Chapter 6: The Woman Marcus Reed Tried to Erase
Evelyn Shaw had been dead for seventeen years.
At least, that's what Marcus Reed had told the newspapers.
I remembered the story vaguely.
A wealthy businessman's wife had supposedly died in a boating accident during a private vacation.
Her body had never been recovered.
Marcus had given a brief statement, canceled several public appearances, and later married another woman.
But Margaret was shaking her head.
"That woman is not dead.""
I stared at her.
"How do you know?""
"Because my husband received a letter from her six months after the accident.""
"Where is it?""
"I don't have it anymore.""
"Who does?""
Margaret looked toward the floor.
"Marcus.""
I almost laughed.
"That's convenient.""
"Daniel, I'm telling you the truth.""
"Why would he keep a letter from a woman he supposedly lost?""
"Because the letter contained information that could destroy him.""
Emily crossed her arms.
"What information?""
Margaret took a breath.
"Evelyn knew about the financial arrangements between Marcus and Adrian. She also knew what happened to your father.""
I sat down slowly.
"Why didn't she go to the police?""
"She tried.""
"And?""
"She disappeared before she could testify.""
The room felt suddenly smaller.
I looked at the note again.
The phone number was old, but the area code belonged to a town two hours outside the city.
"Maybe she's still there.""
Margaret shook her head.
"If she is, she's been hiding for a very long time.""
Emily stepped forward.
"We should give this to Officer Collins.""
I nodded.
"We will.""
But the moment I stood, my phone rang again.
This time, the number wasn't hidden.
It was a local number.
I answered.
"Hello?""
A woman's voice spoke softly.
"Daniel Hayes?""
"Yes.""
"My name is Evelyn.""
I froze.
Emily looked at me.
Margaret slowly stood.
"Are you alone?"" the woman asked.
"No.""
"Is Margaret Bennett with you?""
"Yes.""
A long pause followed.
Then the woman whispered:
"Tell her I still have Robert's original ledger.""
Margaret covered her mouth.
I gripped the phone.
"Where are you?""
"I can't tell you that yet.""
"Why did you call me?""
"Because I saw what happened at the gala.""
My blood ran cold.
"You were there?""
"Not inside. I watched the broadcast.""
"What broadcast?""
"The private security feed from the hotel.""
I looked toward Officer Collins.
"Who gave you access?""
"Someone who wants Marcus to fall.""
"Who?""
"That doesn't matter.""
"It matters to me.""
The woman sighed.
"Daniel, your father trusted me. Before he died, he asked me to protect something. I failed him once. I'm not going to fail him again.""
I looked at the photograph.
"Did Marcus kill my father?""
There was silence.
Then Evelyn answered.
"Your father was alive when Marcus left the road that night.""
I stopped breathing.
"You're saying he survived the crash?""
"Yes.""
Emily grabbed my arm.
"What did she say?""
I raised a hand.
"Where did they take him?""
"I don't know.""
"How can you not know?""
"I was forced to leave before I could find out. But I saw your father being taken into another vehicle.""
"By whom?""
"Adrian Cole.""
My knees felt weak.
"Then why was the accident reported as fatal?""
"Because Marcus needed Robert Hayes out of the picture. And because someone in the police department helped him.""
Officer Collins stepped closer.
He had heard enough to understand the seriousness of the conversation.
He held out his hand.
I put the phone on speaker.
"Evelyn," he said, "this is Officer Collins. We're investigating the assault at the Reed Foundation gala and possible related criminal activity. I need you to identify yourself and provide your location.""
The woman went silent.
Then she said:
"I don't trust the police.""
Officer Collins remained calm.
"That's understandable. But if you have evidence of a serious crime, we can arrange a protected meeting.""
"Protected by whom?""
"By officers who aren't connected to the Reed family.""
Another pause.
Then Evelyn spoke.
"I want Margaret there.""
Margaret stepped forward.
"I'm here.""
"Evelyn, it's Margaret.""
The woman's voice trembled.
"I thought you were dead.""
Margaret closed her eyes.
"I thought the same about you.""
For several seconds, neither woman spoke.
Then Evelyn said:
"There's something you need to know. Rachel didn't find the original records by accident. She was following the money your husband discovered.""
Margaret nodded.
"I know.""
"No. You don't understand. The missing money wasn't just being stolen from the clinic.""
"Where was it going?""
Evelyn took a breath.
"Into a private company called Northbridge Holdings.""
I looked at Officer Collins.
He began writing.
"Who owns it?"" I asked.
Evelyn answered immediately.
"Adrian Cole.""
I frowned.
"But Marcus controls the foundation.""
"Marcus controls the public face. Adrian controls the money.""
"Why would Marcus allow that?""
"Because Adrian has something on him.""
"What?""
A brief silence.
Then Evelyn whispered:
"Records showing Marcus ordered the destruction of evidence connected to Robert Hayes.""
Margaret looked devastated.
"Then Marcus knew what happened.""
"Yes.""
I felt anger rising.
"Why didn't you come forward?""
"Because the last person who tried to expose them ended up dead.""
"Who?""
"Rachel Bennett.""
Oliver looked up.
"My mom?""
Margaret pulled him close.
Evelyn's voice broke.
"I'm sorry, sweetheart. I believe Rachel was murdered because she found the original ledger.""
Oliver began crying.
I closed my eyes.
The little boy had already lost his mother.
And now he was standing in a room full of adults who were slowly uncovering the reason she might have been taken from him.
I turned away.
"Evelyn, where is the ledger?""
"Somewhere Marcus can't reach.""
"Where?""
"I'll tell you when we meet.""
"When?""
"Tomorrow afternoon.""
Officer Collins immediately spoke.
"That meeting needs to happen in a secure location.""
Evelyn laughed bitterly.
"Secure? You think there's anywhere Marcus Reed can't reach?""
The officer remained silent.
Then Evelyn added:
"Daniel, there's another reason I called.""
"What?""
"Your father left a message for you.""
I swallowed.
"What message?""
"He recorded it before he disappeared.""
"Where is it?""
"In the same place as the ledger.""
"Can you send it to me?""
"No.""
"Why not?""
"Because the recording contains something that could change everything you believe about your family.""
My heart began pounding.
"What does that mean?""
Evelyn's voice became almost inaudible.
"Your father knew Marcus was going to come after him. But he also knew someone in his own family had betrayed him.""
I stared at Emily.
She looked just as confused as I felt.
"Who?"" I demanded.
Evelyn hesitated.
Then she said:
"Daniel, before you meet me, ask your mother where she was the night your father disappeared.""
The call ended.
Nobody moved.
Emily slowly turned toward me.
"What does she mean?""
I looked down at the phone.
My mother had always told us she was home that night.
She had told the police the same thing.
But now there was a photograph showing Marcus and Adrian beside my father's car.
There was a letter warning her not to trust Marcus.
And a woman claiming my father had been betrayed by someone in his own family.
I called Mom again.
This time, she answered immediately.
"Daniel?""
"Mom, I need you to tell me the truth.""
"What happened?""
"Where were you the night Dad disappeared?""
Silence.
Then I heard her crying.
"Who told you to ask me that?""
"Evelyn Shaw.""
A sharp gasp came through the phone.
"Oh, God.""
"Mom, were you with Dad that night?""
She didn't answer.
"Did you meet Marcus Reed?""
Another pause.
Then, in a voice so quiet I almost couldn't hear her, she said:
"Yes.""
My chest tightened.
"Why?""
"Because your father asked me to meet him.""
"Where?""
"At the old Reed Development construction site.""
"Why didn't you tell us?""
"Because I promised him I wouldn't.""
"What happened there?""
My mother began sobbing.
"Daniel, your father didn't disappear because Marcus wanted him dead.""
I stared at the phone.
"Then why?""
She whispered five words.
*"Because he was protecting you.""*
I couldn't speak.
Then she continued.
"Your father had discovered something about you. Something he believed Marcus would use against our entire family.""
I felt Emily's hand tighten around mine.
"What did Dad discover?""
My mother took a shaky breath.
"Daniel, you weren't supposed to be born with the last name Hayes.""
May you like
I stared into the darkness beyond the hospital window.
And for the first time in my life, I wondered whether the man who had raised me had been my father at all.
