Chapter 10 - Robert Carter's Last NightDaniel had accepted his father's death for eighteen years.
A heart attack.
Sudden.
Tragic.
But ordinary.
Now every memory changed.
Robert had complained of chest pain at his office.
Margaret had been with him.
Charles Whitmore arrived before the ambulance.
Daniel remembered that detail because he'd always thought it strange.
At twenty-one, he'd been too shattered to question it.
Emily had.
Years later.
Detective Reyes immediately requested Robert Carter's archived medical records.
The original autopsy had been minimal.
No toxicology beyond standard screening.
Cause of death: acute myocardial infarction.
Nothing suspicious.
But Emily's video mentioned a private investigator.
A name appeared in her notes.
Frank Delaney.
Retired police detective.
Daniel found him living in Florida.
They called.
Delaney remembered Emily instantly.
“She was smart,” he said.
“Too smart for what she was digging into.”
“What did she ask you to investigate?”
“Your father's final six months.”
“Why?”
“She believed his original will had been replaced.”
“Did you prove it?”
“I found a witness.”
Daniel sat straighter.
“Who?”
“A legal assistant named Susan Vale.”
Charles Whitmore's former employee.
“She typed both wills.”
“Both?”
“Yes.”
Daniel's heartbeat accelerated.
“The first one acknowledged another son?”
“Michael.”
Michael looked away.
Delaney continued.
“Robert planned to tell the family.”
“What happened?”
“Two weeks later, Susan was ordered to prepare a second will.”
“By Robert?”
“No.”
Daniel's throat tightened.
“By whom?”
“Whitmore.”
“Did my father sign it?”
“Susan said the signature looked wrong.”
“Why didn't she report it?”
“She was twenty-six. Whitmore threatened her career.”
“Where is she now?”
“Dead.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
“How?”
“Cancer. Five years ago.”
Another witness gone.
“What else did Emily learn?”
Delaney went quiet.
“She found an appointment note.”
“What note?”
“Robert was scheduled to meet a forensic accountant the morning after he died.”
Michael stared at Daniel.
Delaney continued.
“He suspected estate accounts had been manipulated.”
“By Margaret?”
“Maybe.”
“Charles?”
“Probably.”
Daniel's hands curled.
“And then he dies the night before.”
“Yes.”
“Did Emily think they killed him?”
“She thought it was possible.”
“Why didn't she tell me?”
Delaney sighed.
“She planned to when she had proof.”
Always proof.
Emily had spent her final months carrying a secret Daniel should have helped her carry.
“What happened to the investigator's files?”
“I gave copies to Emily.”
“Do you still have originals?”
A pause.
“Some.”
Daniel felt hope.
“Send them to police.”
“I already am.”
Detective Reyes looked surprised.
Delaney continued.
“I saw the news report about Margaret being investigated for assaulting her granddaughter.”
Daniel stiffened.
The story had leaked.
“Then you knew.”
“I knew Emily's fears had come back.”
Before ending the call, Delaney said something Daniel couldn't shake.
“Your wife once asked me whether fear could be inherited.”
Daniel swallowed.
“What did you tell her?”
“That fear isn't inherited.”
Delaney paused.
“Secrets are.”
The call ended.
Michael stood near the window.
“All this time…”
Daniel looked at him.
“My mother stole your father too.”
Michael gave a bitter smile.
“He was your father more than mine.”
“He tried to change that.”
“He was eighteen years late.”
Daniel couldn't argue.
Then Sophie's voice came from the doorway.
“Dad?”
They hadn't heard her approach.
Daniel's heart jumped.
She was supposed to be in the kitchen with Mrs. Benton.
“What happened?”
Sophie held Daniel's work bag.
“You forgot this.”
He took it.
“Thanks.”
Then Sophie frowned.
“Why is Grandma calling you?”
Daniel looked at his phone.
No incoming call.
“What?”
Sophie pointed toward the work bag.
A ringing sound came from inside.
Not Daniel's normal phone.
He opened the bag.
Beneath a folder was a smartphone he had never seen.
Black.
Cheap.
Prepaid.
Michael stared.
“That isn't yours?”
“No.”
Daniel answered.
Margaret's voice.
“Finally.”
Daniel's face hardened.
“You put a phone in my bag?”
“I needed a way to reach you that police weren't monitoring.”
“When?”
“At your house.”
She must have slipped it inside during her search.
“What do you want?”
“Charles has Eleanor.”
“I know.”
“He'll kill her.”
“Then tell me where he is.”
“I don't know.”
“Why should I believe you?”
“Because Charles isn't trying to escape anymore.”
Daniel frowned.
“What is he trying to do?”
Margaret's voice lowered.
“Erase everyone who can prove what we did.”
Michael went pale.
Daniel looked at Sophie.
Then toward the windows.
“What does that mean?”
Margaret whispered,
“He knows about the security footage.”
Daniel's heart stopped.
“What footage?”
“The footage of me hurting Sophie.”
“That doesn't implicate him.”
“No.”
May you like
Margaret's next words were barely audible.
“But the camera recorded more than you think.”
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