Chapter 5 - The USB Drive Contained a Video of Richard Naming the Person He Believed Would Destroy Our FamilyWe watched the video in Michael's office.
The recording began with Richard sitting behind his desk.
He looked older than I remembered.
Tired.
Afraid.
But alive.
My chest tightened.
“Claire,” he said.
I covered my mouth.
I hadn't heard his voice in five years.
For a moment, I was back in our kitchen.
He was calling me downstairs for dinner.
I could almost smell the coffee.
Then he spoke.
“If you're watching this, I'm probably dead.”
Emily began crying.
Richard continued.
“I don't know who will find this. Maybe Claire. Maybe Daniel. Maybe Emily. Maybe someone who should never have seen it.”
He leaned toward the camera.
“The person behind the fraud is Thomas Bennett.”
I looked at Emily.
Richard continued.
“But Thomas isn't the mastermind.”
Michael paused the video.
“That's important.”
“Keep playing.”
The video resumed.
“Thomas is being controlled by someone else.”
Richard named the man.
Victor Shaw.
But Victor was supposed to be dead.
Richard explained that Victor had created multiple shell companies and used Thomas as a front.
Then he said something that shocked me.
“Victor has someone inside our family.”
The screen went dark for a second.
Then Richard appeared again.
“Claire, this is the part you need to understand.”
He looked directly into the camera.
“The person closest to you may be the one they use against you.”
I felt sick.
Richard continued.
“I can't tell you who because if this recording is discovered, the information could put them in danger.”
Michael paused the video.
“That's frustrating.”
I nodded.
Then the video resumed.
Richard said:
“Claire, I want you to know something. I never stopped loving you.”
Tears filled my eyes.
“I know I hurt you.”
His voice cracked.
“I know you think I abandoned you.”
He looked down.
“I didn't.”
I cried silently.
“The divorce was the only way I could separate you from the investigation.”
He explained that investigators believed anyone connected to him could be targeted.
“So I made you hate me.”
I whispered:
“You idiot.”
Richard smiled faintly.
“If you're watching this, you're probably angry.”
He knew me too well.
“I hope you are.”
Then his expression became serious.
“Because anger will keep you alive.”
The screen went black.
The recording ended.
No one spoke.
Finally, Michael said:
“We need to find Victor.”
“How?”
Samuel answered.
“Victor isn't dead.”
“Where is he?”
“We don't know.”
Then my phone rang.
It was Daniel.
“Mom?”
“Yes?”
“Are you sitting down?”
“No.”
“You should.”
My stomach tightened.
“Why?”
“Someone broke into my house.”
I froze.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes.”
“Is your family safe?”
“They're with me.”
“What did they take?”
“Nothing.”
“Then what did they leave?”
Silence.
Daniel said:
“A photograph of Dad.”
My blood ran cold.
“What did it say?”
“Come to the old Bennett warehouse tomorrow at midnight.”
I looked at Michael.
He shook his head immediately.
“Absolutely not.”
Daniel continued.
“Mom, there's something else.”
“What?”
“The message was written on the back of a photograph from my childhood.”
I closed my eyes.
May you like
Someone wasn't just threatening us.
They were reminding us that they had been watching our family for years.
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