Chapter 7: Nine Days Before Mom Died
Nobody spoke.
Andrew's last sentence seemed to remain in the kitchen long after he stopped talking.
Linda had asked what would happen to my trust if I died before eighteen.
I had been fifteen when my mother died.
Fifteen.
"Say that again.""
My voice barely came out.
Andrew looked uncomfortable.
"The intake note says the caller asked about the beneficiary structure if Susan Carter's minor daughter died before reaching the trust's distribution age.""
Dad grabbed the edge of the table.
"No.""
Linda laughed once.
"This is insane.""
Dad turned toward her.
"You asked what happened if Emily died?""
"I never made that call.""
"Then why did you use the name Vale?""
"I didn't.""
Andrew held up the paper.
"I'm reading the note.""
"A note isn't proof.""
"No," Andrew said calmly.
"It isn't.""
Linda's confidence returned slightly.
"Exactly.""
"But the attorney documented the caller's telephone number.""
Her face changed.
Andrew continued.
"The office is retrieving the archived billing file. If the number was registered to you, that will be independently verifiable.""
Linda said nothing.
Madison slowly sat down.
"Mom, why would you ask that?""
"I didn't.""
"You knew Uncle Tom back then.""
"I've known plenty of people.""
"You told me he was family.""
"Madison, you were six.""
"I remember him.""
Dad stepped closer to Linda.
"Who is Thomas Vale?""
"I already told you. I don't know.""
"Stop saying that.""
Dad's voice shook.
"You married me. You slept beside me for fourteen years. You helped raise my daughter. If there's even a chance you were asking questions about Emily's inheritance while Susan was still alive, I deserve the truth.""
Linda's expression hardened.
"The truth?""
"Yes.""
"You couldn't handle the truth.""
Dad went still.
Daniel moved closer to me.
I felt his hand near mine but didn't take it.
Not yet.
My thoughts were somewhere else.
Nine days.
Mom had died nine days after that phone call.
A memory rose so suddenly that I almost gasped.
Rain against a hospital window.
My mother's hand cold in mine.
Her voice weak.
"Emily, if anyone asks you to sign something, you call your father first.""
At fifteen, I'd thought she was confused from medication.
Now my skin crawled.
"Mom knew.""
Everyone looked at me.
Dad frowned.
"Knew what?""
"I don't know.""
I pressed my fingers against my forehead.
"At the hospital, she said something about documents.""
"What exactly?""
"She told me never to sign anything without you.""
Dad stared at me.
"You never told me.""
"I was fifteen. Mom was dying. I didn't know it mattered.""
Linda muttered, "It doesn't.""
I turned on her.
"You don't get to decide that anymore.""
For once, she didn't answer.
Daniel's phone buzzed.
He looked at it.
"Nathan.""
He answered.
"Tell me you found something.""
Nathan's voice came through the speaker.
"I found the mailbox.""
Andrew stepped closer.
"The private mailbox connected to the account opened under Robert's identity?""
"Yes.""
"Who rented it?""
"Thomas Vale.""
Linda closed her eyes.
Dad saw.
"So he exists.""
She opened them again.
"I never said he didn't exist.""
"You said you didn't know him.""
"I don't anymore.""
Madison laughed bitterly.
"That's not what you said five minutes ago.""
Linda snapped, "Stay out of this.""
"No.""
Madison stood.
"You dragged me into Daniel's apartment. You made me steal Emily's ring.""
My head jerked toward her.
"Made you?""
Madison looked ashamed.
"Mom said I needed to wear it.""
"Why?""
"Because if anyone saw the apartment camera footage, it would look like...""
She stopped.
"Like what?""
"Like I was having an affair with Daniel.""
Daniel swore under his breath.
My stomach turned.
"The pictures.""
Madison nodded.
"Mom told me where to stand.""
I felt physically sick.
"The ring wasn't jealousy.""
Madison shook her head.
"No.""
"You were creating evidence.""
"Yes.""
Linda stepped toward her.
"You volunteered.""
"I didn't know what you were really doing!""
"You knew enough.""
Madison started crying.
"You told me Daniel was trying to take our house. You said if Emily married him, he'd force us out.""
Dad stared at Linda.
"So your plan was to destroy their engagement.""
Linda said nothing.
I understood the ruined dress now.
The photograph.
The apartment.
The timing.
Everything had been designed to make me doubt Daniel before the party.
"Why tomorrow?"" I asked.
Linda's gaze shifted to me.
"What?""
"Why did this have to happen before the engagement party?""
No answer.
Daniel suddenly looked at Andrew.
"My parents.""
Andrew frowned.
"What about them?""
"Tomorrow is the first time both families will be together.""
"Yes.""
"My father was bringing something.""
I turned toward him.
"What?""
Daniel looked guilty again.
"An engagement gift.""
"This isn't the time to talk about gifts.""
"It's not that kind of gift.""
My stomach tightened.
"What kind?""
"My father planned to give us the down payment for the house we looked at.""
Dad frowned.
"So?""
Daniel looked at Andrew.
"Before giving us the money, his attorney ran a standard financial review.""
Andrew understood first.
"He would have found the trust.""
Daniel nodded.
"That's how I found it.""
I stared at Linda.
Tomorrow wasn't merely an engagement party.
Tomorrow was a deadline.
If Daniel's family completed their financial review, the missing money would become impossible to hide.
Linda whispered, "You people think money gives you the right to invade anyone's life.""
"No," I said.
"But apparently you thought my money gave you the right to invade mine.""
Dad's phone rang.
Unknown number.
He looked at us.
Then answered.
"Hello?""
For several seconds, he listened.
His face changed.
"Who is this?""
A man's voice was faintly audible.
Dad put the call on speaker.
"Say that again.""
The man spoke.
"Robert, you need to stop digging.""
Linda's face went white.
Madison whispered, "Uncle Tom.""
Dad stared at Linda.
"Thomas?""
The voice continued.
"Walk away from the documents. Cancel tomorrow's party. Tell Daniel Whitmore to stay out of this.""
Daniel stepped toward the phone.
"Why don't you tell me yourself?""
Thomas went silent.
Then he laughed.
"So you're there.""
"Who are you?""
"The person trying to keep all of you from making a very expensive mistake.""
I clenched my fists.
"What happened to my mother's money?""
Silence.
Then Thomas asked, "Emily?""
"Yes.""
His voice softened.
"You sound like Susan.""
Every hair on my arms rose.
"You knew my mother.""
Linda suddenly shouted, "Hang up!""
Dad grabbed her before she reached the phone.
Thomas laughed again.
"Still impatient, Linda?""
Dad's face twisted.
"How did you know Susan?""
Thomas didn't answer.
Instead, he said something that made Dad slowly lower himself into a chair.
May you like
"Ask your wife where she was the night Susan had her accident.""
The line went dead.
