Chapter 14: The Truth Emily Left Behind
My husband had always been the kind of man people trusted.
He coached Little League.
He fixed neighbors' cars.
He never missed a birthday.
And after he died, I spent years believing the worst thing he had ever done was leave me alone.
Now Malcolm was telling me there was something else.
“What did your father do?”” I asked.
Malcolm's voice shook.
“I don't know.””
“You just said Emily was afraid of him.””
“She never explained.””
“Then how do you know?””
“Because I saw him outside the hospital the night Isaiah was born.””
I stared at him.
“My husband was there?””
“Yes.””
“He told me he wasn't.””
“I know.””
I sat down.
The memories came rushing back.
That night.
The hospital corridor.
Emily crying.
My husband saying there had been a misunderstanding.
I had believed him.
I had always believed him.
Malcolm opened his phone.
“I found these in Dad's old storage account.””
He showed me photographs.
One was of Emily holding newborn Isaiah.
Another showed my husband standing beside her.
The date was nine years earlier.
But there was something in the background.
A man standing near the hospital entrance.
Sean.
I looked at Malcolm.
“Why was Sean there?””
“I don't know.””
Tasha stepped forward.
“Because Sean brought Emily the money.””
“What money?””
“The first $20,000.””
I stared at her.
“What?””
“Emily needed surgery. Sean gave her money.””
“Then why was there another $48,000?””
“Because Emily refused to use Sean's money.””
“Why?””
“Because she knew where it came from.””
Malcolm looked at Tasha.
“What are you saying?””
She wiped her face.
“Your father had been laundering money through Sean's business.””
My mouth went dry.
“That's impossible.””
“It isn't.””
“Where's the proof?””
Tasha pointed to the laptop.
“On Emily's final recording.””
I looked at the audio files.
There was one I hadn't opened.
*FINAL — 4:07 PM*
I clicked it.
Emily's voice came through.
“Malcolm, I need you to listen carefully.””
A door closed in the background.
“I found the account your father used.””
Malcolm went pale.
“He wasn't just hiding money.””
Emily continued.
“He was using your name.””
Malcolm whispered, “No.””
“He used your identity to move money.””
I stared at my son.
“That's why the bank signature looks like yours.””
Malcolm shook his head.
“I never knew.””
Emily's voice continued.
“Your father told me if I exposed him, Malcolm would go to prison for something he didn't do.””
I covered my mouth.
“That was the threat.””
The recording continued.
“I believed him until I found the records.””
A man's voice suddenly appeared in the background.
“Emily.””
Malcolm stood.
“That isn't Dad.””
“No,” Tasha whispered.
Emily said, “You need to leave.””
The man replied,
“You should have listened.””
A chair scraped.
Then Emily cried out.
The recording cut off.
I stared at the laptop.
“Who was that?””
Tasha looked at me.
“Your husband's business partner.””
“Who?””
She said the name.
I knew him.
He had attended my husband's funeral.
He had hugged me.
He had told me my husband was a good man.
I felt sick.
“What happened after the recording?””
Tasha lowered her eyes.
“I went into Emily's room.””
“Why?””
“She gave me the black folder.””
“Why would she give it to you?””
“She said if Malcolm found out about the money, he would be blamed.””
“And you?””
“I promised to protect him.””
I laughed bitterly.
“By stealing Isaiah's money?””
“I was scared.””
“You forged my signature.””
“Yes.””
“You drained the account.””
“Yes.””
“You lied about Sean.””
“Yes.””
“And you let me believe Malcolm was responsible.””
Tasha cried.
“I thought if I could make the money disappear, there would be no evidence.””
“There was evidence.””
“I know.””
“The recordings.””
“I didn't know Emily had made copies.””
I looked at the flash drive.
“So Sean wasn't blackmailing you.””
“No.””
“He was helping Emily.””
“Yes.””
“Then why did he disappear?””
Tasha stared at the floor.
“Because the man who threatened Emily found him.””
“Is he alive?””
“Yes.””
“Where?””
“I don't know.””
My phone buzzed.
A message from an unknown number.
*You finally understand.*
Another appeared.
*Now ask Malcolm why his father's old safe was opened three days before Emily died.*
I looked at my son.
“Did you open it?””
He shook his head.
“No.””
Tasha suddenly whispered,
“I did.””
I turned toward her.
“Why?””
She looked terrified.
“Because your husband's final letter was inside.””
“What did it say?””
She swallowed.
“It named the person who helped him.””
“Who?””
Tasha looked at Malcolm.
Then at me.
“It was someone in this house.””
Before I could ask another question, the front door unlocked.
Someone stepped inside.
A man's voice called from the hallway.
“Evelyn?””
I knew that voice.
May you like
It belonged to my husband's former business partner.
And he was carrying the black folder Emily had hidden.
