\u201cI wasn't following Matthew.\u201d<\/p>\n
Henry's words seemed to hang in the dusty room.<\/p>\n
I stared at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen who were you following?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cVictor.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel folded his arms.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe knows what happened.\u201d<\/p>\n
Henry looked at him sharply.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon't do this.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou've already kept her in the dark for two years.\u201d<\/p>\n
I turned toward Henry.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat does he mean?\u201d<\/p>\n
Henry didn't answer.<\/p>\n
I stepped closer.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy were you following Victor?\u201d<\/p>\n
He looked down at the floor.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause Matthew asked me to.\u201d<\/p>\n
The answer stunned me.<\/p>\n
\u201cMatthew asked you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe week before the accident.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel shook his head.<\/p>\n
\u201cTell her everything.\u201d<\/p>\n
Henry rubbed a hand over his face.<\/p>\n
\u201cMatthew contacted me because I had access to information about Victor.\u201d<\/p>\n
I frowned.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI worked with a company that handled security records for several businesses. Victor's movements appeared in some of those records.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou knew him?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot personally.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen why did Matthew come to you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause Daniel had already warned him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cMatthew needed someone outside the family.\u201d<\/p>\n
Henry looked at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe thought I could help him confirm whether Victor was following him.\u201d<\/p>\n
The memory of the dark sedan returned.<\/p>\n
The photographs.<\/p>\n
The repeated sightings.<\/p>\n
The note Matthew had left.<\/p>\n
Ask about the sedan.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou followed Victor,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOn the day Matthew died?\u201d<\/p>\n
Henry nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had been watching him for several days.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy didn't you tell me?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn't know how.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat isn't an answer.\u201d<\/p>\n
He swallowed.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause I was there when it happened.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stared at him.<\/p>\n
He continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cVictor drove the sedan. I followed him from a distance. I didn't know where he was going. I thought he might be meeting someone.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd then?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI saw Matthew's car.\u201d<\/p>\n
My heart tightened.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou knew it was him?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>\n
Henry looked toward Daniel.<\/p>\n
Daniel gave a slight nod.<\/p>\n
Henry took a breath.<\/p>\n
\u201cVictor's car passed Matthew. Then it slowed.\u201d<\/p>\n
I felt cold.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don't know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou followed them?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen the truck appeared.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you said you were too far away.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI was.\u201d<\/p>\n
Henry's voice became quieter.<\/p>\n
\u201cI saw Victor pull over after the crash.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stared.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe stopped.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel looked at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is why we know it wasn't simply an accident.\u201d<\/p>\n
Henry nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cVictor got out.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did he do?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe looked toward Matthew's car.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid he help?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
The word was flat.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe made a phone call.\u201d<\/p>\n
I felt sick.<\/p>\n
\u201cWho did he call?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI couldn't hear.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen what?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe left.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stared at Henry.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou watched him leave?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you stayed?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI went after the truck driver.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause Victor was gone, and the driver was trying to escape.\u201d<\/p>\n
I understood then why Henry had found him.<\/p>\n
He had been trying to keep the driver from disappearing.<\/p>\n
But one question remained.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy didn't you tell the police that Victor was there?\u201d<\/p>\n
Henry's eyes filled.<\/p>\n
\u201cI did.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou said you gave a statement.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI gave a statement about the driver.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot Victor?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI mentioned seeing a dark sedan.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat's not the same.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stepped away.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou knew Victor might have been involved.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI suspected.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you said nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI had no proof.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel interrupted.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou had more than I did.\u201d<\/p>\n
Henry turned on him.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you disappeared.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI had to.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou left Matthew alone with this.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI was trying to get the evidence.\u201d<\/p>\n
The argument stopped me.<\/p>\n
Daniel looked at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter the accident, I went after the financial records.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause I knew Victor would destroy them.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd did he?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSome.\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at the memory card on the desk.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is on that?\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel finally handed it to me.<\/p>\n
\u201cA recording Matthew made.\u201d<\/p>\n
I held it carefully.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat does it prove?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat Victor was planning something.\u201d<\/p>\n
Henry stared at the card.<\/p>\n
\u201cDid Matthew make that recording before the accident?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere did he get it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom Victor's office.\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at Daniel.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMatthew had copied files.\u201d<\/p>\n
I felt my stomach tighten.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat kind of files?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPayments.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTo whom?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople connected to the company.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd the truck driver?\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cHis name appears in the records.\u201d<\/p>\n
The room seemed to become colder.<\/p>\n
I looked at Henry.<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you know that?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI suspected.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAgain.\u201d<\/p>\n
He lowered his head.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n
I turned away.<\/p>\n
Every answer seemed to reveal another layer.<\/p>\n
Then Daniel said something that stopped me.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe driver wasn't supposed to kill Matthew.\u201d<\/p>\n
I turned back.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was told to frighten him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBy Victor?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen how did Matthew die?\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel's face hardened.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause someone changed the plan.\u201d<\/p>\n
Henry looked at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou never proved that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen don't tell her as if it's fact.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel ignored him.<\/p>\n
\u201cVictor wanted Matthew to hand over the documents.\u201d<\/p>\n
I asked, \u201cAnd when he refused?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe arranged the truck.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen who changed the plan?\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel shook his head.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don't know.\u201d<\/p>\n
Silence followed.<\/p>\n
I looked at the memory card.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen what does this recording prove?\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel said, \u201cListen to it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Henry immediately said, \u201cNot here.\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause if the recording is what I think it is, you need to hear it somewhere safe.\u201d<\/p>\n
The police were waiting nearby.<\/p>\n
We took the card to the station.<\/p>\n
An officer copied the contents before playing them.<\/p>\n
The first file was audio.<\/p>\n
Static.<\/p>\n
Then Matthew's voice.<\/p>\n
My heart nearly stopped.<\/p>\n
He sounded calm.<\/p>\n
He said that he had found evidence connecting Victor to the family company's missing money.<\/p>\n
Then another voice appeared.<\/p>\n
Victor.<\/p>\n
The recording was incomplete, but enough could be heard to establish that Victor knew Matthew had documents.<\/p>\n
Then came a sentence that made everyone in the room go silent.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don't understand what happens if you go to the police.\u201d<\/p>\n
Matthew answered, \u201cI'm not afraid of you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Victor replied, \u201cYou should be.\u201d<\/p>\n
The recording ended.<\/p>\n
I stared at the screen.<\/p>\n
The officer looked at Daniel.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is significant.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel nodded.<\/p>\n
But I noticed Henry wasn't looking at the recording.<\/p>\n
He was looking at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n
He shook his head.<\/p>\n
\u201cNothing.\u201d<\/p>\n
I knew that expression.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is something else.\u201d<\/p>\n
He hesitated.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTell me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Henry swallowed.<\/p>\n
\u201cVictor wasn't the only person Matthew recorded.\u201d<\/p>\n
I felt my pulse quicken.<\/p>\n
\u201cWho else?\u201d<\/p>\n
Henry didn't answer.<\/p>\n
Daniel did.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour father.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stared at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy father?\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour biological father.\u201d<\/p>\n
I couldn't move.<\/p>\n
Henry looked at Daniel with alarm.<\/p>\n
Daniel said quietly, \u201cThat's the part Matthew never told you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI wasn't following Matthew.\u201d Henry's words seemed to hang in the dusty room. I stared at him. \u201cThen who were you following?\u201d \u201cVictor.\u201d Daniel folded his arms. \u201cHe knows what … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6682,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6691","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-insightdrama"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6691","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6691"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6691\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6707,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6691\/revisions\/6707"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/6682"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6691"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6691"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6691"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}