Chapter 8: The Secret Behind His Father's Death
Derrick read the message several times.
Ask your wife what happened to the first man who refused to sign.
He immediately called the unknown number.
It rang once.
Twice.
Then went to voicemail.
"Hello, you've reached a number that cannot be contacted at this time.""
He tried again.
Nothing.
He saved the photograph and sent it to Daniel Collins.
Then he walked back into Gloria's room.
His mother was awake.
"Mom, I need to ask you something.""
She looked at his face.
"What happened?""
He showed her the photograph.
Gloria's eyes widened.
"Where did you get that?""
"Someone sent it to me.""
She stared at Anthony and Patrice sitting together.
Then she looked away.
"Your father saw them together too.""
Derrick sat down.
"When?""
"About a month before he died.""
"Did he tell you?""
"Yes. He came home one evening looking very worried. He said he had found something in the company records.""
Derrick leaned closer.
"What?""
"He said money was being moved through different accounts. He believed Anthony was using the company to hide payments.""
Derrick swallowed.
"Did Dad confront him?""
Gloria nodded.
"And what happened?""
"He came home late that night. He told me Anthony had threatened to ruin him if he continued investigating.""
Derrick felt cold.
"Threatened him how?""
Gloria shook her head.
"He wouldn't tell me.""
She reached for the water beside her bed.
Her fingers trembled.
"Two weeks later, your father collapsed in the kitchen.""
Derrick looked at her.
"I know. The doctors said it was a heart attack.""
"That's what they told us.""
"Mom?""
Gloria hesitated.
"Your father had been feeling sick for days. He kept complaining about dizziness and headaches. He wanted to see another doctor, but he postponed the appointment.""
Derrick's face tightened.
"Why?""
"Because he was worried about the business. He said he needed to finish something first.""
"Did he take medication?""
"Yes.""
"What medication?""
Gloria looked toward the window.
"I don't remember the name.""
Derrick took out his phone.
"Did he ever mention that anyone had changed his prescription?""
Her eyes filled.
"Once.""
He stopped.
"What?""
She looked directly at him.
"He said the tablets looked different.""
Derrick felt the room tilt.
"Why didn't you tell me this before?""
"Because I thought it was nothing. He said the pharmacy might have changed the packaging.""
"Did he keep taking them?""
Gloria nodded.
"For a few days.""
Derrick stood and walked toward the window.
His father had died seven years ago.
There had been a funeral, a medical report, and a death certificate.
Everyone had accepted that Robert Hayes had suffered a sudden heart attack.
But now Derrick was hearing details that had never made sense.
He turned around.
"Mom, do you think someone hurt Dad?""
Gloria began crying.
"I don't know, baby.""
He sat beside her again.
"I need the truth.""
She wiped her cheeks.
"Your father told me something the night before he died. He said if anything happened to him, I should look inside the blue toolbox in the garage.""
Derrick stared at her.
"The toolbox?""
She nodded.
"I forgot about it until Patrice started asking questions about the trust.""
"Did you ever look inside?""
"No. Patrice took it out of the garage when she started renovating.""
Derrick's pulse quickened.
"Where is it now?""
"I don't know.""
His phone vibrated.
Daniel Collins had replied.
*I recognize the restaurant. The photograph appears to be recent. I'll investigate the document and contact you shortly. Do not confront either of them without preserving the evidence.*
Derrick put the phone away.
He needed to go home.
Not to argue.
Not to threaten Patrice.
He needed to find that toolbox.
Before leaving, he arranged for a private nurse to stay with Gloria and confirmed that the hospital had his contact information.
His mother held his hand.
"Promise me something.""
"What?""
"Don't let what happened to me turn you into someone your father wouldn't recognize.""
Derrick leaned down.
"I promise.""
But as he left the hospital, his thoughts kept returning to the blue toolbox.
And to the strange message.
At home, the front door was unlocked.
The living room lights were on.
Patrice was sitting at the dining table, wearing a silk blouse and holding a glass of wine.
Two plates were arranged in front of her.
The birthday cake remained untouched near the entrance.
"You're back," she said.
Derrick closed the door.
"Where's the toolbox?""
Patrice didn't look up.
"What toolbox?""
"Dad's blue toolbox.""
She slowly placed her glass on the table.
"Why?""
"Where is it?""
"Probably in storage.""
"Which storage?""
She shrugged.
"I don't remember.""
Derrick studied her.
"Anthony told me you two were working together.""
Patrice's fingers tightened around the stem of her glass.
"Anthony talks too much.""
"How long?""
"How long what?""
"How long have you been planning to sell my father's house?""
She sighed.
"Can we please have one conversation without you mentioning your mother?""
Derrick stepped closer.
"Answer the question.""
Patrice stood.
"I have spent months trying to help this family. Your mother refuses to understand that the house is worth more than the memories she has attached to it.""
"It's her home.""
"And it's your inheritance!""
"She has the right to live there.""
"She won't live forever, Derrick!""
The words came out with such casual cruelty that even Patrice seemed surprised by them.
Derrick stared at her.
She looked away.
"That's not what I meant.""
"Then what did you mean?""
Patrice rubbed her forehead.
"Look, we could have sold the property, paid off our debts, invested the money, and started fresh. You and I could have had the life we always wanted.""
"By putting my mother out?""
"She would have had somewhere to stay.""
"Where?""
"An assisted-living facility.""
"Did you ask her?""
Patrice laughed.
"She would never agree.""
"Exactly.""
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Derrick asked:
"Why did you tell me she was at Aunt Denise's?""
Patrice looked toward the hallway.
"Because I didn't want another argument.""
"Why did you lock her in that room?""
"She was becoming impossible.""
"Why did you take her phone?""
"She kept calling you.""
"Why did you tell her I wanted her gone?""
Patrice's face hardened.
"Because you weren't doing anything!""
Derrick froze.
She continued.
"Your mother was ruining everything. Every time I tried to move forward, she got in the way. You were too busy working to notice what was happening.""
Derrick looked at her.
"So you decided to lock her up?""
"I didn't hurt her.""
He glanced at the keys on the table.
"Her wrist says otherwise.""
Patrice looked down.
Then she changed her expression.
Tears appeared in her eyes.
"Derrick, I made mistakes. But I did it because I wanted a better future for us.""
He didn't move.
She approached him.
"Don't throw away our marriage because of one terrible day.""
He stepped back.
"Where is the toolbox?""
Patrice stared at him.
Then she smiled faintly.
"You're still looking for that?""
Derrick's stomach tightened.
"What does that mean?""
She walked toward the kitchen.
"It means your father was a very sentimental man.""
"Patrice.""
She stopped at the doorway.
"The toolbox is gone.""
"Where?""
"I got rid of it.""
Derrick felt his heart pound.
"When?""
"Months ago.""
"What did you do with it?""
She turned around.
For the first time, there was no sweetness in her voice.
"Why does it matter? Whatever was inside belonged to a dead man.""
Derrick stared at her.
Then he noticed something on the kitchen counter.
A small receipt.
From a storage facility.
The date was three days earlier.
And the customer name was not Patrice Hayes.
It was Anthony Reed.
Derrick picked it up.
Patrice's face changed.
"Put that down.""
He looked at the receipt.
Unit 214.
He raised his eyes.
"What's in storage, Patrice?""
She didn't answer.
Then his phone rang.
Daniel Collins.
Derrick answered immediately.
"Mr. Collins?""
The attorney's voice was urgent.
"I found something in the original trust file. Your father deposited a sealed evidence package with our firm before he died.""
Derrick gripped the counter.
"What kind of evidence?""
"Financial records, a recorded statement, and a letter naming two people.""
"Who?""
A pause.
"Anthony Reed and Patrice Hayes.""
Derrick looked at his wife.
She was no longer pretending to cry.
Daniel continued.
"But there's something you need to know before you open it.""
"What?""
"The evidence package was collected from our office yesterday.""
Derrick went completely still.
"By whom?""
May you like
The attorney answered quietly.
"Someone using your mother's identification.""
