Chapter 7: The Message That Changed Everything
"Absolutely not.""
Ethan's voice cut through the ballroom.
He was standing directly in front of me, his phone still pressed against his ear.
"Detective, nobody is going anywhere alone. Send officers to the investigator's apartment, and I want a security team at my wife's residence immediately.""
The detective answered, but Ethan interrupted.
"Then find another way. I'm not negotiating with someone who threatens my family.""
He ended the call.
I looked at him.
"They specifically asked for me.""
"And that's exactly why you're not going.""
"But what if my mother is really alive?""
Ethan rubbed his forehead.
"Isabella, someone has already attacked the investigator. Whoever sent that message knows where you are. Walking into their hands would be reckless.""
I clenched the silver key inside my fist.
"You don't understand. I've spent four years believing my mother was dead. If there's even a chance she's alive, I can't ignore it.""
Rachel slowly wheeled herself closer.
"She's right, Ethan.""
He turned toward his wife.
"Rachel, please don't encourage this.""
"I'm not encouraging her to walk into danger. I'm telling you that we can't keep making decisions for women because we think we know what's best for them.""
Her words made Ethan fall silent.
Arthur approached us.
"There's something else.""
He opened his leather folder and removed a business card.
"Detective Miller isn't the only person who knows about Michael's investigation. There's someone in Savannah who worked with Margaret.""
I took the card.
The name read:
*Helen Porter — Former Senior Legal Counsel, Harrison Foundation.*
"Where can I find her?"" I asked.
"She owns a small bookstore near the historic district. She left the foundation shortly after Michael disappeared.""
Ethan looked suspicious.
"Why haven't you mentioned her before?""
Arthur lowered his eyes.
"Because I thought she had betrayed us.""
"Thought?""
"Last week, she sent me a letter. She said she had something Margaret left behind.""
I stared at the card.
"Then we need to find her.""
Ethan nodded reluctantly.
"We'll go together. I'll arrange security.""
Before anyone could respond, a loud crash came from the ballroom entrance.
Richard had knocked over a decorative table while struggling against the guards.
"Let me go!"" he shouted.
Vanessa grabbed the opportunity.
She moved toward the side exit, pushing past a waiter carrying a tray.
One of the security guards caught her handbag.
She screamed.
"Don't touch my property!""
The bag fell open.
Its contents scattered across the marble floor.
Lipstick. A wallet. Car keys.
And a small plastic medication bottle.
Rachel stared at it.
"That's my prescription.""
Ethan immediately bent down.
He picked up the bottle.
Rachel's name was printed on the label.
But the prescribing doctor's name wasn't the doctor who had treated her.
It was someone I had never heard of.
Dr. Samuel Whitmore.
Rachel looked horrified.
"I've never seen that bottle before.""
Vanessa snatched it from Ethan.
"That's none of your business!""
Ethan caught her wrist.
"Why is my wife's medication in your handbag?""
Vanessa pulled away.
"It was placed there!""
"By whom?""
She looked toward Richard.
He shook his head frantically.
"Don't look at me!""
Ethan handed the bottle to security.
"Preserve this. Don't let anyone touch it.""
Vanessa's composure finally collapsed.
"You have no idea what you're doing, Ethan. Your father knows everything. Ask him what happened to Michael!""
Arthur closed his eyes.
Ethan turned toward him.
"Dad?""
Arthur looked at the floor.
"Not tonight.""
"You're going to tell me everything.""
Arthur's voice trembled.
"Michael didn't disappear because he wanted to leave. He discovered that someone had been using the family trust to finance illegal transactions. When he threatened to expose them, he received a warning.""
"From whom?""
Arthur looked directly at Vanessa.
"Her father.""
Vanessa went silent.
I felt my stomach tighten.
"My mother's father was involved too?""
Arthur shook his head.
"Vanessa's father. He controlled several companies that did business with the foundation.""
Then he added something unexpected.
"Michael wanted to report him. But before he could, someone arranged the accident that nearly killed Rachel.""
Rachel's fingers tightened around her wheelchair.
"And Margaret discovered it.""
Arthur nodded.
"Yes.""
I looked down at the silver key.
"Then the documents in Savannah are the only way to prove everything.""
Arthur nodded.
"Probably.""
Ethan placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder.
"We leave at sunrise.""
But before we could move, my phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
One message.
Your mother is asking for you.
A second message arrived immediately afterward.
It contained a photograph.
A woman sat in a dimly lit room, her hands folded in her lap.
Her face was partially hidden by shadows.
But around her wrist was a bracelet I had made when I was twelve.
A bracelet made from blue and white beads.
My mother had never taken it off.
I whispered her name.
"Mom...""
May you like
Then another message appeared.
You have until midnight tomorrow. Come alone, Isabella. Or she'll disappear again.
