Chapter 10 - The Truth About Richard Carter
The confession changed everything.
Vanessa sat at the kitchen table.
Ethan sat opposite her.
Walter remained standing.
“My father took the money,” she said.
“How much?”
“I don't know.”
“Where did it go?”
“I don't know.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I was fourteen.”
Ethan stared.
“You knew?”
“I knew he was hiding something.”
“What about Michael?”
Vanessa looked down.
“My father told me Michael was dangerous.”
Walter stepped closer.
“Did you see Michael the night he disappeared?”
Vanessa's eyes filled with tears.
“Yes.”
Walter froze.
“Where?”
“At this house.”
Ethan looked around.
“This house?”
She nodded.
“My father brought me here because he needed something from Michael.”
“What?”
“Records.”
“What happened?”
“I stayed upstairs.”
“You heard something?”
“Yes.”
“What?”
Vanessa closed her eyes.
“I heard them arguing.”
“About the money?”
“Yes.”
“Then?”
“A gunshot.”
Ethan's face went pale.
Walter closed his eyes.
“What happened after?”
“I heard my father say, ‘You should have taken the deal.’”
Walter's jaw tightened.
“Then?”
“I heard footsteps.”
“Whose?”
“I don't know.”
Vanessa started crying.
“I ran downstairs.”
“What did you see?”
She hesitated.
“Michael was gone.”
Walter stared.
“Gone?”
“There was blood.”
Ethan stood.
“Blood?”
Vanessa nodded.
“But no body.”
Walter's expression changed.
That explained everything.
He had always assumed Michael had been killed.
But if there had been no body, then Michael could have survived.
Ethan asked the question everyone was avoiding.
“Who else was there?”
Vanessa looked at Walter.
“You.”
Walter shook his head.
“No.”
“You were there.”
“I arrived later.”
“I remember seeing you.”
“Where?”
“Outside.”
Walter's face went pale.
“What time?”
“I don't know.”
“You were fourteen.”
“I know what I saw.”
Walter stepped back.
For forty years, he had believed he was being framed.
Now he wondered whether he had unknowingly walked into the aftermath.
Ethan looked at Vanessa.
“What happened after that?”
“My father told me never to speak about it.”
“Why?”
“He said he had protected me.”
“From what?”
Vanessa looked toward Walter.
“From the man who was still alive.”
Walter's blood ran cold.
“Michael.”
Vanessa shook her head.
“No.”
“Then who?”
May you like
She whispered,
“I don't know.”
