Chapter 9: My Father's Brother
We didn't go to the headquarters immediately.
Detective Miller insisted on coordinating the operation, and Daniel agreed that walking into a building connected to two suspected criminals without protection would be reckless.
I hated waiting.
Every minute felt like another opportunity for someone to destroy the remaining evidence.
At 7:30 a.m., Miller arrived at our temporary location with two investigators.
He placed a photograph on the table.
It showed Michael Carter entering a private parking garage.
“Your uncle has been living under a different name for almost three years,” he explained.
I stared at the photograph.
“What name?””
“Michael Reed.””
My stomach tightened.
“Reed?””
Miller nodded.
“His financial records connect him to Vantage Holdings.””
Daniel leaned forward.
“So Vanessa and Michael were working together.””
“That's what it appears.””
Evelyn opened her laptop.
“I've reviewed the old trust documents. Michael was removed as a company officer years ago. He had no legal authority to access the estate.””
Miller nodded.
“But he continued receiving payments from accounts connected to the company.””
I looked at the photographs.
“Why did Dad never tell me about him?””
Daniel answered quietly.
“Because your father believed Michael was dangerous.””
I swallowed.
“Dangerous enough to kill him?””
Nobody answered.
Miller opened another file.
“We've also recovered security footage from the old hospital archive.””
He played a short video.
The image was grainy, but the date and time were visible.
A man entered the corridor outside my father's room.
He was carrying a dark leather bag.
The timestamp read 11:16 p.m.
The man looked around before entering.
Then he came out twenty-three minutes later.
His face was visible for only a few seconds.
But it was enough.
Michael Carter.
I stared at the screen.
“What happened during those twenty-three minutes?””
“We don't know yet,” Miller said.
He paused the video.
“But there's something else.””
He enlarged the image.
Michael was holding a small object.
A silver cuff link.
My father's cuff link.
I looked down at the matching object recovered from Brianna's car.
“Why did he take it?””
Miller shook his head.
“We're investigating.””
Then he opened another file.
It contained a hospital security report.
*VISITOR AUTHORIZED BY: VANESSA REED.*
*VISITOR NAME: MICHAEL CARTER.*
*PURPOSE: FAMILY REPRESENTATIVE.*
I felt anger rising.
“He wasn't a family representative. Nobody in our family knew he existed.””
Miller looked at me.
“Someone made sure he could enter.””
I stood.
“I want to talk to him.””
Daniel immediately shook his head.
“Not without the police.””
“I don't care.””
“Nia, listen—”
“He was in Dad's room. He took something. He helped Vanessa keep me away from my father. I deserve answers.””
Miller considered it.
“We know where he is.””
“Then let's go.””
Michael was staying in a luxury apartment building in Buckhead.
The lobby smelled of polished marble and expensive flowers.
A receptionist looked up as we approached.
“Good morning. Can I help you?””
Detective Miller showed his badge.
“We're looking for Michael Reed.””
The receptionist hesitated.
“Mr. Reed isn't expecting visitors.””
“That's fine.””
She picked up the phone.
A moment later, she looked toward the elevator.
“He'll meet you upstairs.””
Daniel exchanged a look with Miller.
“That's convenient,” he murmured.
We rode to the twenty-second floor.
A man stood outside the apartment.
He wore a navy suit and held a glass of water.
When he saw me, he smiled.
It was the same smile my father used to give me when I came home from school.
For a second, I forgot why we were there.
“Nia,” he said.
His voice was gentle.
“Look how much you've grown.””
I stood still.
“Who are you?””
He laughed softly.
“Your uncle.””
“I don't have an uncle.””
His smile faded.
“Your father didn't tell you about me?””
“No.””
Michael looked toward Daniel.
“Still following Thomas's instructions, I see.””
Daniel didn't respond.
Michael stepped aside.
“Come in. We should talk.””
Detective Miller remained near the entrance.
“We'll be staying.””
Michael shrugged.
“Of course.””
The apartment was enormous.
Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the city, and expensive artwork covered the walls.
A silver watch lay on the coffee table.
I recognized it.
My father's watch.
I walked toward it.
“Where did you get that?””
Michael glanced down.
“This?””
“Yes.””
He picked it up.
“Your father gave it to me.””
“That's a lie.””
His eyes narrowed slightly.
“Thomas had many secrets, Nia.””
“He wore that watch every day.””
“And now I do.””
I looked at him.
“Did you visit him in the hospital?””
Michael placed the watch back on the table.
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“To say goodbye.””
“You stole his documents.””
He smiled.
“Your father was very confused that night.””
“Did you take his phone?””
“I don't remember.””
“Did you help Vanessa?””
Michael sighed.
“You sound exactly like him.””
I stepped closer.
“Did you kill my father?””
His expression became cold.
“No.””
“Then why did you go into his room?””
“Because I was trying to prevent something terrible.””
“What?””
He looked at me.
“Your father was about to destroy the family.””
I laughed bitterly.
“He was trying to protect me.””
“He was trying to give you everything.””
“Yes.””
“And that's where he made his mistake.””
I stared at him.
“What do you mean?””
Michael walked toward the window.
“Thomas believed you deserved the company simply because you were his daughter. He ignored the people who had spent years building it with him.””
“Like you?””
He turned.
“Exactly.””
“You stole from him.””
“I took what I was owed.””
“You forged documents.””
“Your father did the same thing.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
Michael smiled.
“You really believe he was innocent?””
I felt my stomach tighten.
“What are you talking about?””
He returned to the sofa and picked up a folder.
“Your father built his business through questionable partnerships. He used people. He made promises he couldn't keep. When things went wrong, he blamed everyone else.””
“That's not true.””
“Then why did he hide so much from you?””
I didn't answer.
Michael opened the folder.
Inside were copies of company transactions.
Some showed payments to Richard Hale.
Others showed transfers from accounts connected to Vanessa.
Then he placed another document on the table.
It was a hospital record.
My father's name appeared at the top.
Below it was a note.
*PATIENT REQUESTED TRANSFER OF PERSONAL ASSETS TO BENEFICIARY NIA CARTER.*
I looked at it.
“What's this?””
Michael leaned back.
“Your father was planning to transfer the company to you before he died.””
“I know.””
“But he had already signed another document.””
He slid a second page toward me.
I read the first line.
*BENEFICIARY: AMARA CARTER.*
I frowned.
“What?””
Michael nodded.
“Your father planned to leave everything to your mother.””
I looked toward Evelyn.
She had followed us inside.
Her expression was unreadable.
“Is this real?””
Evelyn examined the document.
Then she shook her head.
“No. This is an incomplete draft.””
Michael laughed.
“Convenient.””
I looked at him.
“Why would Dad change his mind?””
“He didn't.””
Michael's voice became sharper.
“Your father was going to give the company to Amara, not you. You were simply a child he used as an excuse to keep control of everything.””
I shook my head.
“He loved me.””
“Of course he did. But love doesn't make a man honest.””
I looked at the document again.
Something was wrong.
The date was three months before my father died.
But the signature at the bottom looked different.
I had spent years watching my father sign birthday cards, school forms, and letters.
This signature was too neat.
Too controlled.
“Who prepared this?””
Michael's smile disappeared.
I pointed to the bottom.
“The attorney's name is wrong.””
Evelyn stepped closer.
She examined it.
Then her face changed.
“This document was never filed.””
Michael shrugged.
“Perhaps.””
I looked at him.
“You made it.””
He said nothing.
I continued.
“You wanted us to believe Dad was changing his will.””
Michael stood.
“Enough.””
But I wasn't finished.
“You wanted Vanessa to control the company. And you needed me to disappear from the inheritance.””
His face hardened.
“You don't understand anything.””
“Then explain it.””
He stepped closer.
“Your father made a deal with me. He promised me fifty percent of Carter Textile Group. Then he changed his mind when he discovered I had been moving money.””
“So you helped Vanessa steal it.””
“I helped her take back what should have been ours.””
“And the accident?””
Michael's expression changed.
For the first time, I saw something close to fear.
He glanced toward Detective Miller.
“I had nothing to do with the accident.””
Miller stepped forward.
“Then why did you enter Thomas's hospital room after the crash?””
Michael's jaw tightened.
“I already told you.””
“Why did you remove his personal property?””
“I didn't.””
“We have security footage.””
Michael looked toward the screen on Miller's phone.
His face went pale.
Then he laughed.
A nervous, bitter sound.
“You people think a few videos and documents can prove anything?””
Miller moved closer.
“We have Patricia Lawson's testimony. We have the hospital authorization form. We have financial records linking you to Vanessa and Richard Hale.””
Michael's expression changed.
“Patricia is alive?””
I looked at him.
That reaction told me everything.
He hadn't expected her to survive.
Miller continued.
“We're also investigating the attempted murder of Patricia Lawson.””
Michael took a step backward.
“I don't know anything about that.””
Then he looked directly at me.
“Nia, you need to understand something. Vanessa is not the person you should be afraid of.””
I remembered the same words from the anonymous message.
“Who should I be afraid of?””
Michael looked at Evelyn.
Then at Daniel.
Finally, his eyes returned to me.
“Your father had another partner.””
Daniel frowned.
“What?””
“Someone who helped him build the company. Someone who knew where every document was kept. Someone who had access to the hospital, the estate, and the family.””
Evelyn's face went pale.
“Who?””
Michael smiled.
Then he said a name.
“Evelyn Parker.””
The room went silent.
I turned toward her.
She looked horrified.
“That's ridiculous.””
Michael laughed.
“Is it?””
He pulled another photograph from the folder.
It showed Evelyn standing beside Vanessa outside the hospital.
The date was the night my father died.
I stared at the photograph.
“Why were you there?””
Evelyn stepped toward me.
“Nia, I can explain.””
I backed away.
“Were you working with Vanessa?””
“No.””
“Did you help keep me away from Dad?””
“No!””
Michael suddenly laughed.
“Ask her what happened to the original trust agreement.””
Evelyn's hands began shaking.
I looked at her.
“What happened?””
She swallowed.
Then she reached into her handbag.
And removed a small envelope.
“I was going to tell you,” she whispered.
I stared at her.
“Tell me what?””
She opened the envelope.
Inside was a handwritten statement signed by my father.
It was dated three days before his death.
I read the first line.
I, Thomas Carter, hereby revoke all previous arrangements and appoint Evelyn Parker as temporary guardian of my daughter, Nia Carter, in the event of my death.
I looked up.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
Evelyn began crying.
“Because I was afraid.””
“Of what?””
She looked toward Michael.
“Because I know who actually arranged the accident.””
My heart stopped.
Michael's smile vanished.
Evelyn turned toward Detective Miller.
“And it wasn't Vanessa.””
She took a trembling breath.
“It was Richard Hale.””
Then she looked directly at me.
“But Richard didn't act alone.””
I felt the blood drain from my face.
“Who helped him?””
Evelyn closed her eyes.
And whispered:
“Your father paid someone to protect him that night. Someone who was supposed to be on his side.””
I stared at her.
“Who?””
She opened her eyes.
“The man who drove your father to the hospital.””
Miller immediately reached for his phone.
“What's his name?””
Evelyn's voice cracked.
“His name was Daniel Brooks.””
I turned slowly toward Daniel.
The man who had spent the last two days helping me uncover the truth.
The man who had given me my father's letter.
The man who had promised to protect me.
He stood completely still.
Then he looked at me.
And said quietly:
“Your father made me promise never to tell you what happened in that car.””
I couldn't speak.
Daniel reached into his jacket.
He removed a small photograph and placed it on the table.
It showed my father sitting in the passenger seat of a car.
Daniel was behind the wheel.
And in the back seat sat Richard Hale.
On the back of the photograph were four words.
*The night everything changed.*
Daniel looked at me.
“I didn't kill your father, Nia.””
He swallowed.
“But I was the last person who saw him alive before the crash.””
And then my phone rang.
It was Vanessa.
I answered without thinking.
Her voice was calm.
Almost cheerful.
“Hello, sweetheart.””
I couldn't speak.
She continued.
“I hear you've finally met your uncle.””
A pause.
“Now listen carefully. If you want to know what really happened to your father, you need to ask Daniel one question.””
My fingers tightened around the phone.
“What question?””
Vanessa laughed softly.
“Ask him why he was paid five million dollars the morning after Thomas died.””
The call ended.
I looked at Daniel.
May you like
His face had gone completely white.
And for the first time since this nightmare began, I wondered whether the person helping me uncover my father's murder had been hiding the biggest secret of all.
