Chapter 8: The Woman Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
We met Linda Brooks at a hotel near O'Hare Airport.
Margaret insisted on accompanying me, and James arranged for an investigator to remain nearby.
I didn't tell Stephanie where we were going until we reached the hotel.
She sat beside me in the back seat, staring out the window.
She hadn't spoken much since the phone call.
Finally, she whispered, “What if Nathan knew?””
I looked at her.
“About you?””
She nodded.
“What if he knew I was his sister before we got married?””
I didn't have an answer.
Margaret turned around.
“We don't know that yet. We need evidence.””
Stephanie laughed bitterly.
“Evidence. Everything in my life has become evidence.””
I reached for the window button.
“Stephanie.””
She looked at me.
“Whatever happened, we need to find out the truth. But don't assume the worst before we know.””
She gave me a tired smile.
“You're still trying to protect me.””
“I'm trying to protect myself from another six years of unanswered questions.””
She looked away.
At the hotel, Linda was waiting in a private conference room.
She was in her early sixties, with shoulder-length blonde hair and a thin scar near her chin.
She stood when we entered.
“Olivia.””
“Linda.””
Her eyes moved toward Stephanie.
For a moment, she seemed startled.
Then she looked down.
“I'm sorry.””
Stephanie folded her arms.
“You're going to need to be more specific.””
Linda nodded.
“Fair enough.””
We sat.
Margaret placed a recording device on the table.
“Before we begin, everything you say may be preserved for legal proceedings.””
“I understand.””
I leaned forward.
“Is Patricia alive?””
Linda nodded.
“Yes.””
“Where is she?””
“She lives in Wisconsin. Her name is Patricia Moore now.””
Stephanie stared at her.
“Why did she leave me?””
Linda looked genuinely pained.
“She didn't want to.””
“Then why?””
“Charles threatened her.””
Stephanie laughed.
“Everyone seems to have been threatened by Charles.””
Linda nodded.
“He had discovered that Patricia was preparing to expose his financial dealings. He told her that if she stayed, he would make sure she lost custody of you.””
Stephanie's face tightened.
“He couldn't have done that.””
“He had money, influence, and lawyers who were willing to do almost anything.””
“Why didn't she come back?””
Linda looked at her hands.
“Because she believed you were safer with Richard and Eleanor.””
Stephanie's eyes filled.
“So she just disappeared?””
Linda nodded.
“She thought Charles would stop looking for her.””
I stared at Linda.
“Why are you involved?””
She looked at me.
“Because I worked for your father. And because I made a terrible mistake.””
“What mistake?””
“I gave Charles information about the trust.””
Margaret leaned forward.
“How much information?””
“Everything I could access.””
I felt my jaw tighten.
“You helped him steal my father's company.””
“I did.””
“Why?””
Linda closed her eyes.
“Charles promised to help me clear my debts. I was in a difficult financial situation. I thought I was only providing information for a legitimate business transaction.””
“You were sleeping with him.””
She nodded.
“Yes.””
“And Nathan?””
Linda's expression changed.
“He was involved from the beginning.””
I stared at her.
“Explain.””
“Charles wanted control of the Wilson properties. He believed Richard would eventually retire and transfer authority to Olivia. When that didn't happen, he proposed a different approach.””
“Marriage.””
Linda nodded.
“Nathan was supposed to become part of the family. Once married, he would persuade Olivia to authorize certain transfers.””
“And when I refused to sign?””
“He turned to Stephanie.””
Stephanie leaned forward.
“Why me?””
Linda looked directly at her.
“Because Charles wanted you close to Nathan.””
Stephanie shook her head.
“But he knew I was his daughter.””
Linda hesitated.
“Yes.””
“Did Nathan know?””
“Yes.””
The room went silent.
Stephanie slowly sat back.
I felt my stomach turn.
“How long had Nathan known?””
“Charles told him before your engagement.””
Stephanie began shaking.
“He married me knowing?””
Linda nodded.
“He believed the marriage could be used to establish a legal connection to the trust. Charles had convinced him that the family relationship would help them challenge Richard's arrangements.””
Stephanie pressed both hands against her mouth.
For six years, she had worn that diamond ring like proof that she had won.
Now she was learning that her husband had known exactly who she was.
And that the man she had chosen over her sister had been part of a plan built around her identity.
I looked at Linda.
“Why are you telling us now?””
She reached into her bag and removed a thick folder.
“Because Charles is preparing to transfer the company land to an overseas holding group.””
Margaret opened the folder.
Inside were property records, financial statements, and copies of emails.
“Who owns the holding group?”” she asked.
Linda shook her head.
“On paper, an investment company in Luxembourg. In reality, Charles controls it.””
James examined one of the documents.
“This could be important.””
Linda continued.
“But there's something else.””
She removed a photograph.
It showed a young woman standing beside a hospital bed.
The woman looked almost identical to Stephanie.
Stephanie stared.
“That's Patricia?””
Linda nodded.
“Taken two years ago.””
Stephanie reached for it.
Her fingers trembled.
“Why are you showing me this?””
“Because Patricia has been asking about you.””
Stephanie began crying.
“Then why didn't she contact me?””
“Because she received a message from Nathan three years ago.””
I looked up.
“What message?””
Linda placed a printed email on the table.
It was addressed to Patricia.
If you ever contact Stephanie, I will make sure she learns the truth about your past. I will also ensure she loses everything Richard left her.
Stephanie stared at it.
“He threatened my mother?””
“Yes.””
I felt anger rise in my chest.
“Nathan knew where Patricia was?””
Linda nodded.
“He had been monitoring her.””
Margaret examined the email.
“We'll need the original metadata.””
“I have it.””
James took the documents.
Then Linda looked at me.
“There is another reason Nathan is desperate.””
“What?””
She lowered her voice.
“Your father's company isn't the only thing he wants.””
I frowned.
“What else?””
“The original medical records from the night Richard died.””
I felt my pulse quicken.
“Why?””
“Because they establish that your father wasn't alone when he collapsed.””
“Who was with him?””
Linda looked toward Stephanie.
Then back at me.
“Nathan.””
I stared at her.
“Was he responsible for Dad's death?””
Linda shook her head.
“I can't say that. But I know Nathan removed something from the hospital that night.””
“What?””
“A medical report.””
Margaret immediately leaned forward.
“Do you know where it is?””
Linda nodded.
“His private office.””
I looked at James.
“Can we get it?””
“Not without proper legal authority.””
Linda opened another folder.
“Then you'll need this.””
She placed a small USB drive on the table.
“It's a copy of the security footage from Richard's office.””
My hands went cold.
“Where did you get it?””
“Your father gave it to me before he died. I kept it because I knew Charles would eventually come looking for it.””
Margaret connected the drive to her laptop.
A video file appeared.
The date matched the night before my father's death.
The image was black and white.
My father's office door opened.
Richard walked inside.
A few minutes later, Charles entered.
Then Nathan.
Then Linda.
I stared at the screen.
All four of them had been in the same room.
The video showed an argument.
Charles pointed toward the desk.
My father shook his head.
Nathan stepped forward.
Then something happened.
A fifth person entered.
A woman.
She was wearing a dark coat and carrying a handbag.
The image was grainy, but her face was visible.
Stephanie leaned closer.
Her lips parted.
“That's impossible.””
I looked at her.
“Who is it?””
She whispered:
“That's Mom.””
My mother.
Eleanor.
The video continued.
She stood beside my father.
Charles said something.
My mother shook her head.
Then Nathan placed a document on the desk.
My father looked at it.
He appeared furious.
He picked up the paper and tore it in half.
Nathan moved toward him.
The camera angle was partially blocked.
Then the screen flickered.
When the image returned, my father was sitting in his chair.
His head was lowered.
Charles was standing behind him.
And Nathan was holding a briefcase.
The footage ended.
Nobody spoke.
I slowly turned toward Margaret.
“Can you tell what happened?””
She shook her head.
“Not from this angle.””
I looked at the screen again.
“Who was the fifth person?””
Stephanie was staring at the paused image.
“It's Mom.””
I shook my head.
“No. I mean the person who came in after her.””
There had been someone else.
A shadow near the doorway.
A figure who had entered just before the footage ended.
Linda leaned toward the laptop.
Then she went completely still.
“That's not possible.””
“What?”” James asked.
Linda pointed at the screen.
“That man wasn't supposed to be there.””
“Who is he?””
She swallowed.
“David Mercer.””
I stared.
Our father's accountant.
The man who had given us the recordings.
The man who had helped us understand the trust.
I felt something cold settle in my stomach.
“Why was he there?””
Linda shook her head.
“I don't know.””
I called David immediately.
He answered on the second ring.
“Olivia?””
“Where were you the night my father died?””
Silence.
Then he said, “Why are you asking?””
“Because we have the security footage.””
Another silence.
I looked at Margaret.
David finally spoke.
“I was there because Richard asked me to come.””
“Why didn't you tell us?””
“I thought it was better not to.””
“Did you see Nathan?””
“Yes.””
“Did you see Charles?””
“Yes.””
“And did you see my mother?””
He sighed.
“Yes.””
I gripped the phone.
“Then tell me what happened.””
His voice became very quiet.
“Your father wasn't having a heart attack when I arrived.””
I stopped breathing.
“What?””
“He was unconscious, but he was alive.””
My mother made a small sound behind me.
“David,” I whispered, “what happened after that?””
He paused.
Then he said:
“I left because Richard told me to get something out of the office safe.””
“What?””
“The original trust document.””
I closed my eyes.
“Did you get it?””
“No.””
“Why?””
“Because Nathan already had it.””
I stared at the laptop.
Then David added:
“But the person who took it from him wasn't Nathan.””
My throat tightened.
“Who was it?””
He answered with a name.
And suddenly, every secret my family had buried came crashing into the present.
“Eleanor.””
I slowly turned toward my mother.
She was standing in the doorway.
Her face was white.
And in her hands was the old black notebook.
“Mom?””
She looked at me.
Then she said:
“I didn't steal the document.””
I waited.
May you like
She swallowed.
“I switched it.””
