Chapter Nine: The Truth Emerges
1220 Words
Jake barely had time to process Margaret's words before footsteps approached the door. He ducked into the nearest room—a small library—and held his breath as Margaret and Robert passed by.
"Get yourself together," Margaret told Robert. "We have a family meeting at nine. I expect you to back me up completely."
"I... yes. Of course."
After they passed, Jake waited a full minute before slipping back upstairs. His mind was racing. What had Margaret done before? What had Robert been about to accuse her of?
The System's voice was grim. "That sounded like a confession to something serious. Margaret's done something bad. Possibly very bad."
Lisa was sitting up in bed when Jake returned, looking worried. "What was that about?"
"I need you to tell me everything you know about your parents' accident," Jake said. "Every detail."
Lisa's face went white. "Why?"
"Because I think Margaret might have been involved."
"That's insane. Why would she—"
"To get control of the company and your inheritance. Think about it, Lisa. Who benefited most from their deaths?"
Lisa looked like she might be sick. "No. That's... she couldn't have..."
"I'm not saying she definitely did. I'm saying we need to investigate." Jake sat beside her. "Your parents died seven years ago. What were the circumstances exactly?"
Lisa's hands were shaking. "Car accident. Winter, icy roads. They were driving back from a business dinner. Their car went off a bridge into the river. Both drowned."
"Were there any investigations? Anything suspicious?"
"The police investigated. Said it was an accident. Ice on the bridge, my father was driving too fast, lost control." Lisa's voice cracked. "I was eighteen. I believed it because I couldn't imagine anyone would..."
A new mission notification appeared: Uncover the Truth. Investigate the death of Lisa's parents. Reward: one hundred MP plus major alliance boost. Warning: Dangerous.
"We need to talk to someone who knows about the investigation," Jake said. "Morrison might be able to help."
At six AM, Marcus Stone arrived with his security team. He was a big man, early fifties, with the bearing of someone who'd seen serious action.
"Mr. Rivera, Mrs. Harrison," he nodded. "I've got two of my best people outside. Nobody gets to you without going through them first."
"There's been a development," Jake said. He explained what he'd overheard carefully.
Marcus's expression darkened. "That sounds like a threat of physical harm. You want to file a report?"
"Not yet. Not until we have more information. But I need you to take this threat seriously."
"I always take threats seriously." Marcus pulled out small devices. "These are panic buttons. Press them, my team responds immediately. Both of you should carry one."
After Marcus left, Jake called Detective Morrison. It was early, but the detective answered on the second ring.
"Rivera. You have a knack for calling me at interesting times."
"I need to ask you about a case from seven years ago. John and Sarah Harrison. Car accident. Lisa's parents."
There was a long pause. "Why are you asking about that?"
"Because I think it might not have been an accident."
Another pause, longer this time. "Meet me at the diner on Fifth Street. One hour. Come alone."
Jake looked at Lisa. "Morrison wants to meet. He knows something."
"I'm coming with you," Lisa said immediately.
"He said alone—"
"They were my parents. I'm coming."
They arrived at the diner at seven-fifteen. Morrison was in a back booth, three cups of coffee already in front of him. He looked like he hadn't slept.
"I said alone," Morrison said when he saw Lisa.
"They were her parents," Jake said. "She has a right to know."
Morrison studied them both, then sighed. "Sit down. You're not going to like this."
They sat. Morrison pushed a worn folder across the table. "Seven years ago, I was a junior detective. Not lead on the Harrison case, but I saw the file. There were things that bothered me. Little things that didn't quite add up."
"Like what?" Lisa leaned forward.
"Like the fact that your father was an excellent driver with no accidents on his record. Like the fact that the ice on the bridge was only in one specific spot—the exact spot where he lost control. Like the fact that the brake lines on the car showed signs of tampering, but the lead detective ruled it damage from the crash."
Lisa's hand found Jake's under the table, gripping tight.
"I tried to pursue it," Morrison continued. "But the lead detective—guy named Brennan, retired now—shut me down hard. Said I was seeing conspiracies where there was just tragedy. Looking back, I think Brennan was paid off. But I couldn't prove it then, and I can't prove it now."
"But you believe it was murder," Jake said.
"I believe it's suspicious as hell. But belief isn't evidence. The case was closed seven years ago. Reopening it would require new evidence or a compelling reason to think the original investigation was flawed."
"What if we could provide both?" Jake asked.
Morrison looked at him sharply. "What have you got?"
"I overheard Margaret Harrison this morning saying she'd removed problems before and would do it again. I can testify to that."
"Hearsay. Not enough."
"What about financial motive? Margaret gained control of a multi-million-dollar company when Lisa's parents died."
"Circumstantial. Still not enough."
"Then what would be enough?" Lisa asked, her voice shaking.
"Physical evidence. Witness testimony from someone involved. Financial records showing payments to whoever sabotaged the car. Something concrete." Morrison leaned back. "But here's the thing—if you start investigating this publicly, you put a target on your backs. Margaret will know you're onto her."
"She already knows we're challenging her," Jake said. "We're supposed to sign new contract agreements this morning. We're not going to."
Morrison rubbed his face. "You two are either very brave or very stupid. Maybe both." He pulled out a business card and wrote on the back. "This is retired Detective Brennan's address. He lives in Florida now. If anyone knows what really happened that night, it's him. Maybe age has given him a conscience."
"And if he won't talk?" Lisa asked.
"Then you'll need a different strategy. Be careful. If Margaret really did kill your parents, she's capable of anything."
After Morrison left, Jake and Lisa sat in stunned silence.
"My parents were murdered," Lisa said finally, her voice hollow. "And Aunt Margaret has been sleeping in their house, running their company, raising me, all while knowing she killed them."
"We don't know for sure—"
"Yes, we do. You know it, I know it." Lisa's eyes were red but dry. "She killed my parents and I just let her control me for seven years."
"You were eighteen. You didn't know."
"I should have known." Lisa's voice cracked. "I should have questioned it, investigated it, done something."
Jake took both her hands. "Lisa, listen to me. You're not weak. You were manipulated by a murderer. But you're breaking free now. And we're going to make sure she faces justice."
"How? We don't have evidence."
"Then we get evidence. We talk to Brennan. We dig into financial records. We don't stop until we have enough to put her in prison."
- Writer
