Chapter 9: The Final Witness
I held the photograph in my hands for almost a full minute.
My mind refused to accept what I was seeing.
Ryan.
My mother.
My father.
And David Bennett.
My father’s attorney.
Together.
Years earlier.
Smiling.
Like they were friends.
Like there wasn’t a war happening behind closed doors.
I turned the picture over.
A date was written on the back.
Four years ago.
Before my father got sick.
Before everything fell apart.
I opened the suitcase.
Inside were documents.
Not copies.
Originals.
Exactly what my father told me to find.
The first document was a property agreement.
The second was a financial transfer.
The third made my blood run cold.
It was a letter from my father.
Not recorded.
Written.
*Ryan Collins was not working alone.*
I stopped.
Not alone.
I kept reading.
*I believe someone close to me has been helping him access information.*
My heart sank.
I thought of Mr. Bennett.
The photograph.
The warnings.
The way he always seemed to know more than he admitted.
A sound came from behind me.
I turned.
Mr. Bennett stood at the entrance of the storage unit.
My hand immediately moved toward my phone.
“Don’t.””
His voice was tired.
Not threatening.
Just tired.
“How did you know I was here?””
He didn’t answer.
That was enough.
“You knew.””
“Yes.””
My stomach tightened.
“You’re the one helping Ryan.””
“No.””
The answer came quickly.
Too quickly.
“Then explain.””
He stepped inside.
“Your father asked me to protect these documents.””
“Then why are you here?””
“Because Ryan knows about them.””
I laughed.
“Convenient.””
“Jessica.””
“No.””
I held up the photograph.
“Explain this.””
He looked at it.
His face changed.
Not guilt.
Pain.
“That was before.””
“Before what?””
“Before I realized what Ryan was capable of.””
I watched him carefully.
“You expect me to believe that?””
“No.””
That surprised me.
He looked at the files.
“I expect you to believe your father.””
I froze.
“What?””
He reached into his coat.
Slowly.
Carefully.
He pulled out an envelope.
“I was supposed to give you this only if Ryan found the documents first.””
I stared.
“What is it?””
“Another message from your father.””
I took it.
Inside was a single page.
*Jessica,*
*If David gives you this, it means I was unable to finish what I started.*
I looked up.
Mr. Bennett looked away.
I continued reading.
*Do not trust anyone completely. Not even those trying to help you.*
My eyes moved down.
*Ryan is dangerous. But he is not the only person who made mistakes.*
I stopped.
Again.
Mistakes.
The same word.
Over and over.
Then the final paragraph.
*Your mother knows more than she admits. She is protecting someone.*
My heart dropped.
My mother.
Again.
I lowered the paper.
“Where is she?””
Mr. Bennett was silent.
“Where is my mother?””
“I don’t know.””
“You know something.””
He looked away.
That was answer enough.
“David.””
He sighed.
“She went to meet Ryan.””
“When?””
“Yesterday.””
“Why?””
“To trade information.””
I stared.
“She went willingly?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
His voice became quiet.
“Because Ryan threatened to expose something.””
“What?””
He looked at me.
“Something your father never wanted you to know.””
I felt the air leave my lungs.
“What?””
Mr. Bennett hesitated.
Then he said:
“The night your father died, your mother was the last person with him.””
I couldn’t speak.
The sentence echoed.
My mother.
The last person.
The caller’s words returned.
*She’s the reason your father died.*
I grabbed the papers.
“No.””
Mr. Bennett looked at me.
“Jessica—”
“No.””
I shook my head.
“My mother wouldn’t.””
He didn’t argue.
And somehow that scared me more.
My phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
“Mom?””
Silence.
Then my mother’s voice.
Weak.
Terrified.
“Jessica.””
I closed my eyes.
“Where are you?””
“Listen to me.””
“Mom, where are you?””
“You were never supposed to find out.””
My heart raced.
“Find out what?””
A pause.
Then she whispered:
“Your father didn’t die because of his illness.””
I gripped the phone tighter.
“What are you saying?””
“I was there.””
My eyes filled with tears.
“Mom…”
“I was there when it happened.””
A noise came from her end.
A door closing.
A man’s voice.
Ryan.
“Give me the phone.””
My blood froze.
“Mom!””
The call cut off.
I stared at the screen.
Then I looked at Mr. Bennett.
He already knew.
Because he was afraid too.
And that was when I realized the truth.
The biggest secret wasn’t who forged my mother’s signature.
It wasn’t who controlled the money.
It wasn’t even who wanted me gone.
The biggest secret was what happened in the room where my father took his final breath.
And now only two people knew.
May you like
My mother.
And Ryan.
