Chapter 10: The Woman in My Mother's Photograph
I stared at the photograph on my phone until the faces blurred.
My mother lay against white hospital pillows, her cheeks hollow and her eyes tired. Vanessa stood beside her, wearing a cream-colored blouse I recognized from old family pictures. Her hand rested on the bedrail, and she was smiling.
But it was the woman reflected in the glass cabinet behind them who made my skin crawl.
She looked older than Vanessa, perhaps in her fifties, with dark hair pulled into a tight bun. One hand held a leather folder. The other rested on Vanessa's shoulder.
Who was she?
"Emily?"" Dad asked from the doorway.
"What's wrong?""
I turned the screen toward him.
The color drained from his face.
"Where did you get this?""
"An email. It says to ask you about the woman who visited Mom the night before she died.""
Dad sank into the nearest chair.
"I've never seen that woman before.""
"Then why do you look like you've seen a ghost?""
He stared at the photograph, zooming in on the reflection.
"Because I remember that night.""
My heart pounded.
"What happened?""
Dad rubbed his hands over his face.
"Your mother was in the hospital. I went home to get some clothes, and when I returned, Vanessa was sitting outside her room.""
"She wasn't your wife then.""
"No. She was someone I barely knew. She'd been helping with some paperwork connected to the estate.""
"Why was she there?""
"I asked her the same question. She said Margaret had requested her help.""
I looked at the photograph again.
"Did you see this other woman?""
Dad shook his head.
"When I entered the room, Margaret was asleep. Vanessa told me the visitor had already left.""
"Did Mom tell you anything about it?""
Dad hesitated.
"She asked me to promise that no one would ever pressure you into signing financial documents you didn't understand.""
My throat tightened.
"And you promised?""
"Of course.""
"Then how did Vanessa get access to my accounts?""
Dad looked away.
"I thought she was helping us. After your mother died, I was overwhelmed. Vanessa offered to organize the paperwork, contact the banks, and handle things I couldn't face yet.""
I stepped back.
"You gave her access to everything.""
"Not everything.""
"But enough.""
He didn't argue.
I wanted to blame him. Part of me already did. He had promised my mother that he would protect me, and now my future was buried under forged signatures and missing money.
But he looked so devastated that I couldn't bring myself to say what I was thinking.
Instead, I forwarded the photograph to Rebecca.
She called within minutes.
"Emily, don't delete that email. Don't respond to the sender, either. I'll have our investigator examine the image and the message headers.""
"Can you identify the woman?""
"Not yet. But the photograph may be more useful than you realize.""
"How?""
"If it was taken in the hospital, the original file may contain a date or other identifying information. We may also be able to establish who had access to your mother's medical records and financial documents.""
Dad leaned toward the phone.
"Rebecca, the email says Vanessa wasn't the only Reynolds involved.""
"I saw that line. We'll investigate it, but I don't want either of you confronting anyone until we understand what we're dealing with.""
The call ended.
Dad and I sat in silence.
Then his phone rang.
Michael.
Dad answered immediately.
"Where are you?""
"At home.""
"We're coming over.""
"Daniel, wait. I need to tell you something first.""
"Then talk.""
Michael took a shaky breath.
"I know who the woman in that photograph is.""
I grabbed Dad's arm.
"Who?""
Michael continued.
"Her name is Patricia Reynolds. She's Vanessa's older sister.""
Dad stood.
"Vanessa has a sister?""
"Yes. They haven't spoken publicly in years, but Patricia helped manage the family business before it collapsed.""
"What family business?""
"Northbridge Holdings.""
Dad's face hardened.
"The company that has been moving money through Emily's trust?""
"Yes.""
I felt cold all over.
"Why was she visiting Mom?""
Michael was silent for a moment.
"Because Patricia was the person who originally arranged the settlement with Margaret.""
Dad gripped the phone.
"You're telling me Vanessa's sister was involved in my wife's inheritance before Margaret died?""
"Yes.""
"Why didn't you tell me this before?""
"Because I didn't know Patricia had been in the hospital until I saw the photograph. Vanessa told me she had never spoken to Margaret directly.""
I stared at the screen.
Every explanation opened another door.
"Michael," I said, "what did Patricia want from my mother?""
His voice softened.
"She wanted Margaret to sign a document releasing Northbridge Holdings from any further claims connected to the settlement.""
"Did Mom sign it?""
"No. Margaret refused.""
Dad's eyes narrowed.
"How do you know?""
"Because I was there when Patricia called me afterward. She said Margaret had changed her mind and that the agreement was no longer valid.""
"Why would she call you?""
Michael exhaled.
"Because I was the person who had introduced Patricia to Margaret years earlier.""
Dad went completely still.
"You introduced them?""
"Yes.""
"How?""
Michael didn't answer immediately.
Then he said, "Because Patricia was my first wife.""
The room seemed to tilt.
Dad lowered the phone slightly.
"Your first wife?""
"I married Patricia before I met Vanessa. We divorced years ago, but she remained involved in my business affairs.""
I looked at Dad.
Uncle Michael's connection to Vanessa's family was far deeper than any of us had imagined.
"Does Patricia know about Tyler?"" I asked.
"Yes," Michael said.
"She knows everything about the family.""
Dad's voice became dangerously quiet.
"Then she knows about the stolen money.""
"Yes.""
"And she's been hiding it?""
"I believe so.""
Dad grabbed his keys.
"We're going to Patricia's house.""
"Daniel, don't. Rebecca said not to confront anyone.""
"I heard what Rebecca said.""
"Then listen to her!""
Dad paused, his hand on the door.
For a moment, I thought he might change his mind.
Then Michael said something that stopped us both.
"Patricia called me an hour ago. She said Vanessa has already left town.""
My stomach dropped.
"Where did she go?""
Michael's voice trembled.
"She was heading to the airport.""
Dad stared at the phone.
"Which airport?""
"I don't know. But she told me that if she couldn't get the trust money released by tomorrow morning, she would make sure Emily never saw a dollar of it.""
I looked again at the photograph of my mother.
Vanessa had been beside her bed on the last night of her life.
Patricia had been there, too.
And now both sisters were connected to the money my mother had tried to protect.
Dad lowered his keys.
"Michael, get Patricia on the phone.""
"I can't.""
"Why not?""
"Because she just sent me a message.""
Dad waited.
May you like
Michael's voice dropped to a whisper.
"She says Margaret didn't die naturally.""
