Chapter 14: My Mother's Final Message
The hospital bracelet was kept in a box of my mother's belongings.
My father had collected her personal effects after her death and stored them in his office.
I remembered the box.
It had been among the things Trevor removed from my house after I was arrested.
"Do you know where it is?"" Daniel asked.
I shook my head.
"Not anymore.""
We returned to Opal's house and searched through my father's notebook.
There was an inventory of the items he had collected from the hospital.
One entry caught my attention.
Margaret's belongings — transferred to Ellison Legal Storage.
the box.
It had been among the things Trevor removed from my house after I was arrested.
"Do you know where it is?"" Daniel asked.
I shook my head.
"Not anymore.""
We returned to Opal's house and searched through my father's notebook.
There was an inventory of the items he had collected from the hospital.
One entry caught my attention.
Margaret's belongings — transferred to Ellison Legal Storage.
Daniel immediately called Martin Ellison, my father's former attorney.
He agreed to meet us that afternoon.
His office was in downtown Columbus, inside an old brick building with narrow hallways and polished wooden floors.
Martin was seventy-nine, with thick glasses and a walking stick.
When I introduced myself, he looked at me for aDaniel immediately called Martin Ellison, my father's former attorney.
He agreed to meet us that afternoon.
His office was in downtown Columbus, inside an old brick building with narrow hallways and polished wooden floors.
Martin was seventy-nine, with thick glasses and a walking stick.
When I introduced myself, he looked at me for a long time.
"Thomas's daughter.""
"Yes.""
He sighed.
"I wondered when you'd come.""
He led us into a private conference room.
"I kept several boxes for your father. He gave me strict instructions not to release them until you came personally.""
"Why?""
"Because he believed someone close to long time.
"Thomas's daughter.""
"Yes.""
He sighed.
"I wondered when you'd come.""
He led us into a private conference room.
"I kept several boxes for your father. He gave me strict instructions not to release them until you came personally.""
"Why?""
"Because he believed someone close to your family was monitoring his affairs.""
He opened a cabinet and removed a sealed cardboard box.
"Your mother was frightened during her final weeks. Thomas asked me to preserve everything connected to her hospitalization.""
I opened the box.
There were photographs, hospital receipts, prescription records, and a small plastic container.
Inside was a faded hospital your family was monitoring his affairs.""
He opened a cabinet and removed a sealed cardboard box.
"Your mother was frightened during her final weeks. Thomas asked me to preserve everything connected to her hospitalization.""
I opened the box.
There were photographs, hospital receipts, prescription records, and a small plastic container.
Inside was a faded hospital bracelet.
My mother's name was printed on it.
MARGARET HALE.
I lifted it carefully.
Something hard moved inside the plastic clasp.
Daniel brought over a small tool and gently opened it.
A tiny memory card fell into my palm.
I stared at it.
"She hid this?""
Martin nodded.
"Your father said it contained a recording.""
Daniel found an adapter in his briefcase.
We connected the memory card to his laptop.
A video appeared.
The image was dark and bracelet.
My mother's name was printed on it.
MARGARET HALE.
I lifted it carefully.
Something hard moved inside the plastic clasp.
Daniel brought over a small tool and gently opened it.
A tiny memory card fell into my palm.
I stared at it.
"She hid this?""
Martin nodded.
"Your father said it contained a recording.""
Daniel found an adapter in his briefcase.
We connected the memory card to his laptop.
A video appeared.
The image was dark and slightly distorted.
Then my mother's face filled the screen.
I stopped breathing.
She looked pale and tired, but her eyes were clear.
"Rebecca, sweetheart.""
I covered my mouth.
It was her voice.
The voice I hadn't heard in years.
"If you're watching this, something has happened to me. I hope I'm wrong. I hope your father has managed to keep you safe.""
She paused and looked toward the door.
Then she continued.
"I need you slightly distorted.
Then my mother's face filled the screen.
I stopped breathing.
She looked pale and tired, but her eyes were clear.
"Rebecca, sweetheart.""
I covered my mouth.
It was her voice.
The voice I hadn't heard in years.
"If you're watching this, something has happened to me. I hope I'm wrong. I hope your father has managed to keep you safe.""
She paused and looked toward the door.
Then she continued.
"I need you to understand something about Monica.""
My heart began pounding.
"She is not evil, Rebecca. She is frightened. Someone has convinced her that our family will destroy her if she tells the truth.""
I looked at Daniel.
The video continued.
"Richard Voss has been using our company to move money. Trevor is helping him. I discovered the transfers, and I confronted them to understand something about Monica.""
My heart began pounding.
"She is not evil, Rebecca. She is frightened. Someone has convinced her that our family will destroy her if she tells the truth.""
I looked at Daniel.
The video continued.
"Richard Voss has been using our company to move money. Trevor is helping him. I discovered the transfers, and I confronted them.""
My mother's eyes filled.
"Trevor told me he loved you. He said he would never hurt you. But I saw the documents. I saw your signature being copied.""
She leaned closer to the camera.
"He intends to make you responsible for everything.""
I felt tears running down my face.
My mother had.""
My mother's eyes filled.
"Trevor told me he loved you. He said he would never hurt you. But I saw the documents. I saw your signature being copied.""
She leaned closer to the camera.
"He intends to make you responsible for everything.""
I felt tears running down my face.
My mother had known.
She had tried to warn me.
Then her expression changed.
"There's something else, Rebecca. Something your father doesn't know.""
The recording became quieter.
"Monica is not the person who first approached Richard. She was brought into this by someone she trusted.""
She paused.
"Your sister believes she is protecting you by cooperating. She thinks Richard has evidence that known.
She had tried to warn me.
Then her expression changed.
"There's something else, Rebecca. Something your father doesn't know.""
The recording became quieter.
"Monica is not the person who first approached Richard. She was brought into this by someone she trusted.""
She paused.
"Your sister believes she is protecting you by cooperating. She thinks Richard has evidence that could destroy your life.""
I shook my head.
"Mom, why didn't you tell me?""
The video continued.
"Last night, Trevor entered my room. He said I needed to stop interfering. He told me that if I didn't cooperate, you would lose everything.""
My stomach turned.
"He changed the medication in my bedside cabinet. I recognized the bottle immediately. I had seen the prescription before.""
My mother began crying.
"I confronted him. He left. But this morning, the medication was changed could destroy your life.""
I shook my head.
"Mom, why didn't you tell me?""
The video continued.
"Last night, Trevor entered my room. He said I needed to stop interfering. He told me that if I didn't cooperate, you would lose everything.""
My stomach turned.
"He changed the medication in my bedside cabinet. I recognized the bottle immediately. I had seen the prescription before.""
My mother began crying.
"I confronted him. He left. But this morning, the medication was changed again.""
Daniel leaned closer to the screen.
My mother looked directly into the camera.
"Rebecca, I don't know whether I'll survive this. But if I don't, remember that your father has the original records. He knows where the money went.""
Then she whispered:
"And please, sweetheart, don't hate your sister until you know what happened to her.""
The video ended.
I sat completely still.
For several seconds, the only sound in the room was the hum of the laptop.
Daniel closed the computer.
again.""
Daniel leaned closer to the screen.
My mother looked directly into the camera.
"Rebecca, I don't know whether I'll survive this. But if I don't, remember that your father has the original records. He knows where the money went.""
Then she whispered:
"And please, sweetheart, don't hate your sister until you know what happened to her.""
The video ended.
I sat completely still.
For several seconds, the only sound in the room was the hum of the laptop.
Daniel closed the computer.
"We need to preserve this and provide it to the authorities.""
I nodded.
Martin opened another folder.
"There is something else Thomas left.""
He placed a sealed envelope on the table.
It was addressed to both my sister and me.
I opened it.
Inside was a handwritten statement from my father.
My daughters,
*I have made mistakes. I trusted people who did not deserve my trust. But I will not allow either of you to"We need to preserve this and provide it to the authorities.""
I nodded.
Martin opened another folder.
"There is something else Thomas left.""
He placed a sealed envelope on the table.
It was addressed to both my sister and me.
I opened it.
Inside was a handwritten statement from my father.
My daughters,
I have made mistakes. I trusted people who did not deserve my trust. But I will not allow either of you to carry the consequences of my mistakes.
The money in the trust belongs to both of you. However, the truth belongs to everyone you have hurt.
Monica, if you are reading this, I hope you found the courage to tell your sister what happened.
Rebecca, if you are reading this alone, do not assume your sister was beyond saving.
I stopped.
At the bottom was another sentence.
The person who ordered your mother's second medication change was not Trevor carry the consequences of my mistakes.
The money in the trust belongs to both of you. However, the truth belongs to everyone you have hurt.
Monica, if you are reading this, I hope you found the courage to tell your sister what happened.
Rebecca, if you are reading this alone, do not assume your sister was beyond saving.
I stopped.
At the bottom was another sentence.
The person who ordered your mother's second medication change was not Trevor. It was the man who signed your prison sentence into existence.
I looked up.
"What does that mean?""
Daniel took the letter.
"Who was the judge?""
I remembered the courtroom.
Judge Harold Whitmore.
He had sentenced me to five years.
. It was the man who signed your prison sentence into existence.*
I looked up.
"What does that mean?""
Daniel took the letter.
"Who was the judge?""
I remembered the courtroom.
Judge Harold Whitmore.
He had sentenced me to five years.
He had dismissed my attorney's objections.
He had refused to consider several pieces of evidence.
But there was something else.
After the trial, Trevor had told me that the judge had been a close family friend.
I had never thought much about it.
Daniel searched his laptop.
Then his expression changed.
"Rebecca, Judge Whitmore retired three years ago.""
"Where is he nowHe had dismissed my attorney's objections.
He had refused to consider several pieces of evidence.
But there was something else.
After the trial, Trevor had told me that the judge had been a close family friend.
I had never thought much about it.
Daniel searched his laptop.
Then his expression changed.
"Rebecca, Judge Whitmore retired three years ago.""
"Where is he now?""
Daniel turned the screen toward me.
A recent photograph showed the judge attending a charity dinner.
Standing beside him was Richard Voss.
And beside Richard was Monica.
I stared at the picture.
My sister had been attending charity events with the man who had helped destroy my life.
Daniel opened another file.
"There's more. Judge Whitmore received several large payments from Meridian Holdings through a consulting company.""
I felt sick.
"Can we prove he was paid to convict me?""
"We can investigate the transfers. The video gives us evidence of the underlying conspiracy, but we need corroboration.""
My phone rang.
Monica.
I answered?""
Daniel turned the screen toward me.
A recent photograph showed the judge attending a charity dinner.
Standing beside him was Richard Voss.
And beside Richard was Monica.
I stared at the picture.
My sister had been attending charity events with the man who had helped destroy my life.
Daniel opened another file.
"There's more. Judge Whitmore received several large payments from Meridian Holdings through a consulting company.""
I felt sick.
"Can we prove he was paid to convict me?""
"We can investigate the transfers. The video gives us evidence of the underlying conspiracy, but we need corroboration.""
My phone rang.
Monica.
I answered.
"Hello?""
Her voice was shaking.
"Rebecca, please. I need to see you.""
"Why?""
"Because Richard knows you have the recording.""
I looked at Daniel.
"How?""
"I don't know. He's furious. He said if the evidence gets out, everyone is going to prison.""
I remained silent.
Then Monica whispered:
"Rebecca, I need to tell you something about Mom.""
"What?""
"I was there.
"Hello?""
Her voice was shaking.
"Rebecca, please. I need to see you.""
"Why?""
"Because Richard knows you have the recording.""
I looked at Daniel.
"How?""
"I don't know. He's furious. He said if the evidence gets out, everyone is going to prison.""
I remained silent.
Then Monica whispered:
"Rebecca, I need to tell you something about Mom.""
"What?""
"I was there the night she died.""
"I know.""
"No. You don't understand. I didn't just see Trevor.""
Her voice broke.
"I was the one who gave him the key to her medication cabinet.""
My stomach dropped.
"Monica...""
"I thought it was harmless. Richard told the night she died.""
"I know.""
"No. You don't understand. I didn't just see Trevor.""
Her voice broke.
"I was the one who gave him the key to her medication cabinet.""
My stomach dropped.
"Monica...""
"I thought it was harmless. Richard told me it was only meant to frighten her.""
I closed my eyes.
"Why are you telling me this now?""
"Because I just found out what was actually in that bottle.""
A pause.
Then she said:
"It wasn't medication, Rebecca. It was poison.""
The call ended.
I stared at the phone.
Daniel stood immediately.
"We need to find her.""
Before he could move, another message appeared.
It was a photograph of Monica sitting inside a car.
Her hands were tied.
me it was only meant to frighten her.""
I closed my eyes.
"Why are you telling me this now?""
"Because I just found out what was actually in that bottle.""
A pause.
Then she said:
"It wasn't medication, Rebecca. It was poison.""
The call ended.
I stared at the phone.
Daniel stood immediately.
"We need to find her.""
Before he could move, another message appeared.
It was a photograph of Monica sitting inside a car.
Her hands were tied.
Beneath the photograph was a message from an unknown number.
*BRING THE ORIGINAL TRUST DOCUMENTS TO THE OLD HALE WAREHOUSE. COME ALONE.*
May you like
And then a second message arrived.
*OR YOUR SISTER WILL DISAPPEAR JUST LIKE ELEANOR DID.*
