Chapter 6 - The Death They Called an Accident
Daniel remembered his father’s death clearly.
Richard Carter had supposedly suffered a heart attack while driving home from the office seven years earlier.
His car had crashed against a highway barrier.
Victoria had arranged a private funeral within forty-eight hours.
Daniel had been twenty-seven and overwhelmed by grief. Marcus had been barely twenty-two.
Neither son questioned their mother.
Now Elena’s voice forced Daniel to question everything.
“I found old insurance files in Victoria’s study,” Elena said on the recording. “Your father’s official medical report stated cardiac arrest, but an unsigned toxicology page listed a sedative in his bloodstream.”
Daniel stopped breathing.
“The document was removed before the final report. Dr. Reeves signed the death certificate.”
The same doctor who sedated Elena.
Elena continued.
“Your father had scheduled a meeting with Samuel Grant that night. Samuel says Richard discovered Victoria was transferring company money through shell corporations.”
Daniel looked at Detective Brooks.
“Samuel is alive?”
“We’re checking.”
The recording played on.
“Victoria told everyone Samuel fled after stealing from the company. But he didn’t flee. He was threatened. He has been living under another name because he believed Victoria would hurt his family.”
Elena’s voice shook.
“I contacted him. He agreed to testify if I could prove the current transfers.”
Then a sound occurred in the recording.
A door opening.
Elena whispered, “Someone’s coming.”
The recording ended.
Brooks took the device.
“This changes the investigation.”
“My father was murdered.”
“We don’t know that yet.”
Daniel’s eyes burned.
“The same doctor signed his death certificate and drugged my wife.”
Brooks did not argue.
Daniel went to Elena’s recovery room.
She remained unconscious, connected to monitors.
He sat beside her and held her hand.
“You found what I refused to see.”
He looked at the bruising around her wrist where someone had held her down.
“I left you alone in that house.”
Elena’s heart monitor continued its steady rhythm.
Daniel leaned close.
“I’m going to protect you now. Both of you.”
His phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
When he answered, an older man spoke.
“Daniel, this is Samuel Grant.”
Daniel stood.
“Where are you?”
“Somewhere your mother hasn’t found me yet.”
“Did she kill my father?”
Samuel was silent for several seconds.
“Richard was alive after the crash.”
Daniel’s stomach turned.
“What?”
“I reached the scene before the ambulance.”
Samuel’s voice broke.
“Your mother and Dr. Reeves were already there.”
“What did they do?”
“They convinced the paramedics he had a do-not-resuscitate order.”
Daniel gripped the phone.
“My father never had one.”
“I know.”
Samuel inhaled unsteadily.
May you like
“And I have the original document that proves it was forged.”
👉 Samuel agreed to return—but Victoria had already discovered where he was hiding.
