Chapter 4: The Man Who Knew My Mother Was Alive
For several seconds, nobody in the ballroom moved.
The elderly man stood near the entrance, his fingers wrapped around the handle of his wooden cane. His silver hair was neatly combed, and his black suit looked expensive enough to have been tailored specifically for the evening.
But it wasn't his appearance that frightened me.
It was the way Ethan looked at him.
"Dad," Ethan repeated.
"What did you just say?""
The old man glanced at Rachel.
"Margaret was supposed to be dead.""
Rachel's lips trembled.
"Arthur, what does that mean?""
Arthur Harrison slowly approached the table.
"It means your sister's disappearance was never properly investigated.""
I felt the blood drain from my face.
"My mother didn't disappear," I said.
"She died four years ago.""
Arthur turned toward me.
His eyes settled on my face for a long moment.
"You're Isabella?""
"Yes.""
He closed his eyes briefly.
"You look exactly like her.""
I stepped closer.
"Did you know my mother?""
"Better than you realize.""
Vanessa suddenly laughed.
"Arthur, perhaps this isn't the appropriate place for family reunions.""
Arthur turned sharply.
"Be quiet, Vanessa.""
Her smile disappeared.
I'd never seen anyone speak to Vanessa Caldwell like that.
Arthur placed his cane beside the table and examined the medical report.
"Where did you get this?""
Vanessa lifted her chin.
"From someone who wanted the truth exposed.""
"That's interesting," Arthur replied.
"Because I recognize this document. It was supposed to have been destroyed.""
Rachel gripped Ethan's hand.
"Arthur, please tell me what happened the night of my accident.""
He looked toward the ballroom doors.
"Not here.""
Ethan shook his head.
"No more secrets. Not tonight.""
Arthur sighed.
"Your mother asked me to protect Rachel. I failed her.""
Rachel stared at him.
"My mother?""
"Yes. Before she died, she made me promise that I would never allow certain people to control your inheritance.""
Vanessa stepped forward.
"You're making accusations without evidence.""
Arthur ignored her.
He reached inside his jacket and removed a small leather folder.
"Three years ago, Rachel inherited a controlling interest in the Harrison Family Trust. The foundation was supposed to receive twelve million dollars from that trust for rehabilitation programs.""
He placed several documents on the table.
"But the transfer required Rachel's personal authorization. Vanessa and Richard needed her signature.""
Rachel looked confused.
"I never signed anything.""
Arthur nodded.
"Exactly.""
Richard suddenly interrupted.
"These documents are confidential. You have no right to disclose them.""
Arthur turned toward him.
"You're absolutely right, Richard. And you lost that privilege when you began stealing from the foundation.""
Two security guards moved closer.
Richard backed away.
"You're making a terrible mistake.""
Arthur opened the folder.
"On the night Rachel suffered her injuries, someone altered her medication records. The following morning, a doctor declared her condition permanent.""
Rachel's eyes filled.
"Who changed the medication?""
Arthur looked at Vanessa.
"That's what Margaret was trying to discover.""
I felt my fingers go numb.
"What happened to my mother?""
Arthur hesitated.
"She found evidence linking Vanessa to the medication change. She contacted me and asked for help.""
"Did you help her?""
"I arranged for her to meet an investigator. Two days later, her apartment was broken into.""
My chest tightened.
"I remember that.""
Everyone turned toward me.
"When I was twenty-four, I came home and found my mother's bedroom drawers open. She told me someone had been looking for old photographs.""
Arthur nodded slowly.
"She probably realized they were looking for the original records.""
Vanessa's voice suddenly became sharp.
"Enough. This is a ridiculous performance.""
She reached for her handbag.
A security guard blocked her.
"Ma'am, please remain here.""
Vanessa pointed at him.
"Do you know who I am?""
"Yes, ma'am. That's why I'm asking you to stay.""
For the first time, she looked genuinely trapped.
Then Arthur made another announcement.
"There's something Isabella should know.""
He turned toward me.
"Your mother didn't die in a natural accident.""
My knees almost gave way.
"What?""
Arthur lowered his voice.
"The police report said her car left the road during heavy rain. But the vehicle's brake lines had been damaged.""
Rachel covered her mouth.
Ethan immediately stepped beside me.
"Are you certain?""
Arthur nodded.
"I received the original inspection report last month.""
I stared at him.
Four years of birthdays without my mother.
Four years of waking up and remembering I could no longer call her.
Four years of believing a rainy night had taken her away.
And now someone was telling me that it might not have been an accident.
I looked directly at Vanessa.
"Did you kill my mother?""
She stared back.
Then she leaned toward me.
"Your mother made a very dangerous mistake.""
Arthur struck the floor with his cane.
"That's enough!""
But Vanessa wasn't finished.
She looked at me with a cold smile.
"Ask Arthur why he waited four years to tell you.""
I turned.
Arthur's expression changed.
And before he could answer, Ethan's phone vibrated.
He checked the screen.
Then his face went pale.
"Dad," he whispered.
"The investigator just sent me something.""
Arthur looked at him.
"What?""
Ethan turned the phone around.
A photograph appeared on the screen.
It showed a woman standing outside a small grocery store.
She had shoulder-length brown hair.
A familiar face.
May you like
My mother's face.
The photograph had been taken three days earlier.
