Amanda moved closer to Derek, her face showing a mixture of pity and satisfaction.
“Barl, we just want you to get better. Derek thinks you should see someone professional.”
“Derek, would you help me understand what I’ve done wrong? I trust your judgment about business matters.”
Dererick’s eyes lit up with predatory satisfaction.
He thought I was completely broken and surrendering to his authority. “Of course, Barl. The first step is acknowledging that your perception of events has been distorted by stress and exhaustion.”
As Derek launched into his carefully crafted explanation of my supposed crimes, I noticed Dad seemed increasingly confused.
He kept rubbing his temples and asking Amanda to repeat things she just said. “Dad, are you feeling okay?” I asked. “Just a little foggy,” Dad mumbled.
“Derek says it’s normal stress from dealing with the business problems.”
A chill ran down my spine. Dad’s symptoms looked like more than stress. They looked like someone was drugging him.
Derek quickly redirected the conversation. “Frank’s been having some anxiety about the financial situation, so I’ve been making him herbal tea that helps with stress management.”
Herbal tea. I glanced toward the kitchen and saw dad’s favorite coffee mug sitting on the counter half empty.
Derek had been medicating my father to make him more compliant and confused. “Derek, that’s so thoughtful of you to take care of dad,” I said, playing along while my anger boiled. “Maybe you could show me how you prepare the tea so I can help, too.”
“Actually, Barl, I think it’s better if I handle Dad’s medication routine.
You’re not in the right headsp space to take on additional responsibilities right now.”
Amanda nodded earnestly. “Dererick’s been so helpful with everything. He even helped Dad organize his important papers yesterday.”
My heart rate spiked.
“What kind of important papers?”
Dererick’s smile became slightly strained. “Just some financial documents that needed to be updated. Nothing for you to worry about in your current state.”
I knew I needed to push harder to get Derek to reveal his plans, even if it meant making him suspicious.
“Derek, I want to make up for the money I stole. Could you help me understand exactly how much I took so I can figure out how to pay it back?”
“Barl, you don’t need to worry about that right now. The most important thing is getting you the help you need.”
“But I feel so guilty.
Please just tell me what I did so I can start fixing it.”
Derek glanced at Amanda, and I could see him calculating how much to reveal. “Well, if it will help you accept responsibility, the total amount of unauthorized transfers was approximately $400,000.”
$400,000. That was more than Tom had estimated, which meant Derek was planning to steal even more money and blame me for all of it.
“How could I have taken so much without remembering?” I asked, genuinely horrified at the scope of Derek’s frame job. “Memory loss is common with stressinduced psychological breaks,” Derek explained with false sympathy. “The good news is that with proper treatment and family support, you can recover from this.”
My phone buzzed with a text from Marcus: in position calling Derek now with investment opportunity.
Right on quue, Derek’s phone rang. He glanced at the screen and frowned. “I’m sorry.
This is a business call I need to take. It’ll just be a few minutes.”
Derek stepped onto the front porch to take the call, speaking in hush tones. Through the window, I could see him pacing and gesturing excitedly.
Amanda sat down next to me. “Barl, I know this is hard to hear, but Dererick’s been amazing through all of this. He could have just walked away when he discovered the financial problems, but he’s committed to helping our family recover.”
“You really trust him completely?”
“Absolutely.
Dererick loves me and he loves our family. He’s sacrificing his own career opportunities to help us get through this crisis.”
I wanted to shake her and tell her the truth, but I had to maintain my cover until Dererick incriminated himself completely. Derek came back inside, his face flushed with excitement.
“Sorry about that. A potential business partner wants to meet tonight about a time-sensitive investment opportunity.”
“That sounds wonderful,” Mom said. “Is this related to helping our family business?”
“Potentially.
This investor is interested in acquiring distressed family businesses and restructuring them for profitability. If tonight’s meeting goes well, it could solve all our financial problems.”
Derek was talking about selling our family business to his criminal associates as if it were a legitimate transaction. “Derek, you’re so smart about business,” I said, maintaining my submissive act.
“Do you think this investor would be interested in H Heartwell and Sons, even with all the problems I caused?”
Derek’s eyes gleamed. “Actually, situations like ours are exactly what these investors look for. Family businesses with good underlying assets, but temporary management problems can be very profitable after restructuring.”
“What kind of restructuring?”
“Usually they replace the existing management entirely, streamline operations, and optimize asset utilization.
The original family typically receives a cash settlement and moves on to other opportunities.”
Amanda looked confused. “Wait, does that mean we’d sell the business completely?”
Derek backtracked quickly. “Not sell exactly, more like a partnership where professional managers handle operations while the family benefits from improved profitability.”
But I could see the truth in his expression.
Derek was planning to sell our business to his criminal network, probably for far less than it was worth, and keep most of the money for himself. My phone buzzed again. This time it was Tom.
Derek just confirmed meeting location. We have enough evidence. Get out safely.
But before I could make an excuse to leave, Dererick’s phone rang again. This time, instead of stepping outside, he answered it right in front of us. “What do you mean she’s been asking questions?” Dererick’s voice was sharp with sudden alarm.
“Are you sure it was the same barrel heartwell?”
My blood turned to ice as Dererick’s eyes locked onto mine with cold calculation. “I have to call you back,” Dererick said, ending the call. “Barl, we need to talk privately.”
Amanda looked between us, sensing the sudden tension.
“Derek, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong, sweetheart. I just need to clarify a few things with Barl about her treatment options.”
But Dererick’s entire demeanor had changed. The false warmth was gone, replaced by predatory alertness.
He knew something was wrong, and he was looking at me like I was a threat instead of a victim. “Actually, Derek, I think I should go home and rest,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “This has been emotionally exhausting.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea, Barl.
I think you should stay here where your family can keep an eye on you. You seem agitated again.”
Derek moved between me and the front door, and I realized I might be in serious physical danger. He knew I was investigating him, and he wasn’t going to let me leave to expose his plans.
Amanda finally sensed something was wrong. “Derek, you’re scaring me. What’s going on?”
“I’m protecting this family from someone who’s been lying to all of us,” Dererick said, his voice turning cold and threatening.
“Barl hasn’t been having a breakdown. She’s been working with outside investigators to sabotage our family’s recovery.”
Dad looked up from his chair, struggling to focus. “What investigators?
I don’t understand what’s happening.”
“That phone call was from a business associate who saw Barl meeting with private investigators and federal agents this morning,” Derek continued. “She’s been recording our conversations and trying to gather evidence to frame me for the crimes she committed.”
The mask was finally off. Dererick’s true personality emerged, and it was terrifying.
He looked at me with cold calculation, like he was deciding whether I was worth keeping alive. “Amanda, call the police,” I said firmly. “Derek is not who you think he is.”
“Don’t you dare,” Dererick snapped at Amanda.
“Barl is desperate and dangerous. She’ll say anything to avoid taking responsibility for stealing from your family.”
But something in Dererick’s tone finally broke through Amanda’s infatuation. For the first time, she looked at him with uncertainty instead of adoration.
“Derek, you’re acting really strange. Maybe we should all just calm down and talk about this rationally.”
“It’s too late for talking,” Derek said grimly. “Barl has forced my hand by involving federal investigators.
Now I have to accelerate the timeline and cut my losses.”
He pulled out his phone and started typing rapidly. “I’m arranging emergency transportation and asset liquidation. Amanda, get your father’s bank account information and power of attorney documents.
We’re leaving tonight.”
“Leaving?” Amanda’s voice was small and confused. “Derek, what are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about survival.
