Chapter 10 - The Son Nobody Counted
Martin Cole survived the night.
Conrad traveled to Albany with Detective Sloan.
Nathan was already at the hospital.
Margaret sat beside him.
The family secrets had become so tangled Conrad no longer knew which revelation belonged to which generation.
Martin looked smaller than Conrad remembered.
His hair had gone white.
Bruises covered his face.
One arm was in a cast.
But his eyes remained sharp.
He looked at Conrad.
“You became your father.”
Conrad pulled a chair closer.
“I hope that’s a compliment.”
“It is.”
“Who did this to you?”
Martin glanced toward Sloan.
“I didn’t see their faces.”
“Julian?”
“I don’t know.”
“Agatha?”
Martin laughed weakly.
“Agatha doesn’t dirty her hands unless she has to.”
Conrad thought about his father’s tea.
“Tell me about the fourth recording.”
Martin’s expression changed.
“Caroline was brave.”
“She was also my wife. Stop speaking about her like a witness statement.”
Martin nodded.
“You’re right.”
“What did she record?”
“Julian meeting someone at Briar House.”
“Who?”
Martin looked at Nathan.
Then Margaret.
Finally Conrad.
“Your brother.”
Conrad frowned.
“Julian is my brother.”
Martin shook his head.
“Your other brother.”
Silence.
Conrad stared.
“I don’t have another brother.”
“You do.”
Martin’s voice became softer.
“Richard had a son before he met Agatha.”
Conrad felt exhausted beyond surprise.
“Who?”
“His name is Thomas Vale.”
Sloan began taking notes.
“Age?”
“Forty-six.”
“Where is he?”
“I don’t know.”
Conrad shook his head.
“My father had another child and nobody knew?”
“Agatha knew.”
Of course she did.
Martin explained.
Richard had been twenty-one when Thomas was born.
The mother later married another man.
Richard sent money privately but stayed away at her request.
Years later Thomas learned who his biological father was.
He approached Richard.
They slowly built a relationship.
Agatha discovered it.
She became convinced Richard intended to recognize Thomas publicly and divide the trust among three sons.
“Did he?”
“No. Richard told Thomas he would provide personally for him but would not alter the family trust on that basis.”
“What does this have to do with Caroline?”
“Thomas worked with Julian.”
Conrad stared.
“Why?”
“Resentment.”
Martin coughed.
“Julian believed Richard loved you most. Thomas believed Richard had erased him. They hated different things about the same man.”
“So they stole from him together.”
“Yes.”
“And Caroline recorded them.”
Martin nodded.
“On the night she died, Caroline followed Julian to Briar House. Thomas was there. Agatha arrived later.”
Conrad’s pulse quickened.
“All three?”
“Yes.”
“What did they say?”
“I never heard the entire recording.”
“Why?”
“Caroline called me. She said she had proof they were moving money and proof of something else.”
“What?”
Martin closed his eyes.
“She said Thomas admitted helping Agatha alter Richard’s medication.”
Conrad stopped breathing.
Sloan leaned forward.
“Did he say Agatha instructed him?”
“According to Caroline, yes.”
“And Julian?”
“He knew after the fact.”
Conrad’s stomach turned.
His father had been murdered.
His mother ordered it.
His unknown half brother helped.
Julian concealed it.
“What happened to Caroline afterward?”
Martin opened his eyes.
“She left Briar House.”
“Did they follow her?”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
“Thomas.”
The room became silent.
“Did Thomas cause the crash?”
Martin looked away.
“I don’t know.”
Conrad stood.
“You said the tape would destroy the family.”
“It will.”
“Then where is it?”
Martin looked at him.
“I moved it from the bench because Julian bought the house.”
“Where?”
“Somewhere Agatha could stare at it every day and never know.”
Conrad waited.
May you like
Martin smiled faintly.
“Richard’s grave.”
