Chapter 8: The Woman Who Knew Too Much
Daniel put the phone on speaker.
For a moment, there was only silence.
Then Vanessa’s voice came through.
“Emily.””
I felt anger rise instantly.
After everything.
After the dress.
The money.
The lies.
She still had the courage to call me.
“What do you want?””
Her voice sounded different.
Not confident.
Not cruel.
Afraid.
“I need you to listen to me.””
I laughed bitterly.
“Why would I believe anything you say?””
“Because I know who hurt your mother.””
The room went silent.
Dad stepped closer to the phone.
“Where are you?””
Vanessa ignored him.
“Emily, your mother was investigating something dangerous.””
Daniel spoke.
“And you knew.””
A pause.
“Yes.””
Dad’s jaw tightened.
“You knew and you said nothing?””
“I was scared.””
I stared at the phone.
“You stole my money.””
Another pause.
“Yes.””
The honesty surprised me.
“I made mistakes.””
I almost couldn’t believe it.
“You made mistakes?””
My voice shook.
“You burned my life apart.””
“Emily…”
“No.””
I stepped away.
“You don’t get to say my name like you care.””
Silence.
Then Vanessa whispered:
“I do care.””
I wanted to scream.
But something stopped me.
Because she sounded broken.
“What happened that night?””
Nobody moved.
Vanessa took a deep breath.
“The night your mother died…”
She paused.
“She wasn’t supposed to be driving.””
My father froze.
“What?””
Vanessa continued.
“She was going to meet someone.””
Daniel leaned forward.
“Who?””
Vanessa whispered:
“Me.””
The room exploded into silence.
Dad looked shocked.
“You?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Vanessa’s voice trembled.
“Because I was going to tell her the truth.””
My hands went cold.
“What truth?””
A long pause.
Then Vanessa said:
“Your mother had discovered that someone was using her company to move illegal money.””
Daniel looked at Dad.
“I told her.””
Vanessa continued.
“She asked me for help.””
I shook my head.
“Why would she trust you?””
Vanessa didn’t answer.
That silence told me everything.
“You were involved.””
“I was.””
Dad stepped forward.
“What did you do?””
Vanessa cried quietly.
“I made one mistake.””
“What mistake?””
“I gave someone information.””
My heart pounded.
“Who?””
Vanessa didn’t answer.
Then the call suddenly cut out.
Everyone stared at the phone.
Daniel immediately tried calling back.
Nothing.
Dad grabbed his jacket.
“I’m going after her.””
I stopped him.
“No.””
He looked at me.
“Emily.””
“We need answers.””
Daniel nodded.
“She’s telling the truth about one thing.””
“What?””
“She’s afraid.””
I looked at him.
“You believe her?””
“I believe someone scared Vanessa enough to finally talk.””
Dad looked toward the window.
Outside, the sky was dark.
The same kind of darkness from the night my mother died.
Then Daniel noticed something on the table.
The trust documents.
He picked them up.
“Wait.””
“What?””
He pointed at the signature.
“This isn’t Vanessa’s signature.””
I frowned.
“What?””
“She didn’t authorize the property purchase.””
Dad grabbed the papers.
“Then who did?””
Daniel turned the page.
There was a second signature.
A name.
A name I recognized.
Because I had seen it before.
On my mother’s old business files.
On the photograph.
On the trust.
Daniel Brooks.
My stomach dropped.
“You signed it?””
Daniel looked confused.
“No.””
“Then why is your name here?””
He stared at the document.
His face slowly changed.
“That’s impossible.””
“What?””
He looked at me.
“Someone copied my signature.””
Dad stepped closer.
“Who would have access to your records?””
Daniel went silent.
Then he whispered:
“Only one person.””
“Who?””
Daniel looked toward the empty doorway.
“The person who helped me create the trust.””
I held my breath.
“Who?””
May you like
Daniel’s answer was barely audible.
“Your mother’s attorney.””
