Chapter 8: The Lawyer’s Betrayal
David called Mr. Anderson immediately.
The phone rang several times.
No answer.
He called again.
Still nothing.
“That’s strange,” David said.
Jasmine watched him.
“Because he always answers?””
David nodded.
“He has worked with our family for twenty years.””
Jessica looked at the photograph.
“I think that’s why Michael chose him.””
David turned.
“What are you saying?””
Jessica pointed at the building.
“That law firm wasn’t just where Michael went.””
She looked at him.
“It was where your lawyer worked.””
David felt a sudden chill.
“No.””
Jasmine noticed the pain in his face.
“Dad…”
He shook his head.
“No. Anderson wouldn’t do this.””
Jessica quietly replied:
“You said the same thing about me.””
The words hurt because they were true.
David grabbed his coat.
“We’re going there.””
An hour later, they arrived at the law office.
The receptionist looked nervous when she saw David.
“Mr. Carter.””
“Where is Mr. Anderson?””
She hesitated.
“He left.””
“When?””
“This morning.””
David’s eyes narrowed.
“Did he say where he was going?””
The receptionist looked around.
Then lowered her voice.
“He looked scared.””
Jasmine stepped forward.
“Did someone threaten him?””
The receptionist shook her head.
“He received a package.””
David froze.
“What package?””
“I don’t know.””
She pointed toward the hallway.
“But his office door was open before he left.””
David walked inside.
The room looked normal.
Too normal.
Then Jasmine noticed something.
“Dad.””
She pointed at the desk.
A drawer was slightly open.
Inside was an old file.
David pulled it out.
His heart stopped.
The file contained property records.
But not the ones they had seen.
These were older.
Original documents.
From before Jasmine was born.
David flipped through the pages.
Then he saw it.
A hidden ownership agreement.
His hands began shaking.
“What is it?””
Jasmine asked.
David read silently.
Then he looked at Jessica.
“Your name is on this.””
Jessica stepped closer.
“What?””
David showed her.
The document listed several people connected to the family property.
David.
Eleanor.
Michael.
And Jessica.
Jasmine looked confused.
“Why would Jessica’s name be there?””
Nobody answered.
Then a voice came from the doorway.
“Because she was there when the original agreement was created.””
Everyone turned.
Mr. Anderson stood there.
But he looked different.
Tired.
Broken.
David immediately stepped forward.
“Where have you been?””
Anderson closed the door.
“Trying to fix what I helped create.””
David’s expression hardened.
“You helped Michael.””
Anderson looked down.
“Yes.””
Jasmine felt like the ground disappeared.
The family lawyer.
The man they trusted.
Had been part of it.
“Why?”” David asked.
Anderson removed his glasses.
“Because I was afraid.””
“Afraid of Michael?””
Anderson nodded.
“He knew something about me.””
“What?””
The lawyer looked at Jasmine.
Then Jessica.
Then David.
“My involvement in your family’s financial problems years ago.””
David’s face changed.
“What involvement?””
Anderson sighed.
“I helped hide the missing money.””
Jasmine stared.
“You?””
Anderson nodded.
“But I didn’t know Michael planned to use it to destroy your family.””
David stepped closer.
“You watched my wife suffer.””
Anderson looked ashamed.
“I tried to undo it.””
“Too late.””
“Yes.””
The lawyer reached into his pocket and pulled out a flash drive.
“This contains everything.””
David took it.
“What everything?””
Anderson looked terrified.
“The truth about Eleanor’s death.””
Nobody spoke.
Jasmine felt her heart stop.
“My mother?””
Anderson nodded.
“Your mother didn’t die because of an accident.””
David stared at him.
“What are you saying?””
The lawyer’s voice dropped.
“She was trying to expose Michael.””
A long silence followed.
Then the office lights suddenly went out.
Someone had cut the power.
Jasmine grabbed her father’s arm.
A sound came from outside.
Footsteps.
Someone was approaching.
May you like
Anderson whispered:
“He found us.””
