Chapter 12: What My Father Buried
I had spent years believing my mother's death was an illness.
She had been diagnosed with a serious heart condition when I was in my twenties.
She died less than a year later.
I remembered the hospital room.
The white curtains.
The smell of antiseptic.
My father sitting beside her bed, holding her hand.
I remembered Monica crying in the hallway.
But Walter's words suggested there was something else.
"What does my mother have to do with this?"" I asked.
Walter looked at Daniel.
Then at Opal.
"I think Rebecca deserves to know everything.""
Daniel nodded.
"Tell us.""
Walter took a long breath.
"Your mother, Margaret, discovered that Thomas had been keeping financial records separate from the company accounts. She found evidence that Richard was stealing money.""
I shook my head.
"My mother didn't work for the company.""
"She didn't need to. She handled your father's personal paperwork.""
"What happened?""
"She confronted Thomas. He told her the truth about Richard, including the threats.""
I sat down.
"Then?""
"Richard found out she knew.""
Walter looked at the ground.
"Three weeks later, she was hospitalized.""
My throat tightened.
"Are you saying Richard caused her illness?""
"No. I'm saying your mother had information that could have destroyed his operation. And after she died, several of her personal documents disappeared.""
I stared at him.
"Who took them?""
Walter hesitated.
"Monica.""
I felt as though someone had struck me.
"No.""
"She was young, but Richard had already begun using her.""
"She was my little sister.""
Walter's eyes filled.
"I know.""
I turned away.
Daniel opened his briefcase.
"Mr. Hargrove, you mentioned a trust. Where are the original documents?""
"At Thomas's former attorney's office.""
"Do you know the attorney's name?""
"Martin Ellison. He handled the estate and the trust arrangements.""
Daniel immediately searched his phone.
"He's still practicing?""
Walter nodded.
"He should have the original documents.""
I looked at him.
"Why didn't my father tell me about the trust?""
"Because he feared Richard would target you.""
"Richard already targeted me.""
Walter lowered his eyes.
"Thomas believed that if you stayed away from the money, you would remain safe.""
I laughed bitterly.
"Four years in prison doesn't sound very safe.""
Opal reached for my hand.
"Rebecca, your father was trying to protect you.""
"I know.""
But I couldn't stop wondering how much of my life had been shaped by secrets.
Daniel made arrangements for Walter to be taken to a hospital for evaluation and protection.
Before the ambulance left, Walter asked to speak to me privately.
I approached him.
"Your father gave me something," he said.
"What?""
"A key.""
He reached into his pocket and removed a small brass key attached to a worn leather tag.
The number 317 was engraved on it.
"Where does it go?""
"Your father's old office. There was a storage compartment behind the desk.""
My heart began pounding.
"The locked drawer?""
Walter nodded.
"Yes. Thomas told me the key would eventually lead you to the truth.""
"Why didn't you tell Opal?""
"Because Richard was watching her. I couldn't risk the information getting out.""
I took the key.
Then Walter gripped my hand.
"Rebecca, there's something I need you to understand. The people who framed you didn't just want your company.""
"What else did they want?""
"Your father's evidence.""
He looked directly into my eyes.
"Your father had discovered that the money stolen from Hargrove Industrial and Hale Medical Supplies was connected to a much larger network. If the original records were released, several powerful people would be exposed.""
I stared at him.
"Who?""
Walter's expression darkened.
"People who have never appeared in any of the police reports.""
Before he could explain, the officers approached.
"Mr. Hargrove, we need to take you to the hospital.""
He nodded.
I stepped back.
Opal kissed his forehead.
"I'll see you soon.""
Walter held her hand.
"Promise me you'll come.""
"I've waited seven years. I'm not going anywhere.""
The ambulance doors closed.
Daniel drove us back to Worthington.
I spent the entire journey holding the brass key.
When we arrived at Opal's house, I went straight to the study.
The old desk was still there.
My father had bought one almost identical to it when he started his company.
I ran my fingers along the underside.
There was a narrow wooden panel behind the main drawer.
I inserted the key.
It turned.
A hidden compartment opened.
Inside were several envelopes, a small leather notebook, and a sealed letter bearing my name.
My hands trembled as I opened it.
My dearest Rebecca,
If you are reading this, then I have failed to protect you from the people I once trusted.
I stopped.
My eyes filled with tears.
I continued.
There are things I should have told you before I died. I wanted to believe that keeping you away from the business would keep you safe. I was wrong.
Your mother discovered the truth about Richard Voss. She also discovered that someone inside our own family was helping him.
I looked up.
Daniel was standing behind me.
"Keep reading.""
I swallowed.
Rebecca, if Monica ever comes to you asking for the trust documents, do not give them to her.
She knows what happened to your mother.
My fingers went cold.
The final paragraph was written in darker ink.
But there is one person you must find before you confront her. Her name is Catherine. She was the nurse who treated your mother during her final days. She knows why Margaret was really admitted to the hospital.
I lowered the letter.
"Catherine?""
Daniel opened the leather notebook.
There was an address written on the final page.
A nursing home in Cincinnati.
And beneath the address was a date.
The day my mother died.
I stared at it.
Then I noticed something else.
A second letter was tucked behind the notebook.
It was addressed to Monica.
Daniel opened it carefully.
Inside was a copy of the trust agreement.
The inheritance condition was written in bold.
*MONICA HALE SHALL RECEIVE HER SHARE ONLY UPON FULL DISCLOSURE OF HER INVOLVEMENT IN THE EVENTS SURROUNDING MARGARET HALE'S DEATH.*
I looked at Daniel.
"She knew about this?""
He nodded.
"That would explain why she's been searching for the original documents.""
My phone suddenly vibrated.
An unknown number.
I answered.
"Hello?""
A woman's voice whispered.
"Rebecca? My name is Catherine. I was your mother's nurse.""
I stood up.
"How did you get this number?""
"Your father gave it to me years ago. He told me to contact you if anything happened to Monica.""
My heart started pounding.
"What do you know about my mother?""
There was a long silence.
Then Catherine said:
"Your mother didn't die from her heart condition. Someone gave her medication she wasn't supposed to receive.""
I gripped the desk.
"Who?""
Catherine's voice trembled.
"Your sister was there that night.""
I couldn't speak.
Then she added:
"And Rebecca, there's something else. Your mother wasn't the only person who was poisoned.""
The call suddenly disconnected.
A second later, a text appeared on my screen.
It contained a photograph of Catherine standing outside her nursing home.
Someone had circled her face in red.
Beneath it were six words.
*STOP ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR MOTHER.*
I looked toward Daniel.
May you like
He was already reaching for his phone.
Because whoever had murdered the truth twenty-three years ago had just realized that I was finally getting close to it.
