Chapter 11: The Confession at the Hospital
My mother was already at the hospital when we arrived.
She sat alone in a corridor outside the intensive care unit, her hands clasped so tightly that her knuckles had turned white.
When she saw me, she stood.
“Sarah.””
I stopped several feet away.
“Why did Evelyn give the hospital your name?””
My mother looked toward the closed doors.
“Because I was the last person she called before the fire.””
“Why?””
“She wanted me to meet her.””
“About Rebecca?””
My mother nodded.
I felt Lily move closer to my side.
“Did you go?””
“No. I was afraid it was a trap.””
I stared at her.
“You were afraid?””
She lowered her head.
“I know how that sounds.””
“Every time something happens, you tell me you were afraid. Rebecca was afraid. Ethan was afraid.
I was afraid. And while all of us were afraid, Daniel kept getting away with everything.””
My mother began crying.
“I know.””
“No, Mom. I don't think you do.””
Lily tugged at my coat.
“Mommy, can we sit down?””
I immediately softened my voice.
“Of course, sweetheart.””
We found three chairs near the nurses' station. Lily leaned against me, exhausted from the ordeal. I wrapped my coat around her shoulders.
Michael approached a few minutes later.
“The doctors say Evelyn is stable,” he explained.
“She's unconscious, but they expect her to recover enough to speak.””
“Was she injured in the fire?””
“They're still determining the circumstances. An officer found her near the building's rear entrance. We can't assume the injuries were caused by the fire until the investigation establishes that.””
I looked toward the intensive care unit.
“Can we see her?””
“Not yet.””
My mother stood again.
“I need to tell you something before she wakes up.””
I felt my stomach tighten.
“What?””
“Rebecca called me that night.””
I stared at her.
“You said Evelyn called you.””
“She did. But Rebecca called first.””
My mother pressed a trembling hand against her chest.
“Rebecca told me Daniel was at her apartment. She said he was demanding the recording. She sounded terrified. I wanted to go back, but I was afraid he would discover the money he'd given me.””
I could barely believe what I was hearing.
“You knew Rebecca was in danger, and you stayed home?””
“I told myself she was exaggerating. I told myself Daniel would never hurt her.””
“Did you call the police?””
“No.””
“Did you call an ambulance?””
“No.””
“Did you call anyone?””
My mother covered her mouth.
“I called Daniel.””
The corridor seemed to fall silent around us.
“What did you say to him?””
“I asked him whether Rebecca was safe. He told me to stay out of it. He said she'd been drinking and was threatening to destroy his life.””
My hands began to shake.
“And you believed him?””
“I wanted to believe him.””
“That isn't the same thing.””
“No,” she whispered.
“It isn't.””
Michael asked her to continue.
My mother explained that she had eventually driven to Rebecca's apartment, arriving shortly before the emergency call. She found Rebecca lying on the floor and Daniel standing near the kitchen counter.
“He told me Rebecca had collapsed,” she said.
“He said he had already called for help. I asked why he was holding her handbag.””
“What did he say?””
“He told me he was looking for her medication.””
I closed my eyes.
“Did you see the recording?””
“No. But I saw him take a small envelope from her bag.””
“What happened next?””
“He told me to leave. He said if I stayed, the police would discover the money he'd given me and accuse me of helping him steal from the company.””
My mother wiped her cheeks.
“I left before the ambulance arrived. Later, Evelyn told me Rebecca had died.””
“And you said nothing.””
“I was ashamed. Then Daniel began threatening me. He said he had evidence that I had helped him move money through the company. He told me if I ever spoke about that night, he would make sure I lost everything.””
I stared at her.
“You let me marry him.””
My mother looked as though I'd struck her.
“I didn't know what he would do to you.””
“You knew enough to be afraid.””
“Yes.””
She reached toward me, then stopped when I stepped back.
“I cannot undo what I did, Sarah. But I can tell the truth now.””
I looked at Lily, who had fallen asleep against my arm.
“Then tell it to the investigators. Tell it under oath. Don't ask me to make you feel better about it.””
My mother nodded.
“I won't.””
A nurse approached us.
“Eleanor Hayes?””
My mother stood.
“Yes?””
“Evelyn Price is awake. She has asked to speak with you and Sarah, but only if an officer is present.””
Michael immediately contacted the officer assigned to the case.
A few minutes later, we entered Evelyn's room.
She looked smaller than I remembered from the courtroom photograph. A bandage covered her forehead, and one arm rested in a sling. The red handbag was gone, but the gold bird necklace lay on the bedside table.
When she saw my mother, her eyes filled with tears.
“You came.””
My mother remained near the door.
“I should have come six years ago.””
Evelyn closed her eyes.
“Yes. You should have.””
I stepped forward.
“Why did you take Lily?””
Evelyn looked at me.
“Because Daniel was planning to move her out of state once the divorce was final. He had already arranged for new documents and a different school. He wanted to make sure you could never challenge him again.””
“Then why didn't you tell the police?””
“Because I was afraid Daniel would expose what I had done.””
“What did you do?””
She swallowed painfully.
“I helped him conceal the company's finances. I accepted money to retrieve Rebecca's documents. And on the night Rebecca died, I delayed calling for help because Daniel told me he needed time to remove the recording.””
My mother began crying.
“Was Rebecca alive when you left?””
Evelyn looked away.
“Yes.””
The answer struck the room like a gunshot.
I gripped the edge of the bed.
“How long?””
“Long enough for me to make a different choice.””
My mother covered her face.
Evelyn continued, her voice trembling.
“I told myself Daniel would call an ambulance. I told myself I couldn't risk my own future. By the time I realized he wasn't going to help her, it was too late.””
“Did Daniel cause her collapse?”” Michael asked.
“I don't know exactly what caused it. I saw him arguing with her. I saw him take her handbag and remove the envelope. I did not see what happened before she fell.””
“Where is the recording now?””
Evelyn looked at me.
“I sent it to the one person Daniel would never suspect.””
“Who?””
She hesitated.
Then she whispered, “Your father.””
My breath caught.
“My father has been dead for twelve years.””
“I know.””
Evelyn reached toward the bedside table and picked up the gold bird necklace. She pressed a tiny catch beneath its wing.
A miniature memory card slid into her palm.
“Rebecca gave me this before she died. I kept it hidden because Daniel believed he'd destroyed every copy.””
Michael leaned forward.
“Is the recording on that card?””
Evelyn nodded.
“And it contains more than the conversation about the money.””
“What else?”” I asked.
She looked directly into my eyes.
“Your father knew Daniel before you ever met him.””
I felt the room tilt.
“That is impossible.””
Evelyn shook her head.
“Your father helped Daniel establish the original company. And before he died, he discovered that Daniel was using the business to hide money.””
I stared at the tiny card in her hand.
My father had died when I was twenty-two, years before I met Daniel. I had believed his death was unrelated to everything that came afterward.
Now Evelyn was telling me that the two men had shared a secret long before my marriage began.
“Why would my father keep that from me?”” I whispered.
Evelyn's eyes filled with tears.
“Because he was afraid Daniel would come after you.””
May you like
She held the card toward Michael.
“But before he died, your father recorded a message for you.””
