Chapter 5: The Aunt Who Disappeared
Dad stared at the phone.
For six years, Aunt Rebecca had been a name nobody mentioned in our house.
Now she was calling at the exact moment Vanessa admitted giving her my mother's documents.
Dad answered.
"Rebecca?""
A woman's voice came through the speaker.
"Michael. I heard you found Laura's letter.""
Dad looked at Richard.
"Where are you?""
"That doesn't matter.""
"It matters to me. You have documents that belong to my daughter.""
A pause followed.
Then Rebecca said something that made Dad grip the phone.
"Michael, Emily is in danger.""
I stepped closer.
"Let me talk to her.""
Dad hesitated before handing me the phone.
"Aunt Rebecca?""
There was a sharp intake of breath.
"Emily?""
"Yes.""
"Oh, sweetheart.""
Her voice broke.
I hadn't heard her voice since I was ten.
"Where have you been?""
"I'll explain everything, but first I need you to listen carefully. Did Vanessa find the letter?""
I looked toward the doorway.
Vanessa stood there, pretending to organize something inside her purse.
"Yes.""
Rebecca went silent.
"Then she's already taken the first step.""
"What step?""
"Your mother left something behind that could expose everything.""
I glanced at Richard.
"What did Mom leave?""
"Not money. Not jewelry. Evidence.""
My heart began beating faster.
"What kind of evidence?""
"Emily, your mother discovered that someone had been moving money out of an account that wasn't supposed to exist.""
Dad snatched the phone gently.
"Rebecca, explain.""
"I can't explain it over the phone. Vanessa may be listening.""
Vanessa immediately looked up.
"That's ridiculous.""
Rebecca heard her.
"Is she there?""
Dad didn't answer.
"Michael, get Emily away from that woman. Don't let her sleep in that house tonight.""
Dad's expression hardened.
"She's not going anywhere near Vanessa.""
"Then you need to know something else. Laura didn't die believing Vanessa was dangerous. She died knowing it.""
The room became silent.
I felt as if the floor had disappeared beneath my feet.
"What are you saying?"" I whispered.
Rebecca continued.
"Your mother found evidence that Vanessa had been accessing financial information through someone she trusted. She was preparing to report it before she became too sick.""
Dad closed his eyes.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because Laura asked me not to. She said you were being watched.""
Vanessa laughed nervously.
"This is insane.""
Rebecca's voice sharpened.
"Vanessa, I know exactly what you did.""
For the first time, my stepmother looked genuinely terrified.
Dad ended the call.
He turned to Richard.
"We need to secure the house.""
Richard nodded.
"I'll contact the appropriate authorities and arrange to preserve the financial records.""
Vanessa grabbed her purse.
"I'm leaving.""
Dad stepped in front of her.
"You're not taking anything else.""
"Move, Michael.""
"No.""
Brittany appeared behind her mother.
"Mom, maybe we should just go.""
Vanessa spun around.
"You're not helping.""
Brittany lowered her voice.
"You said this would never happen.""
Dad heard her.
"What would never happen?""
Brittany's eyes widened.
"Nothing.""
Richard quietly began recording the conversation on his phone.
Vanessa noticed.
"Stop that!""
"Mrs. Carter, I'm documenting what is being said in front of witnesses.""
She turned toward Dad.
"You can't do this to me. I'm your wife.""
"And Emily is my daughter.""
For several seconds, they stared at each other.
Then Dad stepped aside and allowed her to leave, but Richard instructed her not to remove any property or documents. He also made clear that the financial records would be preserved.
Vanessa stormed out.
Brittany followed.
Before leaving, she turned toward me.
"Emily, you have no idea what you've done.""
I looked at her.
"I didn't steal anything.""
She opened her mouth, but no words came out.
Then she walked away.
That evening, Dad took me to a hotel while Richard arranged for the locks to be changed and the house to be secured.
I couldn't sleep.
I kept thinking about my mother's letter.
Around eleven, Dad knocked softly on my hotel room door.
"Can I come in?""
I nodded.
He sat beside me.
"Your mother loved you more than anything.""
"Then why didn't she tell me about all this?""
"She wanted you to have a normal childhood.""
I stared at the carpet.
"Did you know Vanessa was stealing?""
"No.""
"Did you know she hated me?""
Dad looked down.
"I knew she wasn't always kind to you. I should have paid more attention.""
I felt tears gathering.
"You didn't see me sleeping in the garage.""
He covered his face.
"Emily, I will regret that for the rest of my life.""
I leaned against him.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then his phone vibrated.
A message from an unknown number appeared.
*Stop looking for Rebecca. She isn't the person you think she is.*
Dad showed it to me.
A second message followed.
*Ask Michael what happened the night Laura died.*
My blood ran cold.
I looked at Dad.
He had gone completely pale.
"Daddy?""
He slowly placed the phone on the bed.
"What happened the night Mom died?""
He stood and walked toward the window.
For a long time, he said nothing.
Then he turned around.
"Emily, your mother didn't want me to tell you this until you were older.""
"Tell me what?""
He took a deep breath.
"The night she died, she gave me a sealed envelope. She made me promise that I would never let Rebecca have it.""
I stared at him.
"Where is it?""
May you like
He looked directly into my eyes.
"I burned it.""
