Chapter 4: The Photograph My Mother Left Behind
I had seen hundreds of photographs of my mother.
There were pictures of her holding me as a newborn, sitting beside my hospital bed when I had chickenpox, and smiling in front of the Christmas tree when I was five.
But I had never seen her standing beside Michael Reeves.
And I had certainly never seen the expression on her face in that photograph.
She wasn't smiling.
She looked frightened.
I turned the photograph over again.
Six words.
If he comes back, protect Emily.
"Dad, what is this?""
Daniel remained standing beside the coffee table, holding his briefcase.
His eyes stayed fixed on the photograph.
"Where did you find that?"" I asked.
"Your mother's belongings.""
"Why do you have it?""
He swallowed.
"Because I promised her I would keep you safe.""
I stared at him.
"From Michael?""
He didn't answer immediately.
Vanessa was sitting on the sofa, crying quietly. Her hands were clasped so tightly that her knuckles had turned white.
Finally, Dad spoke.
"Your mother knew Michael before I did. They worked for the same financial services company in Dallas. Michael was involved in an investment scheme that eventually collapsed.""
"Was Mom involved?""
"No. She discovered what he was doing and reported it.""
I looked down at the photograph.
"Then why were they together?""
"Because she was helping investigators understand how the scheme worked.""
Dad sat opposite me.
"Michael found out. He threatened her. He told her that if she didn't withdraw her statement, he would destroy everyone connected to her.""
I felt my throat tighten.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because your mother died when you were six. I wanted you to remember her as your mother, not as someone who spent her final years afraid.""
"But she knew he might come back?""
Dad nodded.
"She left that photograph with a lawyer. I was supposed to receive it if anything happened.""
I stared at him.
"Anything?""
He rubbed his forehead.
"Michael disappeared shortly before your mother's death. His supposed accident happened several months later.""
I looked toward Vanessa.
"How did you meet him?""
She wiped her face.
"After my first husband disappeared, I moved away. I didn't know about your mother's connection to him. I met him again years later, after I started working in financial administration.""
Dad's head snapped toward her.
"You met him through your work?""
She nodded.
"At a networking event.""
"And you never thought to tell me?""
"I didn't know who he was at first.""
"When did you find out?""
"After we got married.""
Dad stood.
"After we got married?""
Vanessa began crying harder.
"He threatened me. He said he knew things about your company and that he could make trouble for us.""
"Then you should have told me.""
"I was afraid you'd leave.""
Dad looked at her in disbelief.
"So you decided to help him steal from me instead?""
She lowered her head.
I felt something inside me breaking.
"Did you know he was connected to my mother?""
Vanessa didn't respond.
I stepped closer.
"Did you know?""
She finally looked up.
"Yes.""
The room became painfully quiet.
"How long?"" I asked.
"Since September.""
"September?""
My voice cracked.
"You knew he was connected to my mother before you took my money?""
Vanessa nodded faintly.
I backed away.
For two years, I had listened to her complain about how difficult it was to raise another woman's child.
I had heard her tell Mia that I was spoiled.
I had watched her buy expensive things while reminding me that every dollar mattered.
And now I discovered she had knowingly helped the man connected to my mother's death.
Dad's phone rang.
He checked the screen.
"Robert.""
He answered.
"Tell me.""
Robert's voice came through the speaker.
"Daniel, the bank has temporarily restricted the outgoing transfers. However, there's a problem with the documentation.""
"What problem?""
"The receiving company has submitted invoices claiming the transfers were payments for consulting services.""
Dad frowned.
"Which consulting services?""
"That's what we're investigating. Some of the documents carry your electronic approval signature.""
Dad went completely still.
"I didn't sign anything.""
"We know. The digital signature appears to have been copied from an older authorization.""
Dad looked at Vanessa.
"Did you access my archived documents?""
She shook her head.
"I only used the permissions you gave me.""
"That isn't what I asked.""
She looked away.
Robert continued.
"There's something else. One of the documents references Emily Carter as a beneficiary of a trust established several years ago.""
My heart stopped.
"Me?""
Dad slowly lowered the phone.
"What trust?""
Robert answered.
"An education trust. It appears to have been created by Emily's maternal grandfather.""
I stared at Dad.
"My grandfather?""
He nodded slowly.
My mother's father had died when I was little. I remembered him as a quiet man who smelled like peppermint and always carried a pocket watch.
I had no idea he had left me anything.
Robert continued.
"The trust was originally funded with approximately $180,000. But according to the records, a substantial portion was transferred out shortly before your wife's death.""
Dad closed his eyes.
"How much remains?""
"Almost nothing.""
My legs felt weak.
One hundred and eighty thousand dollars?
My grandfather had left me enough money to make college possible.
And someone had taken it.
Dad looked at Vanessa.
"Did you know about the trust?""
She shook her head.
"No.""
But her answer came too quickly.
Dad noticed.
"Vanessa.""
She stood.
"I didn't know anything about Emily's grandfather's money.""
"Then why did Michael mention it?""
Her face crumpled.
"He said he knew where the original documents were.""
"What documents?""
She looked at me.
"Your mother's will.""
Dad went completely still.
Then he opened his briefcase again.
"Emily, I need you to listen carefully.""
He removed a sealed envelope.
It was yellowed with age.
My name was written across the front.
And beneath it was my mother's handwriting.
*To my daughter, when she is old enough to understand.*
I reached for it.
Dad held it for a moment longer.
"Your mother wanted me to give you this when you turned eighteen.""
"Why?""
"Because she believed Michael would eventually come looking for what your grandfather left you.""
I looked at the envelope.
Then at the photograph.
"What's inside?""
Dad slowly released it.
"I think it's time you found out.""
But before I could open it, Vanessa's phone vibrated again.
A message appeared on the screen.
From Michael.
You have twenty-four hours. Bring Emily's original trust documents, or I'll tell her what her father did.
And beneath it was a photograph.
May you like
A picture of my mother's grave.
Taken that afternoon.
