Chapter 13 - THE MAN BEHIND EVERYTHING
Lucas stared at the screen.
“No.”
His father, Richard Bennett, had died two years earlier.
A respected attorney.
Community leader.
The man who taught Lucas right from wrong.
The man who had held Lucas while he cried after Rachel’s crash.
Rachel’s recorded voice played.
“If you’re watching this, I probably failed.”
The video shook slightly.
“Richard Bennett has been laundering money for Charles Mercer for at least eight years.”
Lucas stepped backward.
Vanessa watched him.
“Hurts, doesn’t it?”
“Shut up.”
Rachel continued.
“Charles thinks Richard works for him.”
She looked directly into the camera.
“He doesn’t.”
Lucas’s stomach turned.
“Richard built the network.”
Lucas paused the video.
He couldn’t breathe.
His father had paid for Emma’s school.
Taken her to the park.
Sat beside her hospital bed after the crash.
All while hiding the truth.
Vanessa whispered, “Your family wasn’t better than mine.”
Lucas turned.
“Don’t compare us.”
“Why not?”
“My father’s crimes don’t excuse yours.”
Vanessa laughed.
“Still righteous.”
Police entered the room.
Vanessa raised her hands.
As they arrested her, she looked at Lucas.
“You think this ends with me?”
Lucas didn’t answer.
She leaned closer as officers cuffed her.
“Your father left someone behind.”
“Who?”
Vanessa smiled.
“You’ll find out.”
She was taken away.
Lucas watched the rest of Rachel’s recording.
She had discovered Richard managed the legal architecture behind dozens of shell companies.
Charles handled public operations.
Richard protected them.
Then Rachel uncovered something worse.
A list of judges.
Police officers.
Doctors.
Government contractors.
People who had accepted money.
Rachel copied everything.
Richard found out.
According to the video, he ordered Charles to stop her.
Lucas’s father had helped cause Rachel’s crash.
Lucas broke down.
Grace found him sitting alone.
She saw the screen.
“Oh God.”
Lucas looked at her.
“Dad.”
Grace covered her mouth.
“He knew.”
Lucas nodded.
“He knew all of it.”
They watched another recording.
This one showed Richard arguing with someone in an office.
The second person never appeared on camera.
But their voice was clear.
A woman.
“You promised Rachel would only be scared.”
Richard replied, “Plans changed.”
The woman said, “Emma was in the car.”
“I know.”
“You could have killed her.”
Richard turned toward the camera accidentally.
“Then you should have made sure Rachel left her home.”
Lucas stopped the recording.
Grace looked sick.
“That woman sounds familiar.”
Lucas replayed it.
Again.
And again.
Then Emma entered the room.
She listened for three seconds.
Her face changed.
“I know her.”
Lucas turned.
“Who?”
May you like
Emma whispered,
“Grandma Diane.”
