Chapter 8: The Mechanic Who Had Been Silent for Ten Years
Eleanor immediately put the call on speaker.
"Mr. Lawson, this is Eleanor Price. I'm representing Mrs.
Whitmore. Are you somewhere safe?""
There was a pause.
"Yes. I'm at home.""
"Can you tell us exactly what happened when Camille brought the vehicle to your garage?""
Peter exhaled.
"I've wanted to talk about this for years.""
I leaned toward the phone.
"Please. I need to know what happened to my son.""
His voice became quieter.
"Mrs. Whitmore, I am sorry.""
Those four words made my chest tighten.
"Why?""
"Because I should have said something ten years ago.""
Eleanor interrupted gently.
"Let's begin with the inspection.""
Peter explained that Camille had brought David's car into the garage on November 10.
She told him the brakes had felt unusual.
The pedal sometimes sank lower than expected.
Peter inspected the hydraulic system and discovered a serious problem.
He recommended that the vehicle remain at the garage until the entire system had been repaired.
Camille refused.
"She said she needed the car that evening," Peter explained.
"Did you tell her it was dangerous?"" Eleanor asked.
"Yes. I told her the car shouldn't be driven until the problem was fixed.""
I closed my eyes.
Peter continued.
"Then Adrian Cole arrived.""
I opened them.
"What did he do?""
"He took Camille outside. They spoke for a few minutes. Then he came back inside and asked me whether the vehicle could be driven for a short distance.""
"What did you tell him?""
"I said no.""
"Did he threaten you?""
Peter hesitated.
"Not directly.""
"What happened?""
"He offered me money to sign the vehicle release form.""
I felt Eleanor stiffen beside me.
"How much?"" she asked.
"Five thousand dollars.""
"Did you accept?""
Peter was silent.
Then he answered.
"Yes.""
George stood abruptly.
"Why?""
I reached for his arm.
Peter continued.
"I was in debt. My garage was failing. I had employees to pay. I convinced myself the problem might not be as serious as I thought.""
His voice cracked.
"I signed the release. I shouldn't have.""
I looked at the document on the laptop.
The signature was real.
"Did Camille know the vehicle wasn't safe?"" I asked.
"Yes. I explained it to her personally.""
"And Adrian?""
"He heard everything.""
Eleanor asked the question that mattered most.
"Did either of them say anything about David?""
Peter took a breath.
"Camille said her husband was planning to take the car on a long trip. Adrian told her that the vehicle would probably be fine if he drove carefully.""
I felt my stomach twist.
"Did they know he would be driving that night?""
"I believe so.""
"Did they say anything else?""
Peter was quiet for several seconds.
Then he said:
"After Camille left, Adrian stayed behind. He asked me to remove the warning sticker from the dashboard.""
I covered my mouth.
"Why?""
"He said it would cause unnecessary arguments.""
Eleanor's voice became firm.
"Mr. Lawson, will you provide a formal statement?""
"Yes.""
"Will you give investigators access to the original records?""
"I still have copies.""
Eleanor wrote something down.
"Good. Do not contact Camille or Adrian again. Do not delete or alter anything. An investigator will contact you.""
Peter agreed.
Before ending the call, he spoke directly to me.
"Mrs. Whitmore?""
"Yes?""
"I know this doesn't bring your son back. But I want you to know I have regretted what I did every day.""
I looked at David's photograph on the table.
"I hope you tell the truth this time.""
"I will.""
The call ended.
For several minutes, nobody moved.
George finally spoke.
"So she knew.""
Jeffrey was staring at the floor.
"She knew the brakes were dangerous. She knew Dad was going to drive the car.""
I reached for them.
"We still need the investigators to establish what happened.""
George looked at me.
"Grandma, how much more evidence do we need?""
I didn't have an answer.
The next morning, Thomas Reed arranged for the original accident file to be reopened for further examination.
The financial documents were also forwarded to investigators.
But the custody case was still active.
And Camille was not about to surrender.
At eleven, Eleanor received a message from Richard Lawson.
He wanted to arrange a meeting.
Eleanor called him back.
"Why?""
Richard sounded unusually tense.
"My client wants to discuss a possible settlement.""
"Regarding the custody case?""
"Yes.""
"Then send your proposal in writing.""
He hesitated.
"She would prefer to speak with Margaret directly.""
Eleanor looked at me.
I shook my head.
"Absolutely not.""
Eleanor returned to the phone.
"Any communication must come through me.""
Richard sighed.
"Understood.""
The call ended.
But twenty minutes later, Camille sent me a message.
We need to talk. Alone. I can explain everything.
I stared at it.
Then another message appeared.
You don't know what Adrian is capable of.
I showed Eleanor.
She immediately said, "Don't respond.""
I didn't.
That afternoon, George and Jeffrey went to school.
I stayed home with Eleanor, organizing the documents for the investigators.
Around three, the doorbell rang.
I looked through the window.
Camille stood outside.
Alone.
I opened the door but kept the security chain fastened.
"What do you want?""
She looked exhausted.
Her makeup was smudged.
For the first time since she returned, she didn't look like the polished woman who had arrived with a lawyer.
"I need to speak to you.""
"You have an attorney.""
"Margaret, please.""
"No.""
She glanced behind me.
"Are the boys home?""
"No.""
"Good.""
I stared at her.
"Why?""
She lowered her voice.
"Because I need to tell you something they shouldn't hear.""
I almost closed the door.
Then she said:
"Adrian is dangerous. You don't understand what he did.""
I looked at her.
"Then tell the police.""
Her eyes filled.
"I can't.""
"Why not?""
"Because he'll destroy me.""
I felt something cold settle in my chest.
"You were willing to destroy my family to get control of my company. Why should I care what happens to you?""
She lowered her head.
"I know what I did was wrong.""
"Wrong?""
I stepped closer to the door.
"Camille, my son is dead.""
She began crying.
"I know.""
"You left his children in a garbage bag.""
"I know.""
"You came back ten years later demanding his business.""
"I know!""
Her voice cracked.
For a moment, she covered her face.
Then she whispered:
"I didn't think he would die.""
I stopped breathing.
"What?""
She looked up.
"I didn't think the accident would happen.""
I stared at her.
"Are you saying you knew the car was dangerous?""
She nodded.
I felt my knees weaken.
"Then why did you let him drive it?""
She began shaking.
"Adrian told me the problem was minor.""
"Peter Lawson said he warned you.""
Her eyes widened.
"You spoke to Peter?""
"Yes.""
She looked toward the street.
Then back at me.
"Margaret, please. You have to understand.""
"Understand what?""
"Adrian had already taken the money. He told me David was going to report everything. He said if David went to the police, we would both go to prison.""
"So you helped him?""
"I was scared.""
"You had two children!""
She began sobbing.
"I know!""
"Then you should have thought about them!""
She stepped closer to the door.
"Adrian told me he could fix everything. He said David would be forced to sign the documents and we could leave.""
I stared at her.
"Forced?""
She closed her eyes.
"He said he would make sure David couldn't interfere.""
The words hung between us.
I couldn't move.
"What did he mean by that?""
Camille began crying harder.
"I don't know.""
"Don't lie to me.""
"I swear!""
I looked at the woman who had once been my son's wife.
"Did you know Adrian was planning to hurt David?""
She didn't answer.
That silence told me more than her tears.
I reached for my phone.
Camille immediately grabbed my wrist.
"Don't call anyone!""
I pulled away.
"Get off me!""
She stumbled backward.
"Margaret, please. If Adrian finds out I spoke to you, he'll come after me.""
I opened the door wider.
"Then go to the police.""
She shook her head.
"I can't.""
"Why?""
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
"Because he has the original video.""
My heart stopped.
"What video?""
She looked toward the street again.
"The one from the night David died.""
I felt the room tilt.
"What are you talking about?""
Camille wiped her face.
"Adrian recorded everything. He kept it as insurance.""
"Everything?""
She nodded.
"He said if I ever betrayed him, he would release it.""
I stared at her.
"Where is it?""
"I don't know.""
"Camille!""
She stepped away.
"He keeps it somewhere outside the city. I only know he has a copy.""
I reached for my phone.
"Tell the investigators.""
She shook her head.
"Please, Margaret. I need you to help me.""
I almost laughed.
After everything she had done, she was asking me for help.
"Why should I?""
"Because the boys are in danger too.""
That made me stop.
"What do you mean?""
She looked directly into my eyes.
"Adrian doesn't care about custody. He wants the company. The boys are the only people who can inherit it if something happens to you.""
My blood ran cold.
"Are you saying he intends to hurt them?""
Camille didn't answer.
Then a car horn sounded outside.
She flinched.
A black sedan was parked across the street.
The driver's window was open.
I recognized Adrian.
He was watching us.
Camille's face went white.
"He's here.""
She backed away from the porch.
"Margaret, don't tell him I spoke to you.""
Then she ran toward her car.
I watched her drive away.
Adrian remained parked for another minute.
He looked directly at me.
Then he raised his phone.
And smiled.
The next moment, my phone rang.
An unknown number.
I answered.
Adrian's voice came through.
"Mrs. Whitmore, I hope Camille hasn't been filling your head with nonsense.""
I said nothing.
He chuckled.
"She's unstable. Always has been.""
"What happened to my son?""
His tone changed.
"Your son made some unfortunate decisions.""
"Did you sabotage his car?""
A long silence followed.
Then Adrian laughed softly.
"Be careful with accusations you can't prove.""
"I have the mechanic's statement.""
His voice became colder.
"Then perhaps you should start thinking about your grandsons instead of the past.""
The call ended.
I immediately contacted Eleanor.
She arrived within twenty minutes.
When I told her what Camille had confessed, she looked deeply concerned.
"Margaret, we need to notify the investigators immediately.""
"What about the boys?""
"I'll contact their school and arrange additional security.""
I looked toward the stairs.
Their bedrooms were empty.
Their school backpacks sat near the door.
And suddenly, I remembered Camille's warning.
The boys were the only people who could inherit my company if something happened to me.
I called Jeffrey.
He answered after two rings.
"Grandma?""
"Where are you?""
"At school. Why?""
"Stay inside. Don't leave with anyone unless I tell you.""
There was a pause.
"What's happened?""
"I'll explain when you get home.""
Then I heard another voice in the background.
A teacher.
"Jeffrey, there's someone at the front office asking for you and your brother.""
My heart stopped.
"Who?""
Jeffrey sounded confused.
"He says he's from the family law office.""
I gripped the phone.
"Do not go with him.""
Then Jeffrey whispered:
"Grandma, he knows Dad's name.""
The line went silent.
I heard a door open.
Then a man's voice.
"Jeffrey? Your grandmother sent me.""
I shouted into the phone.
May you like
"JEFFREY, DON'T MOVE!""
But the call disconnected.
