Chapter 7 - THE DEAD MAN'S WATCH
Ethan came to the police station before I did.
I knew because Rebecca called me.
“Don't go alone.”
“I won't.”
My father drove.
Noah followed separately.
When we arrived, Ethan was standing in the hallway.
He looked at me.
His face was pale.
“You know.”
I stared at him.
“Know what?”
He looked at my father.
Then Rebecca.
Then Noah.
His eyes stopped on Noah.
“You brought him?”
I frowned.
“Why does that bother you?”
“It doesn't.”
“Then stop staring.”
Ethan stepped closer.
“Amelia, you need to listen to me.”
“I've been listening to you for seven years.”
His face tightened.
“I didn't kill my brother.”
I froze.
I hadn't accused him.
He had volunteered the information.
My father noticed too.
“Interesting,” Dad said.
Ethan looked at him.
“What?”
“You knew why we were here.”
Ethan said nothing.
Rebecca stepped forward.
“Mr. Carter, detectives would like to speak with you.”
He looked at me.
“Please.”
I stared at him.
“Please what?”
“Don't believe everything they tell you.”
“Why not?”
“Because your father has been lying to you.”
My father became still.
Ethan continued.
“He knew your mother was investigating my family.”
“That's true.”
“He knew my brother was involved.”
“That's true too.”
“And he never told you.”
I looked at my father.
Ethan's voice became softer.
“Ask him why.”
I did.
My father didn't answer.
Ethan looked at me.
“Because your father was there the night Martin died.”
The hallway went silent.
I turned toward Dad.
“Is that true?”
He looked at me.
“Yes.”
My world shifted.
“You were there?”
“Yes.”
“What happened?”
“I can't tell you.”
I laughed bitterly.
“Of course you can't.”
Ethan stepped forward.
“Your father knows who killed Martin.”
My father turned toward him.
“Enough.”
Ethan smiled.
For the first time, I saw something cold in his eyes.
“You've protected her for twenty years.”
He looked at me.
“But now she deserves to know.”
My father grabbed Ethan by the collar.
Noah stepped forward.
“Sir.”
Dad released him.
Ethan straightened his shirt.
Then he whispered:
“You should ask him about the bridge.”
He walked away.
I turned toward my father.
“What bridge?”
He didn't answer.
I followed him outside.
“Dad.”
He kept walking.
“Dad!”
He stopped.
I stood in front of him.
“Tell me.”
He looked older than he had that morning.
“Your mother called me the night Martin died.”
“Why?”
“She said she had proof.”
“Proof of what?”
“That Martin had been stealing from the foundation.”
I already knew that.
“What happened?”
“She wanted to meet me at the old bridge.”
“And?”
“I went.”
My voice shook.
“What did you see?”
He looked toward the road.
“Your mother was there.”
“Was she alive?”
“Yes.”
My heart stopped.
“What?”
“She was alive.”
I couldn't breathe.
“What happened to her?”
“She gave me a folder.”
“What folder?”
“The same records you found.”
“Then what?”
He closed his eyes.
“Martin arrived.”
I waited.
“Then Ethan arrived.”
My blood turned cold.
“Ethan was there?”
“Yes.”
“What happened?”
Dad's face became haunted.
“They argued.”
“About what?”
“The money.”
I whispered:
“Then what?”
“Your mother told Ethan she would expose everything.”
“And Martin?”
“He pulled a gun.”
I froze.
“Who did he shoot?”
My father looked at me.
“Your mother.”
I couldn't breathe.
“Did she die?”
“No.”
“Then why did everyone say she had a heart attack?”
“Because she died three weeks later.”
I stared at him.
“From the gunshot?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
My father's voice broke.
“She survived the shooting.”
I felt the room spin.
“What killed her?”
He looked at me.
“Poison.”
I took a step back.
“Who poisoned her?”
“We never proved it.”
“But you know.”
Dad looked away.
I whispered:
“Ethan?”
He didn't answer.
The police officer appeared in the doorway.
“Mr. Bennett?”
Dad turned.
The officer held up a photograph.
“We identified the body.”
My heart stopped.
“Who is it?”
The officer looked at me.
“Martin Carter.”
I stared at the photograph.
Then at my father.
Then at the hallway where Ethan had disappeared.
My husband had lied to me about his brother's death.
May you like
My mother had been poisoned.
And the man who knew the truth had just walked out of the police station.
