Chapter 13 - What Amy Never Told MeI turned toward my wife.
“Amy?”
She couldn't speak.
My mother had accused her.
Victor had accused her.
Now even my attorney was staring.
“What happened before we met?”
Amy covered her face.
Then she whispered:
“I knew Teresa was dangerous.”
I felt my stomach drop.
“How?”
“My first job.”
She took a breath.
“I worked for a law office.”
“What law office?”
“Harold's.”
Silence.
I stared at her.
“You worked for my uncle?”
“I didn't know he was your uncle.”
“Did you know what they were doing?”
“No.”
“What did you see?”
She began crying.
“I saw financial records.”
My heart sank.
“Which records?”
“Transfers.”
“To shell companies.”
“Did you tell anyone?”
“I tried.”
She looked at me.
“Your father contacted me.”
I froze.
“My father?”
“He knew I had seen the records.”
“When?”
“Before we met.”
I felt like I couldn't breathe.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because your father made me promise.”
“Why?”
“He said your mother would hurt you.”
“What did he want?”
“He wanted me to protect you.”
I stared at her.
Our entire marriage had suddenly acquired a hidden layer.
“You didn't marry me because of this?”
“No.”
“I loved you before I knew any of it.”
She reached for my hand.
“I never used you.”
I wanted to believe her.
Part of me did.
Then Victor's recording replayed in my mind.
Ask your wife what she did before she met you.
What had he known?
Amy pulled out an old envelope.
“I kept this for years.”
Inside was a letter from my father.
Connor may one day doubt Amy.
If he does, tell him the truth.
She is not working for Teresa.
She is working against her.
My eyes burned.
There was more.
A photograph.
Amy and my father.
Taken before our first date.
I stared.
“You knew him before we met.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't he tell me?”
“Because he believed you needed a normal life.”
I sat down.
All those years.
My father had been protecting me from the shadows.
My wife had been part of that protection.
But the letter contained one final warning.
Teresa may try to destroy Amy by making Connor believe she betrayed him.
If that happens, she has succeeded.
I looked at Amy.
“I believe you.”
She began crying.
Then Frederick laughed.
His tiny hand reached toward us.
For one moment, everything felt normal.
Then Detective Hart entered.
“We found Victor.”
“Where?”
She handed me a photograph.
A motel outside Chattanooga.
“He left another message.”
“What does he want?”
“He says he will trade the location of one final piece of evidence for Teresa.”
My mother.
I looked at her through the observation window.
She was sitting alone.
She looked smaller than I had ever seen her.
I entered.
She looked up.
“Connor.”
“What evidence?”
She began crying.
“I don't have it.”
“Where is it?”
“Harold took it.”
“Which evidence?”
She hesitated.
“The recording of your father's murder.”
My body went cold.
“My father was murdered?”
Teresa closed her eyes.
“Yes.”
“Who killed him?”
She looked at me.
“I did not.”
“Who?”
She whispered one name.
“Victor.”
I stepped back.
“And you let it happen.”
Tears rolled down her face.
“I was afraid.”
“You let me believe my father died naturally.”
“Yes.”
“You stole from me.”
“Yes.”
“You tried to take my house.”
“Yes.”
“You hurt my wife.”
She nodded.
Then I asked:
“Why?”
She looked toward the floor.
“Because your father chose you.”
I stared.
“What does that mean?”
She whispered:
“He didn't leave the trust to both sons.”
“What?”
“He left everything to you.”
I felt the room spin.
“Michael was never the true heir.”
Teresa looked up.
“He was the decoy.”
And suddenly the entire thirty-year conspiracy made sense.
Except for one question.
Why had my father needed to hide the truth from Michael?
Before I could ask, the detective burst into the room.
“Connor.”
“What?”
“Victor just released the recording.”
She handed me headphones.
I pressed play.
May you like
My father's final words filled my ears.
And then I heard my own mother's voice.
