Chapter 8: The Missing Recording
“Everybody stay where you are!””
Detective Harris's command cut through the house.
The younger officer moved toward the landing.
My father grabbed Maya and pulled her behind him.
Claire was shaking so hard she could barely stand.
Ryan whispered, “He came for the folder.””
Harris looked at him.
“Who?””
“Gideon.””
“Are you sure?””
Ryan nodded.
“He always sends someone first.””
“Who?””
Ryan's eyes fixed on the stairs.
“I don't know.””
The man downstairs called again.
“Marcus.””
My father stepped forward.
“You have the wrong house.””
A short laugh answered him.
“No, Marcus. I have exactly the right house.””
Harris motioned to the younger officer.
He moved toward the back stairs.
She whispered to my father, “Do not engage.””
My father nodded.
The man downstairs said, “I know Jordan is there.””
My stomach tightened.
“I know Maya is there too.””
Maya gripped my arm.
Then the man said,
“And I know Claire kept the recording.””
Claire's head snapped up.
“What recording?””
Ryan looked at her.
“You know.””
“I don't.””
“You kept it.””
My father turned to Claire.
“What recording?””
She stared at him.
“I don't know.””
The man downstairs laughed.
“Still lying, Claire?””
Her face collapsed.
“Gideon…”
So it was him.
My father stepped toward the stairs.
“You're Gideon Wright?””
“Yes.””
“You threatened my daughter.””
“I threatened everyone.””
“You're not leaving this house.””
Gideon laughed again.
“That's not your decision.””
Detective Harris shouted, “Gideon Wright, this is Detective Harris with the county police department. Put your weapon down and step away from the door.””
Silence.
Then Gideon said,
“You should ask Marcus why he never told you about the recording.””
Harris looked at my father.
“Do you know what he's talking about?””
My father shook his head.
“No.””
Claire whispered, “Marcus…”
He turned toward her.
“What recording?””
She began crying.
“I was going to tell you.””
“When?””
“Tonight.””
“You've said that about everything.””
“I was scared.””
“You've been scared for months.””
She looked at Maya.
“I didn't know what to do.””
Maya's voice broke.
“Mom, what recording?””
Claire looked at her daughter.
“The recording of your father.””
My father froze.
“What?””
Claire swallowed.
“Your first wife.””
My father's face went blank.
I had never heard my father's voice go that quiet.
“Why are you talking about her?””
“Because that's where this started.””
Gideon called from downstairs.
“Tell him, Claire.””
She shut her eyes.
“Tell him what?””
“The truth.””
My father stared at her.
“What truth?””
Claire looked at me.
Then at Maya.
Then at my father.
“Jordan's mother didn't die the way you think.””
My blood went cold.
My father's face drained of color.
“Don't.””
Claire whispered, “You deserve to know.””
“Don't you dare.””
“Marcus—”
“You told me she died in an accident.””
“She did.””
“Then what are you saying?””
Claire shook her head.
“She was investigating Ryan.””
Ryan's eyes widened.
“What?””
Claire continued.
“She knew money was disappearing.””
My father stared at his brother.
“You told me she never knew.””
“I lied,” Ryan said.
My father turned on him.
“You knew?””
Ryan looked down.
“I knew she suspected something.””
My heart pounded.
I had spent years believing my mother died because of a highway accident.
Now everyone was talking like her death had been connected to the same money.
“What does this have to do with me?”” I asked.
Nobody answered.
I looked at Claire.
“What does this have to do with me?””
She started crying.
“Your mother left a recording.””
My father's face changed.
“Where?””
“In the safe.””
He looked at the folder.
“It's not there.””
“I know.””
“Then where is it?””
Claire looked toward the staircase.
“I gave it to someone.””
“Who?””
She couldn't answer.
Gideon's voice came from downstairs.
“Evan.””
I felt like someone had punched me.
My father's eyes moved to me.
“Your roommate?””
Gideon continued.
“Evan has the recording.””
My hands went numb.
“No.””
Ryan whispered, “I told you.””
I shook my head.
“No. Evan wouldn't.””
Gideon laughed.
“You trust him?””
“Yes.””
“You shouldn't.””
I stepped toward the stairs.
Detective Harris grabbed my shoulder.
“Don't.””
“But he's lying.””
Gideon said, “Ask Jordan what Evan did the night his mother died.””
I froze.
My mother had died when I was eleven.
Evan wasn't even in my life then.
“What does that mean?””
Nobody answered.
Gideon called again.
“Evan wasn't your roommate by accident.””
My father looked at me.
“Jordan.””
I stared at the stairs.
“I don't understand.””
Gideon said,
“Your college application was flagged before you even enrolled.””
Harris looked sharply at him.
“Why?””
“Because someone wanted Jordan exactly where he is.””
“Who?””
Gideon laughed.
“You're asking the wrong question.””
Harris raised her voice.
“Then give me the right one.””
His response was immediate.
“Ask who paid for his scholarship.””
I looked at my father.
“What scholarship?””
He frowned.
“The academic scholarship.””
“I got that through the university.””
“No.””
My father looked confused.
“I remember helping you apply.””
“Dad, who paid for it?””
“I don't know.””
My stomach twisted.
Claire whispered,
“Ryan did.””
Everyone turned.
Ryan shook his head.
“I never paid for Jordan's scholarship.””
Claire stared at him.
“You didn't.””
“Then who did?””
She looked at me.
“Your mother.””
The world seemed to stop.
“My mother died when I was eleven.””
“Yes.””
“How could she pay for a scholarship when I was nineteen?””
Claire's lips trembled.
“Because the scholarship was created years ago.””
My father stared at her.
“What are you saying?””
“She left money.””
“For Jordan?””
Claire nodded.
“Money in a trust.””
My father shook his head.
“There was no trust.””
“There was.””
“Who managed it?””
Claire didn't answer.
Ryan whispered,
“Gideon.””
I looked toward the stairs.
The man downstairs began laughing.
My father shouted,
“Gideon!””
The laughter stopped.
“You've been managing my son's trust?””
“Yes.””
“For eight years?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because your wife asked me to.””
My father's face became rigid.
“My wife is dead.””
“I know.””
“Then why would she ask you?””
Gideon paused.
“Because she knew she was going to die.””
I felt the floor disappear beneath me.
Detective Harris looked at Claire.
“What did you know?””
Claire cried.
“Everything.””
My father stared at her.
“You knew my wife was in danger?””
“Yes.””
“And you said nothing?””
“I was afraid.””
“You let me believe she died in an accident.””
“I was trying to protect Jordan.””
“You've been using that excuse all night.””
Claire covered her face.
“I made one terrible choice.””
“No,” Maya said.
Everyone looked at her.
Maya was crying, but her voice was steady.
“You made years of choices.””
Claire looked at her daughter.
Maya continued.
“And now Jordan is paying for all of them.””
A crash came from downstairs.
The younger officer shouted,
“He's moving!””
Detective Harris drew her weapon.
“Everyone down!””
The sound of breaking glass echoed through the house.
Then footsteps raced toward the back door.
Harris and the other officer rushed down.
My father pushed us toward the hallway.
“Stay here!””
I looked through the railing.
A dark figure sprinted across the kitchen.
Gideon.
He reached the back door.
The younger officer tackled him before he could escape.
A struggle erupted.
“Hands behind your back!””
“Get off me!””
Harris came running.
“Don't move!””
Gideon was handcuffed within seconds.
But as the officers dragged him into the living room, he looked directly at me.
He smiled.
“You still don't know why they chose you.””
I stared at him.
“What?””
He leaned closer.
“Ask your father who your mother was investigating.””
My father went pale.
Gideon was taken outside.
The house became silent.
Then my father looked at Ryan.
“Who was she investigating?””
Ryan said nothing.
My father grabbed him by the collar.
“WHO?””
Ryan's eyes filled with tears.
“She was investigating me.””
My father released him.
I stared at Ryan.
“You?””
He nodded.
“She found out I wasn't just stealing money.””
“What were you doing?””
Ryan looked at me.
“I was selling information.””
“What information?””
He swallowed.
“Yours.””
My blood ran cold.
“Mine?””
Ryan nodded.
“Your medical records. School records. Banking information. Everything.””
I stepped backward.
“To who?””
Ryan's answer was barely audible.
“People who wanted leverage over your father.””
My father looked sick.
“Why would anyone care about Jordan?””
Ryan stared at me.
“Because your mother knew what was coming.””
I shook my head.
“What was coming?””
Ryan looked toward the front door where Gideon had just been taken.
Then he said,
“Someone has been trying to get control of your father's company for years.””
My father froze.
“Who?””
Ryan looked at Claire.
She whispered,
“Your father already knows him.””
My father's phone rang.
He answered.
A voice came through.
His face changed instantly.
“Marcus?””
“Who is this?””
“Someone who knows what really happened to your wife.””
My father gripped the phone.
“Who?””
The caller said one sentence.
Then hung up.
My father lowered the phone.
I looked at him.
“What did they say?””
He stared at me.
“They said your mother wasn't killed in the accident.””
My heart stopped.
“What?””
May you like
My father whispered,
“She survived.””
