Chapter 5: My Mother Knew Something
“Sarah?””
Robert stopped when he saw my face.
I handed him Emily's letter without saying a word.
He read the final lines, then carefully placed the paper on the table.
“Is Margaret your mother's name?””
“Yes.””
“Has she ever mentioned Dr. Adrian Cole?””
“No. But she was with Emily almost every day during treatment.””
Robert took a breath.
“I'm going to recommend that we speak to the investigator before confronting anyone.””
I stood so quickly that my chair scraped against the floor.
“You think my mother could be involved in whatever happened to Emily?””
“I think your sister believed someone had information she couldn't safely obtain. We need to determine why she wrote that name.””
I picked up my bag.
“I need to see her.””
“Sarah, please don't accuse her without understanding the evidence.””
“I won't.””
But as I left the bank, I couldn't stop remembering something from the months before Emily died.
Mom had insisted that Emily's private caregiver was trustworthy.
She'd told me more than once that Daniel had finally found someone who understood how to manage Emily's medication.
And every time I questioned why my sister seemed increasingly confused, Mom said the same thing.
Cancer changes everything, sweetheart. We have to trust the doctors.
I drove home with both hands gripping the steering wheel.
When I arrived, Mom was sitting in the living room with Daniel.
My brother-in-law had apparently decided he no longer needed an invitation.
He wore a navy suit and carried a thick folder. His expression was almost cheerful, as though he were attending a business meeting rather than discussing the death of his wife.
“Finally,” he said.
“We need to settle this.””
I shut the front door.
“Why are you here?””
Daniel placed the folder on the coffee table.
“Because you've taken confidential estate documents and you're refusing to return them.””
“I took nothing that belongs to you.””
“Those business records were created during my marriage. They concern marital assets.””
“Emily put them in a safe-deposit box under her name.””
His jaw tightened.
Mom rose from her chair.
“Sarah, please. Daniel says you're making accusations based on private notes written while Emily was very ill.””
I turned toward her.
“Did Emily ever tell you about the $340,000 missing from her company?””
Mom's face changed.
It was brief, but I saw it.
Daniel immediately interrupted.
“Those transfers were legitimate.””
“Then why did Emily document them?””
“Because she became suspicious of everyone near the end.””
I took a step toward him.
“She documented forged signatures, payments to a company owned by Vanessa, and a medical consultation that doesn't appear in the records.””
Daniel stood.
“Where did you get that information?””
I smiled without humor.
“Why? Is there something you recognize?””
For several seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then Mom grabbed my arm.
“Sarah, stop this. You don't know what you're doing.””
I looked at her hand.
“Did Emily write your name in her notebook?””
Mom released me as though she'd touched something hot.
Daniel's eyes moved sharply toward her.
“Margaret,” he said, his voice suddenly quiet.
“What is she talking about?””
Mom looked from him to me.
“I don't know what she means.””
I pulled Emily's letter from my bag.
“She wrote that someone approached you both about changing her treatment. She wrote that she recognized the person's voice. And she wrote your name.””
Mom began shaking her head.
“No.””
“Did you speak to Dr. Adrian Cole?””
Her lips parted, but no sound came out.
Daniel moved between us.
“This is enough. Your sister was on powerful medication. Her judgment wasn't reliable.””
“Then why are you so afraid of what she wrote?””
“I'm not afraid of anything.””
“Then explain the money.””
He snatched up his folder and pulled out a document.
“This is a proposed agreement. You sign it, agree that the estate records remain confidential, and relinquish your authority as trustee. In exchange, I'll provide financial support for the children and allow you to visit them whenever you want.””
I stared at him.
“You want me to give up Emily's trust?””
“I want to avoid a family scandal.””
“You mean you want me to stop looking.””
Daniel's smile returned.
“Call it whatever you like.””
I pushed the document away.
“No.””
His expression hardened.
“Think carefully, Sarah. I can challenge the will. I can challenge your fitness to serve as trustee. I can make sure this entire family spends the next five years in court.””
“Then file your challenge.””
“You'll lose.””
“Maybe. But I won't sign anything that helps you hide what happened to my sister.””
Daniel leaned closer.
“You have no idea what Emily was really like near the end.””
“Neither did you. You were too busy with Vanessa.””
He slapped the table.
Mom flinched.
From upstairs, I heard a door open.
Lily appeared on the landing, her face pale.
“Dad?””
Daniel instantly changed his tone.
“Go back to your room, sweetheart.””
She descended two steps.
“Why are you yelling at Aunt Sarah?””
“Adult business.””
“Is it about Mom?””
Daniel's expression tightened.
“Lily, please.””
She looked at the document on the table.
“Are you trying to take Mom's house?””
He said nothing.
Lily turned toward me.
“Aunt Sarah, Mom told me she had proof. She said if anything happened to her, I should tell you about the blue box.””
My heart stopped.
“What blue box?””
Lily glanced nervously at Daniel.
“The one she hid before she went to the hospital. She told me never to let Dad find it.””
Daniel's face went completely white.
“Lily,” he said, “where is that box?””
She backed away.
“I don't know.””
But I could tell she was lying.
May you like
And when Daniel suddenly rushed toward the stairs, I realized my sister's final secret wasn't hidden in a bank vault.
It was somewhere inside her own home.
