Chapter 11: My Mother Was Hiding the Truth
We drove through the night toward New Jersey.
Agent Brooks had arranged additional officers, but I refused to wait at Elizabeth's apartment.
Emma sat beside me.
She held the silver locket in one hand and stared out the window.
"Do you think she's really our mother?"" she asked.
I nodded.
"I know her face.""
"But why would she tell us not to trust Richard?""
I looked toward the front passenger seat.
My father sat beside Agent Brooks, silent.
"I don't know.""
Emma turned toward me.
"What if he really did something terrible?""
I didn't answer.
I was beginning to understand that the people I loved had been keeping secrets for years.
And every new truth seemed worse than the last.
When we reached the medical facility, the front entrance was blocked by police tape.
A security officer approached us.
"Nobody is allowed inside.""
Agent Brooks showed his badge.
"Federal investigation. We need the patient records for room 317.""
The officer checked his tablet.
Then he looked up.
"Room 317 has been empty for eleven years.""
I felt the blood drain from my face.
"What?""
He nodded.
"That room was closed after a patient passed away.""
Agent Brooks stepped closer.
"Then explain the photograph taken three days ago.""
The officer frowned.
"What photograph?""
Brooks showed him the image.
The man studied it.
Then he shook his head.
"That's not this facility.""
I stared at the building.
It looked identical to the one in the photograph.
"Where was it taken?""
The officer pointed toward the entrance.
"At our old sister facility. Across the street.""
We hurried toward a smaller building hidden behind a row of trees.
Its windows were dark.
The main door stood slightly open.
Agent Brooks raised his hand.
"Stay behind me.""
We entered.
The hallway smelled of disinfectant and dust.
Several ceiling lights flickered.
A nurse's station stood empty.
Then we heard a noise.
A woman's voice.
"Adrian?""
I turned.
At the end of the corridor, a woman stood beside an open doorway.
She wore a white cardigan and held a photograph against her chest.
My mother.
For a moment, I couldn't move.
Then I ran.
"Mom!""
She dropped the photograph and opened her arms.
I wrapped mine around her.
She was real.
Warm.
Breathing.
Her familiar perfume mixed with the sterile smell of the hallway.
I buried my face against her shoulder.
"You're alive.""
She stroked my hair.
"I'm sorry, sweetheart.""
Emma approached slowly.
"Mom?""
My mother reached for her.
"Oh, my beautiful girl.""
Emma collapsed into her arms.
They held each other while I stood beside them, unable to stop crying.
Elizabeth joined us.
My mother looked at her and began sobbing.
"My little Elizabeth.""
All three daughters and sons, reunited after thirty-one years of lies.
But the moment didn't last.
Agent Brooks entered the room.
"Mrs. Blackwood, we need to move. This location is compromised.""
My mother nodded.
"I know.""
I looked at her.
"Who did this to you?""
She released Emma and sat on the edge of the bed.
"Your uncle Thomas arranged my disappearance. But he didn't act alone.""
"Who helped him?""
She looked toward Richard.
My father stood in the doorway.
He seemed unable to meet her eyes.
"Margaret," he whispered.
She looked at him.
"Richard.""
He stepped closer.
"I thought you were dead.""
"You were supposed to find me.""
My father lowered his head.
"I know.""
I stared at them.
"What does that mean?""
My mother took a long breath.
"After the crash, Thomas gave Richard a choice. He could help conceal my survival and keep his children safe, or refuse and watch all three of you disappear.""
I turned toward my father.
"So you knew she was alive?""
He nodded.
"Yes.""
Emma stepped backward.
"All these years?""
Richard's voice broke.
"I was allowed to visit her once.""
My mother looked away.
"He came to see me three years ago.""
I felt sick.
"You visited her and never told us?""
"I was trying to find a way to get her out.""
"Three years?""
My father couldn't answer.
My mother reached for my hand.
"Adrian, listen. Richard isn't the person who arranged your accident.""
"Then who?""
She looked toward the corridor.
"Thomas wanted you dead because you inherited something he couldn't control.""
"What?""
"Your grandfather's original trust.""
I frowned.
"Father told me the estate was transferred years ago.""
"It was supposed to be. But your grandfather left a sealed document naming you as the sole beneficiary of a private account. The account contains evidence of every illegal transaction Thomas and Victor made.""
Agent Brooks looked up.
"Where is this document?""
My mother pointed toward the silver locket Emma was holding.
"Inside.""
Emma opened it.
The tiny compartment behind the photographs contained a folded piece of paper.
I removed it.
There was a bank reference number and a handwritten instruction.
Present this document at the Blackwood Foundation. The truth belongs to the children.
I looked at my mother.
"Why didn't you tell us earlier?""
"Because I needed all three of you together. The trust can only be accessed with the original birth records of all three children.""
Agent Brooks frowned.
"That doesn't make sense.""
My mother shook her head.
"Your grandfather knew Thomas would try to steal the inheritance. He created a safeguard.""
Before she could explain further, a loud crash came from the main entrance.
The lights went out.
Agent Brooks drew his weapon.
"Everyone down!""
A gunshot echoed through the corridor.
My mother grabbed my wrist.
"Adrian, don't let them take the document!""
I pushed Emma and Elizabeth behind the hospital bed.
Then a familiar voice came from the darkness.
"Hello, Mother.""
Thomas stepped into the doorway.
Behind him stood Victor Hale.
May you like
And beside Victor was Vanessa.
She was holding a pistol.
