Chapter 8 - THE RECORDING
Thomas didn't look like a criminal.
That was the most terrifying part.
He wore a dark overcoat and carried a leather umbrella.
He looked like an ordinary retired executive.
He smiled at Ethan.
“I've missed you.”
Ethan stepped backward.
“You're not my father.”
Thomas laughed softly.
“Biologically, I am.”
“You abandoned me.”
“I was forced to.”
“By who?”
Thomas looked at my mother.
“She knows.”
Mom didn't move.
Dad stepped forward.
“You're under arrest.”
Thomas smiled.
“For what?”
The police entered behind him.
An officer read out several charges connected to financial fraud and identity theft.
Thomas didn't resist.
Instead, he looked at me.
“You think you know what happened.”
I said nothing.
He smiled.
“Your grandfather was not murdered because of money.”
“Then why?”
“Because he discovered who I really was.”
“And who are you?”
Thomas's smile disappeared.
“The rightful beneficiary.”
I almost laughed.
“You forged documents, stole millions, and manipulated my family.”
“No.”
He looked at Ethan.
“Your grandfather changed his will.”
Ethan froze.
“What?”
“He made me beneficiary.”
Dad shook his head.
“That's impossible.”
Thomas looked at me.
“Ask your mother.”
Everyone turned.
Mom finally spoke.
“It's true.”
My stomach dropped.
“What?”
“Your grandfather changed the trust three days before he died.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because Thomas threatened to destroy the family.”
Thomas laughed.
“Not quite.”
He looked at me.
“Your grandfather changed the trust because he discovered your father had been stealing from the company.”
Dad's face went white.
I turned toward him.
“Is that true?”
Dad couldn't answer.
Thomas continued.
“Edward created Northbridge to hide the money.”
Dad finally spoke.
“I was trying to save the company.”
“You stole twelve million dollars.”
“I returned most of it.”
“After your father discovered you.”
I looked at the flash drive.
I plugged it into my laptop.
The files opened.
Bank statements.
Emails.
Voice recordings.
One file was labeled:
FINAL CONVERSATION — DECEMBER 18.
I clicked it.
My grandfather's voice filled the room.
“Edward, you have betrayed this family.”
Then my father's voice.
“I had no choice.”
My grandfather answered:
“You always had a choice.”
The recording continued.
Then another voice entered.
Thomas.
“You're making this more difficult than it needs to be.”
I felt sick.
My grandfather shouted:
“Get out of my house.”
A crash.
Then silence.
Then my father's voice:
“Thomas, what have you done?”
The recording ended.
Nobody moved.
Thomas looked at my father.
“You were there.”
Dad covered his face.
“I didn't kill him.”
“No,” Thomas said.
“You watched.”
Dad began crying.
Thomas turned toward me.
“But there is another recording.”
He pointed toward the laptop.
“Play file twelve.”
I found it.
The recording began with my mother crying.
Then Thomas's voice.
“You will tell everyone Edward died of natural causes.”
Mom said:
“And if I don't?”
“I'll make sure both boys lose everything.”
Then came a sentence that made my blood freeze.
Thomas said:
“And Jake will never learn why his grandfather really chose him.”
I stopped the recording.
“What does that mean?”
My mother looked at me.
“Your grandfather knew you would eventually uncover everything.”
She reached for my hand.
“He didn't choose you because you were the favorite.”
“Then why?”
“Because you were the only one he trusted to forgive your father.”
The room went silent.
And suddenly I understood.
The inheritance wasn't supposed to make me rich.
It was supposed to give me enough power to expose the truth.
May you like
Thomas had spent seventeen years trying to stop that moment.
He had failed.
