Chapter 7: The Secret Behind My Mother's Death
My father looked as if someone had pulled the floor out from beneath him.
For twenty-two years, my mother's death had been the one subject nobody in our family discussed for long. Her name was Sarah. She had died in a car accident when Ethan was six, I was four, and Lily hadn't yet been born.
Dad always told us the same thing: Mom had lost control of her car on a rainy road, and there had been nothing anyone could have done.
When he married Linda five years later, he'd said she would never replace our mother.
But he had also asked us to stop asking questions about the accident.
Now, standing inside a lawyer's office, he stared at the letter his father had written before dying.
"Give me that," Dad whispered.
Ethan pulled the letter closer to his chest.
"It's addressed to me.""
"I'm your father.""
"And Grandpa specifically said you weren't supposed to read it until I did.""
Dad recoiled as though Ethan had struck him.
Linda moved toward the door.
"We shouldn't be doing this here. James was old and confused when he wrote that letter.""
Harlan stood abruptly.
"Mrs. Mitchell, I strongly advise you not to make another statement.""
She turned on him.
"Don't you dare lecture me.""
"Then stop giving us reasons to question your involvement.""
Ethan unfolded the letter.
His fingers trembled as he began reading aloud.
"Dear Ethan, if you are reading this, someone has attempted to take what belongs to you. I hoped I was wrong about the people I distrusted, but I fear I wasn't.""
He paused.
I could see his eyes moving over the next paragraph.
"Grandpa wrote that he discovered inconsistencies in the police report about Mom's accident.""
Dad grabbed the back of a chair.
"What inconsistencies?""
Ethan continued.
"He said Mom's car had been inspected twice before the funeral. The first inspection found evidence that one of the brake lines had been damaged. The second report said the damage was consistent with the accident.""
My father shook his head.
"No. That's impossible. The police told me the brakes failed because of the collision.""
"Grandpa says the first mechanic couldn't explain how the line had been damaged before impact.""
Harlan's expression had grown increasingly troubled.
"James brought those concerns to me," he said quietly.
"He believed the original investigation had been rushed.""
"Why didn't you tell me?"" Dad demanded.
"Your father asked me not to reopen the matter without stronger evidence.""
"That was my wife!""
The words burst from Dad before he could stop them.
Linda's head snapped around.
"Robert, what are you implying?""
"I'm asking why my father thought you had something to do with Sarah's death!""
"I had nothing to do with that accident!""
Her voice was so loud that the receptionist opened the office door.
Harlan immediately motioned for her to leave.
Linda pressed a hand to her chest.
"I came into this family and raised your children. I stayed beside you when you couldn't even talk about your first wife without falling apart. And this is how you repay me?""
Ethan looked up from the letter.
"You framed me for attacking Chloe.""
"That has nothing to do with Sarah!""
"Then why are you terrified of this letter?""
Linda's mouth tightened.
For several seconds, she appeared to be searching for a response that would restore her control.
Then she turned toward my father.
"Your father hated me. He never wanted you to remarry. He spent years looking for reasons to destroy our marriage.""
Dad looked at the letter again.
"Did you know about the brake line?""
"No.""
"Did you know my father was investigating the accident?""
"No!""
"Did you ever speak to the mechanic?""
Linda hesitated.
It lasted less than a second.
But we all saw it.
Dad stepped closer.
"Linda?""
"I spoke to him once, years ago. He was harassing me.""
"Why would a mechanic investigating Sarah's death harass you?""
"Because he wanted money!""
Harlan slowly removed a folder from his desk.
"That's not what the file says.""
Linda stared at him.
"What file?""
"The correspondence James left with me.""
He opened the folder and removed several photocopies.
"Your father-in-law paid for a second independent review. The mechanic's report states that someone contacted him shortly after the accident and offered him money to amend his findings.""
My father looked sick.
"Who?""
Harlan glanced at the page.
"The payment was made through a company registered to a woman named Linda Carter.""
Carter had been Linda's maiden name.
I felt the blood drain from my face.
Linda shook her head.
"That's a common name!""
"The company was registered at your former address," Harlan replied.
"You can't prove I had anything to do with that company!""
"Perhaps not," Harlan said.
"But James believed you did.""
Ethan lowered the letter.
"Grandpa knew?""
"He suspected," Harlan answered.
"He never found sufficient evidence to establish what happened that night.""
My father sank into the chair.
"Sarah was my wife. If there was even a chance someone had tampered with her car, I should have known.""
Linda rushed toward him.
"Robert, listen to me. I didn't hurt Sarah.""
He looked up at her.
For the first time, I saw him truly afraid of the woman he'd married.
"Then help us understand.""
She backed away.
"I can't do this.""
"Can't or won't?""
She grabbed her purse and hurried toward the door.
My father stood.
"Linda, don't you walk away from me!""
She stopped with her hand on the handle.
Then she turned, her eyes shining with fury.
"You want the truth? Fine. Your father wasn't the saint you think he was.""
She pointed at Ethan.
"Ask him what James promised Sarah before she died. Ask him why your precious grandfather suddenly changed his will. And ask yourself why he left Ethan nearly half a million dollars while giving his own son almost nothing.""
Dad stared at her.
"What does that have to do with Sarah?""
Linda's face twisted.
"Everything.""
She pulled the door open.
Before she left, she looked directly at Ethan.
"Your grandfather left out one very important detail.""
Ethan stood.
"What detail?""
Linda's lips curved into a bitter smile.
"Your mother wasn't the only person in that car that night.""
Then she disappeared into the hallway.
Nobody moved.
My father stared at the open door.
Harlan looked down at the documents scattered across his desk.
And Ethan slowly turned the final page of Grandpa's letter.
May you like
At the bottom, in handwriting that had grown shakier with age, were six words.
Find the passenger who survived.
