Chapter 7: The Call From the Woman Who Disappeared
My phone continued ringing.
*Rebecca Bennett.*
I stared at the screen, unable to move.
For twenty-four years, I'd believed my father was an only child. My mother had never mentioned an aunt named Rebecca. There were no birthday cards, no Christmas photographs, no family stories.
Now, someone using her name was calling me from the very place Richard had apparently gone to silence her.
“Answer it,” Mom whispered.
I pressed the green button.
“Hello?””
A woman's voice came through, thin and trembling.
“Marcus?””
“Yes. Who is this?””
There was a long pause.
Then she whispered, “Your father's sister.””
My knees nearly gave way.
“Rebecca?””
“Oh, sweetheart.””
She started crying.
I gripped the phone.
“Are you really my aunt?””
“Yes. And I'm so sorry it took me this long to find you.””
I looked at Mom.
She had both hands pressed against her mouth.
“Aunt Rebecca, where are you?””
“Don't come here.””
“Why?””
“Because Richard is outside.””
I looked at Patricia.
She nodded grimly.
Rebecca continued.
“He arrived about fifteen minutes ago. He told the staff he was here to take me somewhere safe.””
“Safe from what?””
“From the people who are asking questions.””
I swallowed.
“Are you in danger?””
A quiet laugh came through the speaker.
“Marcus, I've been in danger since the night your father died.””
My mother grabbed the phone.
“Rebecca? It's Elaine.””
There was another silence.
Then Rebecca sobbed.
“Elaine. My God. You're alive.””
Mom began crying.
“I've been here all along.””
“I know. I saw you at Daniel's funeral.””
Mom froze.
“What?””
“I was there. Across the street. Richard wouldn't let me come near you.””
I felt my stomach turn.
My aunt had been at my father's funeral.
And we'd never known.
“Why didn't you contact us?”” I asked.
“Because Richard showed me a photograph of you leaving school. He told me if I ever contacted your family, you'd suffer the same fate as Daniel.””
I looked at the picture Patricia had handed me.
The hospital.
Room 314.
“What happened to you?””
Rebecca took a shaky breath.
“Your father discovered that Richard had been stealing money from his company. Patricia helped him uncover the transfers. I was supposed to deliver the original documents to an attorney.””
“Then what?””
“Richard found out.””
Her voice broke.
“He arranged the accident that killed Daniel. When I tried to report what happened, he had me declared mentally unstable. He used a private doctor who owed him money.””
I felt sick.
“You were hospitalized against your will?””
“For years. Then I was transferred between facilities. Eventually, they stopped asking questions because Richard paid every bill.””
My mother leaned against the car.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“I tried, Elaine. I tried so many times.””
Rebecca began coughing.
“Listen carefully. Daniel didn't die without leaving something behind. He hid the original evidence in a place Richard would never think to search.””
“Where?””
“Inside the old family house.””
I frowned.
“My father's house was sold years ago.””
“Not the house you remember. The little cabin near Lake Lanier.””
I looked at Mom.
Her eyes widened.
Dad had owned a small lakeside cabin. He used to take me fishing there when I was a child.
After his death, Richard told us the property had been sold to cover outstanding debts.
“It's still there?”” I asked.
“Yes. Daniel transferred ownership before he died. The property is registered under my name.””
“What's inside?””
“His original ledger. Bank transfers. Photographs. And a letter addressed to you.””
My throat tightened.
“What does the letter say?””
Rebecca whispered, “It explains why your father was afraid of the Mitchell family.””
Suddenly, a man's voice sounded in the background.
“Rebecca? Who are you speaking to?””
She gasped.
“Marcus, you have to go to the cabin. Don't trust—”
The call ended.
I immediately called back.
No answer.
Then a message appeared.
*The call has been disconnected.*
Mom grabbed my arm.
“We have to go.””
Patricia shook her head.
“Not yet. Richard will be watching the roads.””
I looked toward the facility.
A black SUV was parked near the entrance.
Richard stood beside it, speaking to someone through his phone.
Then he turned.
Even from a distance, I could see him looking directly at us.
My phone vibrated again.
A message from an unknown number.
*Your father made the same mistake you are making now. He trusted the wrong person.*
A photograph followed.
It showed my mother standing beside my car.
Taken from behind.
Someone had been watching us.
Mom read the message over my shoulder.
Her face changed.
“Marcus, we need to leave.””
I opened the driver's door.
Before I could get inside, Patricia caught my arm.
“There is one person who can help you get to that cabin without Richard knowing.””
“Who?””
She looked at my mother.
Then she said a name that made Mom step backward.
“Your bride.””
I stared at her.
“Vanessa?””
May you like
Patricia nodded.
“She knows the location of the original property deed. And she knows something about Richard that none of us has told you.””
