Chapter 13: The Woman My Mother Feared
Vanessa lowered her phone when she realized I had seen her.
For a moment, neither of us moved.
Then I pushed open the hospital room door.
"Who were you talking to?""
She slipped the phone into her purse.
"Lucas, please. Not here.""
"Who were you talking to?""
Her eyes darted toward the investigator standing beside Daniel's bed.
"Someone who says she can explain everything.""
"Margaret?""
Vanessa's face went pale.
I felt something cold settle in my stomach.
"You know my aunt?""
"I've never met her personally.""
"Then how do you know she's coming?""
Vanessa swallowed.
"She contacted me three days before the wedding. She said she was a relative of your father and needed to speak with me privately.""
I stared at her.
"And you didn't think to mention that?""
"She said it was a family matter. She told me your father would understand when the time was right.""
"What exactly did she want?""
Vanessa looked at the floor.
"She wanted to know whether Richard was bringing the silver key to the wedding.""
My blood ran cold.
"How could she know about the key?""
"I don't know.""
"Vanessa!""
"She said she had information about your mother's death. She promised that if I helped her retrieve a document from the archive, she'd give me proof that Charles was being framed for the financial irregularities.""
I stepped backward.
There it was again.
Every terrible decision wrapped in an excuse about helping someone.
"You gave Daniel your credentials because Margaret asked you to?""
"Yes.""
"And you never told me?""
"I was afraid.""
"Of what?""
"Of losing you. Of what my father had done. Of what would happen if the truth came out.""
I laughed bitterly.
"You were willing to risk my family, my company, and my father's safety to protect yourself from embarrassment.""
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
"I know how that sounds.""
"It sounds exactly like what you did.""
She covered her mouth.
For several seconds, I watched the woman I had planned to marry struggle to find words that could repair what she had broken.
Finally, she whispered, "Margaret told me that your mother wasn't the only person who died because of that trust.""
I went still.
"What does that mean?""
"She said Eleanor discovered that money was being stolen from the family. She claimed your mother confronted someone, and afterward, the family covered up what happened.""
"Who did she say killed my mother?""
Vanessa shook her head.
"She wouldn't tell me. She said the proof was in the original register.""
The investigator stepped forward.
"Ms. Whitmore, did Margaret provide you with any documents or messages?""
Vanessa nodded and opened her purse.
She removed a folded sheet of paper and handed it over.
It contained a handwritten address and a time.
Tonight. Eleven thirty.
The same time Daniel had been ordered to appear at the factory.
Beneath the address was a sentence written in block letters.
Bring the key, and Lucas will finally learn what his father did.
I turned toward Dad.
He stood near the window, staring at the paper.
"Richard," I said quietly, "what does she mean?""
He didn't answer.
I moved closer.
"Dad, I need the truth. All of it.""
He slowly sat down.
"Margaret was Eleanor's younger sister. They grew up together, but their relationship deteriorated after our father died. Margaret believed Eleanor had inherited more than her fair share of the family business.""
"Did she have a legitimate claim?""
"That was complicated. Our father had left instructions for a settlement, but the documents disappeared. Eleanor believed Margaret had already received everything she was entitled to.""
"Then why did Mom fear her?""
Dad looked toward the hospital bed.
"Because Margaret had a history of making threats when she didn't get what she wanted. Eleanor once found her searching through the family safe. When confronted, Margaret claimed she was looking for letters that proved our father had promised her additional property.""
I thought about the photograph of my aunt standing beside the car that had carried my mother to her death.
"Did you know Margaret was alive?""
"I received a letter from her twenty years ago. It said she was living overseas and wanted to reconcile. I tried to contact her, but the address was false.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because the letter included a warning. It said that if I ever tried to find her, you would pay the price.""
I looked away.
Another threat. Another secret. Another decision made in the name of protecting me.
I understood his fear now, but understanding didn't erase the loneliness of discovering that my family had been hiding entire lives from me.
The investigator's radio crackled.
A voice reported that officers had located a vehicle registered to an alias associated with Margaret Anderson.
"Where?"" the investigator asked.
He listened.
Then his expression changed.
"She's at the downtown property.""
Dad stood immediately.
"She's going to the archive.""
The investigator shook his head.
"Our officers are already approaching the building.""
My phone vibrated.
An incoming video call.
Unknown number.
I answered.
A woman appeared on the screen.
She had silver hair, sharp cheekbones, and my mother's eyes.
She was standing inside the archive, holding an old photograph of Eleanor.
"Hello, Lucas," she said.
My mouth went dry.
"Margaret?""
She smiled sadly.
"You look so much like your mother.""
"Get away from the archive.""
"Your father has told you so many lies.""
"Then tell me the truth.""
Her expression hardened.
"Your mother died because she discovered what I had done.""
Dad stepped toward the phone.
"Margaret, don't.""
She laughed softly.
"Still trying to protect him, Richard? You should have protected Eleanor.""
"What did you do?"" I demanded.
Margaret leaned toward the camera.
"I didn't kill your mother, Lucas. But I know who did.""
She held up a small brass key.
It was identical to the one in my pocket.
"Bring me the original register before midnight, and I'll tell you everything.""
The screen went black.
A second later, a message appeared.
Come alone. Or the last surviving witness dies.
Then my father's phone rang.
The investigator answered it on speaker.
A police officer's voice came through, strained and breathless.
"Sir, we have a problem. Margaret isn't alone in the archive.""
A gunshot exploded through the phone.
May you like
Then the officer screamed.
And the line went dead.
