Chapter 4 - The Man Everyone Trusted
Andrew Collins disappeared before Calvin could confront him.
His office was empty.
His phone was off.
His house had been cleared.
His assistant claimed he had left for an emergency family matter.
Calvin didn't believe her.
Neither did Nia.
They returned to the hotel.
Jamal laid out the documents on the bed.
“Look at the dates.”
Nia examined them.
Payments had been made for years.
Small amounts.
Nothing suspicious individually.
Together, millions.
Calvin paced.
“Andrew has been with me since I was twenty-four.”
“You trusted him.”
“With my life.”
Jamal frowned.
“Then maybe somebody hacked his accounts.”
Calvin shook his head.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because he was the person who first told me Loretta betrayed me.”
The room went quiet.
Nia slowly looked at him.
Calvin understood at the same moment.
Andrew had known the forged letter existed.
He had been there in 1991.
He had supposedly tried to warn Calvin.
But he was also the only person who could have made sure Calvin never learned the truth.
Nia whispered.
“What if Andrew wasn't protecting you?”
Calvin stared at the floor.
“What if he was protecting Victor?”
The answer came that night.
Andrew called.
“Calvin.”
His voice sounded exhausted.
“Where are you?”
“You know where.”
“Come back.”
“I can't.”
“Tell me the truth.”
Silence.
Then Andrew said:
“Your father was going to expose Victor. Victor threatened to kill him. I believed him.”
Calvin's jaw tightened.
“You helped him.”
“I was twenty-nine.”
“You helped him.”
“I thought I was saving myself.”
“You destroyed my life.”
“I know.”
Nia stepped closer.
“Tell him about my grandmother.”
Andrew hesitated.
Then he said something that made her skin crawl.
“Loretta knew too much.”
“What happened to her?”
“She was supposed to disappear.”
“But she didn't.”
“No.”
“Who stopped it?”
“Calvin's mother.”
Silence.
Calvin looked stunned.
“My mother?”
“She found out Victor planned to kill Loretta.”
“So she protected her?”
“Yes.”
“Then why did she never tell me?”
“Because Victor threatened Calvin.”
Calvin closed his eyes.
Andrew continued.
“Your mother—Calvin's mother—was terrified. She thought if you knew Loretta survived, Victor would kill you both.”
“Both?”
“Yes.”
Calvin's breathing became uneven.
“So my mother knew.”
“Yes.”
“And she let me believe Loretta abandoned me?”
“She thought it would keep you alive.”
The call ended.
Nia turned to Calvin.
“Your family has spent thirty years making decisions for you.”
He nodded.
“That ends now.”
Then the hotel lights went out.
A crash came from downstairs.
Jamal jumped up.
Calvin grabbed Nia.
“Stay here.”
“No.”
“Nia.”
“I've spent my whole life being told what I need to know.”
She reached for the flashlight.
“I'm done.”
They moved quietly toward the hallway.
A shadow crossed the stairwell.
Then a man's voice.
“Give us the book.”
Calvin stepped forward.
“Come get it.”
Footsteps rushed toward them.
Security arrived seconds later.
Three men fled.
One was caught.
He refused to speak.
Until Calvin pulled out the photograph of Victor.
The man's face changed.
“You know him.”
“No.”
The man laughed.
“You think Victor Mercer is dead?”
Calvin froze.
“What did you say?”
May you like
The man smiled.
“Your uncle never died.”
