Chapter 9: The Man Who Sold My Father Out
My uncle stayed on his knees.
The recording was still playing in the background, repeating those few words that had just split my life in two.
*She’ll never know I was the one who loosened the brake line.*
I stared at Robert.
He looked smaller than I had ever seen him.
Not the confident uncle who used to sit beside my father at Thanksgiving.
Not the man who hugged me at my father’s funeral and whispered that everything would be okay.
Just a terrified man who had finally run out of lies.
“How?”” I asked.
Robert covered his face.
“Emily…”
“How did you do it?””
“I didn’t mean for him to die.””
My stomach twisted.
“You loosened the brake line.””
“I only wanted to scare him.””
I took a step toward him.
“You expect me to believe that?””
He shook his head.
“You don’t have to.””
“Then tell me everything.””
Robert lowered his hands.
“Nathan knew your father was going to expose him. He knew the documents were already being copied. He knew federal investigators were getting close.””
“Then why involve you?””
“Because your father trusted me.””
The answer made me physically sick.
Robert continued.
“Nathan offered me money. A lot of it. He said your father would eventually forgive me because we were brothers.””
“You believed him?””
“I believed I could fix everything.””
I laughed bitterly.
“You fixed nothing.””
“I know.””
He looked at me with tears in his eyes.
“I loosened one line. One.””
“One line was enough to kill him.””
“I thought the car would fail at low speed.””
“And if it had?””
Robert stared at the floor.
“I planned to call Nathan afterward and tell him your father had received a warning.””
“But he didn't.””
“No.””
His voice cracked.
“The car failed on the highway.””
Silence filled the room.
I could barely hear my own breathing.
“What happened next?””
Robert swallowed.
“Nathan told me never to speak.””
“And you obeyed.””
“Yes.””
“For eight years.””
“Yes.””
I looked at Vanessa.
She was crying quietly.
“You knew?””
“I knew my father had threatened Robert,” she said.
“I didn’t know what Robert had actually done until much later.””
“When?””
“Three years ago.””
I stared at her.
“And you still stayed silent.””
She nodded.
“Yes.””
I wanted to hate her.
Part of me still did.
But another part understood that fear had controlled her since she was a teenager.
That didn’t erase what she had done.
It only explained it.
I turned back to Robert.
“Where is the rest of the evidence?””
He hesitated.
“What evidence?””
I pointed at the flash drive.
“My father said there was enough to expose Nathan.””
Robert’s eyes shifted toward Vanessa.
She understood immediately.
“The second drive,” she said.
Robert looked away.
“What second drive?””
Vanessa stepped closer.
“My father kept another backup.””
Robert remained silent.
“Where?”” I demanded.
He finally answered.
“At Caldwell Holdings.””
Daniel had been listening from the doorway.
He stepped into the room.
“I can get you inside.””
Robert looked up.
Daniel’s face was calm.
Too calm.
“You knew?”” Robert asked.
“I knew Emily’s father had been investigating Nathan.””
“And you never told her?””
“I didn’t know the full story.””
Daniel turned to me.
“But I do now.””
I looked at him.
“How can we get the backup?””
“Because Nathan’s company is hosting a board dinner tonight.””
Vanessa immediately shook her head.
“No.””
Daniel looked at her.
“No what?””
“You don’t understand. My father will know exactly what Emily is doing.””
“That’s why we don't tell him.””
I stared at Vanessa.
“You’re coming with us.””
Her eyes widened.
“Why me?””
“Because he still trusts you enough to let you close.””
She hesitated.
Then nodded.
We arrived at Caldwell Holdings just after seven.
The building was filled with executives dressed in expensive suits, champagne glasses and polished smiles.
Nathan stood at the center of the room.
When he saw me, his expression changed for half a second.
Then the smile returned.
“Emily.””
He approached me as if nothing had happened.
“I heard there was a misunderstanding at your restaurant.””
I smiled without warmth.
“Something like that.””
His eyes moved to Daniel.
“I’m surprised to see you here.””
Daniel shook his hand.
“So am I.””
Nathan laughed.
“You’ve always had good instincts.””
Vanessa stood beside me.
Her father looked at her.
“You came.””
“Yes.””
He nodded.
“Good.””
Then his eyes returned to me.
“I was actually hoping to discuss a possible investment in your restaurant.””
I almost laughed.
“You want to invest in my restaurant?””
“I believe successful people should help each other.””
I looked directly into his eyes.
“That's not why you're here.””
His smile disappeared.
“What do you mean?””
“I think you know.””
For one second, fear flashed across his face.
Then Vanessa stepped forward.
“Dad, can we talk privately?””
Nathan looked at her.
“Of course.””
While Vanessa kept him occupied, Daniel and I slipped into the restricted records room.
He found the cabinet within minutes.
“Here.””
A small metal case sat behind several old files.
My hands shook as I opened it.
Inside was another drive.
And an envelope.
My name was written on it.
I opened the envelope.
A letter from my father.
*Emily,*
*If this reaches you, then I failed to expose Nathan while I was alive.*
*Do not trust Robert.*
I stopped reading.
Daniel looked at me.
“What?””
I continued.
*But don't hate him until you hear why he helped Nathan.*
I turned the page.
The next sentence made my heart stop.
*Robert wasn't the only person inside our family working for Nathan.*
I looked at Daniel.
“What?””
He took the letter.
Before either of us could read the rest, the door slammed shut.
Locked.
Nathan’s voice came through the other side.
“You should have left the past buried.””
I grabbed the drive.
Daniel pulled on the handle.
Nothing.
Nathan continued.
“I gave your father one chance.””
A pause.
“He refused.””
Then his voice became colder.
“Don't make the same mistake.””
May you like
The lights went out.
And from somewhere in the darkness, I heard Vanessa scream.
