Chapter 13: The Voice From the Past
I couldn’t speak.
The phone felt impossibly heavy against my ear.
The man’s words echoed in my mind.
She wasn’t.
Sarah wasn’t the biggest threat.
Then who was?
“Who is this?”” I asked.
The line stayed silent for a moment.
Then the man answered.
“You know exactly who I am.””
My fingers tightened around the phone.
“No.””
A quiet laugh.
“Still protecting people who don’t deserve it, Linda.””
The way he said my name made my stomach turn.
Not because I recognized his voice.
Because I recognized the confidence.
The arrogance.
The belief that he had power over me.
“Mark?””
Nobody in the room moved.
David immediately stood.
Thomas reached for his phone.
Sarah’s face went completely pale.
“Yes,” the voice said.
“I didn’t think you’d be awake,” I whispered.
“Neither did I.””
A chill moved through me.
“How are you calling me?””
“I have my ways.””
Thomas gestured toward me.
Put it on speaker.
I hesitated.
Then I did.
Everyone heard his voice.
Mark continued.
“I assume Thomas is there.””
Thomas stepped closer.
“You’re on speaker, Mark.””
Mark laughed.
“Of course I am.””
“How did you get this number?””
“That’s not important.””
Thomas’s expression hardened.
“Actually, it is.””
Mark ignored him.
“Linda, you should know something.””
I stared at the phone.
“What?””
“Your husband spent months trying to protect you from the wrong people.””
My eyes moved toward Sarah.
She looked away.
“What does that mean?””
“It means Michael knew Sarah was desperate.””
A pause.
“But he also knew David was weak.””
David flinched.
“And he knew someone else was pulling the strings.””
My heart started racing.
“Who?””
Mark laughed softly.
“You really don’t know, do you?””
I hated that question.
Because deep down, I knew.
There was one person who had been around every part of our lives.
One person with access.
One person who had known our finances.
Our documents.
Our family.
“Carol,” I whispered.
The line went silent.
Then Mark said:
“Your husband was smarter than I gave him credit for.””
Thomas looked at me.
“Keep him talking.””
I nodded.
“What did Carol do?””
Mark sighed.
“She was ambitious.””
“That’s not an answer.””
“She wanted more.””
More.
That word felt familiar.
So many people wanted more from me.
More money.
More patience.
More forgiveness.
Mark continued.
“Carol found out Michael had created the trust.””
“And she told Sarah.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because Sarah wanted access.””
Sarah looked down.
I saw tears forming in her eyes.
But I couldn’t comfort her.
Not anymore.
“Where is Carol now?”” Thomas asked.
Mark laughed.
“You still think this is about finding one person.””
Everyone froze.
“What does that mean?”” I asked.
Mark’s voice became quieter.
“Carol wasn’t working alone.””
David shook his head.
“No.””
Mark heard him.
“David.””
My son froze.
“You still haven’t figured it out?””
David stepped back.
“What?””
Mark continued.
“Your father spent his whole life building something. He believed his family would protect it.””
A pause.
“But people get greedy.””
Thomas stepped closer to the phone.
“Who else is involved?””
Mark didn’t answer.
Instead, he said:
“Linda, do you remember the night Michael went to the hospital?””
My heart stopped.
Of course I remembered.
The worst night of my life.
The night Michael collapsed in the kitchen.
The night everything changed.
“What about it?””
“You think that was just bad luck.””
The room went silent.
I felt cold.
“What are you saying?””
“I’m saying your husband was about to expose everything.””
David whispered:
“Stop.””
Mark continued.
“And someone needed more time.””
My hand flew to my mouth.
“No.””
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
“No.””
Mark’s voice lowered.
“Michael knew he was in danger.””
Thomas looked shocked.
“From who?””
Mark laughed.
“That’s the question, isn’t it?””
Then the call ended.
Just like that.
Silence filled the room.
Nobody spoke.
Until David whispered:
“Mom…”
I looked at him.
His face was pale.
“What?””
He swallowed.
“There’s something I never told you about that night.””
My heart sank.
“What?””
He looked toward the floor.
“When Dad collapsed…”
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A pause.
“I wasn’t supposed to be there.””
