Chapter 8 The Price of the Truth
The figure stepped farther into the room.
Marcus stared at the person standing in the doorway.
His mind rejected what his eyes were telling him.
It was Evelyn Aldridge, his mother.
She held an old photograph of Emilia in one hand.
In the other was a small silver key.
Daniel took a step backward.
"Mother."
Evelyn's face was pale, but she did not look frightened.
She looked tired.
As if she had spent years waiting for this moment.
Marcus felt something inside him collapse.
"You knew."
Evelyn looked at him.
"Yes."
The word was almost a whisper.
Daniel shook his head.
"You were the one who took the ledger."
"No."
"Then why are you here?"
"Because I knew someone would come looking for it."
Marcus studied her.
"Who?"
Evelyn looked toward the windows.
"We are no longer alone."
A car door slammed outside.
Daniel moved toward the curtains.
Marcus caught his arm.
"Don't."
Daniel stopped.
Evelyn placed the photograph on the desk.
"Listen to me."
Marcus's voice hardened.
"No more secrets."
"I agree."
"Then start talking."
Evelyn looked at both sons.
"Your father made a mistake twenty-seven years ago."
Marcus said nothing.
"He trusted the wrong person."
"Who?"
"Your father's closest adviser."
Daniel frowned.
"Martin Voss?"
"No."
Evelyn shook her head.
"Martin was involved, but he wasn't the one who started it."
Marcus's patience was disappearing.
"Then who?"
Evelyn looked at him.
"Richard's business partner."
Marcus stared at her.
"Victor?"
"No."
"Then who?"
She hesitated.
"Your uncle."
Daniel's face changed.
"We don't have an uncle."
"We do."
Marcus felt a chill.
"What are you talking about?"
Evelyn walked to the fireplace.
"There was another Aldridge."
She touched the mantel.
"Your grandfather had a second son."
Daniel stared at her.
"Why didn't we know?"
"Because he disappeared before either of you were born."
Marcus struggled to process it.
"What was his name?"
Evelyn's expression tightened.
"Samuel."
Daniel frowned.
"Why did he disappear?"
"Because your grandfather believed he had stolen from the family."
"And did he?"
Evelyn looked toward the old photograph.
"No."
The room became silent.
Marcus finally understood.
"Someone framed him."
"Yes."
"Who?"
"Your father."
Marcus stared at her.
"What?"
"Richard believed Samuel was responsible for the forged Bellweather agreement."
Daniel shook his head.
"But you just said he wasn't."
"He wasn't."
"Then why did Dad blame him?"
Evelyn looked at Marcus.
"Because someone convinced him."
"Who?"
Evelyn's eyes filled with sadness.
"The person who wanted control of both families."
Marcus felt the pieces shifting.
"Is Samuel alive?"
Evelyn did not answer.
"Mother."
"He changed his name."
Daniel stepped forward.
"What name?"
Before Evelyn could answer, glass shattered downstairs.
Everyone froze.
Marcus turned toward the door.
Daniel whispered, "They're inside."
Evelyn moved toward the desk.
"Take the key."
Marcus looked at her.
"What key?"
She held out the silver key.
"It opens your father's private archive."
Marcus took it.
"Where?"
"Bellweather."
Daniel stared at her.
"There's another archive?"
"Yes."
Marcus looked at his mother.
"Why didn't you tell us?"
"Because I was afraid."
"Of Samuel?"
Evelyn shook her head.
"Of the person who used him."
Another sound came from downstairs.
A door slammed.
Marcus moved toward the hallway.
Daniel caught his shoulder.
"We shouldn't go that way."
Marcus looked at him.
"Then where?"
Daniel pointed toward the balcony.
"Roof."
Marcus frowned.
"You want to climb onto the roof?"
"I want to stay alive."
Despite everything, Marcus almost smiled.
That was Daniel.
Even in a crisis, he found a practical answer.
They moved toward the balcony.
Evelyn remained behind.
Marcus stopped.
"You're coming."
She shook her head.
"I need to delay them."
"No."
"Marcus."
He turned.
His mother looked at him with an expression he had not seen since childhood.
Fear.
"You spent your entire life trying to protect me," she said.
"Let me do it now."
Marcus hesitated.
Evelyn shook her head.
"Go."
Daniel pulled Marcus toward the balcony.
"Come on."
Marcus looked back once.
His mother stood alone in the study.
Then the brothers disappeared into the night.
At the coastal clinic, Emilia sat beside her father.
The storm had grown stronger.
Rain struck the windows in uneven bursts.
She looked at the clock.
Marcus had been gone nearly an hour.
She told herself not to worry.
But worry had already taken hold.
Her phone vibrated.
Unknown number.
She stared at it.
Then answered.
"Hello?"
No response.
"Who is this?"
A distorted voice spoke.
"Do you want to know why your husband married you?"
Emilia's heart tightened.
"What?"
"Then come to Bellweather."
"Who are you?"
"You'll find the answer in the place where your grandfather kept his final secret."
The call ended.
Emilia stared at the phone.
She looked toward her father.
Thomas was still unconscious.
She couldn't leave him.
But if the caller knew about Bellweather, they could know about her father too.
The door opened.
Dr. Cole entered.
"You look troubled."
Emilia handed her the phone.
"Someone called."
The doctor read the message.
"Don't go."
"I wasn't planning to."
"Good."
Emilia looked toward the window.
"But Marcus is there."
"Then call him."
"I can't reach him."
Dr. Cole's expression changed.
"What happened?"
"I don't know."
The doctor sat beside her.
"You've been carrying a lot."
Emilia gave a small, tired smile.
"That's one way to put it."
Dr. Cole looked at Thomas through the glass.
"Your father has spent his life carrying things too."
"What do you mean?"
"People think strength means never admitting fear."
Emilia looked at her.
"Is that what you think?"
"I think fear becomes dangerous when people hide it."
The words stayed with Emilia.
She looked at Thomas.
Then at her phone.
She tried Marcus again.
No answer.
She called Daniel.
Nothing.
A terrible thought entered her mind.
Something had happened.
She stood.
Dr. Cole looked at her.
"Where are you going?"
"Bellweather."
"No."
"I need answers."
"Your father needs you here."
Emilia stopped.
The doctor was right.
She could not abandon him.
Then the monitor beside Thomas changed rhythm.
Emilia rushed into the room.
"Dad?"
Thomas's eyes opened.
He looked directly at her.
"Emilia."
"I'm here."
He struggled to speak.
"Marcus."
"He's gone to Bellweather."
Thomas tried to sit up.
"No."
"Don't move."
"Don't let him..."
His voice weakened.
"Let him do what?"
Thomas gripped her wrist.
"Trust... Evelyn."
Emilia froze.
"Marcus's mother?"
Thomas nodded.
Then his eyes closed again.
Emilia stared at him.
Another secret.
Another warning.
She stepped away from the bed.
Her phone vibrated.
A message had arrived.
You were warned. Come to Bellweather alone.
Attached was a photograph.
Emilia opened it.
Her blood ran cold.
It showed Marcus and Daniel standing outside Bellweather.
Someone had photographed them from a distance.
Then she noticed the timestamp.
The photograph had been taken only minutes ago.
She looked toward the door.
Dr. Cole was already reaching for the phone.
"Don't go."
Emilia shook her head.
"I'm not going there alone."
Marcus landed hard on the wet ground behind the house.
Daniel climbed down after him.
They moved through the trees.
"Where are we going?" Marcus asked.
"Old garage."
"Why?"
"There's a car."
"You planned this?"
Daniel looked at him.
"I've been investigating Dad for months."
Marcus stopped.
"Months?"
"Yes."
"You could have told me."
"You wouldn't have listened."
Marcus stared at him.
Daniel's expression softened.
"You were too busy trying to prove Dad was the man you needed him to be."
The words struck Marcus.
He wanted to argue.
But he couldn't.
They reached the garage.
Daniel opened the side door.
A dusty vehicle waited inside.
Marcus looked at it.
"Where did you get this?"
"Grandfather's."
Marcus stared.
"That's impossible."
"Not if he left it here."
Daniel opened the driver's door.
Inside was a folder.
He handed it to Marcus.
"Read it."
Marcus opened the folder.
Inside were copies of financial records.
Payments.
Transfers.
Shell companies.
His eyes moved quickly.
Then he saw a familiar name.
Evelyn Aldridge.
Marcus looked at Daniel.
"What is this?"
"I don't know."
Marcus continued reading.
The payments had begun twenty years ago.
They ended six months before Richard's death.
There was one final transaction.
A large transfer to an account under a different name.
Marcus recognized the destination.
Bellweather.
His stomach tightened.
"Mother was paying someone."
"Yes."
"Who?"
Daniel shook his head.
"We haven't identified the account holder."
Marcus looked at the records again.
Then he noticed a signature.
Not Evelyn's.
Not Richard's.
Someone else had authorized the transfers.
A single initial.
S.
Marcus looked at Daniel.
"Samuel."
Daniel nodded.
"That's what I think."
A car engine sounded outside.
Both brothers froze.
Headlights swept across the garage.
Daniel whispered,
"They found us."
Marcus closed the folder.
"How many?"
"One car."
The vehicle stopped.
A door opened.
Footsteps approached.
Marcus looked at his brother.
"For once, don't try to protect me."
Daniel gave him a faint smile.
"For once, don't try to do everything yourself."
The garage door began to rise.
Light flooded the room.
A figure stood outside.
Marcus recognized the face.
Not Evelyn.
Not Victor.
Not Edwin.
Someone much closer.
Someone he had trusted for years.
Daniel whispered,
"That's impossible."
Marcus stared.
Then the stranger raised a hand.
"Marcus."
His voice was calm.
"I think it's time you learned what your father did to your marriage."
The garage lights suddenly went out.
And somewhere in the darkness, Emilia's voice cried out.
"Marcus!"