Chapter 10: The Woman Who Survived
My mother's name was still echoing in my head when Detective Lewis took the phone from my hand.
“Did he say anything else?””
I shook my head.
“Just that she's alive.””
My father sat motionless in the hidden room.
For seven years, he'd visited a grave that might have never held my mother.
Seven years of birthdays.
Seven Christmases.
Seven times he'd stood beside me while I cried.
And now he couldn't even look at me.
“Dad.””
He lifted his eyes.
“I swear to you, Emily, I didn't know.””
“You signed the death report.””
“I was told she was dead.””
“You signed it.””
His voice cracked.
“I thought I was saving you.””
I looked away.
Detective Lewis interrupted.
“We need to find Julian.””
My phone buzzed.
A location appeared on the screen.
No message.
Just coordinates.
I showed the detective.
He studied them.
“That's an abandoned motel outside town.””
My father stood.
“I know that place.””
“You do?””
“Richard used to own it.””
Detective Lewis grabbed his jacket.
“Then we're going.””
My father looked at me.
“You're staying here.””
“No.””
“Emily, you're injured.””
“My mother may be alive.””
He stared at me.
“I know.””
“Then I'm coming.””
Twenty minutes later, we were driving through heavy rain.
I sat in the back seat, my father's jacket wrapped around my shoulders.
Detective Lewis drove.
Another patrol car followed behind.
Nobody spoke.
Until my father's phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
Unknown number.
He answered.
“Hello?””
A woman's voice whispered.
“Thomas?””
My father's entire body went rigid.
I knew that voice.
I hadn't heard it in eight years.
But somehow, my heart recognized it before my mind did.
“Mom?””
The voice went silent.
Then—
“Emily?””
I grabbed the phone.
“Mom?””
“Don't come here.””
My breath caught.
“Where are you?””
“Somewhere they can't find me.””
“Mom, I thought you were dead.””
“I know.””
“You let me think you were dead.””
“I had no choice.””
“Then tell me why.””
A long pause.
“Because Richard knew about you.””
“Julian said you were alive.””
“He found me.””
“Where are you?””
“Emily, listen to me. You cannot trust—”
The call cut off.
“Mom?””
Nothing.
I stared at the phone.
Detective Lewis looked at me through the rearview mirror.
“What happened?””
“She was there.””
My father turned around.
“What did she say?””
“She said Richard knew about me.””
Then my phone buzzed again.
A photograph.
My mother.
Older.
Thinner.
Standing outside a small white house.
Alive.
My hand flew to my mouth.
In the corner of the photograph was today's newspaper.
The date was visible.
She had been alive today.
I showed Detective Lewis.
He immediately told the other patrol car to spread out.
“Whoever sent this wants us to know she exists.””
“Or wants us to follow her,” my father said.
We arrived at the abandoned motel.
The office door was hanging open.
Rain blew across the cracked pavement.
Detective Lewis raised his weapon.
“Stay in the car.””
But then we heard a scream.
A woman's scream.
My father ran.
“Emily, stay here!””
I followed anyway.
We entered the motel office.
A chair was overturned.
A lamp was shattered.
Blood stained the floor.
But there was no body.
Detective Lewis crouched beside the blood.
“Fresh.””
My heart pounded.
“Where is my mother?””
A noise came from behind the office wall.
Three knocks.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
I froze.
My mother used to do that.
Detective Lewis found a hidden door behind a cabinet.
Inside was a narrow room.
And sitting on the floor was Margaret Hayes.
Her wrists were tied.
Her face was bruised.
My father rushed toward her.
“Margaret!””
She looked up.
Then she saw me.
“Emily.””
I dropped beside her.
“Where is my mother?””
Margaret's eyes filled with tears.
“She came here.””
“When?””
“Tonight.””
“Where did she go?””
Margaret swallowed.
“She went to meet Julian.””
My heart sank.
“Why?””
“Because Julian has the original evidence.””
“What evidence?””
“The evidence proving Richard ordered your mother's disappearance.””
Detective Lewis cut the rope around Margaret's wrists.
“Where is Julian?””
Margaret shook her head.
“I don't know.””
My father stared at her.
“You betrayed her.””
“I know.””
“You told Richard about the account.””
“I know.””
“Why should we believe anything you say?””
Margaret looked at me.
“Because your mother saved my life.””
She reached into her coat.
“There is something she wanted you to have.””
A small brass key fell into my palm.
The same red thread was tied around it.
“What does this open?””
Margaret looked toward the window.
“The bank vault.””
My stomach tightened.
“What bank?””
She whispered the name.
The same bank where my hidden account was held.
Then she looked directly at me.
“Your mother never put the evidence in your account.””
“Then where?””
Margaret's eyes filled with fear.
“She put it inside the safety deposit box.””
Detective Lewis frowned.
“Whose name is on it?””
Margaret didn't answer.
She looked at my father.
Then back at me.
“Your mother's.””
My father's face went white.
“That's impossible.””
Margaret shook her head.
“No, Thomas.””
May you like
She whispered the words that made all three of us go silent.
“She never died.””
