Chapter 5: The Missing Accountant
“Call him back.””
Nathan stared at Thomas Reed’s message.
“No.””
“Call him.””
“You don’t understand.””
“Then make me understand.””
The two officers entering the hospital lobby noticed our raised voices. Nathan lowered his phone immediately.
“Not here.””
He headed toward the side exit.
I followed him into the parking garage, where fluorescent lights buzzed above rows of cars.
Nathan stopped beside a concrete pillar.
“Thomas is terrified of Mom.””
“So are you.””
“Yes.””
The answer came without hesitation.
That surprised me more than another lie would have.
Nathan unlocked his phone.
“Claire contacted him three weeks ago. She found his number in one of Dad’s old notebooks.””
“What did he tell her?””
“He wouldn’t talk over the phone. They met at a diner outside Richmond.””
“You knew?””
“Claire called me afterward.””
“Why you?””
Nathan looked ashamed.
“Because she thought I might help.””
“And did you?””
“Eventually.””
That word made my hands curl into fists.
Nathan saw it.
“I know how that sounds.””
“It sounds like my wife asked you for help and ended up inside a coffin.””
“She was alive when I left her yesterday.””
I stepped closer.
“You saw Claire yesterday?””
Nathan froze.
Another secret.
Another piece dragged out only because I had cornered him.
“Where?””
“At Dad’s warehouse.””
My heart hammered.
“Why was she there?””
“Thomas asked us to meet him.””
“Us?””
“Claire wanted someone from the family with her.””
“And she chose you?””
Nathan looked away.
“She didn’t trust Evelyn. You were overseas. I was what she had.””
I wanted to hit him.
Instead, I pointed at his phone.
“Call Thomas.””
Nathan pressed the number.
It rang.
Once.
Twice.
Five times.
Voicemail.
He tried again.
Nothing.
Then my phone vibrated.
Detective Bennett.
“We’re at your mother’s house,” she said.
“Is Evelyn Hayes with you?””
“No.””
“She isn’t here.””
My stomach tightened.
“When did she leave?””
“We don’t know. Her vehicle is gone.””
I looked at Nathan.
“Mom disappeared.””
His face went pale.
Detective Bennett continued.
“We also found medication packaging in an outdoor trash bin. We’re processing it.””
“Could it be what was used on Claire?””
“Possibly.””
“Detective, Thomas Reed just contacted Nathan. He may be in danger.””
“Send me his number and last known address immediately.””
I hung up.
Nathan was already typing.
Then another message arrived from Thomas.
*RIVER WAREHOUSE. COME ALONE.*
Nathan showed me.
“That’s a trap,” I said.
“Or he needs help.””
“We call Bennett.””
Nathan grabbed my arm.
“If Mom sees police, Thomas won’t come out.””
“You’re still protecting her.””
“No. I’m trying to keep him alive.””
I stared at him.
“Why would Mom hurt Thomas?””
Nathan’s voice became quiet.
“Because he knows Dad was still alive when she moved him.””
Everything inside me stopped.
“What?””
Nathan looked sick.
“The night Dad fell, he was breathing.””
I grabbed the front of his jacket.
“You told me he had a heart attack.””
“He did.””
“You said it was too late.””
“That’s what Mom said.””
“Was he alive?””
“Yes.””
The parking garage seemed suddenly silent.
“You left him there?””
“No. Mom had me help put him in the car.””
My grip tightened.
“She drove him home?””
Nathan nodded.
“Why not a hospital?””
“I kept asking her. She said an ambulance would bring police, investigators, auditors. She said Dad had discovered financial crimes that could destroy all of us.””
“All of us?””
“She told me my name was on documents.””
“Was it?””
“I don’t know.””
I shoved him backward.
“You let our father die because you were afraid of paperwork?””
“I was twenty-eight and terrified!””
“You were an adult!””
“I know!””
His voice cracked.
For the first time, Nathan looked less like my arrogant younger brother and more like a man who had spent four years waiting for a door to be kicked open.
“Thomas was there,” he whispered.
“At the warehouse?””
Nathan nodded.
“He saw Dad after the fall.””
“Then why didn’t he call anyone?””
“He tried.””
“What stopped him?””
“Mom.””
I released Nathan.
“What did she do?””
“She threatened his daughter.””
A cold pressure settled behind my ribs.
Nathan called Thomas again.
This time someone answered.
Neither of us spoke at first.
Then a man breathed into the phone.
“Nathan?””
“Thomas.””
“Are you alone?””
Nathan looked at me.
“Yes.””
A pause.
“You’re lying.””
Thomas sounded older than I remembered.
Exhausted.
Terrified.
I leaned toward the phone.
“Thomas, it’s Daniel.””
Silence.
Then he whispered, “You came home.””
“Yes.””
“Is Claire alive?””
“She is.””
Thomas exhaled shakily.
“Thank God.””
“What did Claire find?””
“You need to come here.””
“No. You need to tell me now.””
“I can’t.””
“Why?””
“Because what Claire found isn’t something I can explain over a phone.””
A metallic noise sounded behind him.
Thomas suddenly stopped speaking.
“Thomas?””
Nothing.
“Thomas?””
His breathing became faster.
Then he whispered, “Someone’s here.””
The call ended.
We ran.
The river warehouse was twenty minutes away.
I sent Detective Bennett the address before leaving. I didn’t tell Nathan.
When we arrived, the building stood dark beside the water.
One side door was open.
“Thomas?”” Nathan shouted.
No answer.
We entered.
Dust floated through beams of moonlight from broken upper windows.
Then I saw a flashlight lying on the floor.
Beside it was a smear of blood.
“Thomas!””
A weak voice answered from the old office upstairs.
We found him sitting against the wall, one hand pressed to a cut above his eyebrow.
He was alive.
I crouched beside him.
“Who did this?””
Thomas shook his head.
“They wanted the folder.””
“What folder?””
“The one Claire gave me.””
Nathan stared at him.
“Claire gave you evidence?””
Thomas nodded.
“She knew someone was following her.””
“What was inside?””
Thomas looked directly at me.
“Proof your father changed his will.””
“I already know.””
“No.””
He gripped my sleeve.
“You know he changed the company inheritance.””
I frowned.
Thomas continued.
“You don’t know why.””
Footsteps sounded below.
Nathan turned.
I expected Evelyn.
Instead, Detective Bennett appeared with two officers.
Thomas’s shoulders collapsed with relief.
Bennett approached.
“Mr. Reed, we need to get you medical attention.””
Thomas grabbed my wrist before they lifted him.
“Daniel.””
“What?””
“Your father discovered something about Claire.””
My stomach tightened.
“What about her?””
Thomas looked toward Nathan.
Then back at me.
“The baby isn’t the only reason Evelyn wanted Claire gone.””
May you like
He swallowed.
“Your father left Claire something worth more than the company.””
