Chapter 6 - MY FATHER'S LAST RECORDING
We found the recording that night.
Not at my mother's house.
Not in the warehouse.
It was inside an old clock in my father's workshop.
My father had always been obsessed with mechanical clocks.
I remembered him saying:
“People trust machines because machines don't get emotional.”
I removed the back panel.
Inside was a small digital recorder.
Rachel pressed play.
My father's voice filled the room.
“Nolan, if this recording is being played, I am probably dead.”
Eliza grabbed my hand.
My father's voice continued.
“I need you to understand something. Your mother has been lying to you for years.”
I closed my eyes.
“She believes I don't know about the debts, the transfers, and the property deal.”
There was a pause.
“I also know what happened to Lillian.”
Mother's confession suddenly made sense.
My father knew.
He knew everything.
“She did not die in an accident.”
Eliza covered her mouth.
My father continued.
“Diane intentionally caused the crash.”
My breathing stopped.
“She believed Lillian would inherit part of my company. She was right.”
There was a long silence.
“I confronted Diane after I discovered the truth.”
His voice became weaker.
“She threatened to destroy our family if I exposed her.”
Then:
“If something happens to me, do not trust the police report.”
Rachel looked at me.
My father continued.
“Diane poisoned me.”
Eliza gasped.
“She has been giving me small doses of medication that my doctors were never told about.”
I felt sick.
My father had known he was dying.
And he had known why.
“The warehouse is the only asset she cannot control without Nolan.”
My father's voice became softer.
“So I changed the inheritance terms.”
A click.
Then:
“Nolan, if you are listening, protect your wife. She is the only person in this family who tried to tell you the truth.”
The recording ended.
Nobody moved.
Then Rachel whispered:
“We have enough to reopen the investigation.”
I looked at her.
“Against my mother?”
“Yes.”
“And my father's death?”
“Yes.”
“What about Lillian?”
“If the evidence is verified, everything changes.”
I stood.
“Then let's verify it.”
The next morning, forensic investigators entered the house.
My mother was furious.
“You have no right.”
Rachel answered calmly:
“We have a court order.”
My mother looked at me.
“You did this.”
“Yes.”
“You're destroying your own family.”
I stared at her.
“You destroyed it four years ago.”
She slapped me.
Detective Reed caught her wrist.
“Don't.”
Mother began crying.
“You don't understand.”
“I understand enough.”
She looked at Eliza.
“You think she loves you?”
Eliza didn't answer.
Mother smiled bitterly.
“She'll leave when she knows what I know.”
I turned.
“What do you know?”
Mother laughed.
“Ask her.”
I looked at Eliza.
She looked terrified.
“What is she talking about?”
Eliza shook her head.
“Nolan…”
“What aren't you telling me?”
She started crying.
Then she whispered:
“Your father contacted me before he died.”
My heart stopped.
“What?”
“He asked me to protect you.”
I stared at her.
“He knew he was dying.”
She nodded.
“And he told me one more thing.”
“What?”
She looked at me.
“He said Brooke wasn't the only person involved.”
My blood went cold.
“Who else?”
Eliza opened her mouth.
Then stopped.
A police officer entered.
“Mr. Mercer?”
“Yes?”
“We found something in your father's workshop.”
“What?”
He handed me a sealed evidence bag.
Inside was a second photograph.
My father.
Lillian.
And a third person.
A teenage boy.
May you like
On the back were four words:
Your brother, Daniel.
