Chapter 7: The Death Certificate## Chapter 7: The Death Certificate Was a Lie
“She Was a Lie
“She didn't die from cancer.””
Daniel's words continued echo didn't die from cancer.””
Daniel's words continued echoing in Emily's head long after the calling in Emily's head long after the call disconnected.
She stood beside Marcus's truck, clutch disconnected.
She stood beside Marcus's truck, clutching her mother's photograph so tightly that the edges bent beneath her fingers.
Jace tried to approach her.
“Emilying her mother's photograph so tightly that the edges bent beneath her fingers.
Jace tried to approach her.
“Emily, sweetheart…”
“Don't.””
He stopped.
She looked at him, tears gathering in her eyes.
“Did, sweetheart…”
“Don't.””
He stopped.
She looked at him, tears gathering in her eyes.
“Did you know?””
“No.””
“Did you know my mother might not have died from cancer?””
“I swear you know?””
“No.””
“Did you know my mother might not have died from cancer?””
“I swear I didn't.””
Emily shook her head.
“Everyone knows something about my family I didn't.””
Emily shook her head.
“Everyone knows something about my family except me.””
Marcus stepped closer.
“Kid, nobody except me.””
Marcus stepped closer.
“Kid, nobody here wants to hurt you.””
“But here wants to hurt you.””
“But you all keep deciding what I can handle!””
Her voice cracked.
She turned away, wiping her cheeks.
Jace didn't you all keep deciding what I can handle!””
Her voice cracked.
She turned away, wiping her cheeks.
Jace didn't follow her immediately.
He understood that sometimes the kindest thing a person could do was give someone room to breathe.
After several minutes, Emily climbed into Marcus's truck.
Jace rode ahead to the clubhouse.
That evening, Rebecca Hayes arrived carrying a laptop and a thick folder.
She found Emily sitting at the follow her immediately.
He understood that sometimes the kindest thing a person could do was give someone room to breathe.
After several minutes, Emily climbed into Marcus's truck.
Jace rode ahead to the clubhouse.
That evening, Rebecca Hayes arrived carrying a laptop and a thick folder.
She found Emily sitting at the clubhouse kitchen table, staring at a photograph of her mother.
“Can I sit?””
Emily nodded.
Rebecca placed clubhouse kitchen table, staring at a photograph of her mother.
“Can I sit?””
Emily nodded.
Rebecca placed the folder down.
“I've contacted the medical records department. Your mother's death certificate the folder down.
“I've contacted the medical records department. Your mother's death certificate lists metastatic cancer as the cause of death.””
“So my father lists metastatic cancer as the cause of death.””
“So my father lied?””
“Not necessarily. But Daniel's statement gives us reason to investigate.””
Jace lied?””
“Not necessarily. But Daniel's statement gives us reason to investigate.””
Jace entered the room.
“There's another possibility.””
Everyone turned.
He held an old newspaper clipping.
It was dated entered the room.
“There's another possibility.””
Everyone turned.
He held an old newspaper clipping.
It was dated twelve years earlier.
The headline read:
**LOCAL ACCOUNTANT DIES AFTER LENGTHY twelve years earlier.
The headline read:
*LOCAL ACCOUNTANT DIES AFTER LENGTHY ILLNESS.*
Emily recognized the photograph.
Her mother.
Jace placed the clipping beside the ILLNESS.**
Emily recognized the photograph.
Her mother.
Jace placed the clipping beside the folder.
“Your mother was admitted to the hospital three times during her final year. folder.
“Your mother was admitted to the hospital three times during her final year. The first two admissions were related to cancer treatment. The third happened only eleven days The first two admissions were related to cancer treatment. The third happened only eleven days before she died.””
Rebecca examined the article.
“Do you know which before she died.””
Rebecca examined the article.
“Do you know which hospital?””
“St. Mary's.””
Emily looked up.
“That's where you were treated after your accident.””
hospital?””
“St. Mary's.””
Emily looked up.
“That's where you were treated after your accident.””
Jace nodded.
“Same hospital.””
Rebecca opened her laptop.
“I'll request the archived recordsJace nodded.
“Same hospital.””
Rebecca opened her laptop.
“I'll request the archived records through the proper legal channels.””
Emily stared at the newspaper photograph.
Her mother looked tired through the proper legal channels.””
Emily stared at the newspaper photograph.
Her mother looked tired but was smiling.
“I remember her last Christmas,” she whispered.
“She but was smiling.
“I remember her last Christmas,” she whispered.
“She was making cookies. She kept forgetting where she'd put the sugar was making cookies. She kept forgetting where she'd put the sugar.””
Marcus sat across from her.
“Sounds like a good memory.””
“She told.””
Marcus sat across from her.
“Sounds like a good memory.””
“She told me she was getting better.””
Emily swallowed.
“She promised we'd go to the me she was getting better.””
Emily swallowed.
“She promised we'd go to the beach when she felt stronger.””
Jace lowered his eyes.
Nobody spoke for beach when she felt stronger.””
Jace lowered his eyes.
Nobody spoke for a moment.
Then Rebecca's phone rang.
She listened carefully.
“Are you a moment.
Then Rebecca's phone rang.
She listened carefully.
“Are you certain?””
A pause.
“Please email me the confirmation.””
She ended certain?””
A pause.
“Please email me the confirmation.””
She ended the call.
“What is it?”” Jace asked.
Rebecca turned her laptop around.
“The hospital the call.
“What is it?”” Jace asked.
Rebecca turned her laptop around.
“The hospital has located an additional record. Your mother's final admission wasn't originally has located an additional record. Your mother's final admission wasn't originally classified as cancer-related.””
Emily leaned forward.
“What was it?””
Rebecca read the line twice.
classified as cancer-related.””
Emily leaned forward.
“What was it?””
Rebecca read the line twice.
“Suspected poisoning.””
The following morning, they met Dr. Samuel Lewis, a retired physician who had“Suspected poisoning.””
The following morning, they met Dr. Samuel Lewis, a retired physician who had treated Margaret during her final hospitalization.
He was seventy-one, with a gentle voice treated Margaret during her final hospitalization.
He was seventy-one, with a gentle voice and a habit of rubbing his glasses whenever he was uncomfortable.
He sat across from Emily in a small office.
“I remember and a habit of rubbing his glasses whenever he was uncomfortable.
He sat across from Emily in a small office.
“I remember your mother,” he said.
“She was a remarkable woman.””
Emily nodded.
“Did she have cancer?””
“Yes. your mother,” he said.
“She was a remarkable woman.””
Emily nodded.
“Did she have cancer?””
“Yes. But she was responding to treatment.””
“Then why did she die?””
Dr. Lewis looked at Rebecca.
She placed the archived But she was responding to treatment.””
“Then why did she die?””
Dr. Lewis looked at Rebecca.
She placed the archived medical report on the desk.
“Doctor, we need you to explain this entry.””
He read medical report on the desk.
“Doctor, we need you to explain this entry.””
He read it.
His face changed.
“I was afraid someone would eventually ask.””
Emily leaned forward.
“What does it mean it.
His face changed.
“I was afraid someone would eventually ask.””
Emily leaned forward.
“What does it mean?””
Dr. Lewis folded his hands.
“Your mother was admitted after experiencing severe abdominal pain, dizziness, and neurological symptoms?””
Dr. Lewis folded his hands.
“Your mother was admitted after experiencing severe abdominal pain, dizziness, and neurological symptoms. Initial tests suggested exposure to a toxic substance.””
“What substance?””
“An industrial chemical. Initial tests suggested exposure to a toxic substance.””
“What substance?””
“An industrial chemical. The exact source was never established.””
Emily felt sick.
“Was she. The exact source was never established.””
Emily felt sick.
“Was she poisoned?””
“We suspected it. But the investigation was interrupted.””
“By whom?””
The doctor hesitated.
“Her husband poisoned?””
“We suspected it. But the investigation was interrupted.””
“By whom?””
The doctor hesitated.
“Her husband.””
Emily stared.
“My father?””
Dr. Lewis nodded.
“Daniel insisted that your mother had accidentally taken the wrong.””
Emily stared.
“My father?””
Dr. Lewis nodded.
“Daniel insisted that your mother had accidentally taken the wrong medication. He produced a list of her prescriptions and requested that the hospital stop further testing.””
Rebecca frowned medication. He produced a list of her prescriptions and requested that the hospital stop further testing.””
Rebecca frowned.
“Could he authorize that?””
“He was listed as her medical representative. Your mother.
“Could he authorize that?””
“He was listed as her medical representative. Your mother was conscious at the time, but she was extremely weak.””
Emily's voice became barely was conscious at the time, but she was extremely weak.””
Emily's voice became barely audible.
“Did Mom know?””
The doctor looked at her.
audible.
“Did Mom know?””
The doctor looked at her.
“Yes.””
He opened a drawer and removed a small envelope.
“She asked me to keep this“Yes.””
He opened a drawer and removed a small envelope.
“She asked me to keep this. She said someone would come looking for answers one day.””
Emily took it. She said someone would come looking for answers one day.””
Emily took it.
Her mother's handwriting appeared across the front.
For my daughter.
She opened the.
Her mother's handwriting appeared across the front.
For my daughter.
She opened the envelope.
Inside was a short letter.
My darling Emily,
*If you're reading this, then I wasn't able envelope.
Inside was a short letter.
My darling Emily,
If you're reading this, then I wasn't able to tell you everything myself.
I need you to understand one thing. I never stopped fighting to tell you everything myself.
I need you to understand one thing. I never stopped fighting for you.
Daniel knows what for you.
Daniel knows what happened to Robert. Victor knows what happened to the money. But the person who brought the danger into our home was someone I once trusted.
Look inside happened to Robert. Victor knows what happened to the money. But the person who brought the danger into our home was someone I once trusted.
Look inside the blue music box.
The truth is there.
the blue music box.*
The truth is there.
I love you beyond every lifetime.
Mom.
Emily pressed the letter against her chestI love you beyond every lifetime.
Mom.
Emily pressed the letter against her chest.
Jace closed his eyes.
Marcus quietly turned away.
Rebecca looked at the.
Jace closed his eyes.
Marcus quietly turned away.
Rebecca looked at the doctor.
“Where is the music box?””
Emily remembered immediately.
Her mother had kept a small blue music box on doctor.
“Where is the music box?””
Emily remembered immediately.
Her mother had kept a small blue music box on the dresser in her bedroom.
It was the one possession she had refused to let anyone the dresser in her bedroom.
It was the one possession she had refused to let anyone touch.
After Margaret died, Emily had taken it with her.
It was still in her apartment.
They returned to Emily's touch.
After Margaret died, Emily had taken it with her.
It was still in her apartment.
They returned to Emily's apartment that afternoon.
She opened the bedroom closet and pulled a small cardboard box from the top shelf.
Inside lay her apartment that afternoon.
She opened the bedroom closet and pulled a small cardboard box from the top shelf.
Inside lay her mother's blue music box.
Its paint was chipped.
A tiny ballerina stood beneath mother's blue music box.
Its paint was chipped.
A tiny ballerina stood beneath the glass dome.
Emily wound the key.
A soft melody the glass dome.
Emily wound the key.
A soft melody filled the room.
She turned the box over.
Jace examined the bottom.
“There.””
filled the room.
She turned the box over.
Jace examined the bottom.
“There.””
A narrow panel had been attached beneath the wooden base.
Rebecca carefully removed it with a smallA narrow panel had been attached beneath the wooden base.
Rebecca carefully removed it with a small screwdriver.
Inside were three objects.
A flash drive.
A folded photograph.
And a handwritten note.
Emily opened the photograph first screwdriver.
Inside were three objects.
A flash drive.
A folded photograph.
And a handwritten note.
Emily opened the photograph first.
It showed Daniel Carter standing beside Victor Hale.
But there was a third person in the picture.
A woman wearing a.
It showed Daniel Carter standing beside Victor Hale.
But there was a third person in the picture.
A woman wearing a red scarf.
Emily recognized her immediately.
She had seen that face at red scarf.
Emily recognized her immediately.
She had seen that face at graduation.
It belonged to her aunt.
The same aunt who had taken her in graduation.
It belonged to her aunt.
The same aunt who had taken her in after Margaret died.
Emily's voice shook.
“Aunt Linda?””
Jace after Margaret died.
Emily's voice shook.
“Aunt Linda?””
Jace leaned closer.
“Are you sure?””
“Of course I'm sure. I lived leaned closer.
“Are you sure?””
“Of course I'm sure. I lived with her.””
Rebecca examined the back of the photograph.
There was a date.
The picture had been taken eleven days before Margaret's final hospitalization.
Emily with her.””
Rebecca examined the back of the photograph.
There was a date.
The picture had been taken eleven days before Margaret's final hospitalization.
Emily plugged the flash drive into Rebecca's laptop.
A single video plugged the flash drive into Rebecca's laptop.
A single video file appeared.
The recording was grainy.
The camera seemed to be positioned inside a parked car file appeared.
The recording was grainy.
The camera seemed to be positioned inside a parked car.
Daniel stepped into view first.
Then Victor.
Finally, Linda approached them.
Daniel stepped into view first.
Then Victor.
Finally, Linda approached them.
Emily stopped breathing.
Her aunt handed Victor a large envelope.
Emily stopped breathing.
Her aunt handed Victor a large envelope.
Daniel looked around before speaking.
“We agreed this would end after Margaret signed the papers.””
Linda answered.
Daniel looked around before speaking.
“We agreed this would end after Margaret signed the papers.””
Linda answered.
“She won't sign anything.””
Victor opened the envelope.
“Then we make sure she.
“She won't sign anything.””
Victor opened the envelope.
“Then we make sure she doesn't have a choice.””
Daniel looked nervous.
“And the girl?””
Linda glanced doesn't have a choice.””
Daniel looked nervous.
“And the girl?””
Linda glanced toward the camera.
“Emily will be fine. I'll take care of her.””
The recording ended.
toward the camera.
“Emily will be fine. I'll take care of her.””
The recording ended.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Then Emily whispered the question that would changeFor several seconds, nobody moved.
Then Emily whispered the question that would change everything.
“Was my aunt paid to take me in?””
Rebecca stared at everything.
“Was my aunt paid to take me in?””
Rebecca stared at the frozen image.
Jace looked at the screen.
And Marcus slowly reached for his phone.
the frozen image.
Jace looked at the screen.
And Marcus slowly reached for his phone.
May you like
Because if Linda had been involved in what happened to Margaret, then Emily had spent two yearsBecause if Linda had been involved in what happened to Margaret, then Emily had spent two years living under the same roof as someone who might have helped destroy her family.
living under the same roof as someone who might have helped destroy her family.
