Chapter 7: The Night My Father Died
The message from Margaret stayed on my screen.
*There is something you need to know about the night your father died.*
I looked at Nathan.
He had stopped breathing for a second.
“You know what she's talking about,” I said.
Nathan shook his head.
“I know what my mother told me.””
“Then tell me.””
“She said your father had a heart attack.””
“My father died in a hospital.””
“Yes.””
“Then why does Margaret sound like he didn't?””
Nathan looked away.
I grabbed my coat.
“Where are you going?””
“To find her.””
“I’m coming.””
“No.””
“Rachel—”
“You lied to me for years.””
He stepped closer.
“I’m trying to help you now.””
I stared at him.
“You don't get to decide when you're my husband and when you're a stranger.””
His face tightened.
“Fair enough.””
I picked up my keys.
“Then prove it.””
He nodded.
Margaret sent an address.
An old motel on the edge of town.
We drove separately.
When I arrived, rain had started falling.
The motel sign flickered red against the wet pavement.
Room 214.
I knocked.
Nothing.
I knocked again.
“Margaret?””
A chain slid.
The door opened two inches.
An older woman looked through the gap.
Her hair was silver now.
Her eyes were exactly as I remembered.
“Rachel?””
“Yes.””
She opened the door.
Then she saw Nathan behind me.
Her expression changed.
“You brought him?””
“He came on his own.””
Margaret stared at him.
“I told you not to come.””
Nathan frowned.
“I've never spoken to you.””
“You don't remember me.””
Margaret stepped aside.
“Come in, Rachel.””
Nathan stayed outside.
“I'm staying here,” he said.
Margaret pointed at him.
“You stay where I can see you.””
Inside, the room smelled of coffee and old paper.
Margaret locked the door.
Then she placed a thick envelope on the table.
“Your father gave me this three days before he died.””
I stared at it.
“Why didn't you give it to me?””
“Because Diane found out I had it.””
“How?””
“Your father told me she had people watching the house.””
I opened the envelope.
Inside was a handwritten statement.
My father's handwriting.
*Margaret, if anything happens to me, Rachel must never sign anything presented by Diane or Nathan.*
My throat tightened.
“What did he know?””
Margaret sat down.
“He knew Diane had discovered the inheritance clause.””
“About the house?””
“Not just the house.””
She looked at Nathan through the window.
“She wanted control of every asset your father had left you.””
“Why?””
“Because she believed your father had stolen from her.””
I frowned.
“He didn't.””
“No.””
Margaret shook her head.
“Your father had proof she had stolen from his company. But he never reported her.””
“Why?””
“He was afraid.””
“Of Diane?””
“Of what she knew.””
Margaret opened a second folder.
Inside were bank records.
“Your father discovered that Diane wasn't working alone.””
I scanned the pages.
Several payments had been made to an account belonging to a man named *Victor Hale*.
“Who is he?””
Margaret lowered her voice.
“The man who helped Diane create the fake divorce.””
I looked up.
“You knew?””
“I knew there was going to be a fake divorce. I didn't know when.””
“What happened the night my father died?””
Margaret's hands trembled.
“He called me at 11:40 p.m.””
“From the hospital?””
“No.””
“From where?””
“Your house.””
My blood ran cold.
“He was at my house?””
“Yes.””
“What was he doing there?””
“He told me he'd found proof that Diane was planning to take your inheritance.””
I looked toward Nathan.
He was standing in the rain outside.
“Was Nathan there?””
Margaret nodded.
“He arrived while your father was still on the phone with me.””
My chest tightened.
“What happened?””
“I heard your father shout.””
“What did he say?””
Margaret closed her eyes.
“Get out of my daughter's life.””
I couldn't move.
“And then?””
“I heard something crash.””
Margaret looked at me.
“Then the call ended.””
I whispered, “My father died that night.””
“Yes.””
“Did Nathan kill him?””
Margaret shook her head.
“I don't know.””
My heart slammed against my ribs.
“But I saw Nathan leave your house that night.””
I turned toward the window.
Nathan was still there.
Watching us.
“Why didn't you tell the police?””
“I tried.””
“What happened?””
Margaret pulled out another document.
“The detective assigned to your father's death received this.””
It was a report.
At the bottom was a handwritten note.
*Family confirms accidental death. No further investigation.*
My father's death had been classified as natural.
But Margaret had never agreed.
She leaned closer.
“Rachel, your father wasn't alone when he died.””
“Who was with him?””
Margaret looked at the door.
Before she could answer, someone knocked.
Three slow knocks.
Margaret's face went white.
“Who is it?”” I whispered.
She shook her head.
Then a man's voice came from the hallway.
“Rachel?””
I knew that voice.
It was Evan.
The attorney.
Margaret grabbed my wrist.
“Don't open the door.””
Evan knocked again.
“Rachel, I know you're in there.””
May you like
Then he said the one thing that made Margaret release my arm.
“I'm here because I found the missing hospital record.””
