Chapter 7: The Message That Changed Everything
Maya read the message again.
I know who caused his death.
Her father's face appeared in her mind.
Daniel Carter.
The man who used to lift her onto his shoulders so she could reach the kitchen cabinets. The man who sang off-key while washing dishes. The man who had once promised that no one would ever make her feel small.
She had been six years old when he died.
For eleven years, she had believed it was an ordinary accident.
A rainy evening. A highway. A phone call that changed everything.
Now someone was telling her that her father's death might not have been an accident at all.
“Maya?””
Richard Whitmore's voice pulled her back.
She looked up.
“Someone knows what happened to my father.””
Richard held out his hand.
“May I see the message?””
Maya showed him her phone.
He read it twice.
His expression became grave.
“Do not respond.””
“But what if they know something?””
“Then we'll find out through the proper channels.””
Maya shook her head.
“I've waited eleven years for someone to tell me the truth. I'm not waiting another eleven.””
Thomas Reed stepped forward.
“Maya, listen to Richard.””
She turned toward him.
“You knew my father was being threatened. You knew my mother lost everything. And you kept quiet for seventeen years. Why should I trust you now?””
Thomas flinched.
“You shouldn't have to.””
“Then tell me everything you know.””
Thomas looked down at the photograph in her hands.
“Your father was preparing to expose Marcus Mitchell. He had discovered that the designs weren't the only things Marcus had taken.””
“What else?””
“Financial records. Licensing agreements. Payments made through companies that didn't exist.””
Richard frowned.
“Thomas, I was never shown those records.””
“Because they were kept outside the main archive.””
Maya's voice trembled.
“And my father had copies?””
Thomas nodded.
“He believed Marcus was using stolen intellectual property to build a private business.””
Maya looked at the message again.
“Then why would someone say they know who caused his death?””
Thomas took a breath.
“Because the night Daniel died, he was supposed to meet me.””
Maya went still.
“You were supposed to meet my father?””
“Yes.””
“When?””
“The night of the accident.””
The corridor seemed to tilt.
Maya gripped the edge of the table.
“Why didn't you tell the police?””
Thomas's eyes filled.
“Because I never went.””
“Why?””
“I received a phone call telling me the meeting had been canceled. The caller said Daniel had changed his mind.””
“Who called you?””
Thomas hesitated.
“I believed it was someone from the company.””
Richard's expression hardened.
“Did you recognize the voice?””
“No. But I received a message afterward telling me to stay away from Daniel.””
Maya stared at him.
“You let him go alone?””
Thomas nodded.
“I did.””
“And he died.””
Thomas looked as though the words had physically struck him.
“Yes.””
For several seconds, Maya couldn't speak.
Then she stepped away from the table.
“I need air.””
Angela immediately followed her.
They moved toward the quieter end of the golden corridor, away from the guests and the cameras.
Maya leaned against a stone pillar.
Her hands were shaking.
Angela stood beside her.
“You don't have to solve everything tonight.””
Maya laughed bitterly.
“Everyone keeps telling me that.””
Angela looked at her gently.
“Because you're seventeen. You shouldn't have to carry the mistakes of people who were supposed to protect you.””
Maya looked down.
“I just want to know what happened.””
“And you deserve to know.””
Maya wiped her cheeks.
“Do you think my father was murdered?””
Angela didn't answer immediately.
“I think someone is trying very hard to prevent you from asking questions. That means we need to be careful.””
Maya nodded.
Then she noticed a man standing near the entrance.
Marcus Mitchell.
He was speaking quietly to a security guard.
His face was tense.
He glanced toward Maya.
Their eyes met.
Marcus immediately turned away.
Angela followed her gaze.
“Stay here.””
But before Angela could move, Marcus approached.
“Maya, we need to talk.””
Angela stepped in front of her.
“Mr. Mitchell, you're not authorized to approach her.””
Marcus ignored her.
“There's something you need to understand.””
Maya looked directly at him.
“Did you cause my father's death?””
Marcus's face tightened.
“Don't be ridiculous.””
“Were you the last person who threatened him?””
“I didn't threaten Daniel.””
“Then why are you afraid of those records?””
Marcus looked toward the guests.
His voice dropped.
“Because you don't understand what you're getting involved in.””
Maya stepped forward.
“Then explain it.””
Marcus shook his head.
“Your father wasn't the innocent man you've been told about.””
Maya froze.
“What?””
“He made enemies. He took risks. He was involved in business dealings he didn't understand.””
“That's a lie.””
Marcus's expression hardened.
“Your mother knew.””
Maya felt her stomach tighten.
“What did she know?””
Marcus glanced toward the golden arches.
Then he said something that made her blood run cold.
“Your mother knew Daniel was going to disappear that night.””
Maya stared.
“What?””
Before Marcus could continue, two security officers approached.
“Mr. Mitchell, we need you to accompany us.””
Marcus raised his voice.
“I'm having a private conversation.””
“Not anymore.””
He looked at Maya one last time.
“Ask your grandmother what happened to the original police report.””
Then he walked away.
Maya stood frozen.
Her grandmother.
Evelyn Carter.
The woman who had raised her after Denise died.
The woman who had always told her that Daniel's accident was a tragedy nobody could have prevented.
Why would Marcus tell her to ask Evelyn?
Angela touched Maya's shoulder.
“Are you okay?””
Maya shook her head.
“No.””
She immediately called her grandmother.
The phone rang four times.
Then Evelyn answered.
“Baby? Aren't you supposed to be at the gala?””
Maya swallowed.
“Grandma, I need to ask you something.””
“What is it?””
“Did you know Dad was threatened before he died?””
Silence.
A long, terrible silence.
Then Evelyn whispered:
“Where did you hear that?””
Maya closed her eyes.
“So it's true?””
“Baby, come home.””
“Grandma, please answer me.””
Evelyn began crying.
“I should have told you years ago.””
Maya felt her knees weaken.
“Tell me what?””
Her grandmother took a shaky breath.
“Your father came to my house that night. He gave me a small box and told me to keep it safe.””
Maya stared at the phone.
“What was inside?””
“Documents. Photographs. A little silver key.””
“Where is it now?””
“I still have it.””
Maya's heart raced.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because your mother begged me not to. She said the people who wanted those papers would never stop looking for them.””
Maya looked toward Richard.
“Grandma, I need that box.””
Evelyn sobbed.
“I know, sweetheart.””
Then her voice dropped.
“But someone has already been here looking for it.””
Maya's blood turned cold.
“Who?””
“I don't know. He came yesterday. He said he was from the insurance company.””
Maya gripped her phone.
“What did he look like?””
Evelyn hesitated.
“Tall. Dark suit. Gold watch.””
Maya slowly turned toward the corridor.
Marcus Mitchell wore a gold watch.
Her grandmother whispered one final sentence.
“And Maya, he wasn't alone.””
The call ended.
Maya stared at the screen.
Richard approached.
“What happened?””
Maya looked at him.
“Someone went to my grandmother's house.””
Richard immediately reached for his phone.
“Angela, we need to contact the authorities.””
But before he could make the call, Maya's phone vibrated again.
Another message.
This time, it included a photograph.
It showed an old wooden box sitting on a table.
Beside it was a handwritten note.
Your father left something for you. If you want it, come alone.
Maya zoomed in.
The background looked familiar.
It was her grandmother's living room.
Someone had taken the photograph inside the house.
Then another message appeared.
Midnight. No police. No Whitmore people.
Maya looked up.
Richard read the screen.
His face hardened.
“This is a trap.””
Maya nodded.
But there was something else in the photograph.
A reflection in the glass cabinet.
A man standing behind the person taking the picture.
May you like
And around his wrist was a familiar gold bracelet.
Vanessa Mitchell's bracelet.
