Chapter 11: The Woman Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
I couldn't understand what I was looking at.
The photograph showed my father walking beside a woman who looked exactly like my mother.
The same silver hair.
The same narrow shoulders.
The same way of holding her handbag against her left side.
But my mother had died fourteen months earlier.
I'd attended her funeral.
I'd watched her casket lowered into the ground.
I'd chosen the flowers.
I'd held Emily's hand while the pastor spoke.
I looked at Vanessa.
“Where did you get this?””
“Marcus's private files. He kept photographs of people he wanted to monitor.””
“That's my mother.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“I know what you're thinking. But I don't believe that's possible.””
Daniel leaned closer to the photograph.
“Where was this taken?””
“Outside an apartment building in Savannah. Marcus received it from a private investigator.””
Detective Maddox took the photograph.
“Was there any additional information?””
Vanessa nodded.
“An address and a name.””
She pulled out another sheet.
The name was written in black ink.
*Margaret Ellis.*
My mother's maiden name.
I looked at Daniel.
“Could she have been alive?””
He didn't answer.
Detective Maddox immediately called another investigator and asked for the Savannah address to be checked.
Meanwhile, I sat motionless.
My mother had left letters.
She had left instructions.
She had recorded conversations.
She had prepared documents to protect me.
What if she'd been doing all of that while secretly alive?
And what if someone had made sure I believed she was dead?
Daniel sat beside me.
“Lauren, I need you to breathe.””
I looked at him.
“Don't tell me to breathe. Tell me what you know.””
He rubbed his forehead.
“I received a message from your mother several months after her funeral.””
My chest tightened.
“What?””
“She said she was safe, but couldn't explain where she was. She asked me to protect the trust documents.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I couldn't verify it was really her. The message came from an encrypted account, and I didn't have proof.””
I stood.
“You've been keeping secrets from me since the day we met.””
Daniel lowered his eyes.
“I was trying to protect you.””
“That's what everyone says!””
My voice echoed through the diner.
I looked at Vanessa.
“Marcus said he was protecting me. Emily said she was protecting me. Daniel said he was protecting me. Meanwhile, everyone knew something about my family except me.””
Nobody answered.
I walked outside.
The morning air was cold.
I leaned against the car and tried to steady my breathing.
A few minutes later, Detective Maddox approached.
“We've received confirmation about the Savannah address.””
I looked at her.
“And?””
“The building is registered to a woman named Margaret Ellis. Neighbors report seeing an older woman matching your mother's description.””
I covered my mouth.
“Is she alive?””
“We don't know for certain yet. But we're arranging to verify her identity.””
Then Detective Maddox added something else.
“There's another development. Marcus has contacted a private security company. They're asking questions about your location.””
I looked toward the diner.
“Does he know about the recording?””
“We haven't established that. But we should assume he knows Vanessa has disappeared.””
My phone vibrated.
A message from an unknown number.
*Your mother isn't who you think she is. Stop looking for her.*
A second message arrived.
*Ask Emily what happened the night of the funeral.*
I felt my blood run cold.
I walked back inside.
Emily had been sitting with Daniel, quietly reviewing the documents.
“Emily.””
She looked up.
“What?””
“What happened the night of Mom's funeral?””
Her face changed immediately.
She glanced at Daniel.
Then at Detective Maddox.
“Where did you hear that?””
I showed her the message.
Emily stood.
“Lauren, you need to understand something.””
“Tell me.””
She looked toward the window.
“Mom wasn't in the casket.””
I couldn't move.
“What?””
Emily began crying.
“The funeral home told us there had been complications with the identification. They said we weren't allowed to see her.””
I stared at her.
“You never told me that.””
“Because Mom made me promise.””
“Promise what?””
“To keep the funeral exactly as it was. To let everyone believe she was dead.””
I stepped backward.
“Why?””
Emily wiped her face.
“Because she was being threatened. Marcus's father and Richard Bennett had found out she was trying to expose their financial scheme. They told her that if she went to the police, they would hurt us.””
My throat tightened.
“So she disappeared?””
Emily nodded.
“She arranged everything with Dad. They wanted us to believe she was gone so nobody could use us to find her.””
“Did you know she was alive all this time?””
Emily shook her head.
“Not all the time. I received a letter from her last year. I was supposed to meet her, but Marcus found out.””
“Then why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I was already working with him. I was ashamed. I thought she'd never forgive me.””
I stared at my sister.
“You let me grieve our mother while knowing there might be a chance she was alive.””
Emily covered her face.
“I know.””
Detective Maddox stepped closer.
“Emily, did you ever meet your mother after the funeral?””
Emily hesitated.
Then she nodded.
“Once.””
“When?””
“About six months ago.””
I felt something break inside me.
“What did she say?””
Emily looked directly at me.
“She told me Marcus was dangerous. She told me to stay away from him and protect you.””
“And you ignored her.””
Emily nodded.
“Yes.””
She reached into her handbag and removed a small folded photograph.
It showed my mother sitting at a table in a café.
On the back was a handwritten message.
*Tell Lauren that I never stopped loving her.*
I began crying.
For fourteen months, I'd believed I'd lost the person who knew me better than anyone.
And all that time, she might have been waiting for me somewhere.
My phone rang.
Detective Maddox answered a call from the Savannah team.
Her expression changed.
“Yes. I understand. Send the photograph immediately.””
She listened.
Then she looked at me.
“Lauren, they've located the woman.””
I grabbed her arm.
“Is it my mother?””
Detective Maddox hesitated.
“They've confirmed her identity.””
I could barely speak.
“Where is she?””
“She's at a medical center in Savannah.””
“Is she okay?””
The detective's face became serious.
“She was brought in unconscious less than an hour ago.””
My heart stopped.
“What happened?””
May you like
Detective Maddox looked down at her notes.
“The attending physician says she appears to have been deliberately poisoned.””
