Chapter 16: The Crime Beneath The Truth
I read my mother’s letter until the ink blurred.
Not because I couldn’t understand the words.
Because I didn’t want to.
Some truths are easier to fight when they feel impossible.
But this one was written in my mother’s handwriting.
The woman who raised me.
The woman who tucked me into bed.
The woman who taught me to be honest.
She had known.
My father had done something worse than stealing a house.
And Lily had discovered it.
I looked at her.
“What did you find that night?””
Lily’s face went pale.
“I never knew the whole story.””
“But you knew enough to leave.””
She nodded slowly.
“I knew Dad was dangerous.””
Ryan looked at her.
“You never told anyone?””
Lily looked at him.
“I tried.””
The pain in her voice silenced him.
“I went to the police.””
My heart stopped.
“What happened?””
She looked down.
“Dad knew before I got there.””
“How?””
She swallowed.
“Because someone called him.””
Everyone looked at Miranda.
She understood immediately.
“The attorney.””
Lily nodded.
“Daniel Cross.””
The name felt heavier now.
A man who had helped my father hide everything.
A man who knew where the bodies were buried.
Metaphorically.
Or maybe not.
Miranda opened her laptop.
“I found something interesting.””
She turned the screen toward us.
An old case file.
“Fifteen years ago, there was an investigation connected to missing financial records from several properties.””
I scanned the page.
Names.
Dates.
Locations.
Then I saw it.
Claire Bennett.
My stomach turned.
“But why was it never reported?””
Miranda answered quietly.
“Because the evidence disappeared.””
Lily whispered:
“Dad made it disappear.””
I looked at her.
“You’re sure?””
She nodded.
“I saw him.””
The room went quiet.
“You saw him destroy evidence?””
“Yes.””
Her voice shook.
“The night I left.””
She closed her eyes.
“I went downstairs because I heard him arguing with someone.””
“Who?””
“Daniel Cross.””
Miranda leaned forward.
“What did they say?””
Lily looked at the floor.
“Daniel said Claire was going to expose everything.””
“And your father?””
“He said he would handle it.””
A chill moved through me.
“Handle it?””
Lily nodded.
“That was when I realized Dad wasn’t trying to protect the family.””
She looked at me.
“He was trying to protect himself.””
My phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
Everyone froze.
I answered.
“Hello?””
No one spoke.
Then a man’s voice.
“Jenna Whitaker?””
I stood.
“Who is this?””
A pause.
“My name is Daniel Cross.””
The room went silent.
Miranda immediately reached for the phone.
“Put it on speaker.””
I did.
Daniel continued.
“I know you found the documents.””
My voice hardened.
“You mean the documents you helped hide?””
A nervous breath.
“You don’t understand what happened.””
“No.””
I looked at the people around me.
“I understand perfectly.””
“You think Robert was the only person responsible?””
I didn’t answer.
Daniel continued.
“He made mistakes.””
“Mistakes?””
My anger exploded.
“You ruined people’s lives.””
“I was trying to contain the damage.””
Lily stepped closer.
“You knew.””
Daniel went silent.
“Lily?””
The way he said her name told me everything.
He knew she was alive.
“You knew where I was.””
Another pause.
“I knew you survived.””
Lily’s face changed.
“Survived?””
Nobody moved.
Daniel continued.
“Jenna, you need to understand something.””
“What?””
“Your father didn’t just lose control fifteen years ago.””
My grip tightened on the phone.
“He planned everything.””
I looked at Miranda.
“Why are you telling me this?””
Daniel’s voice dropped.
“Because Robert is going to come after the last piece of evidence.””
“What evidence?””
A pause.
Then:
“The original deed.””
I frowned.
“I have the deed.””
“No.””
Daniel’s voice became urgent.
“You have a copy.””
My heart stopped.
“The real deed was never recorded.””
Silence.
“Where is it?””
May you like
Daniel whispered:
“Your mother hid it.””
