Chapter 10: The Warning About My Aunt
I read the email three times.
Do not trust your aunt.
The words seemed to pulse on the screen.
Patricia stood across the kitchen, holding two cups of tea. She had been the person who helped me uncover my mother's will. She had hugged me when I cried. She had promised that she would never abandon me again.
But someone claiming to have witnessed my mother's final night had just warned me about her.
"Emily?"" Patricia asked.
"What's wrong?""
I locked my phone.
"Nothing.""
She placed the tea on the table.
"You look frightened.""
"I'm just tired.""
Patricia studied my face.
Then she smiled gently.
"Of course. Today has been overwhelming. You should get some sleep.""
I nodded.
But I didn't drink the tea.
Instead, I waited until Patricia went upstairs before opening the email again.
There was an attachment.
A scanned hospital report.
The document was dated the morning after my mother's accident.
It listed several injuries, including bruising around my mother's wrists and a deep cut near her left temple.
But the final page contained something more disturbing.
A handwritten note from an emergency medical technician:
Patient's vehicle showed signs of possible external interference. Police notified. Additional examination requested.
I read the sentence again.
Why had nobody told me?
My father had always said my mother died instantly.
He had told me there was nothing the doctors could have done.
But this report suggested that someone had examined her injuries and suspected something unusual.
I saved the document.
Then I heard footsteps.
Patricia stood at the bottom of the stairs.
"Emily, who are you emailing?""
I quickly closed my phone.
"Nobody.""
She approached the table.
"Is it about Robert?""
I shook my head.
"Why would you ask that?""
"Because he contacted you, didn't he?""
I stared at her.
"How did you know?""
Patricia pulled out a chair.
"Daniel told me he had been trying to reach you.""
I hadn't told Daniel about the email.
I looked at her carefully.
"Did you know Rachel Miller?""
Patricia's expression changed.
Only for a second.
But I noticed.
"Why are you asking about Rachel?""
"She worked with Mom.""
"Yes.""
"She sent me something.""
Patricia slowly placed her hands on the table.
"What did she send?""
I hesitated.
Then I showed her the hospital report.
She read it without speaking.
When she reached the final paragraph, her fingers tightened around the phone.
"Where did you get this?""
"Email.""
"From whom?""
"Rachel.""
Patricia looked up.
"Emily, you need to be careful. Rachel wasn't a good person.""
"Why?""
"She had access to medical records she shouldn't have accessed.""
"Did she work with Mom?""
"Yes, but that doesn't mean she was trustworthy.""
I watched her face.
"Why didn't you tell me she was involved?""
Patricia stood.
"Because I didn't want you dragged into another investigation.""
I picked up the tea and moved it away.
"Then why does this report say Mom may have been alive when they found her?""
Patricia went still.
For a moment, I thought she might answer.
Instead, she said, "You should get some rest.""
That was when I knew I couldn't trust her with everything.
Later that night, I contacted Deputy Collins and sent her the email and attachment.
She called within twenty minutes.
"Emily, where did you receive this?""
"From Rachel Miller.""
"Did you respond?""
"No.""
"Good. Don't arrange any meeting without us.""
I told her about Patricia's reaction.
There was a long silence.
"Emily, I'm going to ask you something. Did your aunt have access to your mother's medical records after the accident?""
"I don't know.""
"Find out if you can, but don't confront her.""
The next morning, Patricia left early.
She said she was meeting an attorney.
I waited until her car disappeared before checking the small study downstairs.
I wasn't proud of what I did.
But I needed answers.
Inside a filing cabinet, I found a folder labeled LAURA — MEDICAL.
It contained insurance papers, hospital correspondence, and a list of phone numbers.
One number had been highlighted.
Rachel Miller.
Beneath it was a handwritten note.
She has the original report. Marcus must never find out.
I photographed the page.
Then I heard the front door open.
Patricia was back.
"Emily?""
I quickly closed the drawer.
She appeared in the doorway.
Her eyes moved from me to the filing cabinet.
"What are you doing?""
I swallowed.
"Looking for Mom.""
Patricia stared at me for a long moment.
Then she closed the study door.
"There's something you need to understand," she whispered.
"I didn't tell you everything because your mother made me promise.""
"What promise?""
Patricia reached into her handbag.
She removed an old photograph.
It showed my mother standing beside a hospital bed.
A newborn baby lay in her arms.
I stared at the picture.
"Who's the baby?""
Patricia's eyes filled with tears.
"Your mother had another child before you.""
My stomach dropped.
"Another child?""
"Yes.""
"Where is he?""
Patricia looked toward the window.
"That's the reason Rachel disappeared.""
Before I could ask another question, someone knocked violently on the front door.
Three times.
Patricia went pale.
Then a man's voice came from outside.
"Patricia! I know Emily is inside. Open the door!""
May you like
It was Robert Hayes.
And he sounded furious.
