Chapter 13: The Father I Never Got to Meet
"Marcus arranged the meeting that never happened.""
Emily's confession echoed through Patricia's living room.
Daniel stood motionless.
I stared at my sister.
"Tell me exactly what you mean.""
Emily wiped her face.
"Robert was supposed to meet you nine years ago. He'd already spoken to Mom. He wanted to introduce himself and explain the trust.""
"Then why didn't he?""
"Marcus found out.""
Daniel's jaw tightened.
"My father was killed?""
Emily nodded.
"Marcus knew Robert was planning to transfer control of the trust to you. He knew that once you met him, you would have access to everything your mother had protected.""
I turned toward Daniel.
"Did your father have any medical problems?""
Daniel shook his head.
"None that I knew about. He was healthy. He died suddenly after being admitted to a private hospital.""
"What hospital?""
Daniel named one in Atlanta.
Attorney Carter immediately opened his briefcase.
"That's the same hospital where Dr. Collins had admitting privileges.""
I felt sick.
Daniel sat down.
"My father died of what the family was told was a sudden cardiac event. The doctors said there was nothing anyone could have done.""
He stared at the floor.
"Now you're telling me someone may have caused it?""
Emily nodded.
"I found an email between Marcus and Collins. It mentioned Robert's appointment and said the problem had been permanently resolved.""
Daniel closed his eyes.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then he looked at Emily.
"Why didn't you tell me this when we first met?""
She began crying.
"Because I was afraid Marcus would come after me.""
Daniel stood.
"You were my wife. You watched me bury my father while knowing something might have happened to him.""
"I know.""
"No. You don't.""
He walked toward the window.
I wanted to comfort him, but I couldn't even process my own grief.
I'd lost a father I never knew.
And someone had apparently made sure I never got the chance to meet him.
Attorney Carter broke the silence.
"We need to preserve every document and turn everything over to the investigators. We cannot confront Collins ourselves.""
Daniel nodded.
"Agreed.""
Patricia offered to provide a sworn statement.
Emily agreed to cooperate fully.
I looked at my sister.
"There's one thing I need to know.""
She raised her eyes.
"Did you know Marcus was giving me medication that made me sick?""
She hesitated.
"Yes.""
My heart sank.
"From the beginning?""
"Not at first. He told me you needed help sleeping. Then he started asking me to bring the supplements whenever I visited.""
"Why?""
"He said you were becoming suspicious. He wanted you to remain calm.""
I felt tears burning my eyes.
"You watched me struggle to walk up the stairs. You watched me forget conversations. You saw me frightened because I couldn't understand what was happening to my own body.""
Emily covered her face.
"I thought the effects would stop.""
"When?""
"When the guardianship was approved.""
I stood.
"Then you knew.""
She nodded.
I looked at her for a long time.
"I don't know if I can ever forgive you.""
"I understand.""
"No, Emily. You don't understand. You helped him take away my ability to trust my own mind.""
She began sobbing.
I walked outside.
Daniel followed.
The morning sun was rising above the trees.
For the first time in hours, I could breathe.
"Lauren," he said quietly.
I turned.
He looked exhausted.
"I'm sorry.""
"For what?""
"For bringing all of this into your life.""
I shook my head.
"You didn't bring it. You helped me see it.""
He looked toward the house.
"My father spent his final months searching for you. I found letters he'd written but never sent. He wanted to meet his daughter.""
My eyes filled again.
"Do you think he would have liked me?""
Daniel smiled sadly.
"He kept your mother's photograph beside his bed. I think he would have adored you.""
I looked down.
A brother.
A father.
A family I hadn't known existed.
And a man who had spent years trying to steal all of it.
My phone rang.
The investigator.
I answered.
"Mrs. Mitchell, we have an update.""
"What happened?""
"Dr. Collins has been located. He's attempting to leave Georgia. Officers are moving to question him.""
"And Marcus?""
"Your husband is being interviewed. We also discovered an additional insurance application connected to a second policy.""
My stomach tightened.
"Second policy?""
"Yes. This one was issued several years ago.""
"Whose name is on it?""
The investigator paused.
Then he answered.
"Your sister's.""
I turned toward the house.
Emily was standing in the doorway.
And suddenly, I understood something.
Marcus hadn't just been planning to take my life apart.
May you like
He had been building an entire operation around the people closest to me.
Including the woman who'd helped him betray me.
