Chapter 13: What Was Hidden Behind the Third Panel
"Poisoning?""
Dad repeated the word as if he couldn't understand it.
Grandma Margaret nodded, tears running down her cheeks.
"Laura made me promise not to tell you until I knew Emily was safe.""
Dad gripped the back of his chair.
"Why would you keep something like that from me?""
"Because Laura believed someone in the house was responsible. She was afraid that if you knew, the person would destroy the evidence.""
I stared at Grandma.
"Was Vanessa the person?""
"I don't know, sweetheart. But your mother was terrified.""
Dad paced across the room.
"Why didn't the hospital tell me?""
"They did," Grandma replied quietly.
"But Vanessa told everyone that Laura had accidentally mixed her medication. She handled the paperwork while you were overwhelmed.""
Dad stopped.
"Vanessa?""
Grandma nodded.
"She told me Laura had been confused for weeks. She said the doctors believed it was a reaction to her medication.""
Dad covered his mouth.
"I remember that night.""
His voice cracked.
"I was at the hospital. Vanessa told me Laura had taken something by mistake.""
I looked at him.
"Did Mom ever wake up?""
Dad shook his head.
"Not properly.""
He sat down, his eyes filling.
"I held her hand for eleven hours. I kept telling her you were waiting at home.""
I reached for his hand.
"Maybe she knew.""
He squeezed mine.
"I hope she did.""
The attorney, who had been listening silently, finally spoke.
"Michael, we need to obtain the original medical records immediately. If the hospital report mentions suspected poisoning, that changes the entire investigation.""
Rachel nodded.
"And we need to find whatever Laura hid.""
Dad looked at the photograph.
"The third panel.""
Grandma stood.
"I know where the old maintenance plans are.""
Within an hour, Dad, Rachel, and the attorney had arranged for the police to secure the property. I wasn't supposed to leave the hospital, but I insisted on accompanying them once the doctor confirmed I was stable enough to travel.
Dad didn't like the idea.
"Emily, you need rest.""
"I've spent four days being told where I can and cannot go. I'm not missing this.""
He studied my face.
Then he nodded.
"All right. But you stay beside me.""
When we arrived, two police officers were already waiting.
The house looked exactly as I'd left it, except for the yellow evidence markers near the bedroom.
I walked through the hallway.
Brittany's pink decorations still hung outside my bedroom.
I stopped.
For the first time, I didn't feel like someone had stolen my room.
I felt like someone had tried to erase my mother.
Dad led us downstairs.
The basement smelled of damp wood and old paint. A bare bulb flickered above the washing area.
Grandma pointed toward the far wall.
"Behind those panels.""
Dad examined the wooden boards.
"Which one?""
"The third, counting from the left.""
An officer carefully removed the first two panels.
Behind them was ordinary concrete.
The third panel was different.
Its screws were newer.
The officer removed it.
A narrow metal compartment appeared.
Inside sat a black document case.
Dad reached for it, but the officer stopped him.
"Let me.""
He carefully lifted the case and placed it on a table.
The lock was already broken.
Inside were three folders, a small audio recorder, and a sealed envelope.
The envelope had my name written across it.
My hands began shaking.
Dad opened the first folder.
It contained financial statements.
The second held copies of correspondence between Vanessa and Richard Hale.
But the third folder made Rachel gasp.
It contained a series of photographs taken outside our house.
In one, Vanessa stood beside a man wearing a maintenance uniform.
In another, David was carrying a small bottle into the basement.
The dates were printed beneath each image.
The final photograph was dated the night my mother was hospitalized.
Dad stared at it.
"That's David.""
The officer photographed everything.
Rachel picked up the audio recorder.
"Could this be what Vanessa was talking about?""
The officer carefully examined it.
"Possibly. We'll have it analyzed.""
Dad opened the envelope addressed to me.
Inside was a letter.
His hands trembled as he unfolded it.
My precious Emily,
If your father has found this, then I need you to know that I did everything I could to keep you safe.
There are people who believe money gives them the right to control others. They will smile at you, bring you gifts, and tell you that they love you.
But love never asks you to surrender your freedom.
I discovered that Vanessa and David had been transferring money from the family estate. When I confronted them, they denied everything.
Then I found something in the basement.
Dad looked up.
"What?""
The letter continued.
I found a bottle of medication that did not belong to me. The label had been removed. I took it to the hospital because I was afraid someone had been putting something in my food.
Grandma covered her mouth.
Dad continued reading.
If anything happens to me, please don't assume it was an accident.
Michael, forgive me for not telling you sooner. I was afraid you would confront them before I could secure the evidence.
Emily, remember that your mother loved you more than anything in this world.
You are not alone.
Love always,
Mom.
I pressed the letter against my chest.
For a moment, the basement disappeared.
I could almost hear her voice.
Then the officer's radio crackled.
He listened carefully.
"Understood.""
He turned toward Dad.
"We've received an update from the detective. Vanessa has been released pending further investigation, but David has been detained.""
Dad frowned.
"Released? Why?""
"Her attorney provided a statement claiming she cooperated with the investigation.""
Rachel shook her head.
"She's going to disappear.""
The officer nodded.
"We're aware of that possibility.""
Then he examined the last document in the case.
It was a bank transfer authorization.
The amount was $2.4 million.
The beneficiary was Richard Hale.
The authorization date was three days after my mother's death.
Dad stared at the page.
"That means Vanessa wasn't just trying to steal the inheritance.""
Rachel looked at the photograph of David.
"She was trying to complete something Laura stopped.""
Suddenly, the officer's phone rang.
He answered.
His expression changed almost immediately.
"Where?""
He listened.
Then he looked at Dad.
"Mr. Michael, we've located Vanessa.""
"Where?""
"At the private airport outside the city.""
The officer paused.
"She's attempting to leave the country.""
Dad reached for his coat.
But before anyone could move, the officer received another message.
He read it.
Then his expression turned grim.
"There's one more thing.""
He showed Dad the screen.
It was a photograph of a flight manifest.
Three passengers were listed.
Vanessa.
Richard Hale.
And Brittany.
But beneath their names was a fourth passenger.
*Emily Michaelson.*
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Someone had booked a ticket in my name.
And the departure time was less than two hours away.
