Chapter 6 - MY BROTHER'S CONFESSION
Mason stood at the top of the stairs.
He wasn't alone.
Paige was beside him.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Then Mason said:
“Conrad, listen to me.”
I laughed.
It wasn't because anything was funny.
It was the sound a man makes when his entire understanding of his family has collapsed.
“You were there.”
Mason looked down.
“When Vivienne collapsed.”
“Yes.”
“You watched them declare her dead.”
“Yes.”
“You knew she was alive?”
His face tightened.
“No.”
I stepped toward him.
“Then why are you here?”
“Because Paige called me.”
I looked at my sister.
“You signed the medical report.”
Paige went pale.
“That report wasn't real.”
“I know.”
“You don't understand.”
“Then explain.”
She looked at Maeve.
“It's bigger than Vivienne.”
“What is?”
“The company.”
I froze.
Paige continued.
“Pendelton Enterprises has been used for years to move money.”
“By whom?”
She looked at Mason.
Then me.
“Dad.”
I stared at her.
“Our father is dead.”
“Yes.”
“He couldn't be moving money.”
“Not anymore.”
She pointed to the files.
“He built a hidden trust before he died.”
“For whom?”
Paige whispered:
“Vivienne.”
I felt stunned.
“Why?”
“Because she was his daughter.”
I stared at Maeve.
The room fell silent.
“No,” I said.
Maeve nodded.
“Vivienne was your father's biological daughter.”
My knees weakened.
My wife.
The woman I'd loved for twenty-two years.
Was my father's daughter.
But she wasn't related to me by blood.
Still, the revelation was monstrous.
My father had hidden her existence.
He had arranged for her adoption.
Then somehow, years later, she married me.
My own family knew.
“Did Vivienne know?”
Paige shook her head.
“Not until recently.”
“Then why did Dad leave her money?”
“Because he felt guilty.”
“How much?”
Paige hesitated.
“Over forty million dollars.”
I stared at her.
“Forty million?”
“And control of several properties.”
“Why would anyone kill her over that?”
Mason spoke.
“Because she discovered the trust.”
I looked at him.
“And someone wanted it.”
“Who?”
He didn't answer.
Paige did.
“Florence.”
My mother.
I felt sick.
Mason shook his head.
“Conrad, it wasn't supposed to happen like this.”
“What wasn't?”
“We were supposed to convince Vivienne to sign the trust away.”
“And when she refused?”
Paige looked down.
“Everything changed.”
“Who poisoned her?”
“I don't know.”
“You were there.”
“Yes.”
“Then you know.”
Paige began crying.
“Mom gave her something.”
“What?”
“I don't know.”
“Where?”
“At the house.”
“What house?”
Mason answered.
“Your mother's.”
I grabbed my phone.
I called Florence.
She answered immediately.
“Conrad?”
“Where are you?”
“At home.”
“Don't leave.”
Silence.
Then:
“Why?”
“Because I know.”
Her voice changed.
“Know what?”
“Everything.”
Another silence.
Then my mother said something I'll never forget.
“You should have let them bury her.”
The call ended.
Mason closed his eyes.
Paige began sobbing.
I looked at Elias.
“Call the police.”
He reached for his phone.
Then headlights appeared outside.
Several vehicles.
Police cruisers.
An ambulance.
And one black SUV.
The doors opened.
Detectives stepped out.
One approached me.
“Mr. Pendelton?”
“Yes.”
“We need you to come with us.”
“Why?”
The detective looked toward Mason.
Then Paige.
Then Maeve.
“We have a warrant for the Pendelton residence.”
My heart stopped.
“For what?”
“Attempted murder.”
“Against whom?”
May you like
The detective looked directly at me.
“You.”
