Chapter 11: My Mother's Last Letter
At nine the following morning, I sat inside Rachel Bennett's office with Oliver beside me.
He was coloring a picture of a dinosaur while I stared at the sealed envelope.
My mother's handwriting was unmistakable.
For my daughter, Sarah.
I ran my fingers across the paper.
For two years, I'd wondered whether there had been something she wanted to tell me before she died.
Now I was afraid of what I'd find.
Rachel sat across from me.
"Your mother left this with her estate attorney. The instructions were very specific. She wanted it delivered if Patricia attempted to obtain permanent guardianship of your child.""
I looked at her.
"Did my mother know Oliver was alive?""
Rachel nodded.
"According to the estate attorney, yes.""
My eyes filled.
"She knew, and she let me grieve?""
Rachel gently shook her head.
"We don't know everything yet. Let's read the letter.""
I opened it.
The first lines made my chest tighten.
My beautiful Sarah,
If you're reading this, then Patricia has finally done something I feared she would do. I am sorry I couldn't protect you when you needed me most.
I stopped.
Oliver looked up.
"Mommy, are you sad?""
I wiped my cheek.
"A little, sweetheart.""
He returned to his coloring.
I continued reading.
I need you to understand that Michael Mitchell contacted me before he died. He told me he had discovered Daniel was not the man you believed him to be.
I looked at Rachel.
She gestured for me to continue.
Michael had learned that Daniel had been using Patricia's money to maintain a separate relationship with another woman. He had also discovered that Patricia was planning to use your pregnancy to secure a child connected to Michael's estate.
I stopped breathing.
Another woman.
Vanessa?
I kept reading.
Michael told me he loved you, but he also told me something more important. He believed Daniel had married you because Patricia wanted access to your family's business assets.
I felt my hands begin to shake.
My mother continued.
I didn't believe him at first. But he showed me financial documents proving that Patricia had been investigating your inheritance and your business long before your wedding.
I looked toward Rachel.
"That's impossible.""
She remained quiet.
I continued.
Michael wanted to tell you everything. He planned to meet you after Christmas. He also wanted to withdraw from the fertility arrangement because he had discovered Patricia intended to use the child as leverage over Daniel.
Then came the sentence that made me cry.
The night Michael died, he called me. He said he was frightened. He told me someone had taken his car keys and that he was going to the police.
I covered my mouth.
The next paragraph was shorter.
I received a call the following morning informing me of his accident. Patricia visited me two days later. She told me that if I exposed what had happened, she would make sure you lost everything, including your chance to raise your child.
I put the letter down.
"Rachel, did my mother ever report this?""
"According to the estate records, she contacted an attorney but never filed a formal complaint.""
I picked up the letter again.
There was one final page.
Sarah, I know you will wonder why I didn't tell you sooner. I was afraid. I had evidence, but Patricia had already begun making threats. I thought I could protect you by staying quiet until I had enough proof.
I was wrong.
There is a flash drive inside the blue jewelry box I left with my attorney. It contains Michael's final recording. Please listen to it before you trust anyone in the Mitchell family again.
I lowered the letter.
"Where is the jewelry box?""
Rachel opened a drawer and removed a small blue box.
I recognized it immediately.
My mother had given it to me on my twenty-fifth birthday.
I'd returned it to her years later when I moved apartments.
Rachel handed it to me.
Inside was a small USB drive.
We connected it to her computer.
A video appeared.
Michael was sitting in what looked like his apartment. His face was pale, and he kept glancing toward the door.
He looked directly into the camera.
"If you're watching this, something has happened to me.""
I leaned forward.
Michael continued.
"Sarah, if this reaches you, I need you to know that I never agreed to give Patricia control over your child.""
My eyes filled.
"I wanted to tell you the truth, but Daniel convinced me to wait. He said he would speak to you himself.""
Michael took a breath.
"Then I discovered Daniel had been making payments to Patricia from accounts connected to your business.""
I looked at Rachel.
The video continued.
"Mom is using the inheritance to control him. But there's something worse. Daniel knows that the child Patricia wants isn't biologically his.""
Michael leaned closer.
"He also knows the identity of the person who helped Patricia alter the medical records.""
The recording suddenly became distorted.
Then Michael spoke again.
"Sarah, the person you need to be careful of isn't just Patricia.""
He looked directly into the camera.
"It's Daniel.""
The screen went black.
I sat motionless.
Rachel replayed the final seconds.
Then she noticed something in the background.
A framed photograph on Michael's desk.
It showed Michael standing with Daniel and another man.
I recognized the third person.
It was Robert.
My accountant.
I stared at the screen.
"Why was Robert with Michael?""
Rachel paused the video.
"That's a good question.""
My phone rang.
Robert.
I answered.
"Robert, why were you with Michael Mitchell before he died?""
Silence.
Then he said, "Sarah, I was hoping you wouldn't find that recording.""
My heart began pounding.
"What did you do?""
He sighed.
"Michael asked me to protect his financial records.""
"Did you know Patricia was planning to take my baby?""
"Yes.""
I felt the air leave my lungs.
"How long have you known?""
"Since before Oliver was born.""
I stood.
"YOU LET ME BELIEVE MY BABY WAS DEAD?""
Robert's voice became urgent.
"Sarah, please. I have the original documents. And there's something you haven't seen yet.""
"What?""
"The person who forged your signature wasn't Patricia.""
I froze.
Robert continued.
"It was someone who had access to your personal files, your banking information, and your medical records.""
"Who?""
He whispered a name.
"Daniel's attorney.""
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Then he added:
"And that attorney is the same person who handled Michael's estate.""
