Chapter 8: The Man in the Photograph
I sat down slowly.
“Emily dated Sean?””
“Before me.””
“How long?””
“I don't know.””
“Why didn't you ever tell me?””
“Because Emily ended it.””
“Why?””
Malcolm was quiet.
“Sean cheated on her.””
“With Tasha?””
“No.””
The answer came too quickly.
I looked at the bank statements again.
“Then why does this matter?””
“Because Sean came back into Emily's life before she died.””
My skin prickled.
“When?””
“About six months before.””
“Did you know?””
“No.””
“Then how do you know now?””
“I found his number in her phone.””
“When?””
“After the funeral.””
I stood again.
“Where is it?””
“I deleted it.””
“Why?””
“Because I was angry.””
I closed my eyes.
“Malcolm, we need to find Sean.””
“I know.””
“Where does he live?””
“I don't know.””
“Then we'll start with Tasha.””
I hung up.
An hour later, I drove back to Tasha's house.
I didn't tell Isaiah where I was going.
He was at school with a neighbor who had agreed to watch him for the afternoon.
Tasha opened the door.
The moment she saw me, her face hardened.
“You came back.””
“I need to talk.””
“I don't.””
“Where is Sean?””
She went completely still.
“What?””
“Your brother.””
“Why?””
“Because Emily knew him.””
Tasha stepped outside and closed the door behind her.
“You need to leave.””
“Did he visit Emily before she died?””
“No.””
“Did he know about Isaiah's account?””
“No.””
“Did he have access to Emily's purse?””
“No.””
“Did he take a black folder from the hospital?””
Her face changed.
Only for a second.
But I saw it.
“You're making things up.””
“Claire saw you take it.””
Tasha stared at me.
“Claire has been lying about me for years.””
“Then tell me where the folder is.””
“I don't have it.””
“What happened to it?””
“Nothing.””
“You expect me to believe that?””
She crossed her arms.
“You've always wanted to blame me.””
“I want to know why my grandson's inheritance disappeared.””
“You're obsessed with that money.””
“No. I'm obsessed with why a dying woman specifically protected her son from people like you.””
Tasha's eyes narrowed.
“You don't know what Emily was like.””
“I knew her better than you think.””
“You think she was innocent?””
“I think she was dying.””
Tasha laughed bitterly.
“Then you really don't know.””
“What does that mean?””
She turned toward the house.
“Ask Malcolm why Emily was so desperate to get a DNA test.””
My heart stopped.
“You know about the test.””
She looked over her shoulder.
“Everyone knew.””
“Then why did you say there wasn't one?””
“I never said that.””
“You said Emily's money was gone because of family expenses.””
“It was.””
“You forged my signature.””
Her face went blank.
“I didn't.””
“You changed the account.””
“I had permission.””
“From whom?””
She smiled.
“From the person who mattered.””
“Emily?””
Tasha didn't answer.
“Then prove it.””
“I don't have to prove anything to you.””
She opened the door.
I caught it before it closed.
“Where is Sean?””
Tasha's eyes met mine.
“He's dead.””
The words stunned me.
“When?””
“Two years ago.””
“How?””
“Overdose.””
I stared at her.
“You're lying.””
“Why would I lie about that?””
“Because Claire said you sold your old SUV for cash.””
“I did.””
“To whom?””
“I don't remember.””
“You don't remember selling a car?””
“It was years ago.””
“Tasha.””
She leaned closer.
“You should stop digging.””
“Or what?””
“You might uncover something that destroys your son.””
I stepped back.
“That's what you've been threatening me with from the beginning.””
“No.””
Her voice became almost gentle.
“I'm warning you.””
She closed the door.
I stood on the porch for several seconds.
Then I noticed something beside the trash bin.
A torn piece of cardboard.
I picked it up.
It was from a storage box.
Across the corner, written in black marker, were two words:
*HOSPITAL RECORDS.*
I pulled out my phone and photographed it.
Then I heard a car engine start behind the house.
I turned.
A black sedan was pulling away.
I couldn't see the driver.
May you like
But I recognized the license plate.
It belonged to a man who was supposed to have been dead for two years.
