Chapter 7 - THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH“Gideon?”
I couldn't believe it.
Detective Blake confirmed it.
“We found financial transfers between him and Martin.”
I sat down.
“That can't be right.”
“I understand.”
“He helped me.”
“He may have been trying to control the investigation.”
My hands became cold.
“Where is he?”
“We don't know.”
I immediately thought of the hidden room.
The files.
The cabin.
The evidence.
Had Gideon known about everything before I did?
Had he guided me toward the truth because it served him?
I drove to the cabin.
The hidden room was unlocked.
That had never happened before.
I entered.
The shelves were disturbed.
One box was missing.
I knew exactly which one.
The financial records.
I called Detective Blake.
“Someone has been here.”
“We're on our way.”
I searched the room.
Then noticed something beneath the desk.
A small envelope.
My son's handwriting.
Mom, if Gideon ever betrays you, don't trust the first story you hear.
I opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
Gideon standing beside Thaddeus.
But they weren't alone.
A third man stood with them.
My son's business partner.
Elliot Grant.
I remembered him.
He had attended the funeral.
He had cried.
He had told me:
“Thaddeus was like a brother.”
I turned the photograph over.
On the back, Thaddeus had written:
Gideon knows about Elliot.
I stared.
Then I understood.
Gideon wasn't necessarily the mastermind.
He had been investigating Elliot.
Detective Blake had found financial transfers.
But perhaps they were payments for the investigation.
I called Gideon.
No answer.
Then my phone received a message.
Don't trust anyone. Come to the old mill. Alone.
No name.
I knew I shouldn't go.
So I called Detective Blake.
But before he arrived, I received another message.
If you want to know why your son really died, come now.
I drove to the old mill.
Detective Blake followed secretly.
Inside, I found Gideon.
He looked exhausted.
“I'm sorry.”
I stared at him.
“Did you betray me?”
“No.”
“Then explain.”
He handed me a folder.
“Elliot was working with Claire.”
I opened it.
There were photographs.
Bank transfers.
Emails.
Then one message from Elliot to Claire.
“Once Thaddeus is gone, the company will collapse.”
Another:
“His mother will be easy to remove.”
I felt sick.
Gideon continued.
“Claire wasn't the mastermind.”
“Who was?”
He looked at me.
“Elliot.”
I couldn't breathe.
“He manipulated Claire.”
“He convinced her Thaddeus would leave her.”
“He promised her money.”
“And he planned to take the company.”
I stared at the documents.
“Then why did Claire agree?”
“Because she was greedy.”
“And Thaddeus?”
“He found out.”
“So Elliot killed him?”
Gideon shook his head.
“We don't know.”
Suddenly, the mill door slammed shut.
We turned.
Elliot stood there.
He was holding a gun.
My blood froze.
May you like
He smiled.
“I'm afraid you've learned too much.”
