Chapter 6: What Happened the Day Emily Died
By the time I reached my house, Isaiah had fallen asleep in the back seat.
I carried him inside.
His cheek rested against my shoulder, and his arms were wrapped loosely around my neck.
For a few seconds, everything else disappeared.
No bank statements.
No forged signatures.
No missing money.
Just my grandson breathing softly against me.
I put him in the guest room and pulled the blanket over him.
Then I returned to the kitchen.
Malcolm was still on the phone.
“Mom?””
“I'm here.””
“I need you to tell me exactly what Daniel said.””
I repeated everything.
When I finished, Malcolm didn't speak.
Then he said, “Tasha wasn't supposed to have access to anything after Emily died.””
“What happened that day?””
“I was at the hospital.””
“I know.””
“No, Mom. I mean before I got there.””
I sat down.
“Tell me.””
Malcolm's voice dropped.
“Emily had been asking me to sign some papers.””
“What papers?””
“She said she wanted everything settled for Isaiah.””
“Did she mention the $48,000?””
“Yes.””
“Did she mention Tasha?””
A long pause.
“She was scared of her.””
My heart stopped.
“What?””
“Emily told me Tasha had been asking about the account.””
“When?””
“About a month before she died.””
I looked toward the hallway.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“I thought Emily was confused because of the medication.””
“Was she?””
“No.””
His voice cracked.
“She gave me the envelope herself.””
“The one with the letter?””
“Yes.””
“Then why did Tasha have it?””
“I don't know.””
I stared at the table.
Something wasn't fitting.
“Malcolm, what happened after Emily died?””
He took a breath.
“I was in the hospital room with her when she passed.””
“I know.””
“But I wasn't there immediately afterward.””
“Why?””
“The doctor asked me to step out.””
“For how long?””
“Maybe twenty minutes.””
“Who stayed with Emily?””
“Her sister.””
“And Tasha?””
“She said she was going home to get clothes for Isaiah.””
I felt a chill.
“How long was she gone?””
“I don't know.””
“Think.””
“An hour. Maybe more.””
I looked at the bank document.
The beneficiary change had been dated that same day.
“What time did Emily die?””
“4:18 p.m.””
“And what time was the document notarized?””
“Mom…”
“Tell me.””
“4:51.””
I stopped breathing.
Thirty-three minutes.
Thirty-three minutes after Emily died.
I stood so quickly the chair fell backward.
“Mom?””
“She couldn't have signed anything at 4:51.””
“I know.””
I stared at the clock.
“Who had her identification?””
Malcolm went silent.
Then he whispered,
“Tasha.””
I felt sick.
“Why?””
“I gave it to her.””
“You what?””
“I needed someone to pick up Isaiah's clothes. She said she'd handle it.””
“And Emily's purse?””
Malcolm didn't answer.
“Malcolm.””
“She had that too.””
I closed my eyes.
Tasha had Emily's identification.
Emily's purse.
Access to the account documents.
And, according to the bank, she had changed the account less than an hour after Emily died.
I opened my laptop.
“Mom, what are you doing?””
“Checking something.””
I searched through old photographs from Emily's funeral.
There was one I had taken in the hospital parking lot that evening.
I enlarged it.
Tasha was standing beside her car.
She was holding a black handbag.
Emily's handbag.
I zoomed in.
Something white was sticking out of it.
A document.
I took a screenshot.
Then another.
Malcolm said, “What did you find?””
“Proof that Tasha had your mother's purse after she died.””
“That doesn't prove anything.””
“No.””
I stared at the photograph.
“But I know someone who might know exactly what was inside it.””
“Who?””
“Emily's sister.””
I found her number and called.
She answered after several rings.
“Evelyn?””
“Claire, I need to ask you something about the day Emily died.””
Her voice became cautious.
“What about it?””
“Did you see Tasha take anything from Emily's room?””
Silence.
Then Claire whispered,
“Yes.””
My heart began pounding.
“What did she take?””
“A black folder.””
“What was inside?””
“I don't know.””
“Claire, please.””
She hesitated.
Then she said,
“I saw Emily put something inside that folder the morning she died.””
“What?””
“She told me, ‘If anything happens, make sure Isaiah gets this.’”
I gripped the phone.
“What happened to the folder?””
Claire's breathing changed.
“Tasha took it.””
“Where?””
“I don't know.””
Then she added something that made my blood run cold.
“But Evelyn…”
“Yes?””
“Emily didn't put money papers in that folder.””
“Then what did she put inside?””
May you like
Claire whispered,
“A DNA test.””
