Chapter 9: The Man My Father Buried
"Who is Richard Vale?""
I asked the question quietly.
Dad didn't answer.
We stood outside the university auditorium while families moved around us, celebrating graduations and taking photographs beneath the bright October sun.
Margaret held the notebook against her chest.
My father's phone remained in his hand.
The unknown number had stopped messaging, but the final sentence stayed with me.
Ask your father what happened to Richard Vale.
I stepped closer to him.
"Dad, what happened?""
He looked toward Margaret.
She shook her head.
"Daniel, she deserves to know.""
He closed his eyes.
For a moment, I thought he would refuse.
Then he gestured toward a quiet bench beneath a row of trees.
"Let's sit down.""
I followed him.
Margaret sat beside me, leaving Dad a little space.
He stared at his hands.
"Richard Vale was a business associate of your mother before she became ill.""
"Victoria's former husband?""
"Yes.""
"Why did you tell me nothing about him?""
"Because I didn't know how much he was involved in your mother's business until after she died.""
I waited.
Dad took a breath.
"Richard approached Elena about investing in her design company. He had money, connections, and access to manufacturers. At first, she considered working with him.""
"What changed?""
"He wanted more control than she was willing to give him. He wanted the rights to her designs, the licensing agreements, and the ability to use the technology without consulting her.""
Margaret nodded.
"Elena believed he intended to sell the patent to a larger manufacturer.""
Dad continued.
"Your mother refused. Richard became angry. There were arguments. He sent letters threatening legal action, claiming that some of the development work had been funded through his company.""
I looked at the notebook.
"Was that true?""
"Some expenses had been paid through a joint business arrangement, but Elena had kept meticulous records. She believed the intellectual property belonged to her company.""
"And Victoria?""
Dad rubbed his forehead.
"She supported Richard at first. After they separated, she told people he had left the country. When I met her, she said she hadn't heard from him in years.""
I stared at him.
"Did you believe her?""
"Yes.""
His answer was immediate, and the pain in his voice made me look away.
"I had no reason to think she was lying. She seemed honest. She was kind to me, and she was patient with you.""
"She wasn't patient with me.""
Dad's face crumpled.
"I know that now.""
Margaret opened the notebook.
"Elena became suspicious that Richard and Victoria were still communicating. She found references to Northstar Holdings in a series of business emails.""
"Did she confront them?""
"She confronted Victoria. I don't know exactly what was said, but afterward Elena asked me to keep the original patent records in a separate location.""
Dad looked at the notebook.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because she asked me not to. She feared that if Richard discovered where the documents were, he would try to obtain them.""
I swallowed.
"Did Richard have anything to do with her illness?""
Margaret looked horrified.
"No, sweetheart. Your mother was sick long before the business dispute became serious.""
I exhaled shakily.
I hadn't realized how much I feared the answer until she gave it.
Dad leaned forward, elbows on his knees.
"After Elena died, Richard sent me a letter claiming he was entitled to a portion of the company. I gave it to the lawyer handling her estate. The lawyer responded that the claim had no legal basis.""
"What happened after that?""
"Nothing. Or so I thought.""
He looked at me.
"About a year later, I heard that Richard had been involved in a financial dispute with one of his companies. I was told he had moved abroad.""
"Who told you?""
Dad hesitated.
"Victoria.""
The three of us sat in silence.
I thought about all the family dinners where Victoria had smiled across the table, asking about my classes while Samantha complained about the food.
I thought about the time Victoria had helped me choose a graduation outfit for a department reception.
I had believed she was trying to become part of my life.
Now I wondered whether she had been waiting for an opportunity to get close to the documents my mother had left behind.
My phone rang.
Officer Lewis.
Dad answered.
"Hello?""
"Mr. Carter, we have an update. Samantha has admitted that she entered Margaret Ellis's studio last night.""
Margaret covered her mouth.
I closed my eyes.
"Did she say why?"" Dad asked.
"She claims she was acting on instructions from another person.""
"Who?""
"She identified Victoria Carter.""
Dad stood abruptly.
"What?""
"She says Victoria told her the portfolio contained documents that would allow them to recover money from Elena's estate.""
Margaret shook her head.
"That's not possible.""
Officer Lewis continued.
"Samantha also claims she was told the documents were already legally owned by Northstar Holdings, and that Emily's graduation was an opportunity to gain access to her signature.""
My blood ran cold.
"My signature?""
"According to Samantha, the plan was to obtain your signature on a document acknowledging the transfer of the intellectual property.""
I stared at Dad.
"Why would I sign something like that?""
"She says you were supposed to be told it was a routine estate acknowledgment.""
Margaret's face went white.
"That's fraud.""
"We're treating it as a serious allegation," the officer replied.
"However, we need to establish whether Samantha's account is accurate.""
Dad's voice hardened.
"Where is Victoria now?""
"She has agreed to come in for questioning. We are attempting to contact her attorney.""
I looked toward the university.
"Officer, did Samantha say where the portfolio is?""
"She says she delivered it to Victoria's car after leaving the studio. She claims she has not seen it since.""
Dad gripped the phone.
"Then where is it?""
"We don't know yet.""
I closed my eyes.
The portfolio could contain the original patent agreement, my mother's handwritten instructions, and evidence of who had tried to transfer her rights.
Without it, proving what had happened could take months.
With it, we might be able to stop the fraud before anyone did further damage.
"Officer," I said, "can I speak to Samantha?""
He hesitated.
"I don't recommend a direct conversation while the investigation is ongoing.""
"I don't want to interfere. I just want her to answer one question.""
After a pause, he said, "I can ask whether she's willing to speak with you under supervision.""
Ten minutes later, we were sitting in a small interview room at the police station.
Samantha entered wearing jeans and a sweatshirt. Her hair was tangled, her eyes swollen, and her usual confident smile had vanished.
For a moment, I barely recognized her.
She looked at me.
Then she looked at my dress.
"You wore it.""
I stared at her.
"Yes.""
She swallowed.
"Margaret fixed it?""
"Yes.""
Samantha looked down.
"I didn't think she could.""
I waited.
She rubbed her palms against her jeans.
"I didn't think you'd actually graduate today.""
The words were so quiet that I almost missed them.
I felt anger rise in my chest.
"Why?""
She looked at me.
"Because I thought if the university believed the complaint, you'd be suspended.""
"Why would you want that?""
Her eyes filled.
"Because I was angry.""
"At me?""
"At everything.""
I leaned forward.
"You destroyed my mother's dress. You tried to interfere with my scholarship. You let someone convince you that stealing from me was acceptable. And you're telling me you did it because you were angry?""
Samantha's mouth trembled.
"I didn't know how far it would go.""
"You carried kitchen shears into my room.""
She flinched.
"I know.""
"You cut the dress while I begged you to stop.""
"I know.""
"You laughed.""
She covered her face.
"I know!""
The room fell silent.
For the first time, I saw something resembling shame on her face.
But shame wasn't an apology.
And it wasn't restitution.
I waited until she lowered her hands.
"Where is the portfolio?""
She stared at the table.
"I gave it to Mom.""
"Where is it now?""
"I don't know.""
I felt my fingers curl into fists.
"Samantha, this is not the time to protect her.""
"I'm not protecting her!""
"Then tell the truth.""
She looked at me with desperate eyes.
"Mom said the documents belonged to Richard. She said your mother had promised him part of the company, and that your father had hidden the agreement.""
"That's a lie.""
"I know that now.""
"How?""
Samantha swallowed.
"Because I saw the original email.""
I went still.
"What email?""
"The one from your mother to Mom.""
Dad leaned forward.
"What did it say?""
Samantha glanced at him.
"It said Elena refused to transfer the patent. It said Richard had no rights to the design. Mom told me it was a draft and that there was another version.""
Margaret's voice shook.
"There was no other version.""
Samantha began to cry.
"I know.""
I stared at her.
"Then why did you keep going?""
She wiped her cheeks.
"Because Mom told me if I helped her recover the documents, we'd have enough money to start over. She said Dad would never let us have anything if Emily inherited the royalties.""
Dad looked devastated.
"Samantha, I have never denied you anything because of Emily.""
She laughed bitterly through her tears.
"You always loved her more.""
Dad closed his eyes.
"I tried to give you both a home.""
"But she had everything!""
I leaned forward.
"No, Samantha. I had a mother who died when I was twelve. I had a father who spent years trying to keep me from falling apart.
I worked through college because I didn't want to burden him. And the one thing I had left from her, you destroyed because you thought it made me special.""
Samantha stared at me.
Her face crumpled.
"I was jealous.""
The admission hung between us.
For once, she didn't try to defend herself.
She didn't blame my mother.
She didn't accuse Dad of favoritism.
She simply sat there, crying.
I wanted to feel satisfied.
I didn't.
I felt exhausted.
"Where is Victoria?"" I asked.
Samantha wiped her nose.
"She said she was going to meet someone.""
"Who?""
"I don't know.""
"Richard?""
She looked up sharply.
That reaction told me more than her answer.
"I think so.""
Dad's voice was low.
"Where were they meeting?""
Samantha shook her head.
"I don't know the address. Mom told me to take the portfolio to the car and leave it in the trunk. She said someone would collect it.""
"Who?""
"I never saw him.""
I leaned back.
"Then how do you know it was Richard?""
Samantha hesitated.
"Because I heard Mom talking to him on the phone. She called him Richard.""
Dad looked at Officer Lewis through the glass.
The officer entered the room.
"Thank you, Samantha. We'll need to document that statement.""
Samantha stood, then turned toward me.
"Emily?""
I looked at her.
"I'm sorry.""
The words came out in a whisper.
I stared at her for a long moment.
"You're sorry you got caught.""
"No.""
"Then prove it.""
She swallowed.
"How?""
"Tell the police everything. Every message. Every document.
Every conversation you had with Victoria. If you know where the portfolio is, find a way to help them recover it.""
Samantha nodded slowly.
"I will.""
I stood.
As Dad and I left the room, I felt no relief.
The person who had destroyed my mother's dress had finally admitted what she had done.
But the person who had directed her was still free.
And the original documents were still missing.
Outside, Officer Lewis approached us.
"Mr. Carter, we have another development.""
Dad turned.
"What now?""
"We've traced the unknown messages sent to Emily to a prepaid phone purchased yesterday. The device was activated near the motel where Samantha was staying.""
"Does that mean Samantha sent them?""
"Not necessarily. The phone may have been used by someone else.""
I frowned.
"Could it have been Victoria?""
"We're investigating that possibility.""
Officer Lewis glanced at his notes.
"There's one more thing. We found a message on Samantha's laptop that was scheduled to be sent after her meeting with us.""
Dad stiffened.
"What did it say?""
The officer looked directly at me.
"It was addressed to an email account registered to Richard Vale.""
My heart pounded.
"What did the message say?""
The officer took a breath.
"Only one sentence.""
He turned the screen toward us.
The girl knows about the inheritance, and the father knows about you.
Dad stared at the message.
Then he whispered, "Richard is still here.""
My phone rang before anyone could respond.
An unknown number.
I answered cautiously.
"Hello?""
A man's voice came through, calm and unfamiliar.
"Emily Carter?""
"Who is this?""
"My name is Richard Vale.""
Dad reached for the phone, but I stepped back.
Richard continued.
"I understand you've been asking questions about your mother's company.""
My mouth went dry.
"What do you want?""
A soft laugh.
"I want to correct a misunderstanding before your father makes another terrible mistake.""
"Which misunderstanding?""
"The one where you believe your mother left everything to you.""
I gripped the phone.
"She did.""
"No, Emily. She left you a dress and a collection of sentimental papers. The company, the patent, the royalties—those were never yours to control.""
"Then why are you hiding from the police?""
The line went silent.
For a moment, I thought he had hung up.
Then he spoke again.
"Because your father has spent years telling you a story that isn't entirely true.""
My stomach tightened.
"What story?""
Richard's voice dropped.
"Ask Daniel why he signed the original agreement after your mother died.""
I turned toward Dad.
His face had gone completely white.
Richard continued.
"And ask him who received the first payment.""
The call ended.
I lowered the phone slowly.
Dad stared at me.
I had never seen him look so frightened.
"Emily," he whispered, "there's something I need to tell you.""
He swallowed hard.
"Your mother didn't leave you the patent directly.""
I felt my heart sink.
"What?""
May you like
Dad closed his eyes.
"Because I signed a document after she died, and I may have unknowingly given Richard exactly what he wanted.""
