Chapter 9: The Truth About My Husband's Death
Lucas placed the notebook on the small table beside his bed.
His hands trembled as he turned the pages.
Patricia sat beside him, holding his wrist as though she was afraid he might disappear again.
I stood opposite him.
"What do you mean Robert didn't die in an accident?""
Lucas looked at me.
"Your husband came to see me three days before he died.""
I felt the blood drain from my face.
"Robert knew you were here?""
Lucas nodded.
"He had found out Richard was keeping me under another name. He said he was going to take me home.""
Patricia covered her mouth.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
Lucas looked down.
"Because Richard said he'd hurt you if I spoke.""
I moved closer.
"What happened when Robert visited?""
Lucas opened the notebook.
"He brought photographs. He said he had evidence that Richard had stolen money from the family trust. He also said he knew who had been driving the night Laura died.""
Brielle started crying.
Lucas looked at her.
"I remember you.""
She nodded.
"I know.""
"You told me you were sorry.""
Brielle covered her face.
"I was.""
"You said you'd come back.""
"I wanted to.""
Lucas's expression hardened.
"But you never did.""
Brielle had no answer.
Lucas turned another page.
"Robert promised he would return with the police. He said he had arranged a meeting with someone who could help us.""
"Who?"" James asked.
"An investigator.""
Lucas pointed to a name written in the notebook.
Detective Alan Brooks.
Eleanor immediately recognized it.
"Alan Brooks was the detective who investigated Robert's death.""
I stared at her.
"What?""
She nodded.
"He retired five years ago.""
Lucas continued.
"Robert told me he had enough evidence to reopen Laura's accident case. He also said Richard had been moving money through fake companies.""
I sat down.
"Then what happened?""
Lucas swallowed.
"The next morning, Richard came to my room.""
His voice became quieter.
"He was angry. He asked what Robert had told me.""
Patricia squeezed his hand.
"What did you say?""
"I told him everything.""
Lucas looked at James.
"Your father grabbed my notebook. He tore out several pages. Then he told me Robert would never come back.""
I felt my chest tighten.
"Did he tell you Robert was dead?""
Lucas nodded.
"He said there had been an accident.""
I couldn't breathe.
Lucas continued.
"That night, I heard two nurses talking. They said the police had found a car near a bridge. They said the driver had suffered a heart attack.""
I closed my eyes.
Robert.
My Robert.
The man who had promised to grow old beside me.
James leaned against the wall.
"Are you saying Richard caused the accident?""
Lucas shook his head.
"I don't know exactly what happened. But I heard Richard talking to someone on the phone afterward.""
"What did he say?"" I asked.
Lucas opened the notebook again.
"I wrote it down because I was afraid I'd forget.""
He read the words slowly.
"'The old man won't be talking anymore. Make sure the file disappears before anyone connects it to the insurance company.''"
Silence filled the room.
I looked at James.
His face was pale.
"Who was Richard talking to?""
Lucas turned another page.
There was a name.
Vanessa Cole.
I felt confused.
"Who is Vanessa?""
Brielle began shaking.
James looked toward his wife.
"Your bridesmaid?""
Brielle nodded.
"She's been working for Richard for years.""
I remembered the wedding.
Vanessa standing beside Brielle.
Vanessa whispering that I wanted attention.
Vanessa watching as my daughter ripped off my wig.
A wave of nausea washed over me.
"She knew?""
Brielle nodded.
"She knew about the accident. She knew about the money. She helped Dad arrange the insurance documents.""
James stared at her.
"And you still invited her to our wedding?""
Brielle began crying.
"Richard told me I had to.""
"Why?""
"Because he said the wedding would be the last time everyone saw Mom before the insurance claim was submitted.""
I looked at my daughter.
"What?""
Brielle lowered her head.
"He wanted witnesses to see how sick you looked. He wanted photographs of your bald head. He said it would help establish that you were terminally ill.""
I felt something break inside me.
My daughter's cruelty at the wedding had not been spontaneous.
It had been planned.
James stepped away from her.
"You deliberately humiliated your own mother to help your father collect insurance money?""
Brielle sobbed.
"I didn't think he'd actually do it!""
Lucas laughed bitterly.
"You didn't think? You didn't think when Laura died either.""
Brielle fell silent.
Patricia wrapped an arm around Lucas.
"Enough. He doesn't need to see her.""
I wanted to leave.
I wanted to go home, lock my doors, and pretend that none of this had happened.
But I needed answers.
"Lucas, why did you write that Richard didn't cause the accident alone?""
He turned another page.
There was a photocopy of a document tucked inside the notebook.
It appeared to be an insurance payment authorization.
The policyholder was Richard Whitmore.
The beneficiary was a company connected to the Wilson Family Trust.
The date was twelve years earlier.
I looked closer.
There was another signature.
Brielle's.
I turned toward my daughter.
"Why is your signature here?""
She shook her head.
"I don't know.""
Lucas pointed to the bottom of the page.
"Look at the second witness.""
I leaned closer.
The name was familiar.
Eleanor Wilson.
My sister stood completely still.
I looked at her.
"Eleanor?""
She began shaking her head.
"Margaret, I can explain.""
I felt my stomach turn.
"Why did you sign this?""
Eleanor started crying.
"Because Robert asked me to.""
"What?""
"He told me the document was part of a legal settlement. He said it was necessary to protect you.""
I stared at her.
"Did you know about the accident?""
She looked down.
"I knew Brielle had been driving.""
Brielle covered her face.
"Please, Aunt Eleanor.""
But Eleanor wasn't finished.
"I also knew Richard had paid someone to move the money. I knew Lucas was being kept away from his mother.""
Patricia stood.
"And you said nothing?""
Eleanor looked at her helplessly.
"I was afraid Richard would destroy Margaret.""
I felt tears burning my eyes.
"My husband died. My daughter betrayed me. My sister lied to me. How many people in my life knew the truth?""
Nobody answered.
Then Lucas reached into the notebook and removed a small folded photograph.
It showed Robert standing beside Detective Alan Brooks.
On the back was a handwritten message.
If anything happens to me, ask Eleanor who drove the second vehicle.
I looked at my sister.
"What second vehicle?""
Eleanor's face went completely white.
Before she could answer, James's phone vibrated.
A message appeared from an unknown number.
He opened it.
There was a photograph of our car parked outside the facility.
Underneath it was a single sentence.
*You have one hour to leave. Richard knows Lucas is alive.*
James looked toward the window.
May you like
A black SUV had just pulled into the parking lot.
And the man stepping out was carrying a photograph of me.
