Chapter 7 - THE FRIEND WHO KNEW EVERYTHING
His name was Thomas Hale.
For thirty years, he had been part of our family.
He had attended birthdays.
Funerals.
Graduations.
He had held Sophie when she was born.
He had comforted Anna after our father's supposed death.
He had even spoken at her funeral.
And now his face was in the photograph.
Standing beside Daniel.
At the bridge.
I felt sick.
Rebecca placed another file on the table.
“Thomas paid Daniel.”
“How much?”
“Five hundred thousand dollars.”
“For what?”
“To make Anna disappear.”
Anna stared at her.
“Why?”
Rebecca looked at our mother.
“Because of the trust.”
Our mother shook her head.
“No.”
Rebecca nodded.
“The trust wasn't worth ten million.”
Anna frowned.
“What?”
“It was worth almost forty.”
Silence.
Rebecca explained that our father's company had been secretly acquiring land around Nashville for decades.
The properties had become incredibly valuable.
But the assets had been placed inside a private trust.
Only Anna and Sophie could inherit them.
Thomas had discovered the value.
He wanted control.
He couldn't legally take it.
So he manipulated Daniel.
Daniel needed money.
Rebecca wanted her share.
Thomas gave them both promises.
Then he created the plan.
Anna would be declared dead.
The insurance would pay.
Daniel would control the trust temporarily.
And once Sophie was old enough to sign certain documents, the assets would be transferred.
“But why kill Anna?”
I asked.
Rebecca looked at me.
“Because Anna found the original agreement.”
Anna nodded.
“The document in my father's safe.”
Rebecca continued.
“It proved Thomas had been stealing from the company.”
Our mother closed her eyes.
“He had been doing it for twenty years.”
“Why didn't Dad stop him?”
“He tried.”
“And Thomas killed him?”
Rebecca shook her head.
“No.”
She looked at our mother.
“Your mother did.”
Anna stared.
Our mother began crying.
“I had to.”
“You keep saying that.”
“I was protecting you.”
Anna's voice became bitter.
“Everyone says they were protecting me.”
Rebecca stepped closer.
“There is something else.”
She opened the final file.
Inside was a list of payments.
Thomas.
Daniel.
Rebecca.
And one unexpected name.
Marcus.
My heart stopped.
“What is that?”
Anna looked at me.
I couldn't speak.
Rebecca said:
“Thomas paid you too.”
“No.”
“Look at the dates.”
The payments had been made eight months before Anna disappeared.
I remembered none of them.
Our mother whispered:
“They used your identity.”
I stared at the document.
The transfers were real.
But I hadn't received them.
Someone had used my name.
Rebecca suddenly grabbed my arm.
“Marcus, listen to me.”
“What?”
“The person who created those accounts had access to your personal information.”
“Who?”
She looked toward Anna.
“Daniel.”
Anna's face hardened.
“He framed you.”
“Why?”
“To make it look like you were part of the conspiracy.”
I finally understood.
If Anna survived and accused Daniel, he could accuse me.
He had created a backup story.
A story where I was the jealous brother who helped him remove Anna.
But there was one problem.
The recording.
My voice proved I had tried to save her.
Thomas had underestimated us.
Daniel had underestimated us.
And Rebecca had underestimated one thing too.
Anna looked at her.
“Why did you really help Daniel?”
Rebecca broke down.
“Because he threatened Sophie.”
Anna froze.
“What?”
“He told me if I didn't cooperate, he would make Sophie disappear.”
Anna stepped toward her.
“You should have come to me.”
“I was terrified.”
Anna looked at her.
Then slowly embraced her.
Rebecca began sobbing.
For the first time, the two sisters stood together.
Then our mother's phone rang again.
This time, a text appeared.
YOU HAVE TWELVE HOURS.
May you like
BRING THE ORIGINAL TRUST.
OR SOPHIE DIES.
