Chapter 12: The Woman Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
I stared at the financial report.
Daniel's mother had supposedly died when he was sixteen.
I'd never met her.
He rarely spoke about her, except to say that she'd abandoned the family before passing away.
Richard had raised Daniel alone.
At least, that was the story I'd been told.
"How can money be transferred into a dead woman's account?"" I asked.
Thomas removed his glasses.
"Because the account may not actually have belonged to her.""
Evelyn looked at him.
"Do you know something?""
Thomas hesitated.
"Richard suspected Daniel had been using his mother's identity to move money for years.""
I felt a chill.
"Why?""
"His mother was declared deceased, but Richard never received the original death certificate. He told me there were inconsistencies.""
"Are you saying she might still be alive?""
Thomas nodded.
"I don't know. But I remember Richard telling me that he'd received a letter from her several years ago.""
I stared at him.
"Where is that letter?""
"In the estate office.""
The same office Margaret had mentioned.
The same office containing Richard's original will and the recording.
Evelyn immediately checked her schedule.
"We're going there today.""
Thomas called the building manager and arranged access.
An hour later, we stood outside Richard's former estate office in downtown Atlanta.
The building was quiet.
The receptionist recognized Thomas and escorted us to the private executive suite.
The moment I entered, I felt as though Richard might walk out of his office at any moment.
His dark wooden desk remained exactly where it had been.
A framed photograph of him and Daniel sat beside the window.
But someone had removed the bookshelves.
"What happened here?"" I asked.
Thomas looked around.
"Daniel ordered the office cleared after Richard's death.""
Evelyn checked the cabinet Margaret had described.
It was locked.
Thomas tried the silver key.
It turned.
Inside were three folders, a small digital recorder, and a thick envelope.
The first folder contained Richard's original will.
Evelyn examined it carefully.
The date was two days before his death.
The witnesses were Thomas Bennett and an independent attorney.
The will specifically revoked all previous versions.
Daniel was removed as executor.
Sarah Mitchell was appointed.
Noah Mitchell was named the primary beneficiary of a separate protected trust.
And I was named the sole beneficiary of the remaining family estate.
Evelyn smiled faintly.
"This is what we needed.""
I felt tears gathering in my eyes.
Richard had known.
He'd known Daniel might try to take everything.
The second folder contained bank statements.
The transactions showed money moving through DMR Capital Holdings into several accounts.
One was registered to Vanessa.
Another belonged to Margaret.
And the third was registered under a different name.
*Eleanor Mitchell.*
I looked at Thomas.
"That was his mother's name?""
"Yes.""
Evelyn opened the final folder.
Inside was a letter.
The envelope was addressed to Richard.
The handwriting was delicate and unfamiliar.
Thomas read the first line.
Then he stopped.
"What is it?"" I asked.
He handed me the page.
The letter was dated eight years earlier.
Richard,
I know you believe I'm dead. Daniel made sure everyone believed that. But I'm alive, and I have been living under another name because I'm afraid of what our son has become.
I couldn't read the next sentence.
My hands were trembling.
Evelyn took the letter and continued.
Eleanor explained that Daniel had contacted her several times after leaving home.
He'd asked for money.
He'd asked about Richard's investments.
And eventually, he'd asked her to sign documents transferring control of an account she'd never opened.
When she refused, Daniel threatened to expose her location.
She had disappeared again.
At the bottom of the letter was an address.
A small town outside Savannah.
Thomas sat down.
"Richard never told me he received this.""
"Why would he hide it?"" I asked.
"Maybe he was protecting her.""
Evelyn checked the financial statements.
"The account receiving the $2.8 million transfer is still active.""
I looked at her.
"Can we find out who owns it?""
"Not without proper legal process, but the account registration gives us a lead.""
Thomas opened another drawer.
Inside was a small notebook.
He flipped through several pages.
Then he stopped.
"Here.""
He showed us a handwritten entry.
*Eleanor — Savannah — November 14.*
Below it was a phone number.
Evelyn photographed the page.
"We'll have the authorities verify the account ownership and contact information.""
I looked around the office.
"There's something I don't understand.""
"What?"" Thomas asked.
"Why would Daniel pretend his mother was dead? What did he gain?""
Thomas looked toward the window.
"Control of her inheritance.""
I turned toward him.
"She had money?""
"Not a fortune. But she owned several properties before disappearing. Richard believed Daniel had taken control of some of them.""
I slowly sat down.
"So Daniel stole from his mother, his father, his company, and his own child?""
Thomas nodded.
"That's what the evidence suggests.""
My phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
I almost ignored it.
Then a text appeared.
*Sarah Mitchell? My name is Eleanor. I believe you have my husband's letter.*
My heart stopped.
I showed Evelyn.
She immediately took the phone.
"Don't respond yet.""
She examined the number, then looked at Thomas.
"Could this be her?""
Thomas nodded slowly.
"Possibly.""
A second message arrived.
*I know what Daniel did to Richard. I also know why he was desperate to sell your house.*
I felt a cold sensation crawl up my spine.
Evelyn typed a brief reply asking for verification.
Within seconds, another photograph arrived.
It showed a woman standing beside Richard in front of a seaside house.
The woman looked older than the person in the family photographs I'd seen.
But there was no mistaking her.
It was Daniel's mother.
Beneath the photograph was a message.
*I have the original documents Daniel used to steal my identity. I also have proof that Richard discovered the truth before he died.*
I looked at Thomas.
"Can we meet her?""
Before he could answer, my phone rang.
This time, the caller ID displayed a name.
*Daniel Mitchell.*
I answered.
He sounded strangely calm.
"Sarah, I heard you've been visiting Dad's old office.""
I said nothing.
"Listen carefully. Whatever my mother has told you, don't believe her.""
"Your mother is alive, Daniel.""
Silence.
Then he laughed.
"You're making a mistake.""
"Why did you use her identity?""
His voice changed.
"Because she doesn't exist anymore.""
"She's sending me messages.""
I heard something hit the floor on his end.
Then Daniel whispered:
"Where did you get her number?""
I didn't answer.
He took a shaky breath.
"Sarah, I'll make you a deal.""
"What deal?""
"You give me the original will, the house, and control of Noah's trust. In exchange, I'll tell you what really happened to my father.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"You already told me enough.""
"No. You still don't understand.""
"Then explain.""
His next words made my blood run cold.
"My father didn't die because of his heart condition, Sarah.""
A long silence followed.
Then he added:
"And the person who helped him die is still working inside the company.""
The call disconnected.
I stared at the phone.
Evelyn slowly closed the office folder.
"Sarah, we're no longer dealing with a family inheritance dispute.""
Thomas looked toward the door.
"No," he whispered.
"We're dealing with someone who has been covering up a murder.""
And before we could leave the office, the receptionist called.
A woman had arrived downstairs.
She was asking for Sarah Mitchell.
May you like
She said her name was Eleanor Mitchell.
And she was carrying a document with Daniel's original signature on it.
