sick.
He knew.
He had been there.
He had watched.
And now he stood at my front door pretending to care.
“Why did you let her do that to me?””
Richard tilted his head.
“Excuse me?””
“Why did you let Claire humiliate meWhy did you let her do that to me?””
Richard tilted his head.
“Excuse me?””
“Why did you let Claire humiliate me?””
He shrugged.
“It's a family matter.””
“No. It was my birthday.””
He gave a small smile.
“Don't make this bigger than it is, Emma.””
My father stepped forward.
“Don't speak to her.””
Richard raised both hands.
“Fine. I can see you're upset?””
He shrugged.
“It's a family matter.””
“No. It was my birthday.””
He gave a small smile.
“Don't make this bigger than it is, Emma.””
My father stepped forward.
“Don't speak to her.””
Richard raised both hands.
“Fine. I can see you're upset.””
Then his eyes moved toward the living room.
“Margaret is here, isn't she?””
My father went still.
“How do you know?””
Richard smiled again.
“Because she's been making trouble for years.””
He placed the bouquet on the porch.
“Daniel, let's talk privately.””
“No.””
Then his eyes moved toward the living room.
“Margaret is here, isn't she?””
My father went still.
“How do you know?””
Richard smiled again.
“Because she's been making trouble for years.””
He placed the bouquet on the porch.
“Daniel, let's talk privately.””
“No.””
“I'm trying to help you.””
“You've done enough.””
Richard's face changed.
“Then I suppose Thomas has finally told you everything.””
My father grabbed the door.
“What do you know about Thomas?””
Richard looked toward the driveway.””
“I'm trying to help you.””
“You've done enough.””
Richard's face changed.
“Then I suppose Thomas has finally told you everything.””
My father grabbed the door.
“What do you know about Thomas?””
Richard looked toward the driveway.
The passenger door opened.
The elderly man stepped out.
Andrew Bennett.
He was thinner than in the family photographs,.
The passenger door opened.
The elderly man stepped out.
Andrew Bennett.
He was thinner than in the family photographs, with gray hair and a slight limp with gray hair and a slight limp. But his face was unmistakable.
My father looked as though he had seen a ghost.
“Andrew.””
His brother smiled faintly.
“Hello, little brother.””
Dad's jaw tightened.
“You've got a lot of explaining to do.””
Andrew glanced at me.
“So this is Emma.””
. But his face was unmistakable.
My father looked as though he had seen a ghost.
“Andrew.””
His brother smiled faintly.
“Hello, little brother.””
Dad's jaw tightened.
“You've got a lot of explaining to do.””
Andrew glanced at me.
“So this is Emma.””
I stepped back.
“How do you know me?””
He smiled.
“I've known about you since before you were born.””
Dad moved between us.
“Don't come any closer.””
Andrew sighed.
“You've always been dramatic, Daniel.””
“Why did you fake your death?””
“Because Robert wanted me goneI stepped back.
“How do you know me?””
He smiled.
“I've known about you since before you were born.””
Dad moved between us.
“Don't come any closer.””
Andrew sighed.
“You've always been dramatic, Daniel.””
“Why did you fake your death?””
“Because Robert wanted me gone.””
“Then why did you come back?””
Andrew looked at Richard.
“Because someone needed to finish what Father started.””
Richard stepped inside.
My father blocked him.
“Not another step.””
Richard smiled.
“You don't have the whole story.””
“I have enough.””
“No. You have what Margaret and Thomas decided to tell you.””
Andrew entered behind him.
He looked around the foyer with the familiarity of someone who had never stopped belonging there.
“I used to live here,” he said.
Dad stared.
“You haven't lived here.””
“Then why did you come back?””
Andrew looked at Richard.
“Because someone needed to finish what Father started.””
Richard stepped inside.
My father blocked him.
“Not another step.””
Richard smiled.
“You don't have the whole story.””
“I have enough.””
“No. You have what Margaret and Thomas decided to tell you.””
Andrew entered behind him.
He looked around the foyer with the familiarity of someone who had never stopped belonging there.
“I used to live here,” he said.
Dad stared.
“You haven't lived here in sixteen years.””
“Some things never change.””
He glanced at the staircase.
“Except the photographs. Laura's picture is gone.””
I felt a chill.
Dad had never removed my mother's photograph from the upstairs hallway.
Andrew in sixteen years.””
“Some things never change.””
He glanced at the staircase.
“Except the photographs. Laura's picture is gone.””
I felt a chill.
Dad had never removed my mother's photograph from the upstairs hallway.
Andrew noticed my expression.
“What's wrong, Emma?””
I didn't answer.
He smiled.
“You look just like her.””
My father moved forward.
“Get out.””
Andrew ignored him.
“Daniel, your wife was a very clever woman. She discovered noticed my expression.
“What's wrong, Emma?””
I didn't answer.
He smiled.
“You look just like her.””
My father moved forward.
“Get out.””
Andrew ignored him.
“Daniel, your wife was a very clever woman. She discovered something she shouldn't have.””
Dad's voice became low.
“She was murdered.””
Andrew's smile faded.
“Careful.””
“Was she?””
Richard closed the front door.
The sound echoed through the foyer.
For something she shouldn't have.””
Dad's voice became low.
“She was murdered.””
Andrew's smile faded.
“Careful.””
“Was she?””
Richard closed the front door.
The sound echoed through the foyer.
For the first time, I realized we were trapped inside with the two men who might have been responsible for my mother's death.
My father reached for his phone.
Richard laughed.
“The police are already on their way, aren't they?””
He looked the first time, I realized we were trapped inside with the two men who might have been responsible for my mother's death.
My father reached for his phone.
Richard laughed.
“The police are already on their way, aren't they?””
He looked at me.
“That's unfortunate.””
I stepped backward.
Andrew reached into his coat and pulled out a folded document.
He placed it on the hallway table.
“Before anyone starts making accusations, perhaps you should read this.””
Dad didn't touch at me.
“That's unfortunate.””
I stepped backward.
Andrew reached into his coat and pulled out a folded document.
He placed it on the hallway table.
“Before anyone starts making accusations, perhaps you should read this.””
Dad didn't touch it.
“What is it?””
“Your father's final trust agreement.””
My father looked at the paper.
“That's the document Laura was trying to protect.””
Andrew nodded.
“Exactly.””
“Why do you have it?””
“Because it.
“What is it?””
“Your father's final trust agreement.””
My father looked at the paper.
“That's the document Laura was trying to protect.””
Andrew nodded.
“Exactly.””
“Why do you have it?””
“Because Father gave it to me.””
Margaret appeared in the living room doorway.
“You stole it.””
Andrew looked at her.
“Hello, Margaret.””
She gripped her walking stick.
“You killed Laura.””
Andrew smiled without Father gave it to me.””
Margaret appeared in the living room doorway.
“You stole it.””
Andrew looked at her.
“Hello, Margaret.””
She gripped her walking stick.
“You killed Laura.””
Andrew smiled without warmth.
“That's a serious accusation.””
“I saw you.””
His expression changed.
The smile disappeared.
“You saw nothing.””
“I saw you leave the bridge.””
Richard stepped forward.
“Enough.””
My father turned toward him.
“Why warmth.
“That's a serious accusation.””
“I saw you.””
His expression changed.
The smile disappeared.
“You saw nothing.””
“I saw you leave the bridge.””
Richard stepped forward.
“Enough.””
My father turned toward him.
“Why are you helping him?””
Richard stared at Dad.
“Because someone had to.””
“Someone had to what?””
“Keep the family from collapsing.””
Dad laughed bitterly.
“You helped destroy it.””
Richard shook his head.
“Your are you helping him?””
Richard stared at Dad.
“Because someone had to.””
“Someone had to what?””
“Keep the family from collapsing.””
Dad laughed bitterly.
“You helped destroy it.””
Richard shook his head.
“Your father created the problem. I was trying to contain it.””
I stared at him.
“What do you have to do with my mother?””
Richard looked directly at me.
“More than you know.””
He reached into his jacket and produced a second document.
It was an old company father created the problem. I was trying to contain it.””
I stared at him.
“What do you have to do with my mother?””
Richard looked directly at me.
“More than you know.””
He reached into his jacket and produced a second document.
It was an old company agreement.
My name appeared at the top.
Emma Bennett.
There was a signature beneath it.
Mine.
But I had never signed it.
“What is that?””
Richard smiled.
“Your inheritance agreement.””
Dad sn agreement.
My name appeared at the top.
Emma Bennett.
There was a signature beneath it.
Mine.
But I had never signed it.
“What is that?””
Richard smiled.
“Your inheritance agreement.””
Dad snatched the paper.
“This signature is forged.””
“It's perfectly valid.””
“No, it isn't.””
Richard shrugged.
“Your father had the authority to approve it.””
My father looked at the document againatched the paper.
“This signature is forged.””
“It's perfectly valid.””
“No, it isn't.””
Richard shrugged.
“Your father had the authority to approve it.””
My father looked at the document again.
Then his face changed.
The agreement wasn't transferring money to Claire.
It was transferring controlling shares from my mother's trust to a company registered in Richard's name.
Dad read the date.
Three months earlier.
He looked at.
Then his face changed.
The agreement wasn't transferring money to Claire.
It was transferring controlling shares from my mother's trust to a company registered in Richard's name.
Dad read the date.
Three months earlier.
He looked at Richard.
“You've been stealing from my daughter.””
Richard's smile widened.
“I'm managing assets.””
“You've been moving them without permission.””
“Only because someone had to.””
Thomas stepped into the foyer.
“Michael Richard.
“You've been stealing from my daughter.””
Richard's smile widened.
“I'm managing assets.””
“You've been moving them without permission.””
“Only because someone had to.””
Thomas stepped into the foyer.
“Michael kept copies of every transfer.””
Richard turned sharply.
“Michael is dead.””
“He left me the records.””
Andrew looked toward Thomas.
“You should have stayed dead.””
Thomas nodded.
“I've heard that before.””
Richard's expression hardened.
He kept copies of every transfer.””
Richard turned sharply.
“Michael is dead.””
“He left me the records.””
Andrew looked toward Thomas.
“You should have stayed dead.””
Thomas nodded.
“I've heard that before.””
Richard's expression hardened.
He reached toward his coat.
My father grabbed his wrist.
“Don't.””
For a second, both men struggled.
Then Richard pulled his arm free.
He looked at me.
“Emma, listen carefully. Your reached toward his coat.
My father grabbed his wrist.
“Don't.””
For a second, both men struggled.
Then Richard pulled his arm free.
He looked at me.
“Emma, listen carefully. Your father is going to lose everything because he refuses to understand what this family requires.””
I shook my head.
“You mean what you want.””
Richard stepped closer.
“You have no idea what you're involved father is going to lose everything because he refuses to understand what this family requires.””
I shook my head.
“You mean what you want.””
Richard stepped closer.
“You have no idea what you're involved in.””
“Then tell me.””
He smiled.
“Your mother had a choice. She could have handed over the trust agreement, and everyone would have lived comfortably. But she decided to play hero.””
Dad moved in front of in.””
“Then tell me.””
He smiled.
“Your mother had a choice. She could have handed over the trust agreement, and everyone would have lived comfortably. But she decided to play hero.””
Dad moved in front of me.
“Richard, stop talking.””
“No. She deserves to know.””
He pointed toward the living room.
“Claire wanted the money. Andrew wanted control of the family business. Michael wanted the laboratory paid. And Robert wanted his secrets buried me.
“Richard, stop talking.””
“No. She deserves to know.””
He pointed toward the living room.
“Claire wanted the money. Andrew wanted control of the family business. Michael wanted the laboratory paid. And Robert wanted his secrets buried.””
He paused.
“Laura refused to cooperate.””
My father looked sick.
“So you killed her?””
Richard shrugged.
“I wasn't there.””
Margaret raised her walking stick.
“Liar!””
Andrew stepped toward her.
“Be careful, old.””
He paused.
“Laura refused to cooperate.””
My father looked sick.
“So you killed her?””
Richard shrugged.
“I wasn't there.””
Margaret raised her walking stick.
“Liar!””
Andrew stepped toward her.
“Be careful, old woman.””
Thomas moved between them.
“Don't touch her.””
Richard watched the confrontation with a strange calmness.
Then he turned toward my father.
“You're missing the most important part.””
“What?””
“Laura woman.””
Thomas moved between them.
“Don't touch her.””
Richard watched the confrontation with a strange calmness.
Then he turned toward my father.
“You're missing the most important part.””
“What?””
“Laura didn't die because of the money.””
Dad stared.
“What are you talking about?””
Richard smiled.
“She was going to tell you the truth about Emma.””
My heart pounded.
“What truth?””
Richard looked at Claire.
didn't die because of the money.””
Dad stared.
“What are you talking about?””
Richard smiled.
“She was going to tell you the truth about Emma.””
My heart pounded.
“What truth?””
Richard looked at Claire.
“Tell him.””
Claire appeared in the doorway.
She had been listening.
Her face was white.
“Tell him what?”” Dad demanded.
Richard looked back at me.
“Your mother knew the adoption agreement“Tell him.””
Claire appeared in the doorway.
She had been listening.
Her face was white.
“Tell him what?”” Dad demanded.
Richard looked back at me.
“Your mother knew the adoption agreement wasn't legally valid.””
I stared at him.
“What?””
He nodded.
“Laura never completed the final adoption registration.””
Dad's expression changed.
“That isn't possible.””
Andrew laughed wasn't legally valid.””
I stared at him.
“What?””
He nodded.
“Laura never completed the final adoption registration.””
Dad's expression changed.
“That isn't possible.””
Andrew laughed quietly.
“She kept the papers incomplete because she knew Robert might challenge the arrangement.””
Richard continued.
“Which means the trust was never protected by the adoption agreement. Claire remained your legal birth mother, and the inheritance could quietly.
“She kept the papers incomplete because she knew Robert might challenge the arrangement.””
Richard continued.
“Which means the trust was never protected by the adoption agreement. Claire remained your legal birth mother, and the inheritance could be redirected if the correct documents were filed.””
I looked at Claire.
“Is that true?””
She lowered her head.
“Yes.””
Dad stepped toward her.
“You knew?””
Claire nodded.
“Laura told me.””
“Then why didn't you tell us?””
“Because she said the adoption could still be finalized be redirected if the correct documents were filed.””
I looked at Claire.
“Is that true?””
She lowered her head.
“Yes.””
Dad stepped toward her.
“You knew?””
Claire nodded.
“Laura told me.””
“Then why didn't you tell us?””
“Because she said the adoption could still be finalized.””
Richard interrupted.
“But she never intended to do it.””
He turned toward me.
“She wanted to keep the trust under her control until Emma turned twenty-five.””
I shook my head.
“That doesn't.””
Richard interrupted.
“But she never intended to do it.””
He turned toward me.
“She wanted to keep the trust under her control until Emma turned twenty-five.””
I shook my head.
“That doesn't make sense.””
Richard pulled out another sheet.
“Read the final clause.””
Dad took it.
His eyes moved across the page.
Then he stopped.
The clause stated that if the adoption remained incomplete at the time of Laura's death make sense.””
Richard pulled out another sheet.
“Read the final clause.””
Dad took it.
His eyes moved across the page.
Then he stopped.
The clause stated that if the adoption remained incomplete at the time of Laura's death, the trust would pass to the biological parent until the beneficiary reached adulthood.
Dad looked at Claire.
“That's why you wanted to marry, the trust would pass to the biological parent until the beneficiary reached adulthood.
Dad looked at Claire.
“That's why you wanted to marry into this family.””
Claire's eyes filled.
“I didn't know.””
Richard laughed.
“Of course you did.””
Claire turned toward him.
“You told me the money would belong to Emma!””
“And it would have, eventually.””
“Then why did you take it?””
Richard's expression became cold.
“Because you into this family.””
Claire's eyes filled.
“I didn't know.””
Richard laughed.
“Of course you did.””
Claire turned toward him.
“You told me the money would belong to Emma!””
“And it would have, eventually.””
“Then why did you take it?””
Richard's expression became cold.
“Because you were never going to get it.””
My father slowly lowered the document.
“You used Claire.””
Richard shrugged.
“Everyone used everyone. That's how Robert built this family.””
Andrew approached the table.
“Let's not pretend Laura was innocent. She took what wasn't hers.””
Thomas shook his head.
“Laura protected a child.””
Andrew looked at him.
“And you failed to protect her.””
Thomas lowered his eyes.
That accusation cut deeper than anything else said that evening.
I stepped forward.
“Enough.””
Everyone looked at me.
I was shaking, but my voice remained steady.
“You've spent years arguing about money and documents and who owns were never going to get it.””
My father slowly lowered the document.
“You used Claire.””
Richard shrugged.
“Everyone used everyone. That's how Robert built this family.””
Andrew approached the table.
“Let's not pretend Laura was innocent. She took what wasn't hers.””
Thomas shook his head.
“Laura protected a child.””
Andrew looked at him.
“And you failed to protect her.””
Thomas lowered his eyes.
That accusation cut deeper than anything else said that evening.
I stepped forward.
“Enough.””
Everyone looked at me.
I was shaking, but my voice remained steady.
“You've spent years arguing about money and documents and who owns what. My mother is dead. I grew up believing my family had been destroyed by an accident. And now I discover that the people who were supposed to protect me were using me.””
Richard smiled.
what. My mother is dead. I grew up believing my family had been destroyed by an accident. And now I discover that the people who were supposed to protect me were using me.””
Richard smiled.
“Welcome to the real world.””
“No,” I said.
“This is your world.””
I reached into my pocket.
My fingers found the small recording device I had taken from my father's desk earlier that evening.
I pressed the button“Welcome to the real world.””
“No,” I said.
“This is your world.””
I reached into my pocket.
My fingers found the small recording device I had taken from my father's desk earlier that evening.
I pressed the button.
Richard's face changed.
“What is that?””
I looked at Detective Harris, who had just appeared outside the open doorway.
“It's a recording.””
Richard turned.
Two uniformed officers entered behind him.
Detective Harris approached.
“Richard Bennett. Andrew Bennett..
Richard's face changed.
“What is that?””
I looked at Detective Harris, who had just appeared outside the open doorway.
“It's a recording.””
Richard turned.
Two uniformed officers entered behind him.
Detective Harris approached.
“Richard Bennett. Andrew Bennett. You're both going to come with us.””
Richard looked at my father.
“You set me up?””
Dad shook his head.
“No. You're both going to come with us.””
Richard looked at my father.
“You set me up?””
Dad shook his head.
“No. You did that yourself.””
The detective took the recording device from me.
“Emma, did you record their statements?””
I nodded.
Richard suddenly laughed.
“You think that will prove anything?””
Detective Harris looked at him.
“I think the original documents and the recording will give us somewhere to start.””
Andrew was escorted toward the door.
You did that yourself.””
The detective took the recording device from me.
“Emma, did you record their statements?””
I nodded.
Richard suddenly laughed.
“You think that will prove anything?””
Detective Harris looked at him.
“I think the original documents and the recording will give us somewhere to start.””
Andrew was escorted toward the door.
Before he left, he turned to my father.
“You should ask Claire what happened to the original adoption agreement.””
Dad looked at her.
Claire's face went pale.
Andrew smiled.
“She didn't destroy it.””
Then he disappeared intoBefore he left, he turned to my father.
“You should ask Claire what happened to the original adoption agreement.””
Dad looked at her.
Claire's face went pale.
Andrew smiled.
“She didn't destroy it.””
Then he disappeared into the night.
My father turned toward Claire.
“Where is it?””
She looked at me.
Then she whispered:
“It's in the one place Laura knew you the night.
My father turned toward Claire.
“Where is it?””
She looked at me.
Then she whispered:
“It's in the one place Laura knew you would never look.””
I felt my stomach tighten.
“Where?””
Claire looked toward the dining room.
“Inside your birthday gift.””
I stared at her.
The black garbage bag.
The slice of chocolate cake.
Dad immediately walked toward the kitchen.
The bag was still beside the would never look.””
I felt my stomach tighten.
“Where?””
Claire looked toward the dining room.
“Inside your birthday gift.””
I stared at her.
The black garbage bag.
The slice of chocolate cake.
Dad immediately walked toward the kitchen.
The bag was still beside the sink.
He carefully opened it.
Beneath the plastic was a small envelope, taped to the bottom.
My father's hands began shaking.
He pulled it free.
On the front, in my mother's handwriting, were the words:
**For Emma. The truth about sink.
He carefully opened it.
Beneath the plastic was a small envelope, taped to the bottom.
My father's hands began shaking.
He pulled it free.
On the front, in my mother's handwriting, were the words:
*For Emma. The truth about the night I died.*
I looked at the envelope.
Then at Claire.
She was crying.
“Please don't open it,” she whispered.
My father looked at her.
“Why?””
Claire's voice broke.
“Because the truth will tell her who really killed Laura.””
And for the first the night I died.**
I looked at the envelope.
Then at Claire.
She was crying.
“Please don't open it,” she whispered.
My father looked at her.
“Why?””
Claire's voice broke.
“Because the truth will tell her who really killed Laura.””
And for the first time that night, I realized that the person responsible might not have been Richard or Andrew.
It might not even have been Claire.
The killer could have been someone who had been standing beside us all evening, claiming to be the only time that night, I realized that the person responsible might not have been Richard or Andrew.
It might not even have been Claire.
The killer could have been someone who had been standing beside us all evening, claiming to be the only person who wanted to help.
Someone who had brought the notebook to my father.
Someone who had known exactly where to find the blue suitcase.
Thomas.
My father slowly turned toward him.
“Thomas,” he said.
Thomas didn't move.
person who wanted to help.
Someone who had brought the notebook to my father.
Someone who had known exactly where to find the blue suitcase.
Thomas.
My father slowly turned toward him.
“Thomas,” he said.
Thomas didn't move.
“What's in the envelope?”” Dad asked.
Thomas stared at the handwriting.
Then he whispered:
“Laura knew.””
And I understood that Chapter 10 would reveal the last secret my mother had left behind.“What's in the envelope?”” Dad asked.
Thomas stared at the handwriting.
Then he whispered:
May you like
“Laura knew.””
And I understood that Chapter 10 would reveal the last secret my mother had left behind.
