Chapter 5 - Derek's ConfessionDerek refused to see me.
So I went to the jail anyway.
He looked different behind the glass.
Smaller.
Exhausted.
The arrogance was gone.
The anger too.
He picked up the phone.
For several seconds neither of us spoke.
Then he said:
“I didn't mean to hit you.”
I stared at him.
“You swung a car jack at my head.”
“I know.”
“You could have killed me.”
“I know.”
“You almost blinded me.”
His eyes dropped.
“I know.”
“Why?”
Silence.
“Why did you want the SUV?”
“I told you.”
“Business.”
“No.”
I waited.
Finally he whispered:
“There was something inside it.”
“The envelope.”
He looked at me sharply.
“Who told you?”
“Elias.”
Derek's face drained.
“You met him?”
“Yes.”
“Then we're all screwed.”
I felt a chill.
“Who is 'we'?”
“My family.”
“You mean Mom.”
He laughed bitterly.
“No. I mean everyone.”
I leaned closer.
“What was in the envelope?”
“A recording.”
“I know.”
“Do you know what was on it?”
“My father's murder.”
Derek looked away.
Then he nodded.
“I heard it.”
“When?”
“Two weeks ago.”
“How?”
“Mom showed me.”
“Why?”
“Because she was scared.”
“For once.”
“She said someone was blackmailing her.”
“Who?”
“That's the problem.”
He rubbed his face.
“She didn't know.”
I stared at him.
“Then why attack me?”
“Because she believed the recording was with you.”
“She was wrong.”
“I know that now.”
I thought about his words.
“Then why did you ask for the SUV?”
“Because Mom told me the recording was hidden in it.”
“Why would she think that?”
“Because she had seen the envelope.”
I frowned.
“When?”
“She searched your apartment.”
My stomach turned.
“When?”
“The night before the barbecue.”
I remembered.
My mother had visited unexpectedly.
She had insisted on cleaning.
She had hugged me for a long time.
Then asked about the new SUV.
I had thought she was just being curious.
Derek continued.
“She told me to get the envelope before someone else did.”
“Who?”
He shook his head.
“She didn't know.”
“And you believed her?”
“I had no choice.”
I stared at him.
“You always have a choice.”
His eyes filled with tears.
“Not when they threaten your life.”
“Who threatened you?”
Derek leaned closer.
“Vale.”
My heart stopped.
“Robert Vale.”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“He knew about my gambling debts.”
“So?”
“He paid them.”
I froze.
“What?”
“All of them.”
“How much?”
Derek looked away.
“Almost half a million.”
I stared.
“And what did he want?”
“Access.”
“To what?”
“You.”
I didn't understand.
“What does that mean?”
Derek swallowed.
“He said you were the key.”
“The key to what?”
“I don't know.”
“Derek!”
He flinched.
“I swear.”
I stood.
“Then why did he tell you to attack me?”
“He didn't.”
That stopped me.
“Mom did.”
My mother's name hung between us.
Derek continued.
“She said if you opened the recording, everything would collapse.”
“What would collapse?”
“The accounts.”
“Which accounts?”
“All of them.”
“What accounts?”
He looked at me with an expression I had never seen before.
Fear.
“There are six.”
“Six what?”
“Six identities.”
He swallowed.
“And yours is the oldest.”
I felt dizzy.
“What are the other five?”
He shook his head.
“I don't know.”
“Who are they?”
“I only saw the files.”
“Where?”
“At Mom's house.”
“Where?”
“In the basement.”
I sat back.
“My mother doesn't have a basement.”
Derek stared at me.
“She does.”
I frowned.
“Our house never had one.”
He whispered:
“Not that house.”
Then the line went silent.
“What does that mean?”
Derek didn't answer.
He looked over his shoulder.
Someone had entered the visiting area.
His face turned white.
“Derek?”
He whispered:
“They found you.”
“Who?”
“Don't tell Mom.”
“Derek, who?”
His eyes locked onto mine.
Then he mouthed:
“Get out.”
The lights suddenly flickered.
The phone line cut.
Guards rushed in.
I stood.
A fire alarm started screaming.
And through the chaos, I saw a man walking calmly down the hallway.
Robert Vale.
May you like
He looked directly at me.
And smiled.
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