Chapter 6: The Woman Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
I enlarged the photograph.
The woman standing outside my house had short brown hair, a narrow face, and a distinctive silver bracelet around her wrist.
I knew that bracelet.
My father had given it to his personal assistant, Evelyn Brooks, for her fifteenth year of service.
She had worked for him longer than anyone else.
She was also the last person to see him alive.
At least, that's what I remembered.
Six months after his death, I received a letter saying Evelyn had died in a car accident in North Carolina.
I had sent flowers to the funeral home.
I'd never seen the body.
"That's Evelyn," I whispered.
Thomas nodded.
"I recognize her.""
Margaret leaned closer to the photograph.
"Are you certain?""
I looked at her.
"Yes. I spent half my childhood with that woman.""
Robert took out his phone.
"I'm contacting the security team at your property.""
I stopped him.
"Wait.""
Everyone looked at me.
"If Evelyn is alive, I want to speak to her before anyone alerts Daniel.""
Thomas shook his head.
"Mrs. Bennett, that could be dangerous.""
"Someone has been using my dead father's name to steal my company. Someone has been threatening witnesses. I'm done waiting for other people to tell me what I can handle.""
Margaret stood.
"I'll arrange independent security.""
"No," I replied.
"We'll use a security firm that has no connection to Bennett Enterprises.""
Robert nodded.
"I know a reputable firm. I'll make the call.""
An hour later, we were in the back of a black SUV heading toward my home in Buckhead.
I sat beside Margaret, holding the photograph.
The necklace was safely tucked inside my handbag.
My cheek still hurt.
Every time I touched it, I remembered the sound of Daniel's hand against my face.
But something inside me had changed.
I wasn't the woman who had spent twelve years protecting her husband's reputation anymore.
I was the woman who intended to find out what he'd done.
When we reached my house, two security officers were already waiting outside.
The front gate was open.
I immediately noticed something wrong.
The porch light was on.
I'd turned it off before leaving for the gala.
"Did anyone enter the property?"" I asked.
One of the officers shook his head.
"Not according to the exterior cameras.""
"Then why is the gate open?""
He looked toward the driveway.
"We found it like this.""
I stepped out.
The front door was unlocked.
Inside, the house smelled faintly of furniture polish and fresh coffee.
I walked into the living room.
A single envelope rested on the coffee table.
My name was written across it.
Not Daniel's handwriting.
My father's.
I approached slowly.
"Nobody touch anything.""
Margaret stood behind me.
The envelope was sealed with an old-fashioned wax stamp.
I recognized the initials.
E.B.
Evelyn Brooks.
I opened it.
Inside was a handwritten note.
Olivia,
I know what Daniel has done. I know what Patricia has done. And I know what your father discovered before he died.
I have waited eleven years to tell you the truth.
Meet me tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. at the old Bennett family boathouse.
Come alone.
Do not bring Margaret.
I read the final sentence again.
Then I looked at the woman standing beside me.
Margaret's face had gone completely pale.
"She doesn't trust you," I said.
Margaret swallowed.
"Apparently not.""
I turned the note over.
There was something written on the back.
*Your father didn't die believing Daniel was innocent. He died knowing exactly what Daniel had done.*
My hands began to shake.
I sat down.
"Margaret, what does that mean?""
She didn't answer.
Instead, she looked toward the hallway.
"Olivia, we need to leave this house.""
"Why?""
"Because if Evelyn knows enough to contact you, Daniel may already know she's alive.""
Before I could respond, a phone began ringing upstairs.
I recognized the sound.
It was Daniel's private ringtone.
He had installed it on my phone years earlier, back when we shared access to everything.
But my phone was in my handbag.
The ringing continued.
Margaret looked toward the staircase.
"That's not your phone.""
I slowly walked upstairs.
The sound came from my father's old study.
I hadn't entered that room in months.
The door stood slightly open.
Inside, the desk lamp was on.
A black smartphone rested beside the computer.
It was an unfamiliar device.
The screen displayed an incoming call.
*DANIEL BENNETT.*
I stared at it.
Why would Daniel be calling a phone hidden inside my father's study?
I answered.
"Hello?""
For three seconds, there was silence.
Then my husband's voice came through.
"Olivia.""
I gripped the phone.
"Why are you calling me from this number?""
He ignored the question.
"Where are you?""
"At home.""
"Are you alone?""
I looked toward the doorway.
"No.""
He exhaled sharply.
"Listen carefully. You need to stop talking to Thomas Reed.""
"Why?""
"Because he has been lying to you.""
"What about Evelyn?""
Silence.
A long, terrible silence.
Then Daniel spoke.
"How do you know that name?""
I felt my heartbeat quicken.
"She's alive, Daniel.""
He suddenly raised his voice.
"Don't meet her!""
I stepped away from the desk.
"Why?""
"Because she knows what happened that night.""
"What night?""
He lowered his voice.
"The night your father died.""
My knees almost gave way.
"Daniel, what happened to my father?""
He didn't answer immediately.
Then he said something that changed everything.
"Your father didn't leave you that inheritance because he loved you more than me, Olivia.""
I stared at the phone.
"What are you talking about?""
"He left you the company because he knew I would eventually take it.""
My mouth went dry.
"And why would he think that?""
Daniel's breathing became uneven.
"Because he discovered what I had done to him.""
I closed my eyes.
"Tell me.""
But before Daniel could answer, another voice came through the phone.
A woman's voice.
Soft.
Familiar.
And unmistakably frightened.
"Olivia, don't believe him.""
I froze.
"Who is this?""
The woman whispered:
"It's Evelyn. I'm standing outside your house.""
I rushed to the window.
A dark sedan was parked across the street.
Someone was sitting inside.
The driver's door opened.
And a woman stepped out wearing the same silver bracelet from the photograph.
Then she raised her hand and pointed directly at my father's study window.
Her lips moved.
I couldn't hear her through the glass.
But I understood the words.
*He's watching you.*
Behind me, Margaret suddenly shouted.
"Olivia! Get away from that window!""
A loud crash erupted downstairs.
The security alarm began screaming.
And Daniel's voice came through the phone one last time.
"Olivia, whatever happens, don't let Evelyn give you the red folder.""
The call disconnected.
I turned toward Margaret.
She was staring at the staircase.
At the bottom stood a man wearing a black jacket.
In his hand was a photograph of my father.
May you like
And he said:
"Mrs. Bennett, your father left something that belongs to me.""
