Chapter 3 - The Video They Wanted Destroyed

Luke arrived at the hospital close to midnight.

A red mark covered the left side of his face.

His mother, Aunt Susan, walked beside him.

She looked frightened and furious.

“What happened?”

I asked.

Luke lowered his eyes.

“Uncle Richard hit me.”

My father had waited until the police finished questioning the first witnesses.

Then he followed Luke into the kitchen.

He demanded the phone.

When Luke refused, my father slapped him and tried to force his thumb onto the screen.

Aunt Susan heard the struggle.

She pulled her son away.

“Richard said Luke was destroying the family.”

She told us.

Detective Mills collected Luke’s formal statement.

Then he played the video.

The recording began several minutes before the kick.

Marissa stood near the picnic table.

Her face was red.

My father remained beside her.

My grandmother’s attorney, Samuel Harris, held the trust documents.

“The agreement protects Claire’s shares.”

Mr. Harris explained.

“Her child becomes the successor beneficiary.”

Marissa folded her arms.

“So the baby receives everything.”

“No.”

Mr. Harris replied.

“Claire retains control.”

“The child receives protection if something happens to Claire.”

My father spoke from behind the camera.

“We discussed transferring management authority to me.”

Mr. Harris looked at him.

“Management is not ownership.”

“Mrs. Evelyn Bennett made her wishes clear.”

Then Marissa turned toward me.

“You always think you’re better than family.”

I closed the folder.

“I am not discussing this while you are screaming.”

“You brought a lawyer to a barbecue.”

“Dad invited him.”

My father’s voice became firmer.

“Claire, sign the temporary management transfer.”

“I will sign after Mr. Harris reviews every page.”

Marissa followed me across the lawn.

“Give Dad the company.”

“No.”

“You don’t deserve it.”

“I cared for Grandma while you ignored her calls.”

“You made her hate me.”

“She never hated you.”

“You stopped answering because she asked you to visit without requesting money.”

My mother appeared near the edge of the frame.

She watched Marissa follow me.

She did nothing.

Noah moved toward us.

“Marissa, step away from Claire.”

Marissa released my arm.

For half a second, everyone became still.

Then my father said something.

“If that baby is born, you will never get another chance.”

Marissa turned toward him.

Her face was visible.

So was his.

He did not look surprised by her anger.

He looked impatient.

Marissa looked back at me.

Her eyes dropped toward my stomach.

Then she screamed.

“This is what you get for thinking you’re better than family!”

She kicked me.

Luke’s camera shook.

My body struck the grass.

Noah rushed forward.

Marissa stumbled back.

The video also captured something none of us noticed.

While everyone ran toward me, my mother picked up the trust folder.

She placed it beneath her cardigan.

Then she hurried toward the house.

Noah paused the recording.

“She took the documents.”

Aunt Susan covered her mouth.

Luke nodded.

“She gave them to Uncle Paul.”

My uncle had left before officers began collecting witness statements.

“What was inside the folder?”

Detective Mills asked.

“The trust agreement.”

I said.

“And a sealed letter from Grandma.”

Mr. Harris had not allowed anyone to open the letter before the signing.

He said it explained why my grandmother changed the ownership structure.

Detective Mills called him.

Someone had broken into his office.

His computer was gone.

The physical estate file had also disappeared.

Mr. Harris kept an encrypted backup elsewhere.

But the original letter was missing.

“My father knew about the letter.”

I said.

“He kept asking what Grandma wrote.”

Aunt Susan sat beside the window.

Her hands trembled.

“Your father was afraid of Evelyn near the end.”

She said.

“Why?”

“I do not know.”

“She told him she had recorded everything.”

My phone vibrated.

An anonymous message appeared.

The first image showed my grandmother sitting at her bedroom desk.

My father stood behind her.

His hand was wrapped tightly around her wrist.

The second image showed a bruise on her arm.

Beneath the photographs was one sentence.

THE WILL WAS NOT THE ONLY THING RICHARD TRIED TO FORCE HER TO SIGN.

A contraction tightened across my stomach.

The monitor began alarming.

Dr. Patel hurried inside.

Everyone was ordered into the hallway.

Noah stayed beside me.

The contraction passed after several minutes.

Dr. Patel adjusted my medication.

“You cannot continue absorbing this level of stress.”

She said.

“My family is destroying evidence.”

I replied.

“Then allow the police to chase your family.”

“Your responsibility is staying pregnant.”

After the room quieted, Detective Mills examined the anonymous message.

“The number was purchased near your aunt’s house.”

He said.

Aunt Susan looked toward the floor.

“I sent it.”

Everyone stared at her.

She reached into her purse.

Then she placed a small memory card on the hospital table.

“Your grandmother gave me this three weeks before she died.”

“She said to give it to Claire if Richard tried to stop the trust.”

My father had spent the day trying to destroy a letter.

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He did not know my grandmother’s voice had survived somewhere else.

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