Chapter 4: The Night Jack Died
Jack died on a Tuesday.
I remembered every minute.
At least, I thought I did.
Six years earlier, I had been standing in the kitchen when Jordan called.
“Mom, Dad collapsed.””
I had dropped a glass.
“What?””
“He's at the hospital.””
“Which hospital?””
“Riverside.””
“I'll be there.””
I had driven through rain so hard I could barely see the road.
Jack died before I arrived.
That was the memory I had carried for six years.
The memory I had never questioned.
Until I found the photograph.
The next morning, I called Jordan.
“Come over.””
He arrived twenty minutes later.
His face told me he knew exactly why.
I placed the envelope on the table.
“What is this?””
He looked at the photograph.
His hands started shaking.
“Where did you get that?””
“Under my chair.””
He sat down.
I remained standing.
“Tell me about the night Dad died.””
His face went pale.
“Mom…”
“Tell me.””
“I don't understand.””
“You understand perfectly.””
He stared at the photograph.
“Who gave you this?””
“That's not your concern.””
“Yes, it is.””
“No.””
I leaned forward.
“Your concern is what happened to my husband.””
He pushed the photograph away.
“I was with Dad that night.””
My heart began pounding.
“You told me you weren't.””
“I know.””
“What?””
“I lied.””
The kitchen seemed to tilt.
“Why?””
He rubbed his face.
“Because Kayla told me to.””
I stepped backward.
“Why would Kayla tell you to lie about the night your father died?””
“I don't know.””
“Don't say that.””
“I don't know!””
His voice cracked.
Then he lowered it.
“I was scared.””
“Again?””
He looked at me.
“Yes.””
“Of Kayla?””
“Yes.””
I sat down.
“Start at the beginning.””
Jordan stared at the table.
“That night, Dad called me.””
“Why?””
“He wanted me to come over.””
“What did he say?””
“He said he'd found something.””
“What?””
“I don't know.””
“You went to see him?””
“Yes.””
“And?””
“Kayla came with me.””
I closed my eyes.
“Why?””
“She was already angry.””
“About what?””
“Money.””
My eyes opened.
“What money?””
“Dad had refused to help her.””
“Help her with what?””
“Her business.””
I remembered.
A month before Jack died, Kayla had asked him for a loan.
Jack had refused.
He had said, “If I give you money, I want to know where it's going.””
Kayla had become furious.
I had dismissed it as a family disagreement.
Jordan continued.
“When we got there, Dad and Kayla argued.””
“What did they argue about?””
“The house.””
My hands went cold.
“The house?””
Jordan nodded.
“Dad told her she would never own it.””
I stared at him.
“What else?””
“He said the house belonged to you.””
I swallowed.
“What happened after that?””
“I went outside.””
“Why?””
“Because they were shouting.””
“And Kayla?””
“She stayed inside.””
“How long were you outside?””
“Maybe ten minutes.””
“Then?””
“I heard a crash.””
“What kind of crash?””
“Glass.””
Jordan's voice trembled.
“I ran inside.””
“And Dad?””
“He was on the floor.””
“Was he alive?””
“Yes.””
“Did he speak?””
Jordan looked at me.
“He said your name.””
My breath caught.
“What exactly?””
“He said, ‘Protect her.’”
Tears filled my eyes.
“What happened next?””
“I called 911.””
“And Kayla?””
“She told me something.””
“What?””
“She said if I told you she'd been there, she'd make sure I went to prison.””
I stared at him.
“For what?””
“She said there was blood on my shirt.””
I couldn't speak.
“She told me Dad fell because of me.””
“Did you hurt him?””
“No!””
His voice broke.
“No, Mom. I swear.””
I believed him.
But then another question came.
“Why did you let me believe you weren't there?””
He looked at me.
“Because Kayla said Dad had been drinking.””
“He wasn't.””
“I know.””
“And?””
“She said the police would blame me.””
“So you lied.””
“Yes.””
“For six years.””
“Yes.””
I stood.
“Get out.””
“Mom—”
“Get out.””
“Please.””
“You let me mourn your father believing I had missed his last words.””
“I was afraid.””
“You were afraid.””
I laughed bitterly.
“And what was I?””
He began crying.
“I know.””
“No, you don't.””
I walked to the window.
“You were afraid of Kayla.””
He nodded.
“And somehow I became the person you were willing to betray.””
“I'm sorry.””
I turned.
“Sorry doesn't give me those six years back.””
The front door opened.
Kayla walked in.
She stopped when she saw Jordan crying.
“What did you tell her?””
Jordan stood.
“Everything.””
Kayla's face hardened.
“You idiot.””
I looked at her.
“You were there the night Jack died.””
She said nothing.
“You threatened my son.””
Silence.
“You knew Jack refused to give you money.””
Still silence.
“You knew the house was his biggest concern.””
Kayla finally spoke.
“Your husband was confused.””
“No.””
“He was sick.””
“No.””
“He didn't know what he was saying.””
“You were there.””
She stepped toward me.
“Eleanor, you're grieving.””
“Don't call me that.””
“You're letting this consume you.””
I pointed toward the door.
“Leave.””
She laughed.
“You think you can throw me out?””
“Yes.””
“You need Jordan.””
“No.””
“You'll be alone.””
I looked at her.
“I've been alone since the night Jack died.””
Her smile disappeared.
Then she said something I will never forget.
“You really should have listened to Jack when he told you not to trust your son.””
I froze.
“What did you say?””
She realized her mistake.
Her eyes flicked toward Jordan.
He whispered, “Mom…”
I stepped closer to Kayla.
“What did Jack tell me?””
She backed away.
“You don't remember?””
“No.””
She smiled.
It was a frightened smile now.
“He told you everything.””
“What?””
“Before he died.””
I felt the room go silent.
“That isn't possible.””
Kayla looked toward the stairs.
Then back at me.
“You should check the attic.””
My heart slammed against my ribs.
“What is in the attic?””
She didn't answer.
She walked toward the door.
I grabbed her arm.
“You're not leaving.””
She pulled away.
“I'd be careful.””
“Why?””
Her eyes locked onto mine.
“Because if you open that box, you're going to learn why Jack was so afraid.””
Then she walked out.
Jordan stood frozen.
I turned to him.
“What box?””
He shook his head.
“I don't know.””
“Then we're going upstairs.””
We climbed to the attic.
Dust floated through the beam of my flashlight.
Old Christmas decorations sat beneath sheets.
Jack's toolbox.
Jordan's childhood toys.
A broken rocking horse.
I searched for nearly twenty minutes.
Then Jordan said, “Mom.””
He pointed toward the far wall.
There was a loose floorboard.
Beneath it sat a small wooden box.
I lifted it out.
It was locked.
On the lid, carved into the wood, were two initials.
*J.B.*
Jack Bennett.
My hands trembled.
Jordan whispered, “Do you have a key?””
I stared at the box.
Then remembered something.
Jack had once told me that if anything ever happened to him, I should never open a certain drawer in his workshop without him.
That drawer had been empty after his death.
Or so I thought.
I ran downstairs.
Straight to the garage.
The old workbench stood beneath a dusty window.
I pulled open the drawer.
Nothing.
Then I noticed the bottom panel was slightly raised.
I pried it loose.
A tiny brass key lay underneath.
And taped beside it was a note in Jack's handwriting.
Three words.
*Only if Kayla comes.*
I looked at Jordan.
He whispered, “Mom…”
I put the key into the lock.
It turned.
Inside the box was a stack of documents.
A flash drive.
And one sealed envelope addressed to me.
But before I could open it, Jordan's phone rang.
He answered.
“Hello?””
His expression changed.
“What?””
He listened.
Then looked at me.
“Mom…”
“What?””
“The police are outside.””
“Why?””
He swallowed.
“They say Kayla filed a report.””
“What kind?””
He looked toward the front door.
“She says I stole money from her.””
May you like
Then he added quietly:
“And she's accusing me of forging your signature.””
