Chapter 5 - THE SECRET MARRIAGENobody spoke for several seconds.
Then Daniel whispered, “What?”
Margaret took a seat.
Her hand shook.
I crouched beside her.
“Tell me everything.”
She looked at me.
“I didn't want you to know.”
“You married me because you loved me.”
“I did.”
“Then why hide this?”
“Because I was afraid.”
Richard remained several yards away with Vanessa.
The police were still near the estate.
Guests were leaving.
But none of that mattered anymore.
Margaret began speaking.
“When I was twenty-six, I married a man named Peter Langford.”
I had never heard the name.
“He was kind,” she said. “Funny. Impulsive. He wanted to build houses.”
She paused.
“His business partner was Richard Caldwell.”
My stomach dropped.
“Richard stole from him.”
“How much?”
“At first, not much.”
She looked down at her hands.
“Then everything.”
Peter confronted Richard.
Two days later, Peter disappeared.
Police called it voluntary disappearance.
Margaret never believed it.
“He left his wallet,” she said.
“His car?”
“Still in the garage.”
“Phone?”
“Still on the kitchen counter.”
I stared at her.
“What did you do?”
“I went to Richard.”
“And?”
“He told me Peter had run away.”
“Did you believe him?”
“No.”
Margaret reached into her purse.
Her fingers trembled as she pulled out an envelope.
“I kept this.”
Inside was a photograph.
Three men.
Peter.
Richard.
And another man I did not recognize.
On the back was a handwritten note.
If anything happens to me, ask about the Briarwood ledger.
I looked at Daniel.
He looked stunned.
“What ledger?”
Margaret shook her head.
“I don't know.”
Richard's voice came from behind us.
“You know exactly what it is.”
We turned.
He had stepped closer.
A police officer moved toward him.
Richard stopped.
“I am not running.”
I stood.
“What happened to Peter?”
Richard smiled bitterly.
“He made choices.”
“Where is he?”
“I don't know.”
Margaret looked at him.
“You always lie.”
He looked at her.
“And you always survive.”
Vanessa stepped forward.
“Dad.”
Richard ignored her.
He kept staring at Margaret.
“For twenty-five years you kept quiet.”
“Because you threatened me.”
“And you think silence protects people?”
Margaret's lips trembled.
“No.”
She looked toward me.
“It only delays the damage.”
Daniel stepped beside her.
“Did you know my mother before she met Dad?”
Richard answered.
“Yes.”
“How?”
“She came to me after Peter disappeared.”
“To ask where he was?”
“Yes.”
“And you threatened her?”
Richard didn't answer.
That was answer enough.
I felt my hands curl into fists.
“Why are you after the trust?”
Richard's expression changed.
“The trust isn't the target.”
“Then what is?”
He glanced toward Briarwood Estate.
“The ledger.”
I frowned.
“What ledger?”
“The one Peter was hiding when he disappeared.”
Daniel's face went pale.
“You're saying the same ledger is still here?”
Richard looked at him.
“You really don't know?”
A cold silence spread.
“Know what?” I asked.
Richard smiled.
“Your son has been digging through the wrong family.”
He pointed toward the estate.
“Peter's ledger was never in a bank.”
“Where was it?”
Richard's eyes moved to Margaret.
“She hid it.”
Margaret whispered:
“No.”
Richard nodded.
“Yes.”
“Where?”
He leaned closer.
“You gave it to your new husband.”
My breath caught.
I looked at Margaret.
She began crying.
“I never knew.”
Richard smiled.
“That is why I always liked Thomas.”
He stepped back.
“He believes people when they tell him they're innocent.”
Then Vanessa suddenly screamed.
“Dad!”
Everyone turned.
She was staring toward the stairs leading into the house.
A man in a black suit stood at the top.
He held an old leather book.
And he looked directly at Margaret.
“Mrs. Whitmore?”
Margaret stopped breathing.
The man spoke.
“Peter asked me to give this to you.”
May you like
He dropped the ledger onto the floor.
And ran.
Related Stories
