Chapter 13: The Final Lie
Nathan's call ended with a click.
Michael stood frozen, phone pressed against his ear.
“Who is it?”” I asked.
He slowly lowered the phone.
“He didn't say.””
Sabrina stepped closer.
“Michael, I swear I didn't order anything.””
“I know.””
She looked surprised.
“You believe me?””
“I don't know what I believe.””
That answer hurt her.
Before either of them could say more, Nathan called again.
Michael answered immediately.
“Nathan?””
This time, Nathan's voice was weaker.
“Listen carefully.””
“We're listening.””
“The person who ordered the attack knew your mother would stop the transfer.””
David leaned closer.
“Who?””
Nathan breathed heavily.
“She wanted Evelyn frightened enough to sign everything over.””
My stomach tightened.
“Who?””
Nathan hesitated.
“Your mother.””
Michael stared at me.
I felt ice spread through my chest.
“No.””
Nathan continued.
“Not Evelyn.””
“What does that mean?””
“She used someone who could imitate Evelyn's signature.””
David's eyes narrowed.
“Who?””
Nathan whispered,
“Michael.””
My son went completely still.
“What?””
“You signed the authorization.””
“I never signed anything.””
“You did.””
Michael looked at me.
Nathan's voice continued through the speaker.
“Three months ago, when you bought the new company, you signed a stack of corporate documents. One of them was a power-of-attorney form.””
Michael's face drained.
“Sabrina handled those.””
Sabrina shook her head.
“No. Your mother did.””
I looked at her.
“I never saw that document.””
David immediately pulled out his laptop.
“Wait.””
He searched through the files.
Then he stopped.
“Michael.””
“What?””
“I found a power of attorney.””
Michael stared at the screen.
The signature was his.
But beneath it was a second signature.
Mine.
I whispered,
“That's forged.””
David nodded.
“The document gives Evelyn control over all accounts.””
Michael's eyes widened.
“Then someone used it to make it look like Mom authorized the transfers.””
Nathan coughed.
“Exactly.””
“Who?””
Silence.
Then Nathan said,
“Claudia didn't do it alone.””
I looked toward the police hallway.
“Arthur?””
“No.””
“Nathan, tell me.””
“I can't.””
“Why?””
“Because the person behind this is standing in the house right now.””
The call ended.
Michael immediately looked around.
Police officers.
Guests.
Staff.
Family.
Then his eyes landed on David.
My attorney.
The man I'd trusted for twenty years.
He had known about every account.
Every investment.
Every document.
Every signature.
David slowly raised his hands.
“Evelyn.””
I couldn't speak.
Michael stepped between us.
“Where were you when my mother was attacked?””
David frowned.
“At the hotel.””
“Who can verify that?””
“I have receipts.””
“Convenient.””
David's face hardened.
“You think I did this?””
“I don't know.””
Sabrina stepped toward him.
“I saw David leaving the house this morning.””
Everyone turned.
David stared at her.
“That was before the wedding.””
“Exactly.””
“You saw me leaving at six.””
“Yes.””
David looked at me.
“I came to retrieve documents.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because Robert left instructions.””
My blood ran cold.
“What instructions?””
David opened his briefcase.
Inside was another envelope.
“This.””
He handed it to me.
Robert's handwriting.
*For Evelyn only.*
I opened it.
The first sentence made my hands shake.
*If David gives you this letter, trust him.*
I looked up.
David's eyes were wet.
Then I read the next line.
*The person who betrayed me is someone you will never suspect.*
A noise came from the hallway.
A door slammed.
Everyone turned.
A police officer shouted,
“Stop!””
Footsteps thundered toward the back exit.
Michael ran.
Sabrina followed.
I grabbed David's arm.
“Who?””
He looked at the fleeing figure.
Then whispered,
“I know.””
We reached the hallway just in time to see someone disappear through the kitchen door.
Michael stopped at the threshold.
On the floor lay a woman's handbag.
Sabrina picked it up.
She opened it.
Inside was a passport.
A phone.
And a small electric hair clipper.
My stomach dropped.
Sabrina stared at the items.
Then at me.
“This isn't mine.””
Michael picked up the passport.
The name on it was *Elizabeth Bell*.
But the photograph wasn't Elizabeth.
It was Claudia.
David whispered,
“She had another identity.””
I looked at the clipper.
The same kind used on my hair.
Then the phone inside the bag began ringing.
Michael answered.
A distorted voice said,
“You finally found the truth.””
Michael tightened his grip.
“Who are you?””
The voice laughed.
“Ask your mother what she did the night Robert died.””
The call ended.
I closed my eyes.
And for the first time, a memory came back completely.
Robert hadn't died alone.
I had been there.
May you like
And I had held something in my hand.
A bloody kitchen knife.
