Chapter 12: The Woman Sarah Feared
I didn't remember driving back to Eleanor's house.
I only remembered Sarah's handwriting.
The person who arranged everything was someone I once called family.
Patricia had attended our wedding.
She had held Lily when she was born.
She had brought meals to our house when Sarah was recovering from surgery.
She had cried at Sarah's funeral.
And now I was learning she might have helped the people who stole from her.
Daniel sat beside me in the car.
"Marcus, we need to separate what Peter claims from what we can prove.""
I nodded.
"He's going to give us the records.""
"Good. But don't contact Patricia until we have everything documented.""
I looked out the window.
"I need to know why.""
Daniel didn't answer.
When we arrived at Eleanor's house, Lily was sitting at the kitchen table coloring.
Eleanor had taken the day off to stay with her.
She looked up when I entered.
"Daddy!""
I smiled and hugged her.
"Hey, sweetheart.""
She showed me her drawing.
It was another family picture.
This time, there were four people.
Me.
Lily.
Sarah in the sky.
And a small brown dog.
I smiled.
"Who's the dog?""
"Mommy said she wanted us to adopt one when I got older.""
My throat tightened.
"Maybe we can do that.""
Lily returned to her coloring.
I sat with Daniel and Eleanor in the living room.
Peter had sent a digital copy of the financial records. He had also provided the storage facility address where the original documents were kept.
Among the records was an email dated three weeks before Sarah's death.
The sender was Patricia.
The recipient was Richard.
The subject line read:
*Sarah's Final Arrangements.*
Daniel opened it.
The message was short.
She has changed the documents again. Marcus still knows nothing. We need to finish this before she tells him about the second account.
I stared at the screen.
"She knew Sarah was trying to tell me.""
Daniel nodded.
"Yes.""
There was another email.
This one had been sent two days later.
The hospital paperwork is ready. I will deliver it personally. Make sure Peter handles the financial transfer before the end of the week.
Eleanor covered her mouth.
"Oh, Sarah.""
I felt anger rising through my chest.
"She was planning this while Sarah was in the hospital.""
Daniel continued reviewing the records.
"There's another attachment.""
He opened it.
It was a scanned copy of a prescription authorization.
The document contained Sarah's patient information and a signature attributed to her.
But the date was wrong.
Sarah had been unconscious during the hours listed.
Daniel enlarged the signature.
"Marcus, this doesn't look like Sarah's handwriting.""
I shook my head.
"It isn't.""
A note at the bottom identified the person who delivered the authorization.
Patricia Coleman.
I stood.
"That's enough.""
Daniel looked up.
"Where are you going?""
"To find her.""
"Marcus, wait.""
I turned.
"I've spent four years believing these people were helping me raise my daughter. I need to hear Patricia explain why she betrayed Sarah.""
Daniel stood too.
"I'll come with you. But we're not going to threaten her or make accusations beyond what the records support.""
We drove to Patricia's house.
She opened the door wearing a pale blue sweater.
When she saw us, she immediately tried to close it.
"Marcus, not today.""
I held the door open.
"We need to talk.""
She looked at Daniel.
"Why is your attorney here?""
"Because I'm done listening to lies.""
Patricia stepped aside.
We entered the living room.
A framed photograph of Sarah stood on the mantel.
It was taken at Lily's second birthday.
Sarah was holding her daughter, laughing.
I stared at the photograph.
"How could you?""
Patricia sat down.
"Marcus, I know what you've heard.""
"Then tell me what happened.""
She pressed her hands together.
"I made a terrible mistake.""
"Which one?""
Her eyes filled.
"Richard told me Sarah was hiding money from everyone. He said she planned to leave everything to Lily and nothing for the rest of the family.""
"That was her right.""
"I know.""
"Then why did you help him?""
Patricia began crying.
"Because I was afraid.""
"Of what?""
"Of being left behind. Sarah had money, influence, a wonderful marriage, and a daughter who adored her. I thought when she died, Marcus would eventually move on and Vanessa would be the only person holding this family together.""
I stared at her.
"So you helped Vanessa steal from Lily?""
Patricia nodded.
"Yes.""
The admission was quiet.
But it destroyed whatever remained of my respect for her.
Daniel placed the prescription records on the coffee table.
"Mrs. Coleman, did you deliver this authorization to the hospital?""
She stared at the paper.
Then she nodded.
"Yes.""
"Who gave it to you?""
"Vanessa.""
"Did you know it contained a medication change?""
"She told me it was approved.""
"By whom?""
Patricia looked down.
"Richard said Peter had arranged it.""
Daniel's expression hardened.
"Did you know Sarah hadn't signed it?""
Patricia began shaking.
"I discovered that afterward.""
My voice broke.
"Afterward? Sarah was dying!""
Patricia covered her face.
"I wanted to tell Marcus. I swear I did.""
"But you didn't.""
"Richard threatened me. He said he would make sure I never saw Lily again.""
I looked at her.
"You watched my daughter get pushed away from a birthday photograph. You watched Vanessa treat her like an unwanted guest. And you never said a word.""
Patricia started sobbing.
"I know.""
"No, you don't.""
I stood.
"Sarah trusted you.""
Patricia reached for my arm.
"Please. I loved Sarah.""
I pulled away.
"Then you should have protected her.""
She suddenly stood and walked toward a cabinet.
"I have something.""
She opened a drawer and removed an old smartphone.
"This belonged to Sarah. I kept it because I couldn't bring myself to throw it away.""
I stared at the device.
"Why do you have it?""
"Richard gave it to me after Sarah died. He told me to destroy it. I couldn't.""
Daniel took the phone carefully.
"Does it still work?""
Patricia nodded.
"Sometimes. The battery is weak.""
Daniel examined it.
"Do you know what's on it?""
Patricia wiped her eyes.
"There's a voice recording. Sarah made it the night before she died.""
My heart stopped.
"Have you listened to it?""
She shook her head.
"No.""
Daniel connected the phone to a portable charger.
After several minutes, the screen came alive.
There was one audio file.
*MARCUS — LISTEN IF I'M GONE.*
I felt my knees weaken.
I pressed play.
Sarah's voice filled the room.
"Marcus, my love. If you're hearing this, something happened before I could explain everything.""
I covered my mouth.
Her voice sounded tired, but unmistakably hers.
"I need you to know that I discovered the financial transfers. I also discovered that someone had been interfering with my treatment.""
A pause.
Then she continued.
"I know who is responsible. But there's something you don't know about Vanessa.""
I leaned closer.
Sarah's voice became a whisper.
"She didn't enter your life by accident. She knew about Lily long before you met her.""
I stopped breathing.
Then Sarah said the sentence that changed everything.
"Marcus, before Vanessa became your wife, she was already connected to the person who caused my first husband to disappear.""
The recording ended.
I stared at the phone.
Daniel slowly looked toward me.
"Your first husband?""
I shook my head.
"Sarah never had a first husband.""
Then I remembered something.
Before Sarah met me, she had been engaged.
She rarely spoke about that relationship.
She once told me the man had died in an accident.
His name was Michael Lawson.
And Peter Lawson had just admitted that he had been involved in Sarah's financial affairs.
I looked at Daniel.
"Find out who Michael Lawson really was.""
Daniel nodded.
Then Patricia whispered something from the sofa.
"Marcus, Michael wasn't dead.""
I turned toward her.
She was trembling.
"He was Sarah's first husband. And Vanessa knew exactly where he was.""
My phone began ringing.
An unknown number.
I answered.
A man's voice spoke.
"Marcus Williams?""
"Who's this?""
"My name is Michael Lawson.""
My blood ran cold.
"I'm Sarah's first husband.""
May you like
He paused.
"And I think it's time you knew why she really married you.""
