Chapter 8: The## Chapter 8: The Woman Who Raised Her
Woman Who Raised Her
Emily watched the recording againEmily watched the recording again.
Then again.
Each time, the same three people appeared.
Daniel.
Victor.
Linda.
Her.
Then again.
Each time, the same three people appeared.
Daniel.
Victor.
Linda.
Her aunt had been there when Emily buried her mother. She had held her hand at the aunt had been there when Emily buried her mother. She had held her hand at the funeral. She had helped choose the clothes Emily wore to school.
And apparently, she had also been involved in a meeting where funeral. She had helped choose the clothes Emily wore to school.
And apparently, she had also been involved in a meeting where someone discussed making Margaret sign documents against her will.
“I want someone discussed making Margaret sign documents against her will.
“I want to call her,” Emily said.
Jace shook his head.
“Not yet.””
“She's my aunt.””
“ to call her,” Emily said.
Jace shook his head.
“Not yet.””
“She's my aunt.””
“That's exactly why you need to be careful.””
Emily stood.
“I lived withThat's exactly why you need to be careful.””
Emily stood.
“I lived with that woman for two years. I worked before school because she said I needed to contribute. I skipped that woman for two years.
I worked before school because she said I needed to contribute. I skipped meals because she said money was tight.””
Marcus looked down.
Emily continued.
meals because she said money was tight.””
Marcus looked down.
Emily continued.
“She told me my mother left us with nothing. She told me I should be“She told me my mother left us with nothing. She told me I should be grateful she took me in.””
Rebecca closed the laptop.
“Emily, we need to establish whether she was involved in the grateful she took me in.””
Rebecca closed the laptop.
“Emily, we need to establish whether she was involved in the financial fraud and whether she knew about the poisoning.””
“I don't care what she knew. I want to hear her say it.””
Jace financial fraud and whether she knew about the poisoning.””
“I don't care what she knew. I want to hear her say it.””
Jace studied her face.
Then he nodded.
“Okay. But we're going together.””
Linda Carter lived studied her face.
Then he nodded.
“Okay. But we're going together.””
Linda Carter lived in a modest house on the other side of town.
Emily hadn't visited in almost eight months in a modest house on the other side of town.
Emily hadn't visited in almost eight months.
She stood on the front porch, staring at the familiar white curtains.
Jace.
She stood on the front porch, staring at the familiar white curtains.
Jace waited behind her.
Marcus remained near the truck.
Emily knocked.
The door opened.
Linda wore a pale cardigan waited behind her.
Marcus remained near the truck.
Emily knocked.
The door opened.
Linda wore a pale cardigan and held a mug of coffee.
Her expression changed immediately.
“Emily?””
“Hi, Aunt Linda.””
and held a mug of coffee.
Her expression changed immediately.
“Emily?””
“Hi, Aunt Linda.””
Linda's eyes moved toward Jace.
“What is he doing here?””
“HeLinda's eyes moved toward Jace.
“What is he doing here?””
“He's with me.””
Linda stepped aside reluctantly.
“Come in.””
The house's with me.””
Linda stepped aside reluctantly.
“Come in.””
The house smelled of cinnamon and furniture polish.
Emily remembered sitting on the living room carpet as a child, watching cartoons while smelled of cinnamon and furniture polish.
Emily remembered sitting on the living room carpet as a child, watching cartoons while her mother cooked dinner.
Now the memories felt contaminated.
Linda placed her coffee on the table.
“Why didn't her mother cooked dinner.
Now the memories felt contaminated.
Linda placed her coffee on the table.
“Why didn't you call first?””
Emily took out her phone.
“I have something to show you.””
She played you call first?””
Emily took out her phone.
“I have something to show you.””
She played the recording.
Linda's face gradually lost its color.
When the video ended, she looked toward the the recording.
Linda's face gradually lost its color.
When the video ended, she looked toward the window.
“Where did you get that?””
“Mom hid it in her music box.””
Linda swallowed window.
“Where did you get that?””
“Mom hid it in her music box.””
Linda swallowed.
“You shouldn't have gone looking through her things.””
Emily stared at her.
“That's what you have to.
“You shouldn't have gone looking through her things.””
Emily stared at her.
“That's what you have to say?””
“Emily, you don't understand.””
“Then explain it.””
Linda sat down.
For several say?””
“Emily, you don't understand.””
“Then explain it.””
Linda sat down.
For several seconds, she said nothing.
Then she began crying.
“I was trying to protect you.””
Emily laughed without seconds, she said nothing.
Then she began crying.
“I was trying to protect you.””
Emily laughed without humor.
“Everyone says that.””
Linda pressed a tissue against her cheek.
humor.
“Everyone says that.””
Linda pressed a tissue against her cheek.
“Your mother was in trouble. She had discovered what Victor was doing with the foundation. He threatened“Your mother was in trouble.
She had discovered what Victor was doing with the foundation. He threatened her. He threatened me, too.””
“Why were you meeting him?””
“Because he told me he could make everything disappear.””
“What did her. He threatened me, too.””
“Why were you meeting him?””
“Because he told me he could make everything disappear.””
“What did he want?””
Linda looked at Jace.
“Money.””
“How much?””
“Fifty thousand dollars.””
Emily he want?””
Linda looked at Jace.
“Money.””
“How much?””
“Fifty thousand dollars.””
Emily stared.
“And you took it?””
Linda nodded.
The silence was unbearable.
Emily stepped closer stared.
“And you took it?””
Linda nodded.
The silence was unbearable.
Emily stepped closer.
“You accepted fifty thousand dollars while Mom was dying?””
“I didn't.
“You accepted fifty thousand dollars while Mom was dying?””
“I didn't know she was going to die!””
“Did you know someone was hurting her?””
Linda covered her know she was going to die!””
“Did you know someone was hurting her?””
Linda covered her face.
“I knew she was frightened. I knew she had started accusing face.
“I knew she was frightened. I knew she had started accusing Daniel and Victor. But I thought they only wanted the documents.””
Emily's voice Daniel and Victor. But I thought they only wanted the documents.””
Emily's voice trembled.
“What happened to the money?””
Linda looked down.
“I used some of trembled.
“What happened to the money?””
Linda looked down.
“I used some of it to pay my debts.””
“And the rest?””
“I was supposed to it to pay my debts.””
“And the rest?””
“I was supposed to keep you safe.””
Emily shook her head.
“You made me clean offices when I keep you safe.””
Emily shook her head.
“You made me clean offices when I was fourteen.””
“I was struggling.””
“You told me I was a burden.””
Linda began sobbing.
“I didn't know how to raise a was fourteen.””
“I was struggling.””
“You told me I was a burden.””
Linda began sobbing.
“I didn't know how to raise a teenager. I had my own problems.””
“You knew how to take money teenager. I had my own problems.””
“You knew how to take money from my mother's foundation.””
Linda flinched.
Jace finally spoke.
“Did you give from my mother's foundation.””
Linda flinched.
Jace finally spoke.
“Did you give Margaret medication?””
Linda looked up sharply.
“What?””
“Did you give her anything Victor or Daniel Margaret medication?””
Linda looked up sharply.
“What?””
“Did you give her anything Victor or Daniel handed you?””
Her lips parted.
Then she slowly nodded.
Emily felt handed you?””
Her lips parted.
Then she slowly nodded.
Emily felt her stomach tighten.
“What did you give her?””
Linda stood.
“It was medicine. Daniel said her stomach tighten.
“What did you give her?””
Linda stood.
“It was medicine. Daniel said it was prescribed.””
“Did you check?””
“He told me it was for her pain.””
Jace's voice it was prescribed.””
“Did you check?””
“He told me it was for her pain.””
Jace's voice became dangerously quiet.
“What did the bottle look like?””
Linda described a small became dangerously quiet.
“What did the bottle look like?””
Linda described a small brown bottle with a white label.
Rebecca, who brown bottle with a white label.
Rebecca, who had been waiting outside, entered the house after hearing the conversation.
She placed a photograph on had been waiting outside, entered the house after hearing the conversation.
She placed a photograph on the table.
It showed an archived medication bottle recovered from Margaret's belongings.
“Is this the one?””
the table.
It showed an archived medication bottle recovered from Margaret's belongings.
“Is this the one?””
Linda stared.
Then she began shaking.
“Yes.””
Rebecca took out another documentLinda stared.
Then she began shaking.
“Yes.””
Rebecca took out another document.
“This medication was never prescribed to Margaret.””
Linda covered her mouth.
Emily stepped.
“This medication was never prescribed to Margaret.””
Linda covered her mouth.
Emily stepped backward.
“You gave my mother something that wasn't prescribed?””
“I didn't backward.
“You gave my mother something that wasn't prescribed?””
“I didn't know!””
“You never checked?””
Linda shook her head desperately.
“Daniel told me it was from the know!””
“You never checked?””
Linda shook her head desperately.
“Daniel told me it was from the doctor. I believed him.””
Emily's eyes filled.
“You were supposed to be my family doctor. I believed him.””
Emily's eyes filled.
“You were supposed to be my family.””
Linda reached toward her.
“Emily, please.””
Emily stepped.””
Linda reached toward her.
“Emily, please.””
Emily stepped away.
“Don't touch me.””
Outside, Jace helped Emily into Marcus's truck.
She sat away.
“Don't touch me.””
Outside, Jace helped Emily into Marcus's truck.
She sat silently for several minutes.
Then she spoke.
“I think I hate her.””
Marcus kept his eyes on the road silently for several minutes.
Then she spoke.
“I think I hate her.””
Marcus kept his eyes on the road.
“You don't have to decide what you feel today.””
“She let me believe Mom died.
“You don't have to decide what you feel today.””
“She let me believe Mom died because she was sick.””
“I know.””
“She knew something was wrong.””
Jace, riding because she was sick.””
“I know.””
“She knew something was wrong.””
Jace, riding beside them, pulled into a parking lot and stopped.
He removed his helmet and approached the beside them, pulled into a parking lot and stopped.
He removed his helmet and approached the truck.
“Emily, look at me.””
She raised her eyes.
“Your mother truck.
“Emily, look at me.””
She raised her eyes.
“Your mother loved you. Nothing Linda did changes that.””
Emily wiped her cheeks.
“Can loved you. Nothing Linda did changes that.””
Emily wiped her cheeks.
“Can we find out what was in that bottle?””
“Rebecca's already working on it.””
The following morning, we find out what was in that bottle?””
“Rebecca's already working on it.””
The following morning, Rebecca received preliminary confirmation from the medical examiner's office.
The archived toxicology samples had been preserved because of Rebecca received preliminary confirmation from the medical examiner's office.
The archived toxicology samples had been preserved because of the unusual circumstances surrounding Margaret's death.
A new examination identified traces of a toxic the unusual circumstances surrounding Margaret's death.
A new examination identified traces of a toxic compound inconsistent with her prescribed medication.
The results did not establish who administered it.
But they confirmed that Margaret had compound inconsistent with her prescribed medication.
The results did not establish who administered it.
But they confirmed that Margaret had suffered a poisoning event shortly before her death.
Emily sat motionless as Rebecca suffered a poisoning event shortly before her death.
Emily sat motionless as Rebecca explained.
“Your mother's cancer was real,” Rebecca said gently.
“But it was explained.
“Your mother's cancer was real,” Rebecca said gently.
“But it was not the immediate cause not the immediate cause of death.””
Emily stared at the report.
“So Dad was telling the truth?””
“About that particular detail, of death.””
Emily stared at the report.
“So Dad was telling the truth?””
“About that particular detail, yes. That doesn't excuse his involvement in concealing it.””
Jace picked up yes. That doesn't excuse his involvement in concealing it.””
Jace picked up the report.
“Linda gave her the bottle.””
Rebecca nodded.
“But we still need the report.
“Linda gave her the bottle.””
Rebecca nodded.
“But we still need to establish who prepared it.””
A knock interrupted them.
Marcus opened the to establish who prepared it.””
A knock interrupted them.
Marcus opened the door.
A uniformed police detective stood outside.
“I'm Detective Harris. I'm investigating door.
A uniformed police detective stood outside.
“I'm Detective Harris. I'm investigating the financial allegations involving Northstar Holdings.””
Rebecca stood.
“We've been expecting you.””
the financial allegations involving Northstar Holdings.””
Rebecca stood.
“We've been expecting you.””
The detective placed a document on the table.
“We obtained a search warrant for Daniel Carter's office thisThe detective placed a document on the table.
“We obtained a search warrant for Daniel Carter's office this morning.””
Emily looked up.
“Did you find something?””
Detective Harris nodded.
morning.””
Emily looked up.
“Did you find something?””
Detective Harris nodded.
“We found a safe containing original trust documents, correspondence with Victor Hale, and several recordings.””
Jace“We found a safe containing original trust documents, correspondence with Victor Hale, and several recordings.””
Jace leaned forward.
“What recordings?””
The detective looked at Emily.
“One appears to be a conversation between Daniel and Victor recorded leaned forward.
“What recordings?””
The detective looked at Emily.
“One appears to be a conversation between Daniel and Victor recorded approximately twelve years ago.””
Emily's breathing quickened.
“About approximately twelve years ago.””
Emily's breathing quickened.
“About my mother?””
“Yes.””
He opened his folder.
“And another concerns Robert my mother?””
“Yes.””
He opened his folder.
“And another concerns Robert Morgan's death.””
Jace went completely still.
Detective Harris continued.
“Mr. Morgan's death.””
Jace went completely still.
Detective Harris continued.
“Mr. Carter has agreed to cooperate.””
“Where is he?”” Emily asked.
“At the Carter has agreed to cooperate.””
“Where is he?”” Emily asked.
“At the station.””
“Can I speak to him?””
The detective hesitated.
“ station.””
“Can I speak to him?””
The detective hesitated.
“Your attorney should be present.””
Rebecca nodded.
“I'll accompany her.””
TwoYour attorney should be present.””
Rebecca nodded.
“I'll accompany her.””
Two hours later, Emily sat across from her father in an interview room.
Daniel looked exhausted hours later, Emily sat across from her father in an interview room.
Daniel looked exhausted.
His expensive suit was wrinkled, and his hands trembled whenever he reached for the water.
He.
His expensive suit was wrinkled, and his hands trembled whenever he reached for the water.
He looked at Emily for a long time.
“I'm sorry.””
She didn't answer.
Daniel swallowed.
“I know looked at Emily for a long time.
“I'm sorry.””
She didn't answer.
Daniel swallowed.
“I know those words don't mean much.””
“No, they don't.””
He looked down.
“Your mother was the those words don't mean much.””
“No, they don't.””
He looked down.
“Your mother was the best thing that ever happened to me.””
“Then why did you help destroy her?””
best thing that ever happened to me.””
“Then why did you help destroy her?””
Daniel closed his eyes.
“Because I was a coward.””
Emily leaned forward.
“Did you poison her?””
Daniel closed his eyes.
“Because I was a coward.””
Emily leaned forward.
“Did you poison her?””
“No.””
“Did you know Linda was giving her that medication?””
Daniel hesitated“No.””
“Did you know Linda was giving her that medication?””
Daniel hesitated.
That hesitation told Emily more than any answer could.
“Did you?””
.
That hesitation told Emily more than any answer could.
“Did you?””
He finally nodded.
“I knew Victor had arranged it.””
Emily's hands curledHe finally nodded.
“I knew Victor had arranged it.””
Emily's hands curled into fists.
“You let someone poison my mother?””
Daniel began crying.
“I thought into fists.
“You let someone poison my mother?””
Daniel began crying.
“I thought it would only make her weak enough to stop fighting. Victor promised she wouldn't it would only make her weak enough to stop fighting. Victor promised she wouldn't die.””
Emily stared at him in disbelief.
“You believed him?””
die.””
Emily stared at him in disbelief.
“You believed him?””
“I was terrified.””
“You were a grown man! She was your wife!””
Daniel lowered his“I was terrified.””
“You were a grown man! She was your wife!””
Daniel lowered his head.
Then he slid a small digital recorder across the table.
“There's something you need to hear.””
Rebecca switched it on.
Victor's head.
Then he slid a small digital recorder across the table.
“There's something you need to hear.””
Rebecca switched it on.
Victor's voice filled the room.
“Robert's shares are still the problem. As long voice filled the room.
“Robert's shares are still the problem. As long as that girl inherits them, we lose control.””
Daniel answered.
“She's only as that girl inherits them, we lose control.””
Daniel answered.
“She's only a baby. We can arrange something.””
Victor laughed.
“Robert was supposed to die before he could expose a baby. We can arrange something.””
Victor laughed.
“Robert was supposed to die before he could expose us. Margaret knows too much already.””
A pause followed.
Then Daniel's voice returned.
us. Margaret knows too much already.””
A pause followed.
Then Daniel's voice returned.
“What about the motorcycle?””
Victor replied.
“The brakes are already handled.””
Emily stopped breathing“What about the motorcycle?””
Victor replied.
“The brakes are already handled.””
Emily stopped breathing.
Jace stood behind her, his face completely white.
The recording continued.
But the.
Jace stood behind her, his face completely white.
The recording continued.
But the next voice wasn't Daniel's.
It was Linda's.
And she said something that next voice wasn't Daniel's.
It was Linda's.
And she said something that made Emily realize her aunt had been hiding an even darker secret.
“I'll make made Emily realize her aunt had been hiding an even darker secret.
May you like
“I'll make sure Margaret takes the bottle tonight.””
sure Margaret takes the bottle tonight.””
