Chapter 9: What Really Happened
We drove back to Chicago before sunrise.
Nobody spoke.
The accusation followed me the entire way.
*Your father killed her.*
I knew it wasn't proof.
Charles Whitmore had lied to me before.
But there was something different about that photograph.
My father had been there.
My mother had been there.
And the unknown man stood between them.
I needed answers.
When we reached Bennett Holdings, I went straight to the private elevator.
Ryan followed.
“You shouldn't go in alone.””
“I know.””
“Then let me come.””
I looked at him.
“Why?””
“Because if your father is involved—”
“He's my father.””
“That doesn't make him innocent.””
I stepped into the elevator.
Ryan followed.
The doors closed.
We rode upward in silence.
When the doors opened, my father was standing at the end of the hallway.
Alive.
His tie was loose.
His shirt sleeves were rolled up.
He looked like he hadn't slept.
He saw me.
“Maya.””
I walked toward him.
“Did you kill Mom?””
He stopped.
Ryan stayed behind me.
My father's face changed.
“Who told you that?””
“Charles.””
My father closed his eyes.
“Of course.””
“Answer me.””
“No.””
“Did you know Daniel was alive?””
“Yes.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I was trying to keep you alive.””
“By lying to me?””
“By protecting you.””
I laughed bitterly.
“Everyone keeps using that word.””
My father looked at Ryan.
“You shouldn't have brought him here.””
Ryan stepped forward.
“I came because I need to know the truth too.””
My father stared at him.
“You don't.””
“I do.””
“Then listen.””
My father walked into the conference room.
We followed.
He locked the door.
Then he placed a file on the table.
“This is everything.””
I opened it.
The first document was dated March 14, 2014.
The day my mother died.
It was a police report.
I read the first lines.
Then stopped.
“She wasn't killed.””
My father shook his head.
“No.””
“She died in a car accident.””
“Yes.””
“Then why did Charles say you killed her?””
“Because he caused the accident.””
I looked up.
My father's eyes were wet.
“What?””
“Your mother was driving Daniel to a safe house.””
My throat tightened.
“Daniel was in the car?””
“Yes.””
“What happened?””
“Charles's men followed them.””
My father slid another photograph across the table.
A wrecked sedan.
A broken windshield.
Snow covering the road.
“Your mother died instantly.””
I stared at the photograph.
“What about Daniel?””
“He disappeared.””
I looked at Ethan.
He had been standing quietly near the door.
He finally spoke.
“I found him two days later.””
My head snapped toward him.
“Where?””
“In an abandoned warehouse.””
“Was he hurt?””
“Badly.””
My father nodded.
“I thought he was dead.””
Ethan said,
“He wasn't.””
I felt tears burning my eyes.
“Why didn't anyone tell me?””
“Because Charles threatened to kill you.””
My father looked directly at me.
“You were twelve.””
I swallowed.
“You let me believe Daniel never existed.””
“I let you believe you were an only child.””
“Why?””
“Because I couldn't lose you too.””
The room became silent.
Then Ryan spoke.
“My father ordered the accident.””
My father nodded.
“Yes.””
Ryan looked sick.
“But why?””
“Because Elise had evidence.””
“Evidence of what?””
My father opened another file.
Inside were bank records.
Wire transfers.
Offshore accounts.
Names.
Whitmore Industries.
Political donations.
Shell companies.
Then Northstar.
I stared.
“Northstar was built from these records.””
My father nodded.
“Your mother discovered the money trail. After she died, I created Northstar to preserve the evidence.””
I looked at him.
“That's why they want it.””
“Yes.””
“Not because of the company.””
“No.””
“They want the records.””
“And everyone connected to them.””
I looked at Ryan.
His face was pale.
“My father knew.””
“Yes.””
“Does he know Daniel is alive?””
“I believe so.””
Ryan stepped back.
“What about me?””
My father stared at him.
“You were a tool.””
Ryan swallowed.
“I didn't know.””
“Not at first.””
I looked at him.
“You knew enough.””
He nodded.
“I did.””
My father pushed another document toward us.
“The acquisition agreement isn't what you think.””
I read it.
The final page contained a clause I'd never seen.
*Upon transfer of controlling interest, all historical investigative records shall be surrendered to Whitmore Industries.*
I stared.
“They don't just want Northstar.””
“No.””
“They want the evidence destroyed.””
“Yes.””
Ryan suddenly reached into his coat.
“My father has another copy.””
My father looked at him.
“Where?””
“His private office.””
“When?””
“Tonight.””
My father stood.
“Then we're going there.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
Everyone looked at me.
“We're not waiting for him.””
I picked up the agreement.
“We're taking the evidence to the authorities.””
My father frowned.
“They'll bury it.””
“Not if it's public.””
Ryan understood.
“You want to release everything.””
“Yes.””
My father shook his head.
“Once we do that, there is no going back.””
I looked at him.
“Dad, there hasn't been a way back since Mom died.””
Nobody answered.
Then the conference room television switched on by itself.
A live news broadcast appeared.
The anchor was speaking rapidly.
“Breaking news from Chicago. Billionaire businessman Charles Whitmore has accused Bennett Holdings of financial fraud and corporate manipulation. Authorities are reportedly preparing to investigate…”
I stared at the screen.
My father went pale.
“That can't be.””
The anchor continued.
“Sources also claim Alexander Bennett may have concealed information relating to the death of his wife twelve years ago.””
My father sat down.
Ryan looked at me.
“They got ahead of us.””
Then the screen changed.
A photograph appeared.
My mother.
Then Daniel.
Then me.
And finally Ryan.
The headline read:
*BENNETT FAMILY SCANDAL: SECRET HEIR, DEAD MOTHER, BILLION-DOLLAR COVER-UP*
My phone buzzed.
A message from Daniel.
*DO NOT GO TO YOUR FATHER'S OFFICE.*
I stared at it.
Another message arrived.
*HE'S NOT THE PERSON YOU SHOULD FEAR.*
Then:
*LOOK AT THE MAN IN THE PHOTO.*
I zoomed in on the old photograph.
My mother stood beside my father.
Daniel was in her arms.
And the unknown man stood behind them.
I suddenly recognized him.
He had been in my father's office that morning.
The same silver watch.
The same scar above his eyebrow.
The same face.
I looked at my father.
“Who is he?””
My father didn't answer.
“Dad.””
He stared at the photograph.
Then whispered,
“Your mother's brother.””
Ethan stepped forward.
“That isn't possible.””
My father looked at him.
“It is.””
Ethan's face went white.
“You told me he died.””
My father shook his head.
“I was wrong.””
I looked between them.
“Who?””
My father finally said the name.
“Michael Bennett.””
I felt the room go cold.
My uncle.
The man everyone believed had died before I was born.
My father looked at me.
May you like
“He was the one who started all of this.””
And at that exact moment, every light in the building went out.
