Chapter 6: Richard's Confession
Nobody moved.
Richard stood beside the table, his face drained of color.
Victoria stared at him.
Emily slowly stepped away from the laptop.
I replayed the last few seconds.
"Don't send the report to Daniel Carter's office. Send it directly to Andrew Bennett.""
The voice was unmistakable.
Richard Lawson.
"Richard," I said quietly, "explain.""
He opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
Victoria stepped backward.
"Richard?""
He rubbed his forehead.
"Daniel, that recording doesn't tell the whole story.""
"Then tell me the whole story.""
He glanced toward the ballroom doors.
Two foundation security officers were standing nearby.
He looked trapped.
Finally, he pulled out a chair and sat down.
"Five years ago, Meridian Health Analytics was expanding into hospital data management. We were purchasing information from several providers.""
"Stolen information.""
"I didn't know that at the time.""
"Your voice is on a recording asking someone to conceal an accident report.""
He closed his eyes.
"I was told it was a routine administrative issue.""
"By whom?""
"Andrew.""
I stared at him.
"Why would Andrew ask you to report an accident?""
Richard took a long breath.
"Because he knew I had a connection to the hospital.""
"That doesn't explain anything.""
He looked at me.
"Andrew told me Michael had been involved in a serious financial dispute with you. He said Michael might attempt to use confidential company information against the foundation.""
I frowned.
"The foundation didn't even exist in its current form then.""
"I know that now.""
"So what did you do?""
"I called the hospital.""
"Why?""
"Because Andrew said the incident might involve a breach of patient confidentiality. He wanted to prevent sensitive records from being released.""
I leaned back.
"You're telling me you interfered with an accident report because a lawyer asked you to?""
Richard's shoulders dropped.
"Yes.""
Victoria covered her mouth.
I looked at him.
"Did you know Michael was in the vehicle?""
He nodded.
"Yes.""
"And you knew I was the other driver?""
He nodded again.
"Yes.""
My hands tightened around the armrests.
"Did you know Michael died?""
Richard's eyes filled with tears.
"Andrew told me the next morning.""
I stared at him.
"Then why didn't you contact me?""
He didn't answer.
"Why didn't you tell the police what you knew?""
His voice cracked.
"Because Andrew threatened me.""
I laughed once, without humor.
"What could he possibly have threatened you with?""
Richard looked down.
"The records. The money. The patient database. He told me if I cooperated, he'd expose Meridian's involvement and make sure I went to prison.""
"So you protected yourself.""
"Yes.""
"And let Michael's death remain unexplained.""
Richard lowered his head.
"Yes.""
Victoria suddenly stood.
"You told me the recording was destroyed!""
Richard looked up sharply.
"What?""
"The hospital recording. You told me there was no recording.""
Richard's expression changed.
"I never said that.""
"You said Andrew had handled everything.""
"Victoria, I didn't know you were involved in the payments!""
She pointed at him.
"You're the one who called the hospital!""
"And you're the one who was feeding Andrew information!""
Their voices rose.
I raised a hand.
"Enough.""
Both stopped.
I looked at Richard.
"Who actually caused the accident?""
He swallowed.
"I don't know.""
"Who was driving the truck?""
"I don't know.""
"Did you see the police report?""
He nodded.
"Yes.""
"Then you know something.""
Richard rubbed his face.
"The original report said the truck driver claimed he lost control because another vehicle forced him to swerve.""
"What vehicle?""
"A black SUV.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Did they identify the driver?""
Richard hesitated.
Then he looked toward Victoria.
She had gone completely still.
"Richard," I said.
He swallowed.
"The SUV was registered to Andrew Bennett.""
The room seemed to disappear around me.
For five years, I had believed a truck driver had simply made a terrible mistake.
Now I was learning that the man who had managed my legal affairs might have been involved in the accident that killed my best friend.
And Richard had helped conceal it.
I reached for my phone.
"James, call our legal team. Contact the police. Tell them we have evidence that may relate to a fatal collision and financial fraud.""
James immediately stepped away to make the call.
Richard leaned forward.
"Daniel, please. I can help you.""
I looked at him.
"How?""
"I have documents. Emails. Payment records. Andrew kept copies of everything.""
"Where?""
"At his private office.""
"Then give them to the investigators.""
Richard nodded.
"I will.""
Victoria laughed bitterly.
"Of course you will. Now that everyone knows.""
Richard turned toward her.
"Don't pretend you didn't know what was happening.""
She shook her head.
"I didn't know about the accident!""
"But you knew about the money.""
"I was afraid!""
"So was Michael.""
Victoria began crying.
I turned away from them.
I was exhausted.
My legs hurt.
My back ached.
And my mind was struggling to process the possibility that the man I had trusted for twelve years might have played a role in my best friend's death.
Emily quietly approached.
"Mr. Carter?""
I looked up.
"Yes?""
She held out the photograph of her mother and Michael.
"I think you should see the back.""
I turned it over.
I had already read the message.
But beneath Sarah's handwriting, there was something I hadn't noticed.
A faint inscription.
Michael said the second copy is safe with the person who knows what happened to Daniel's ring.
I frowned.
"What ring?""
Emily looked confused.
"Maybe your engagement ring?""
I shook my head.
"I never gave Victoria an engagement ring back. She returned mine.""
Victoria suddenly looked up.
"Daniel...""
I turned toward her.
"What?""
She was staring at the photograph.
Her face had become almost colorless.
"That isn't possible.""
"What isn't?""
She stepped closer.
"Michael gave me something the night he died.""
I felt my heart begin to pound.
"What did he give you?""
She shook her head.
"I thought it was just a copy of a key.""
"A key to what?""
She reached into her handbag with trembling fingers.
After searching for several seconds, she pulled out a small silver key attached to an old metal tag.
The tag had a number engraved on it.
*317.*
Richard stared at it.
Then he whispered:
"That's the storage unit.""
I looked at him.
"What storage unit?""
He swallowed.
"The one Andrew rented under a false name five years ago.""
Victoria closed her fingers around the key.
"Michael told me to keep it safe. He said if anything happened to him, I should give it to Daniel.""
"Why didn't you?""
She looked at me, tears running down her face.
"Because Andrew told me Michael had stolen company money. He said the key would make me an accessory to the crime.""
I stared at the key.
"Where is the storage facility?""
Richard gave me an address.
It was only twenty minutes from the ballroom.
I looked toward James.
"Get a vehicle ready.""
James nodded.
Emily stepped forward.
"Can I come?""
I studied her face.
"Why?""
"Because my mother trusted Michael. Whatever is inside that unit might explain why she kept that envelope for five years.""
I considered it.
Then I nodded.
"All right. But you stay with me.""
As the security officers prepared to escort us out, Richard's phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
His expression changed instantly.
"Daniel...""
I turned.
"What?""
He slowly showed me the caller ID.
*Andrew Bennett.*
The man we had just accused of hiding evidence.
Richard answered on speaker.
"Hello?""
Andrew's voice came through, smooth and familiar.
"Richard, I heard there was an incident at the Carter Foundation tonight.""
Richard didn't respond.
Andrew continued.
"I hope you haven't made the mistake of opening old files.""
I looked at the phone.
Then Andrew said something that made every person in the room freeze.
"Because if Daniel has found the key to Unit 317, he needs to know something before he goes there.""
My mouth went dry.
"What?"" I demanded.
Andrew paused.
Then he said:
"Michael wasn't the only person who survived that night.""
May you like
The call ended.
And for the first time in five years, I wondered whether the truth about Michael's death was only the beginning of the nightmare.
