Chapter 5: The Driver Who Knew Too Much
Linda ended the call.
For several seconds, she stood motionless in the living room.
Marcus watched her.
"Who was that?""
"Nobody.""
"Linda.""
She picked up her purse.
"I have somewhere to be.""
"Is it about the driver?""
She stopped.
"You're making a mistake.""
"Then tell me what mistake I'm making.""
Linda turned toward him.
"You're destroying this family over something you don't understand.""
Marcus gave a bitter laugh.
"You've been signing my name, taking my inheritance, and trying to transfer my house. But somehow I'm the one destroying this family?""
Her jaw tightened.
"You have no idea what I've sacrificed.""
"Neither do you.""
Linda looked at him for a long moment.
Then she walked out.
Marcus immediately called Michael.
"Daniel says the driver has been found.""
Michael was silent.
"Are you sure?""
"I heard the conversation.""
"Don't contact the driver. Don't approach him. I'll have the investigator handle it.""
Marcus gripped his phone.
"Michael, the driver wants to speak to me.""
"That doesn't mean you should meet him alone.""
"Why?""
"Because if someone was involved in a deliberate collision, the person who drove the truck may not be the only one who wants this buried.""
Marcus looked toward the front door.
"Then let's find him.""
The following morning, Michael called.
The driver, Anthony Briggs, had been located at a rehabilitation facility outside Chicago.
He had suffered a serious workplace injury the previous year and was now receiving long-term care.
An investigator had spoken with him.
Anthony had agreed to provide a statement.
More importantly, he had specifically asked whether Marcus Carter was alive.
Michael arranged a meeting with Anthony under the supervision of the investigator and the facility's staff.
When Marcus entered the room, he immediately recognized the man from an old photograph.
Anthony was thinner than he appeared in the accident records. A scar ran along his jaw, and his right hand rested in a brace.
He looked at Marcus.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Anthony lowered his eyes.
"I'm sorry.""
Marcus rolled closer.
"Do you remember me?""
Anthony nodded.
"I remember the car.""
"Do you remember the accident?""
Anthony swallowed.
"Every single day.""
Marcus felt his heartbeat quicken.
"Was it an accident?""
Anthony looked toward Michael.
The investigator nodded for him to continue.
"No," Anthony whispered.
"Not the way they told the police.""
Marcus gripped the wheelchair armrest.
"What happened?""
Anthony took a shaky breath.
"I was supposed to drive the truck to a warehouse. I was told there was a delivery scheduled, but the paperwork was wrong. The cargo manifest didn't match the route.""
"Who gave you the instructions?""
"Daniel Carter.""
Marcus went still.
Anthony continued.
"Daniel told me to take the highway and make a specific stop before reaching the warehouse. He said the truck needed to be positioned near a particular vehicle.""
"What vehicle?""
Anthony looked directly at Marcus.
"Your car.""
The room seemed to shrink.
Marcus couldn't speak.
Anthony rubbed his forehead.
"I didn't know what they were planning. I thought it was some kind of insurance stunt. Daniel told me the car would be empty.""
Marcus stared at him.
"Empty?""
"That's what he said.""
"Jasmine was in the car.""
Anthony's eyes filled.
"I didn't know.""
"Who told you to hit us?""
Anthony shook his head.
"I wasn't supposed to hit you. I was supposed to scare you. Make you lose control. They wanted the accident to look like a mechanical failure.""
Marcus felt sick.
"Who was they?""
Anthony hesitated.
Then he said, "Your wife.""
Marcus's vision blurred.
Anthony continued.
"Linda came to the warehouse twice. She gave Daniel the paperwork and told him everything had to happen before the end of the month.""
Marcus leaned forward.
"Why?""
Anthony looked toward the door.
"She said you were about to change your will.""
Marcus's breath caught.
His father had left him an estate.
He had never considered changing his will before the accident, but he had been discussing financial planning with an attorney shortly before it happened.
"How did Linda know?""
"Daniel told me she had access to your documents.""
Marcus closed his eyes.
Anthony's voice broke.
"I'm sorry. I swear I didn't know there was a child in the car.""
Marcus looked at him.
"Did you know they were planning to kill me?""
Anthony didn't answer.
That silence was enough.
The meeting ended with Anthony agreeing to provide a formal statement.
Michael explained that the information would need independent corroboration, but it was enough to justify a deeper investigation.
Outside the facility, Marcus sat silently.
Rebecca placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Marcus?""
He didn't respond.
She crouched beside his wheelchair.
"Look at me.""
He finally turned.
"She knew Jasmine was in the car.""
Rebecca's face tightened.
"Don't jump to conclusions.""
"Anthony said the car was supposed to be empty. Linda knew I was driving Jasmine home.""
"Marcus, we need proof of what she knew.""
He stared at the parking lot.
"I pulled Jasmine away from the impact. I thought I was saving her.""
Rebecca squeezed his hand.
"You did save her.""
"And her mother may have arranged the accident.""
Rebecca didn't answer.
For the first time in years, Marcus cried.
Not because his legs hurt.
Not because he feared losing his house.
He cried because the woman he had loved might have been willing to sacrifice his life.
And because Jasmine had been sitting beside him when it happened.
That night, Marcus returned home.
Jasmine was sitting on the sofa, wearing headphones.
She looked up.
"Where have you been?""
"Meeting someone.""
"Mom said you were talking to the police.""
Marcus stopped.
"Your mother said that?""
"She said you're trying to get her arrested.""
Marcus rolled toward the sofa.
"Jasmine, I need you to listen to me.""
She removed her headphones.
"What?""
"Do you remember the accident?""
Her expression changed.
"Why?""
"Because I need to know what you remember about that night.""
Jasmine looked uncomfortable.
"I remember the truck.""
"Did you see the driver?""
"No.""
"Did you hear anything?""
She shook her head.
Marcus waited.
Then Jasmine said quietly, "I remember Mom arguing with someone on the phone that afternoon.""
Marcus's heart began pounding.
"Who?""
"I don't know. She was in the garage.""
"What did she say?""
Jasmine stared at the carpet.
"She said something about the plan being too dangerous.""
Marcus leaned closer.
"Jasmine, why haven't you told me this before?""
"Because I didn't think it mattered.""
"What happened next?""
"She said you wouldn't be driving for much longer.""
Marcus felt his hands go cold.
Jasmine's eyes filled with tears.
"She told me not to repeat it.""
Marcus looked at her.
"Did she mention Daniel?""
Jasmine nodded slowly.
"Yes.""
"Did she say why?""
"I don't know. But after the accident, Daniel came to the hospital.""
Marcus froze.
"When?""
"Two days after you woke up.""
"Why?""
Jasmine swallowed.
"He asked Mom whether you remembered anything.""
Marcus felt the room tilt.
"What did your mother say?""
Jasmine looked at him.
"She said you didn't remember the truck.""
Marcus closed his eyes.
For three years, Linda had been telling people that Marcus's injuries had left him confused and unreliable.
But perhaps the real reason she had wanted him to forget the accident was because he might have remembered something that exposed her.
Later that evening, Jasmine came into the study carrying her phone.
"Marcus?""
He looked up.
"Yes?""
She seemed frightened.
"There's something I need to show you.""
She placed her phone on the desk.
A photograph appeared on the screen.
It showed Linda standing beside Daniel outside a restaurant.
They were holding hands.
Marcus stared at the image.
"When was this taken?""
"Last month.""
"Who took it?""
"Me.""
Jasmine looked down.
"I followed Mom once because she kept saying she was working late.""
Marcus swallowed.
"Did you know they were together?""
"I suspected.""
She hesitated.
"There's something else.""
She opened another photograph.
This one showed a document on Linda's desk.
Marcus leaned closer.
It was a printed email.
The sender was Daniel.
The subject line read:
*FINAL ARRANGEMENTS — CARTER MATTER*
Marcus read the visible paragraph.
Once the medical declaration is accepted, we can proceed with the permanent transfer. The beneficiary will remain Jasmine, as agreed.
He looked at Jasmine.
"Why did you take this picture?""
"Because I thought Mom was planning something bad.""
"Did she see you?""
Jasmine shook her head.
Marcus studied the image again.
At the bottom of the email was a line he hadn't noticed.
The second payment will be released once the original accident report is removed.
Marcus looked up.
"Jasmine, do you know what this means?""
She shook her head.
Then her phone vibrated.
A message appeared.
*Mom: Come downstairs. We need to talk about the papers you signed. Bring your phone.*
Jasmine's face went pale.
Marcus looked at the message.
Then he looked at her.
"Don't go downstairs alone.""
But before he could say anything else, the study door opened.
Linda stood there.
Her eyes moved from Jasmine to the phone on the desk.
"What have you done?""
Jasmine stood up.
"Mom—"
Linda snatched the phone.
"How long have you been showing him things?""
Marcus moved his wheelchair forward.
"Give her phone back.""
Linda turned toward him.
"You've poisoned her against me.""
"No, Linda. You did that yourself.""
She looked at Jasmine.
"Go to your room.""
Jasmine didn't move.
Linda raised her voice.
"NOW!""
Jasmine flinched.
Marcus reached for her hand.
"She stays here.""
Linda's expression turned frighteningly calm.
She placed Jasmine's phone inside her purse.
Then she looked at Marcus and said:
"You should have stayed in that hospital and let me handle everything.""
Marcus stared at her.
Linda turned toward the hallway.
But before she could leave, another voice came from behind her.
"That's enough, Linda.""
Everyone turned.
Daniel Carter stood in the doorway.
May you like
He was holding a thick envelope.
And he wasn't smiling.
Related Stories
