Chapter 8: The Night Everyone Wanted the Evidence
I called emergency services while Daniel started the car.
My mother didn't answer when I tried calling again.
We reached her house in twelve minutes.
Her front door stood open.
A lamp lay shattered in the hallway, and the wooden box that had contained my father's documents was overturned on the floor.
"Mom!""
I rushed through the living room.
She was sitting beside the kitchen island, holding a cloth against her forehead.
Vanessa stood near the back door.
In her hand was the small USB drive.
I froze.
"Put it down.""
Vanessa turned.
For the first time since I'd met her, she looked completely different. Her hair was disheveled, her coat was hanging open, and her eyes were red.
"Michael, thank God.""
"Give me the drive.""
She clutched it tighter.
"You don't understand what this is.""
"I understand that you broke into my mother's house.""
"I didn't break in. She let me inside.""
My mother lifted her head.
"That's a lie. She pushed her way in.""
Vanessa glared at her.
"Stay quiet!""
I stepped forward.
"Don't speak to my mother like that.""
Vanessa shook her head.
"Michael, please. I need you to listen. Rebecca has been manipulating everyone. She's dangerous.""
Daniel entered behind me.
"Put the device on the counter, Mrs. Carter.""
Vanessa looked at him.
"You're the last person I want here.""
"That's unfortunate.""
She backed away.
"You think I'm the villain? You have no idea what Rebecca is capable of.""
I pointed toward the USB drive.
"Then tell me why you stole Lily's money.""
Her face crumpled.
"I didn't steal it for myself.""
"Where did it go?""
"To Rachel. She was supposed to give it to Rebecca.""
"Why?""
Vanessa looked toward my mother.
Then she whispered, "Because Rebecca threatened to expose the Hale documents.""
Daniel stepped forward.
"What documents?""
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
"Your father wasn't an innocent investor. He helped create the company before he realized what Victor was doing.""
I stared at her.
"That's not what the recording said.""
"Of course it isn't. Your father wanted to protect his reputation.""
My mother stood unsteadily.
"That's enough, Vanessa.""
Vanessa turned toward her.
"You knew, Margaret. You knew what Sarah found.""
My mother went pale.
"What did you just say?""
Vanessa shook her head.
"Ask her why Sarah was so afraid before she died.""
I looked at my mother.
"Mom?""
She lowered her eyes.
"I didn't know everything.""
"What did you know?""
Before she could answer, sirens sounded outside.
Two officers entered the house.
Vanessa immediately placed the USB drive on the kitchen counter.
One officer approached her.
"Ma'am, we need to speak with you about an alleged break-in and an ongoing investigation.""
Vanessa raised her hands.
"I didn't hurt anyone.""
My mother touched her forehead.
"She threatened me.""
The officer separated everyone.
Daniel quietly retrieved the USB drive after it had been documented by the responding officers.
Vanessa was taken outside for questioning.
Before leaving, she turned toward me.
"Michael, if you think this ends with me, you're making a terrible mistake.""
I didn't answer.
She looked past me toward the hallway.
"And tell Mason I'm sorry.""
Then she was gone.
My mother sat down.
I pulled a chair beside her.
"Tell me what happened with Sarah.""
She stared at her hands.
"Your father had invested in Victor Hale's company before he discovered the fraud. After he died, I found some of his financial records.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I was afraid.""
"Of Victor?""
She nodded.
"Sarah came to me when she was pregnant. She had discovered that some of the documents in the company had been altered. She wanted to give them to the authorities.""
"Then why didn't she?""
"Because someone threatened her.""
I leaned forward.
"Who?""
My mother closed her eyes.
"Victor.""
I stared at her.
"Was he responsible for Sarah's death?""
She began crying.
"I don't know.""
"Did you tell the police?""
"No.""
"Why?""
"Because I received a letter after Sarah died. It said that if I spoke about the company, Lily would never be safe.""
My blood ran cold.
I stood.
"Mom, you kept that secret for five years?""
"I thought I was protecting her!""
"You let me believe Sarah's death was just an accident.""
My mother covered her face.
"I know.""
Daniel returned from the hallway.
"Michael, there's something you need to see.""
He had opened the original folder from the USB drive.
Inside was a scanned document titled Beneficiary Protection Agreement.
The agreement named Lily as the sole beneficiary of the protected investment fund.
But beneath her name was another line.
*Secondary guardian and document custodian: Vanessa Carter.*
I stared at it.
"Why is Vanessa listed?""
Daniel studied the signature.
"That's what we need to establish.""
My mother shook her head.
"Sarah never trusted Vanessa.""
"Then why did she name her?""
Daniel pointed to the date.
The document had been signed two months before Sarah died.
I read it again.
Then I noticed something.
The signature didn't look like Sarah's.
I pulled out the letter she'd written to me.
The handwriting was different.
The signature was different.
"Daniel.""
He leaned closer.
"What?""
"This document is forged.""
He examined it carefully.
"You're right. We need a forensic document examiner.""
I looked toward the front door.
"Whoever forged this wanted Vanessa to have access to Lily's trust.""
Daniel nodded.
"And possibly the original documents.""
My phone buzzed.
A message from Mason.
Dad, Grandma told me something. Mom called me yesterday before everything happened.
I immediately called him.
He answered on the first ring.
"Dad?""
"What did Vanessa tell you?""
He hesitated.
"She said she wanted to see Lily. She told me she had something that would make everything okay.""
"What was it?""
"She said she knew where Lily's real mother kept the missing papers.""
I closed my eyes.
"Did she say anything else?""
Mason's voice became quieter.
"She said Sarah didn't die in the accident.""
I felt my entire body go still.
"What?""
"She said someone changed the brakes on Sarah's car.""
The room seemed to disappear around me.
I gripped the counter.
"Mason, are you sure?""
"Yes, Dad.""
He began crying.
"She told me not to tell you because she said you would get hurt.""
I couldn't speak.
May you like
Then he whispered:
"She also said she knew who did it.""
