Chapter 9: The Last Person I Expected to Betray Me
I left Henry Bennett's office with a copy of my mother's original medical records.
For the first time, I had evidence that her death might not have been natural.
But there was something even more disturbing.
The doctor who had altered her report was now trying to have me declared mentally incapacitated.
Richard drove in silence.
I sat in the passenger seat, holding the documents against my chest.
“Did you know about the toxicology report?”” I finally asked.
Richard shook his head.
“No.””
“Did you know Daniel had called Henry that night?””
“No.””
“Then why did you sign that statement?””
He tightened his grip on the steering wheel.
“Because Daniel threatened me.””
“With what?””
“He said he had evidence that I had taken money from the company.””
“Had you?””
Richard didn't answer immediately.
“Emily, I was sixteen. He told me he could make it look like I had stolen the trust funds. He said Mom would lose everything, and I'd go to prison.””
I looked at him.
“And you believed him?””
“Yes.””
“You let him walk away.””
Richard's eyes filled.
“I was a child.””
“So was I, Richard. I was twenty-seven, and you let me marry the man who may have killed our mother.””
He flinched.
I turned toward the window.
Neither of us spoke again until we reached Chicago.
At 8:30 the following morning, Richard received a call from his associate.
The emergency filing had been accepted for preliminary review.
Daniel was requesting temporary authority over the business assets and access to the original trust records.
Richard immediately called an emergency meeting with the firm's litigation team.
I sat in the conference room while they reviewed the documents.
One attorney examined the medical statement.
Another reviewed the fraudulent separation agreement.
A third was tracing the $892,400.
Then Jessica entered carrying a thick folder.
“Richard, I found something else.””
He looked up.
“What?””
“The doctor who signed Emily's incapacity statement received three payments from Northbridge Capital.””
“How much?””
“$25,000 each.””
I stared at her.
“Seventy-five thousand dollars?””
Jessica nodded.
“All three payments were described as consulting fees.””
Richard took the folder.
“When?””
“Starting two months before the statement was filed.””
He closed his eyes.
“Get copies of the wire records. We need to preserve everything.””
Jessica hesitated.
“There is another name connected to those payments.””
“Who?””
She turned the page.
*Patricia Carter.*
Daniel's mother.
I felt a wave of anger.
“So his entire family knew?””
Richard examined the documents.
“Not necessarily. We need to establish what she actually did.””
My phone rang.
Patricia.
I almost let it go to voicemail.
Then I answered.
“Emily, thank God.””
Her voice sounded strained.
“Where are you?””
“Why?””
“I need to see you.””
“I have nothing to discuss with you.””
“Please. It's about Daniel.””
I laughed bitterly.
“That's usually what it's about.””
She lowered her voice.
“Emily, he has gone too far.””
I glanced at Richard.
“What did you know?””
Silence.
“Patricia?””
“I didn't know about the money.””
“But you knew about Vanessa?””
She exhaled.
“I knew he was seeing someone.””
“And the child?””
Another silence.
Then she whispered, “Yes.””
I closed my eyes.
“You knew he had a six-year-old son?””
“I found out two years ago.””
“Two years?””
“Daniel told me Vanessa was a temporary arrangement. He said he was helping her because the boy needed stability.””
I felt my jaw tighten.
“And you said nothing to me.””
“I thought he would end it.””
“Did you know he was using my name?””
“No.””
“Did you know he was trying to steal the company?””
Patricia began crying.
“Emily, I swear I didn't know about the company.””
I wanted to believe her.
But I couldn't.
“Why do you want to meet me?””
She took a shaky breath.
“Because I have something Daniel doesn't know I kept.””
We met at a hotel restaurant that afternoon.
Patricia arrived wearing a cream-colored coat and oversized sunglasses.
She looked ten years older than she had at the family dinner.
She placed a small envelope on the table.
“Before you look at that, I need you to understand something.””
I folded my arms.
“I'm listening.””
“Daniel wasn't always like this.””
I stared at her.
“That's not an excuse.””
“I know.””
She looked down.
“After his father died, Daniel became obsessed with proving he could build something of his own. He hated being treated like the illegitimate son who would never inherit anything.””
I leaned forward.
“His father was Thomas Ellis?””
Patricia nodded.
“He was married to Margaret when Daniel was born. He promised he would eventually recognize Daniel publicly.””
I felt sick.
“Did he?””
“Not officially. Thomas gave Daniel money, introduced him to business partners, and helped him establish his company. But the controlling shares were never transferred.””
“Because Mom protected them.””
Patricia looked at me.
“Yes.””
She opened the envelope.
Inside were photographs and a handwritten note.
The first photograph showed Daniel standing outside my mother's house.
The date was the night she died.
I recognized the clothes he was wearing.
A dark jacket.
A silver watch.
The same watch he had worn to our wedding.
The second photograph showed Patricia standing beside him.
I looked up.
“You were there?””
She nodded.
“I arrived after Daniel called me.””
“When?””
“About eleven.””
I looked at the photograph again.
“Mom's ambulance had already been called.””
Patricia nodded.
“Daniel told me Margaret had collapsed.””
“What did you see?””
She started crying.
“I saw Daniel washing his hands in the kitchen sink.””
My stomach dropped.
“Why?””
“He said he'd been trying to help her.””
I stared at her.
“Did you see my mother?””
“Yes.””
“Was she alive?””
Patricia covered her mouth.
“I don't know.””
“Did you call the police?””
“No.””
“Why not?””
“Because Daniel told me she had already suffered a heart attack. He said the ambulance was coming.””
I pushed my chair back.
“You left her there?””
“I was frightened!””
“And you let him get away with it?””
Patricia reached for my hand.
I pulled away.
“I have carried this for eleven years,” she whispered.
“I couldn't lose my son.””
I stared at her.
“What about me? What about what he did to my mother?””
She looked down.
“I know.””
I picked up the envelope.
The handwritten note was dated the morning after my mother's death.
It was from Patricia to Daniel.
I did what you asked. I told Richard to keep quiet. But this must end. Margaret's death cannot become another family secret.
I looked up.
“You threatened Richard?””
Patricia nodded.
“Daniel told me what to say.””
My voice shook.
“Why are you giving me this now?””
“Because yesterday, Daniel came to my house.””
“What did he want?””
“He wanted the old documents. He asked if I still had the original hospital records.””
I froze.
“Did you?””
She nodded.
“Your mother's medical records were kept in a box at my house. Daniel took them years ago, but I kept one page.””
She pulled another sheet from her handbag.
It was a hospital medication record.
One entry had been circled in red.
A medication administered to my mother shortly before her collapse.
I didn't recognize the name.
But beneath it was a handwritten note.
*Not prescribed by attending physician.*
I stared at Patricia.
“Where did you get this?””
“From the nurse who was on duty that night.””
“Who was she?””
“Her name was Linda. She retired years ago.””
Richard's earlier warning echoed in my head.
We needed evidence.
Real evidence.
Not just accusations.
I took a photograph of the page.
Then I looked at Patricia.
“Are you willing to tell the police what you just told me?””
She nodded.
“Yes.””
For the first time, I believed she might actually be ready to stop protecting Daniel.
But before we could leave, my phone buzzed.
An email notification.
The sender was Daniel.
The subject line read:
*FINAL OPPORTUNITY TO PROTECT YOUR FAMILY.*
I opened it.
There was one attachment.
A scanned photograph of Richard outside a bank.
Underneath it was a message.
Your brother didn't just stay silent about your mother's death, Emily.
He took $180,000 from the trust the following morning.
I looked at Richard.
He had just walked into the restaurant.
His expression changed when he saw the photograph.
“Emily, don't believe that.””
I stood.
“Is it true?””
He looked at Patricia.
Then at me.
Finally, he whispered:
“Yes.””
My stomach dropped.
Richard stepped closer.
“But you need to understand why I took that money.””
I shook my head.
“You stole from Mom?””
“No. I moved it.””
“Where?””
He opened his briefcase and removed a small bank statement.
The account number was unfamiliar.
The account holder was listed as Sarah Ellis.
I looked at him.
“Why was $180,000 transferred into Sarah's account?””
Richard's voice broke.
“Because Daniel was going to have her killed, too.””
Patricia gasped.
I stared at my brother.
“What?””
Richard slid the statement toward me.
“Your mother had already discovered what happened to Thomas's first wife.””
I felt the blood drain from my face.
“Thomas's first wife?””
Richard nodded.
“Sarah's mother.””
He looked directly into my eyes.
“She didn't die in an accident, Emily.””
Then he showed me the final line of the statement.
The $180,000 had been transferred to Sarah's account eleven years earlier.
May you like
One day before her mother died.
And the authorization signature belonged to Daniel Carter.
