Chapter 9: The Mother I Buried Was Still Alive
I couldn't breathe.
For twelve years, I had believed my mother was dead.
I remembered the funeral.
The black dress.
The white flowers.
The closed casket.
My father's trembling hands as he stood beside me.
And now Vanessa was sitting across from me, claiming Patricia Williams was alive.
"You're lying," I whispered.
Vanessa placed her phone on the table.
"Look at the photograph again.""
I picked it up.
The woman standing beside Daniel had shorter hair than my mother used to wear. Her face was thinner. There were lines around her eyes.
But I recognized her.
The small scar near her left eyebrow.
The silver necklace she never removed.
The way she tilted her head when listening to someone.
It was my mother.
"Where is she?"" I demanded.
Vanessa leaned back.
"That depends on how much you're willing to pay.""
I immediately pushed the phone away.
"You think I'm going to pay you?""
"Your inheritance is worth millions. A little money shouldn't be a problem.""
I stood.
"You're disgusting.""
Vanessa's expression hardened.
"Sit down, Emily.""
"No.""
She grabbed the folder and slid it toward me.
"Then at least take this. It contains everything Daniel doesn't want you to see.""
I looked at the USB drive.
"Why would I trust anything you give me?""
"Because I have no reason to protect him anymore.""
I picked up the folder.
Before leaving, I asked one final question.
"Did Daniel know my mother was alive?""
Vanessa looked directly into my eyes.
"He's the reason she disappeared.""
When I returned to Margaret's house, Robert and two investigators were waiting.
Margaret immediately noticed my expression.
"Emily? What happened?""
I placed the photograph on the table.
She stared at it.
Then she covered her mouth.
"Patricia.""
I nodded.
"Vanessa says my mother is alive.""
Margaret slowly sat down.
"That can't be true.""
"Why?""
"Because Richard attended her funeral.""
I looked at her.
"What?""
Margaret explained that Richard had paid for several expenses connected to Patricia's funeral. He had also attended a private memorial service.
"Did you see her body?"" I asked.
Margaret shook her head.
"No. I was told the casket had to remain closed.""
I felt a wave of nausea.
Robert picked up the photograph.
"Do we know when this was taken?""
"Three months ago," I answered.
He examined the hospital logo in the background.
"That's Northside Hospital in Atlanta.""
One of the investigators immediately began making calls.
Margaret took my hands.
"Emily, sweetheart, I need you to prepare yourself for the possibility that Vanessa is manipulating you.""
I looked at her.
"She showed me a photograph.""
"Photographs can be misleading.""
"Then why does she have it?""
Margaret didn't answer.
Robert opened the folder Vanessa had given me.
Inside were several emails between Daniel and an unfamiliar address.
The earliest was dated seven months earlier.
Daniel had written:
Patricia, I have arranged the apartment. You need to remain out of contact with Emily until the estate is settled.
The reply read:
You promised me she would receive the truth. I have waited twelve years. I will not let you use me again.
My hands began shaking.
I read the next message.
If you contact her, I will make sure everyone knows what you did.
There was no reply.
Instead, the final email contained an attachment.
A photograph of a small apartment building.
Robert enlarged it.
The address was visible.
Margaret looked at me.
"That's in Buckhead.""
I stood up.
"We're going there.""
Robert shook his head.
"Not without confirming the address first.""
I turned toward him.
"That's my mother.""
"I understand. But if she's being held against her will, we need to handle this carefully.""
He contacted the investigators.
Within an hour, they confirmed that a woman named Patricia Williams had been living at that address under her legal name.
She had checked into the apartment complex eleven months earlier.
I couldn't stop crying.
My mother had been alive.
For twelve years.
And I had never known.
We arrived at the apartment building shortly after four.
The investigators went ahead.
Margaret stayed beside me.
I stood outside apartment 307, staring at the brass number on the door.
My hands were shaking so badly that I couldn't knock.
"Emily," Margaret whispered.
"I'm here.""
I finally raised my hand.
Three knocks.
Nothing.
Then footsteps.
The door opened.
A woman stood before me.
Her hair was gray now.
Her face was thinner.
But her eyes were exactly the same.
She looked at me for several seconds.
Then her lips began to tremble.
"Emily?""
I couldn't speak.
She lifted one hand toward my cheek.
"Oh, my baby.""
I stepped backward.
"Don't.""
Her hand froze.
"Emily, please.""
I stared at the woman I had mourned for twelve years.
"Why?""
She began crying.
"Sweetheart, I can explain.""
"Why did you let me bury you?""
Patricia lowered her head.
"Because Richard told me he would destroy your life if I didn't disappear.""
I felt Margaret grip my arm.
My mother continued.
"He said Daniel would never be safe if the truth came out. He said you would lose everything.""
"Did Daniel know?""
She nodded.
"Daniel knew I was alive. He came to see me several times.""
"Why?""
"Because he wanted the inheritance.""
I shook my head.
"Why didn't you contact me?""
My mother started crying harder.
"Because I was afraid.""
"Of Daniel?""
She looked toward the hallway.
Then she whispered something that made the investigators immediately move closer.
"Not just Daniel. Someone else has been paying me to stay silent.""
"Who?""
Patricia looked directly at Margaret.
And then she said:
"Your mother-in-law.""
Margaret stepped backward.
"Patricia, that's not true.""
My mother reached into her apartment and returned with a sealed envelope.
"I have proof.""
She placed it in my hands.
Inside was a bank statement.
Monthly transfers.
Every single month for twelve years.
The account holder was Margaret Carter.
I looked up at her.
"Mom?""
Margaret's eyes filled with tears.
But before she could answer, Patricia pointed toward the final page.
"Emily, there's something else. Margaret wasn't paying me to stay away from you.""
I looked down.
A handwritten note was attached to the statement.
It contained a sentence that changed everything.
Keep Emily away from Daniel until the adoption records are destroyed.
I slowly raised my eyes.
"Adoption records?""
Patricia nodded.
May you like
Then she whispered:
"Emily, Richard Carter wasn't your biological father. And neither was the man who raised you.""
