Chapter 8 - Uncle Andrew Comes Home

Andrew Reed arrived before police could summon him.

That worried Michael immediately.

He entered the hospital wearing an immaculate navy suit.

“What happened to Emily?”

Emily watched him.

Concern looked genuine.

Maybe that was what made him dangerous.

Michael stepped between him and the bed.

“You heard Sophia was arrested?”

Andrew nodded.

“Harold called.”

Michael’s eyes narrowed.

“Before his phone was seized?”

Andrew realized the mistake.

Too late.

Detective Torres entered.

“Mr. Reed, we need to speak with you.”

Andrew remained calm.

“Of course.”

Emily asked one question first.

“Did you know my father?”

Andrew looked at her.

“No.”

She held up Robert’s report.

His expression changed.

Barely.

But enough.

“You signed the Harbor Point concrete authorization.”

Andrew sighed.

“That was fourteen years ago.”

“Two workers died.”

“And I approved thousands of documents.”

Michael looked sharply toward him.

The excuse sounded familiar.

Signing without reading.

Power without responsibility.

Andrew continued.

“Harold handled operational compliance.”

“Did you know the concrete was defective?”

“No.”

“Robert Bennett said you did.”

“He was mistaken.”

“Jonathan believed him.”

Andrew looked at Michael.

“Your father became obsessive near the end.”

Michael’s jaw tightened.

“Careful.”

“I loved Jonathan.”

“Did you?”

Andrew’s eyes hardened.

“What exactly are you accusing me of?”

“Nothing yet.”

Detective Torres interrupted.

“We’ll handle questions.”

Andrew agreed to a formal interview.

Before leaving, he turned toward Emily.

“I am sorry for what Sophia did.”

Emily said nothing.

Andrew continued.

“She has always been troubled.”

Michael stared.

There it was.

Sophia would become the convenient monster.

Just as Emily had become one on the staircase when Sophia cried first.

“Don’t use her to protect yourself,” Michael said.

Andrew smiled faintly.

“You’re emotional.”

Michael almost laughed.

Jonathan’s warning again.

Andrew left with police.

Caroline looked toward Michael.

“He’s good.”

“At what?”

“Making the person questioning him feel unreasonable.”

Michael nodded.

He recognized the technique.

He had inherited some version of it himself.

That afternoon doctors cleared Emily from immediate danger.

The contractions stopped.

Baby remained stable.

She would stay another night.

Michael asked if Mason could visit.

Emily agreed.

The boy entered holding flowers.

He stopped three feet from Michael.

Michael crouched.

“Hey.”

Mason looked at him.

“Are you mad at me?”

Michael’s face collapsed.

“No.”

“I told about Aunt Sophia.”

“I’m proud you told.”

Mason’s shoulders relaxed slightly.

Then he looked at Emily’s cheek.

The redness had faded.

He still noticed.

“Dad hit you.”

Silence.

Michael nodded.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because I made a terrible decision.”

“Are you going to do it again?”

“No.”

“You promise?”

Michael looked at Emily before answering.

Promises were easy.

“I’m going to make sure I never do it again.”

Mason considered the wording.

Then nodded.

Emily’s eyes filled.

Later, Mason handed her a folded paper.

“I made this.”

A drawing.

The staircase.

Three figures.

A small square above them.

The camera.

But there was another figure behind the upstairs railing.

Emily frowned.

“Who’s that?”

Mason pointed.

“Uncle Andrew.”

Michael turned.

“What?”

“He was there before Aunt Sophia pushed Mom.”

Everyone froze.

“Where?”

“At the top.”

“Did Sophia see him?”

Mason nodded.

“What did he do?”

“He talked to her.”

Michael’s pulse quickened.

“Could you hear?”

“Some.”

“What did he say?”

Mason looked nervous.

“He said, ‘You only have one chance before Michael gets home.’”

Emily felt cold.

The staircase assault might not have been Sophia’s impulsive panic at all.

Andrew could have been directing her.

“Did Andrew touch your mom?”

“No.”

“Where did he go?”

“Back upstairs.”

Security footage from the main stair camera showed Sophia.

But the upper landing was partly blocked by a decorative wall.

Andrew could have stood there unseen.

Thomas checked side cameras.

One had been disabled for maintenance.

By whom?

Work order authorized by Andrew Reed.

The day before.

Michael looked at Emily.

Andrew had arranged a blind spot.

Sophia had known Emily would be on the stairs.

Michael had been due home minutes later.

May you like

My Husband Slapped Me Twice in His Jewelry Store—Then I Discovered He'd...

My husband slapped me twice in his luxury jewelry store while his mistress smiled. I left my wedding ring on the counter and warne...

My Husband Slapped Me Twice in His Jewelry Store—Then I Found the Forged...

My husband slapped me twice in front of his mistress, never realizing I had already discovered a forged document giving him contro...

THE SIGNATURE SHE NEVER GAVE

My husband hit me twice in his luxury jewelry store while his mistress stood watching. I didn't scream. I didn't fight back. I lef...

And Sophia’s false accusation was designed to make Michael act before anyone watched the recording.

Was Andrew’s real plan simply to steal the red folder—or had he expected Michael’s anger to become the final weapon against Emily?