Chapter 7: ## Chapter 7: The Woman Behind the Threats: The Woman Behind the Threats
Richard
Richard had spent most of his life believing that evil had spent most of his life believing that evil announced itself.
He imagined it arriving announced itself.
He imagined it arriving with threats, raised voices, and unmistak with threats, raised voices, and unmistakable cruelty. He had never imagined itable cruelty. He had never imagined it could sit across his dinner table, compliment could sit across his dinner table, compliment his cooking, and ask whether he his cooking, and ask whether he had considered selling his ranch.
Now, as he stared at the photograph on Michael had considered selling his ranch.
Now, as he stared at the photograph on Michael's phone, he understood how badly he had underestimated Vanessa's phone, he understood how badly he had underestimated Vanessa.
“She was watching you.
“She was watching you,” Richard said.
Michael enlarged the image. Vanessa's silver bracelet was,” Richard said.
Michael enlarged the image. Vanessa's silver bracelet was unmistakable, reflecting the late afternoon sunlight unmistakable, reflecting the late afternoon sunlight from the window of his truck.
“She knew where I was staying from the window of his truck.
“She knew where I was staying,” Michael replied.
“And she knew I'd,” Michael replied.
“And she knew I'd come to you.””
Evelyn Brooks closed the blinds come to you.””
Evelyn Brooks closed the blinds in Richard's study.
“Then we assume in Richard's study.
“Then we assume every conversation, every location, and every document connected to this every conversation, every location, and every document connected to this investigation could be compromised. We need to move the evidence somewhere secure.””
Samuel investigation could be compromised. We need to move the evidence somewhere secure.””
Samuel Price, the forensic accountant, shut his laptop.
“What Price, the forensic accountant, shut his laptop.
“What about the scheduled transfer tomorrow morning? If we can identify the account holder, we about the scheduled transfer tomorrow morning? If we can identify the account holder, we may be able to connect the financial fraud directly to whoever is may be able to connect the financial fraud directly to whoever is using Gabriel's identity.””
Michael shook using Gabriel's identity.””
Michael shook his head.
“That account is bait.””
his head.
“That account is bait.””
Samuel frowned.
“Why wouldSamuel frowned.
“Why would you say that?””
“Because I received a threat you say that?””
“Because I received a threat less than a minute after you less than a minute after you opened the account details. Whoever sent it knew opened the account details. Whoever sent it knew exactly what we were looking at.””
Evelyn nodded slowly.
“Someone exactly what we were looking at.””
Evelyn nodded slowly.
“Someone has access to information that should be private.””
Richard looked at the three of them.
“Then has access to information that should be private.””
Richard looked at the three of them.
“Then stop looking at computers. Tell me what stop looking at computers. Tell me what we can do.””
Evelyn placed her we can do.””
Evelyn placed her phone on the table.
“First, we preserve everything. phone on the table.
“First, we preserve everything. Second, we contact the authorities with the evidence we've already verified. Second, we contact the authorities with the evidence we've already verified. Third, we don't confront Vanessa or Daniel without a plan.””
Richard's jaw Third, we don't confront Vanessa or Daniel without a plan.””
Richard's jaw tightened.
“I have spent eleven years mourning one tightened.
“I have spent eleven years mourning one son and believing the other was a good son and believing the other was a good man. I'm done waiting for them to decide what happens man. I'm done waiting for them to decide what happens to my family.””
Michael reached across the table.
“Dad, I know how you feel.””
to my family.””
Michael reached across the table.
“Dad, I know how you feel.””
“No, you don't.”” Richard's voice“No, you don't.”” Richard's voice broke.
“You disappeared. I buried you without broke.
“You disappeared. I buried you without knowing who I was burying. Then I watched Daniel knowing who I was burying.
Then I watched Daniel throw me out of his house because throw me out of his house because a woman lied about me. I cannot lose a woman lied about me. I cannot lose another day to fear.””
Michael lowered his eyes another day to fear.””
Michael lowered his eyes.
For a moment, the room was silent except for the ticking clock above the kitchen.
For a moment, the room was silent except for the ticking clock above the kitchen doorway.
Then Evelyn's phone rang.
She doorway.
Then Evelyn's phone rang.
She glanced at the number and answered.
“Brooks.””
A man's voice came glanced at the number and answered.
“Brooks.””
A man's voice came through the speaker.
“Ms. Brooks, this is Detective Harris with the county through the speaker.
“Ms. Brooks, this is Detective Harris with the county sheriff's office. We received a report concerning Richard sheriff's office. We received a report concerning Richard Mitchell's property and a possible threat against a Mitchell's property and a possible threat against a witness.””
Evelyn straightened.
“ witness.””
Evelyn straightened.
“Who filed the report?””
“An anonymous caller. The caller claimed MrWho filed the report?””
“An anonymous caller. The caller claimed Mr. Mitchell was harboring a dangerous fugitive.””
Michael's face tightened.
Richard. Mitchell was harboring a dangerous fugitive.””
Michael's face tightened.
Richard stared at the phone.
“Did they give stared at the phone.
“Did they give you a name?””
There was a pause.
“The report identifies the individual you a name?””
There was a pause.
“The report identifies the individual as Gabriel Reyes.””
Michael slowly stood.
“They're trying to turn me as Gabriel Reyes.””
Michael slowly stood.
“They're trying to turn me into a criminal.””
Evelyn continued speaking to into a criminal.””
Evelyn continued speaking to the detective, explaining that they possessed evidence relevant the detective, explaining that they possessed evidence relevant to a possible fraud investigation and wanted to to a possible fraud investigation and wanted to cooperate through proper channels.
When she cooperate through proper channels.
When she ended the call, she looked troubled.
“Detective ended the call, she looked troubled.
“Detective Harris wants us to meet him tomorrow morning. He says the anonymous report included Harris wants us to meet him tomorrow morning. He says the anonymous report included information about Michael's former identity information about Michael's former identity.””
Richard looked at Michael.
“Can they arrest you?””
“They can investigate.””
Richard looked at Michael.
“Can they arrest you?””
“They can investigate me. Whether there's any me. Whether there's any legitimate basis for an arrest is another question.””
Evel legitimate basis for an arrest is another question.””
Evelyn gathered the documents.
“We need legal counsel familiar withyn gathered the documents.
“We need legal counsel familiar with financial fraud and identity theft. And we need to verify Michael financial fraud and identity theft. And we need to verify Michael's identity through official records.””
Richard nodded.
“Do it.””
For the next's identity through official records.””
Richard nodded.
“Do it.””
For the next hour, they organized the evidence. Samuel hour, they organized the evidence. Samuel prepared copies of the financial transfers. prepared copies of the financial transfers.
Evelyn documented the threatening messages. Michael wrote Evelyn documented the threatening messages. Michael wrote down everything he remembered about the accident, the clinic, and the years he had spent moving down everything he remembered about the accident, the clinic, and the years he had spent moving between towns.
At 10:42 p.m., headlights swept across the living between towns.
At 10:42 p.m., headlights swept across the living room curtains.
Everyone froze.
Richard moved room curtains.
Everyone froze.
Richard moved toward the window.
Evelyn caught his arm.
“Don't toward the window.
Evelyn caught his arm.
“Don't stand in front of it.””
A black SUV stopped near the gate.
The stand in front of it.””
A black SUV stopped near the gate.
The engine continued running.
Then the driver's door opened.
Van engine continued running.
Then the driver's door opened.
Vanessa stepped into the light.
She wasessa stepped into the light.
She was alone.
Richard stared at her through the curtains.
“She's got a alone.
Richard stared at her through the curtains.
“She's got a lot of nerve.””
Michael stood beside him.
“Let lot of nerve.””
Michael stood beside him.
“Let me talk to her.””
“No,” Evelyn me talk to her.””
“No,” Evelyn said firmly.
“Not without understanding why said firmly.
“Not without understanding why she's here.””
Vanessa walked up the porch steps and knocked three times.
Then she called she's here.””
Vanessa walked up the porch steps and knocked three times.
Then she called through the door.
“Richard, I know you're through the door.
“Richard, I know you're in there. I need to speak to Michael.””
Nobody answered.
She in there. I need to speak to Michael.””
Nobody answered.
She knocked again.
“Michael, please. I'm not here to hurt you.””
Michael laughed knocked again.
“Michael, please. I'm not here to hurt you.””
Michael laughed bitterly.
“You should have tried that eleven years ago.””
Vanessa's voice trem bitterly.
“You should have tried that eleven years ago.””
Vanessa's voice trembled.
“I know what Daniel did. I know what Marcusbled.
“I know what Daniel did. I know what Marcus did. But you don't know the whole story.””
Evelyn whispered, did. But you don't know the whole story.””
Evelyn whispered, “Don't open the door.””
Vanessa pressed her palm against the “Don't open the door.””
Vanessa pressed her palm against the wood.
“Richard, Daniel is planning wood.
“Richard, Daniel is planning something terrible. If you let him go something terrible. If you let him go through with it, you'll never get the truth.””
Richard stepped closer to the door.
through with it, you'll never get the truth.””
Richard stepped closer to the door.
“You framed me.””
“I was desperate.””
“You tore your“You framed me.””
“I was desperate.””
“You tore your own blouse and screamed that I assaulted you!””
“I own blouse and screamed that I assaulted you!””
“I know.””
The simple admission stunned everyone inside know.””
The simple admission stunned everyone inside.
Richard looked at Evelyn.
She silently.
Richard looked at Evelyn.
She silently motioned for him to keep Vanessa talking.
“ motioned for him to keep Vanessa talking.
“Why?”” Richard demanded.
Vanessa's voice cracked.
“Because Daniel told me youWhy?”” Richard demanded.
Vanessa's voice cracked.
“Because Daniel told me you were going to expose the missing money. He said that if you talked were going to expose the missing money. He said that if you talked to the bank, everything would collapse.
He promised he to the bank, everything would collapse. He promised he could handle you, but I knew could handle you, but I knew you wouldn't stop asking questions.””
“So you destroyed you wouldn't stop asking questions.””
“So you destroyed my relationship with my son.””
“I my relationship with my son.””
“I thought Daniel would make you leave us alone.””
Richard's eyes burned thought Daniel would make you leave us alone.””
Richard's eyes burned.
“You didn't just make me leave. You.
“You didn't just make me leave. You made your own husband believe his father was a monster.””
Vanessa began crying.
“I didn't made your own husband believe his father was a monster.””
Vanessa began crying.
“I didn't think he'd slap you.””
“But you knew he'd believe think he'd slap you.””
“But you knew he'd believe you.””
She didn't answer.
Michael approached the door.
“Tell me about you.””
She didn't answer.
Michael approached the door.
“Tell me about Gabriel Reyes.””
The crying stopped.
A Gabriel Reyes.””
The crying stopped.
A long silence followed.
Then Vanessa whispered, “I didn't steal your identity.””
“ long silence followed.
Then Vanessa whispered, “I didn't steal your identity.””
“Who did?””
“Marcus.””
“Why?””
“Because he needed someoneWho did?””
“Marcus.””
“Why?””
“Because he needed someone to receive the money. Someone who could be blamed if the accounts were to receive the money. Someone who could be blamed if the accounts were investigated.””
Michael's hand curled into a fist.
“And you helped him?””
“Yes.””
Richard shut investigated.””
Michael's hand curled into a fist.
“And you helped him?””
“Yes.””
Richard shut his eyes.
Vanessa continued, speaking faster now.
“Daniel wanted the ranch. Marcus wanted the his eyes.
Vanessa continued, speaking faster now.
“Daniel wanted the ranch. Marcus wanted the money. I wanted enough to get away from both of them.
I thought I could control money. I wanted enough to get away from both of them. I thought I could control the situation.””
Michael's voice was ice-cold.
“You the situation.””
Michael's voice was ice-cold.
“You framed Richard to buy yourself framed Richard to buy yourself time.””
“Yes.””
“Were you planning to frame time.””
“Yes.””
“Were you planning to frame Daniel next?””
Vanessa didn't answer.
That silence told Daniel next?””
Vanessa didn't answer.
That silence told them enough.
Evelyn moved closer to the door.
“Vanessa, if you have them enough.
Evelyn moved closer to the door.
“Vanessa, if you have evidence, you need to provide it to the authorities. Coming here at evidence, you need to provide it to the authorities. Coming here at night and making accusations isn't going to protect you.””
“I night and making accusations isn't going to protect you.””
“I have the original documents.””
Michael went still.
“What documents?””
“The have the original documents.””
Michael went still.
“What documents?””
“The papers from the night of the accident. The insurance authorization papers from the night of the accident. The insurance authorization. The original payment records.
Everything Daniel thought. The original payment records. Everything Daniel thought Marcus had destroyed.””
Richard opened the door before Evelyn could stop him.
Vanessa stood Marcus had destroyed.””
Richard opened the door before Evelyn could stop him.
Vanessa stood beneath the porch light, her face pale and her eyes swollen.
“Where are they?”” beneath the porch light, her face pale and her eyes swollen.
“Where are they?”” Richard asked.
“At a storage facility in Houston.””
“Then why Richard asked.
“At a storage facility in Houston.””
“Then why haven't you taken them to the police?””
“Because one of those documents haven't you taken them to the police?””
“Because one of those documents proves I helped arrange Michael's disappearance.””
Michael proves I helped arrange Michael's disappearance.””
Michael stared at her.
“So you're still protecting yourself.””
“I'm trying to stared at her.
“So you're still protecting yourself.””
“I'm trying to survive!””
Vanessa reached into her handbag and survive!””
Vanessa reached into her handbag and pulled out a small photograph.
It showed a younger Daniel standing beside a car on a pulled out a small photograph.
It showed a younger Daniel standing beside a car on a dark rural road. A second figure was dark rural road. A second figure was partially visible near the passenger door.
Michael took the photograph.
His partially visible near the passenger door.
Michael took the photograph.
His breathing changed.
“That car,” he whispered.
“That's the one breathing changed.
“That car,” he whispered.
“That's the one from the night of the accident.””
Vanessa nodded.
“I kept it from the night of the accident.””
Vanessa nodded.
“I kept it because I knew Daniel would eventually turn against me.””
Richard looked at her with because I knew Daniel would eventually turn against me.””
Richard looked at her with disgust.
“You kept evidence as insurance.””
“Yes.””
“And disgust.
“You kept evidence as insurance.””
“Yes.””
“And now you're offering it because you're afraid.””
Vanessa's eyes now you're offering it because you're afraid.””
Vanessa's eyes filled again.
“Yes.””
For several seconds, nobody filled again.
“Yes.””
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Then Michael asked the question that had haunted him for eleven moved.
Then Michael asked the question that had haunted him for eleven years.
“Who told Daniel where to find me that night?””
Vanessa looked at him.
“Marcus years.
“Who told Daniel where to find me that night?””
Vanessa looked at him.
“Marcus.””
“No. Marcus was hired afterward. Someone knew I had the.””
“No. Marcus was hired afterward. Someone knew I had the evidence before I left Austin.””
Vanessa swallowed.
“Daniel told me he had evidence before I left Austin.””
Vanessa swallowed.
“Daniel told me he had someone inside the company watching you. Someone someone inside the company watching you. Someone who knew about the transfers and reported your movements.””
“Who?””
She looked toward the darkness beyond the porch.
“I never who knew about the transfers and reported your movements.””
“Who?””
She looked toward the darkness beyond the porch.
“I never met him. Daniel called him the accountant.””
Samuel, met him. Daniel called him the accountant.””
Samuel, standing behind Evelyn, suddenly went pale.
Richard noticed.
“ standing behind Evelyn, suddenly went pale.
Richard noticed.
“Samuel? What is it?””
The accountant backed away from the doorwaySamuel? What is it?””
The accountant backed away from the doorway.
“I need to go.””
Evelyn turned sharply.
“Samuel,.
“I need to go.””
Evelyn turned sharply.
“Samuel, sit down.””
He shook his head.
“You don't understand.””
Michael stepped into the porch light.
“Then explain.””
sit down.””
He shook his head.
“You don't understand.””
Michael stepped into the porch light.
“Then explain.””
Samuel looked at the photograph in Michael's hand.
His face crumpled.
“I was the one who told Daniel where you were going that night.””
Richard stared at him.
Samuel's voice droppedSamuel looked at the photograph in Michael's hand.
His face crumpled.
“I was the one who told Daniel where you were going that night.””
Richard stared at him.
Samuel's voice dropped to a whisper.
“But I didn't know he planned to kill you.””
Before anyone could respond, a gunshot cracked through the night.
The porch light shattered.
Vanessa screamed.
Michael pulled Richard to a whisper.
“But I didn't know he planned to kill you.””
Before anyone could respond, a gunshot cracked through the night.
The porch light shattered.
Vanessa screamed.
Michael pulled Richard to the floor as Evelyn shouted for everyone to get down.
to the floor as Evelyn shouted for everyone to get down.
Outside, tires shrieked against the gravel.
And when the emergency lightsOutside, tires shrieked against the gravel.
And when the emergency lights on the security system finally came on, Samuel Price was gone.
On the floor beside his abandoned on the security system finally came on, Samuel Price was gone.
On the floor beside his abandoned laptop lay a fresh sheet of paper.
Written across it in red laptop lay a fresh sheet of paper.
Written across it in red ink were six words.
May you like
**The next body ink were six words.
*The next body will be Richard Mitchell's.*
