Chapter 12: My Stepmother's Final Bargain
Dad refused immediately.
"Emily isn't speaking to her.""
The detective explained that Vanessa had the right to provide a statement, but Dad was not required to allow a private meeting.
"Good," Dad replied.
"Because she won't be seeing my daughter.""
But I was already thinking about the recordings.
If Vanessa had proof that Mom was involved, I needed to know.
"Daddy.""
He turned.
"No.""
"You haven't heard what I'm going to say.""
"I know what you're thinking.""
"She's saying Mom did something.""
Dad sat beside me.
"Emily, your mother spent her final years protecting you. I won't let Vanessa use her memory to hurt you.""
"But what if there's something we don't know?""
He looked at me for a long moment.
Then Rachel spoke.
"Michael, perhaps we should hear the statement through the detective. Emily doesn't need to meet Vanessa.""
Dad considered it.
Finally, he agreed.
That afternoon, we joined a secure video call with the detective.
Vanessa appeared on the screen wearing a plain gray sweater.
Her hair was tied back.
Without her expensive clothes and makeup, she looked smaller.
But her eyes were still cold.
When she saw me, she smiled.
"Hello, Emily.""
I didn't answer.
"Look at you. You've caused quite a mess.""
Dad immediately leaned toward the screen.
"Don't speak to her.""
Vanessa sighed.
"Michael, I understand you're angry.""
"Start explaining.""
She glanced toward the detective.
"I have evidence that Laura knew about the estate transfers.""
The detective asked her to continue.
Vanessa folded her hands.
"Laura was not innocent. She had been moving money between accounts for years. She was preparing to sell the property and leave Michael with nothing.""
Dad shook his head.
"That's a lie.""
Vanessa smiled faintly.
"Then why did she sign the original property agreement?""
The attorney, who was sitting beside Dad, leaned forward.
"Because she was the legal owner.""
Vanessa ignored him.
"Michael, you never knew your wife as well as you thought.""
Dad's jaw tightened.
"Show us the recordings.""
Vanessa looked toward the detective.
"I'll provide them after an agreement is reached.""
"What agreement?"" Dad asked.
She smiled.
"I want the remaining inheritance transferred to Brittany. In exchange, I'll withdraw my claims and give you everything I have.""
Dad stared at the screen.
"You want another hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars?""
"Think of it as a settlement.""
"You stole from a sixteen-year-old child and now you're asking for more?""
Vanessa's expression hardened.
"Your daughter has already caused enough damage to this family.""
I leaned toward the screen.
"Why did you put me in the garage?""
She looked at me.
For the first time, she seemed genuinely annoyed.
"Because you were becoming a problem.""
"Because I wouldn't give you my money?""
"Because you refused to understand that families have to make sacrifices.""
I shook my head.
"You made me sleep on concrete.""
Vanessa shrugged.
"You were being difficult.""
Dad stood.
"That's enough.""
But I wasn't finished.
"Did you take my mother's jewelry?""
Vanessa looked away.
"Some of it.""
"Did you sell it?""
No answer.
"Did you steal her letters?""
She glanced back at me.
"Your mother kept too many secrets.""
I felt tears gathering.
"Those were mine.""
Vanessa leaned closer to the camera.
"Your mother wasn't the person you think she was.""
Dad immediately interrupted.
"Detective, end this conversation.""
But Vanessa raised her voice.
"Ask your father what happened the night Laura died!""
Dad froze.
I turned toward him.
"What?""
Vanessa smiled.
"Go on, Michael. Tell her.""
Dad's face had gone pale.
The detective asked Vanessa to provide evidence for her allegation.
She laughed.
"I have a recording.""
She reached into her folder and produced a small USB drive.
"Laura recorded a conversation with Michael the night before she died.""
Dad stared at it.
"That's impossible.""
Vanessa tilted her head.
"Is it?""
The detective asked where the recording had come from.
"David gave it to me.""
Dad looked at the attorney.
The attorney immediately requested that the recording be preserved and independently examined.
Vanessa leaned back.
"There's one more thing.""
Dad looked at her.
"What?""
She smiled.
"Laura didn't leave Emily the house because she wanted her daughter to have a home.""
The room went silent.
"She left it because she knew someone would eventually come looking for what was buried beneath it.""
I felt my skin turn cold.
"What was buried?""
Vanessa's smile disappeared.
"Ask Michael about the basement.""
Dad stood so abruptly that his chair fell backward.
"That's enough!""
The detective ended the call.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Then Dad turned toward the attorney.
"There's something in the basement?""
The attorney shook his head.
"I've never heard of anything.""
Rachel looked at Grandma.
Grandma was staring at the floor.
"Mom?"" Dad asked.
She slowly raised her eyes.
"Margaret, what do you know?""
Grandma's lips trembled.
"Laura made me promise never to tell anyone unless Emily was in danger.""
I stared at her.
"Grandma, what did Mom hide?""
She reached into her handbag and removed an old photograph.
It showed my mother standing beside the basement stairs.
Behind her was a section of wall covered in wooden panels.
On the back, my mother had written:
The truth is behind the third panel. Michael must never open it unless Emily is ready.
Dad took the photograph.
He looked at the date.
It had been taken just two days before my mother died.
Then Grandma whispered the words that changed everything.
"Your mother didn't die believing Vanessa would hurt Emily.""
She paused.
"She died knowing Vanessa had already tried once.""
Dad gripped the photograph.
"Mom, what are you saying?""
Grandma began to cry.
"Michael, the night Laura went into the hospital, she didn't collapse at home.""
She looked directly at him.
May you like
"She was found unconscious in the basement.""
And according to the original hospital report, there had been signs of poisoning.
