Chapter 7 - RACHEL'S CONFESSION
Rachel agreed to testify.
But only if she could speak to me first.
We met in a private room.
She looked smaller than I remembered.
No designer clothes.
No expensive handbag.
No makeup.
Just my daughter.
The little girl who used to sleep beside me during thunderstorms.
She cried before she said anything.
"I'm sorry."
I didn't answer.
"I know you don't believe me."
"I believe you were afraid."
She looked up.
"But I still hurt you."
"Yes."
"I helped Marcus."
"Yes."
She swallowed.
"But I never wanted you dead."
I looked at her.
"Then tell me everything."
She did.
Marcus had been approached two years earlier.
Pierce offered him money.
At first, Marcus only provided information.
Then he began moving money through shell companies.
Rachel became involved after her boutique collapsed.
Marcus told her he could fix everything.
He gave her access to accounts.
She became trapped.
Then Pierce told them about the farm.
"They said it would make us rich."
Rachel's voice shook.
"How rich?"
"Twenty million each."
My stomach turned.
"They offered you twenty million dollars to betray me?"
She nodded.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because Marcus said Pierce would kill you."
"You believed him."
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because I saw what happened to Dad."
I froze.
"What do you mean?"
Rachel looked at the door.
"Mom..."
"What happened to your father?"
She began crying.
"Marcus was there."
My heart stopped.
"What?"
"He drove Dad to the hospital."
"Daniel died at home."
"I know."
"Then what are you saying?"
Rachel shook her head.
"That's what they told you."
I couldn't breathe.
"Tell me."
"Marcus had been arguing with Dad that night."
"About what?"
"The trust."
I closed my eyes.
"Then what?"
"Marcus left."
"And?"
"Pierce arrived."
My hands went cold.
"He was there when Dad died?"
Rachel nodded.
"I don't know exactly what happened."
"How do you know?"
"Marcus told me."
"What did he say?"
Rachel whispered:
"He said Dad knew too much."
I stood.
"Did Marcus kill him?"
"I don't know."
"Rachel."
"I don't know!"
She broke down.
"He said he found Dad unconscious."
I stared at her.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I was terrified."
I walked toward the window.
My husband.
My son.
The night Daniel died.
Everything I'd believed was falling apart.
Rachel continued.
"Marcus has something."
"What?"
"A recording."
"Of what?"
"Your father."
I turned.
"Daniel?"
She nodded.
"Marcus recorded him before he died."
"Where is it?"
"Hidden in his office."
"Which office?"
"At Blackridge."
Reed entered the room.
"We have a warrant."
We found the recording that evening.
It was only ninety seconds.
Daniel was sitting at a desk.
His face looked exhausted.
Marcus stood behind the camera.
Daniel said:
"You won't get the land."
Marcus replied:
"You're making this harder than it has to be."
Daniel looked directly at him.
"One day, your mother will know."
Marcus laughed.
"She'll never know."
Daniel leaned closer.
"Then listen carefully."
His voice became weak.
"If anything happens to me, Eleanor gets everything."
Marcus stepped toward him.
"And if she refuses?"
Daniel answered:
"Then you lose everything."
The recording ended.
I stared at the screen.
But there was something else.
Background audio.
A door opened.
Someone entered.
Daniel looked up.
His face changed.
He whispered:
"No."
The recording ended.
Reed enhanced the audio.
A man's voice became audible.
Jonathan Pierce.
"Daniel."
Then silence.
We found the second recording hidden in a backup file.
It showed what happened next.
Daniel had been threatened.
He refused to sign.
Pierce walked out.
Marcus remained.
Then the recording stopped.
I stared at the screen.
"Can you prove Pierce was involved in his death?"
Reed nodded.
"We can now."
Then his phone rang.
He listened.
His expression changed.
"What?"
He ended the call.
"What happened?" I asked.
"Marcus has been arrested."
My heart jumped.
"Where?"
"At the airport."
"Was he trying to leave?"
"No."
Reed looked at me.
"He was trying to board a private jet."
"Where was he going?"
"South America."
I closed my eyes.
"Did he have anything?"
Reed nodded.
"A passport."
"Money?"
"No."
"What then?"
He hesitated.
"Your father's original death certificate."
I stared at him.
"Why would Marcus take that?"
May you like
Reed looked at me.
"Because it isn't the death certificate you were given."
