Chapter 8: What Vanessa Had Been Hiding
I stared at Vanessa's name.
She stood several feet away.
When she saw the page, she stopped breathing.
“No.””
I held up the ledger.
“Explain this.””
“I can't.””
“You can.””
“I swear, Nia—”
“You are in my mother's ledger.””
Vanessa backed away.
Marcus stepped between us.
“Tell her.””
Vanessa looked at him.
“You knew?””
“No.””
“You knew there was a ledger?””
“I knew your mother had records.””
“You knew my name was in them?””
“No.””
Vanessa's eyes filled with tears.
“I didn't know she had written it down.””
I walked toward her.
“Why?””
She shook her head.
“Because I was seventeen.””
I stopped.
“What?””
Vanessa swallowed.
“Your mother found me stealing money.””
“From where?””
“My father's business.””
I frowned.
“What did that have to do with Richard?””
“My father worked with Samuel.””
The pieces began connecting.
“Your father knew my father?””
“Yes.””
“Your family knew mine?””
“Yes.””
“How did we ever become friends?””
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
“Because I didn't know who you were.””
I stared.
“What?””
“I met you at college by accident.””
“But you knew my last name.””
“I did.””
“Then why didn't you tell me?””
“Because by then I loved you.””
Her voice broke.
“And I was ashamed.””
I looked at the ledger again.
Vanessa's name had a number beside it.
$12,000.
“What is this payment?””
She shook her head.
“I never took it.””
“Then why is your name here?””
“Because Samuel used my name.””
“Why?””
“To hide payments.””
Marcus frowned.
“How?””
Vanessa explained that Samuel had opened accounts using identities belonging to people around him.
Some were real.
Some were fabricated.
Vanessa's was real.
She had unknowingly become part of the network.
But then, years later, Richard found the records.
He threatened her.
He told her that if she didn't help him separate Marcus and me, he'd expose her family.
“That's why you came after my marriage.””
“Yes.””
“You wanted Marcus.””
“No.””
I stared at her.
“What?””
“I never wanted Marcus.””
“But you told me he was happier with you.””
“I wanted you to believe that.””
“Why?””
“Because Richard needed you alone.””
I felt a chill.
“Alone for what?””
Vanessa looked at Marcus.
“For the ledger.””
Marcus went still.
“He thought Nia had it.””
“He knew my mother left something for me?””
“Yes.””
“But I didn't.””
“He didn't believe that.””
I looked down at the ledger.
“What else did Richard want?””
Vanessa whispered,
“The second book.””
I frowned.
“There are two?””
“Yes.””
“Where is the other one?””
Vanessa looked terrified.
“I don't know.””
A voice came from behind us.
“I do.””
We spun around.
Richard stood at the edge of the field.
No gun this time.
Just a phone in his hand.
And beside him stood a man I had never expected to see.
My father's old attorney.
Mr. Calloway.
I recognized him from childhood photographs.
He had attended my parents' funeral.
He'd helped settle their estate.
I looked at him.
“You.””
He smiled.
“Hello, Nia.””
Marcus moved in front of me.
Richard laughed.
“You really think you can protect her forever?””
Marcus said nothing.
Calloway stepped forward.
“Your mother was stubborn.””
I felt my hands shake.
“You knew her.””
“I knew everyone involved.””
“Did you kill her?””
He smiled.
“No.””
“Then who did?””
“Your father.””
The words hit me.
“No.””
“He ordered the accident.””
“My father loved her.””
“He loved his money more.””
I shook my head.
“You're lying.””
Calloway held up his phone.
“I have proof.””
Marcus whispered, “Don't listen.””
Calloway pressed play.
My father's voice came through the speaker.
Cold.
Angry.
“Make sure Elizabeth doesn't talk.””
My mother's name.
My heart shattered.
Then another voice.
Richard.
“What about the girl?””
My father's voice answered.
“Nia knows nothing.””
Richard asked, “And if she finds out?””
A pause.
“Then make sure she doesn't.””
The recording ended.
I couldn't breathe.
My father had ordered my mother silenced.
My father had wanted me silenced.
And for ten years, Marcus had carried that secret alone.
I turned toward him.
“You knew.””
He nodded.
“You heard this?””
“Yes.””
“When?””
“Two months ago.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I didn't know if the recording was authentic.””
“And now?””
Marcus looked at Calloway.
“Now I know.””
Calloway smiled.
“You're both missing the important part.””
“What?””
“The second ledger isn't about your father.””
He pointed toward Marcus.
“It's about his.””
Marcus froze.
“My father?””
Calloway nodded.
“Your father wasn't simply helping Richard's family.””
He smiled.
“He was running the operation.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“That's impossible.””
Calloway laughed.
“Daniel, you knew.””
Daniel's face drained.
“I was a child.””
“You were old enough to understand.””
I looked at Daniel.
“What is he talking about?””
Daniel looked at me.
“My father didn't steal from Richard.””
He swallowed.
“Richard's father stole from him.””
I frowned.
“That doesn't make sense.””
Daniel shook his head.
“Because everyone has been telling you the wrong story.””
Richard stepped forward.
“Your mother discovered the truth.””
“What truth?””
Richard's face hardened.
“My father was the thief.””
I stared.
“He framed your father.””
My mind raced.
“And my father?””
“Your father tried to expose him.””
Calloway laughed.
“Too late.””
Richard looked at me.
“Your father wasn't the mastermind.””
“Then who was?””
Richard's eyes moved to Calloway.
“The man standing beside you at your parents' funeral.””
I turned slowly.
Calloway smiled.
Then Vanessa screamed.
“Nia, run!””
Calloway pulled a gun.
Marcus shoved me sideways.
A shot exploded.
Calloway ran.
Richard grabbed Vanessa.
Daniel tackled him.
The ledger flew from my hands.
Pages scattered across the field.
I crawled toward them.
One page landed beside my shoe.
At the bottom was my mother's handwriting.
*The person who betrayed us is not the person you think.*
I turned the page over.
There was a name.
May you like
And when I saw it, I realized my mother had known the truth long before she died.
The name was Marcus Bennett.
