Chapter 8: The Recording
The auditorium erupted.
People shouted.
Someone screamed.
The dean ordered everyone to remain seated, but nobody listened.
Security ran toward the stage.
Richard looked at Eleanor.
"Where's the evidence?""
She pointed toward Michael.
"He has it.""
Richard turned to my son.
"Then you need to protect it.""
Michael pulled the folder against his chest.
"Where's Thomas?""
"I don't know.""
The speakers crackled.
Then Thomas's voice returned.
"Michael.""
My son's face hardened.
"Show yourself.""
A low laugh.
"You're just like your father.""
Richard stepped forward.
"Leave my son alone.""
"Your son?""
Thomas sounded amused.
"After all these years, you suddenly remember you have one?""
Michael looked at Richard.
"What does he mean?""
Richard didn't answer.
Thomas continued.
"Ask your father what happened the night he disappeared.""
Michael turned toward him.
"Dad?""
Richard's jaw tightened.
"He's trying to confuse you.""
"Then tell me.""
"Not here.""
Thomas laughed again.
"Oh, let him hear it.""
The speakers crackled.
A recording began.
I recognized my own voice.
Young.
Terrified.
"Richard, please come home.""
My breath stopped.
Another voice followed.
Richard's.
"I can't.""
"Why?""
"Because they're watching you.""
The recording ended.
Michael stared at his father.
"Where did he get that?""
Richard looked devastated.
"Thomas recorded our calls.""
I felt sick.
"All of them?""
"Some.""
"Why?""
"Insurance.""
The speakers came alive again.
Thomas spoke.
"You want to know why Richard disappeared?""
Michael shouted toward the ceiling.
"Yes!""
"Then ask your mother.""
I felt every eye turn toward me.
Thomas continued.
"Ask her what she signed.""
I shook my head.
"I didn't sign anything.""
Richard looked at me.
"Denise...""
"What?""
He hesitated.
Then said:
"The night before I disappeared, you signed a medical authorization.""
I stared.
"I don't remember.""
"You were sedated.""
"For what?""
Richard didn't answer.
Michael stepped between us.
"What happened to Mom?""
Richard's voice dropped.
"She was poisoned.""
The auditorium went silent.
I grabbed the back of a chair.
"What?""
"Someone put something in your drink.""
"When?""
"At the company dinner.""
Memories surfaced.
A glass of wine.
A headache.
Richard carrying me to the car.
Then darkness.
I had always assumed I'd simply been exhausted.
Michael looked horrified.
"Why didn't you tell her?""
"Because she had no memory of it.""
I whispered, "Who poisoned me?""
Richard looked toward Margaret.
Margaret began shaking.
"Don't look at me.""
Richard shook his head.
"I'm not.""
Thomas's voice returned.
"She still doesn't understand.""
A new recording played.
Margaret's voice.
"Richard, I can get her out.""
Then Thomas.
"No.""
Margaret.
"She's innocent.""
Thomas.
"She's useful.""
I felt cold.
"What does that mean?""
The recording continued.
Thomas said:
"If Richard disappears, Denise becomes the perfect suspect.""
Michael stared at the speakers.
"They were going to frame Mom.""
Richard nodded.
"Yes.""
"But you let her believe you abandoned her.""
"I thought if I stayed away, they couldn't use me to reach you.""
Michael's eyes filled.
"They used you anyway.""
Richard looked at him.
"How?""
Michael held up the engagement document.
"Chloe.""
Richard's face changed.
"What about her?""
"Her mother knew about the money.""
Richard looked at Margaret.
"How much did you tell her?""
Margaret shook her head.
"Nothing about Michael.""
Thomas's voice interrupted them.
"You're still blaming the wrong people.""
The speakers went silent.
Then the fire alarm began screaming.
Red lights flashed.
Smoke appeared beneath the auditorium doors.
People panicked.
"Everyone remain calm!"" the dean shouted.
But the smell was already spreading.
Burning plastic.
Michael grabbed me.
"Mom, move!""
Richard pushed through the crowd.
"This way!""
Security opened a side exit.
Students and families rushed outside.
I held the roses against my chest.
Then I heard a voice behind me.
"Denise.""
I turned.
Thomas stood at the far end of the aisle.
He was older than I remembered.
But the smile was the same.
Cold.
Controlled.
Almost friendly.
"Thomas.""
He lifted both hands.
"I don't want to hurt you.""
Michael stepped in front of me.
"Stay away from my mother.""
Thomas smiled.
"Your mother?""
He looked at Richard.
"Ask him who actually paid for your education.""
Michael frowned.
"What?""
Thomas pointed at the folder.
"Ask him where the money came from.""
Richard shouted:
"Michael, don't listen to him!""
Thomas laughed.
"That's right.""
He took one step backward.
"Keep protecting the boy.""
Then he disappeared through the smoke.
Michael turned toward his father.
"What money?""
Richard closed his eyes.
"The scholarship.""
"What about it?""
"It wasn't a scholarship.""
Michael went pale.
"Then what was it?""
Richard looked at me.
"The money came from the account Thomas stole.""
Michael stared.
"You used stolen money to pay my tuition?""
"I didn't know it was stolen.""
Thomas's voice suddenly came from somewhere outside.
"Now you know.""
Then a car engine roared.
By the time security reached the parking lot, Thomas was gone.
But on the ground beside my car was a small envelope.
Michael picked it up.
His face changed when he saw the handwriting.
"It's addressed to you, Mom.""
I opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
My younger self.
Standing beside Richard.
And behind us stood Thomas.
But there was something else in the photograph.
A fourth person.
Someone whose face had been carefully circled in red.
Michael stared at it.
"Mom...""
I looked at the face.
May you like
And my heart nearly stopped.
Because I knew exactly who it was.
