Chapter 6: The Name on the Call
“Your mother.””
The words came through the phone like a crack of thunder.
I stood completely still.
“My mother?””
Daniel didn't answer.
“Daniel, what does my mother have to do with this?””
His breathing was uneven.
“Emily, you need to stop the disclosure.””
“Why?””
“Because once it goes out, everything changes.””
“Everything already changed.””
“Not like this.””
I looked at the countdown on my laptop.
*17:43.*
“Who was financing you?””
Silence.
“Daniel.””
“I wasn't supposed to tell you.””
“Then tell me now.””
He exhaled.
“Your mother.””
I almost laughed.
It was impossible.
My mother had been dead for sixteen years.
She had died when I was twelve.
I remembered the hospital room. The white curtains. The smell of antiseptic. My father's red eyes.
I remembered him telling me she had suffered a sudden aneurysm.
I remembered the funeral.
I remembered being told she had left me nothing.
“What are you talking about?””
Daniel's voice dropped.
“Your mother didn't die broke.””
My fingers tightened around the phone.
“What did you say?””
“She had accounts.””
“What accounts?””
“I don't know all of them.””
“Then what do you know?””
“She was involved with Carter Family Holdings before your father took control.””
My stomach turned.
“That's impossible.””
“Your father inherited the operating companies from her.””
I looked at the trust document.
“No.””
“Yes.””
“My father built everything.””
“That is what he wanted you to believe.””
I couldn't breathe.
Daniel continued.
“Your mother was the original controlling shareholder.””
The room seemed to shrink.
“My mother?””
“Yes.””
“Why didn't my father ever tell me?””
“I don't know.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because Evelyn told me never to.””
There it was.
Evelyn.
Again.
Always Evelyn.
I looked toward the bedroom door.
“Put Evelyn on the phone.””
“No.””
“Daniel.””
“She'll make things worse.””
“Put her on.””
I heard movement.
Then Evelyn's voice.
“You're making a terrible mistake, Emily.””
I stared at the wall.
“You lied to me about my mother.””
“You don't understand the circumstances.””
“Then explain them.””
“She made choices.””
“What choices?””
“She betrayed your father.””
My chest tightened.
“How?””
Evelyn was silent.
I waited.
Finally, she said, “Your mother was going to leave him.””
“That isn't a crime.””
“She was taking the company.””
“It was hers.””
“She wanted to destroy the family.””
I laughed bitterly.
“By taking what belonged to her?””
“You don't know what she did.””
“Then tell me.””
Evelyn's voice hardened.
“Your mother was not the woman you remember.””
“Neither are you.””
She inhaled sharply.
Daniel came back on the line.
“Emily, listen to me.””
“No.””
“I need you to trust me.””
I almost smiled.
“You froze my cards while I was buying Lily diapers.””
“I was trying to protect the company.””
“You called me a problem.””
“I was angry.””
“You let your mother call me a leech.””
“I didn't stop her.””
“No.””
My voice became quiet.
“You didn't.””
He didn't answer.
I looked at the countdown.
*14:58.*
“Tell me one thing.””
“What?””
“Did you marry me for my money?””
The silence was so complete I could hear the refrigerator humming.
Finally, Daniel said:
“No.””
I closed my eyes.
Then he added:
“Not at first.””
I opened them.
“What does that mean?””
“I loved you.””
“Past tense?””
“I don't know anymore.””
“Did you know about the trust when we married?””
“Yes.””
The answer was immediate.
No hesitation.
My heart sank.
“How much?””
“I knew your father had money.””
“That isn't what I asked.””
“I knew there was a trust.””
“Who told you?””
“Evelyn.””
I sat down.
“Before the wedding?””
“Yes.””
“And you still married me.””
“I loved you.””
“But you knew.””
“Yes.””
The countdown continued.
*13:21.*
I whispered, “How long have you been planning this?””
Daniel's voice cracked.
“I wasn't.””
“Then when did it begin?””
He didn't answer.
“Daniel.””
“After Lily was born.””
I stared at my daughter's crib through the open nursery door.
“Why?””
“Because Evelyn told me your father had put everything beyond my reach.””
“So you tried to reach it through Lily.””
“No.””
“You filed for guardianship.””
“I panicked.””
“You forged my documents.””
“I didn't forge them.””
“Who did?””
Silence.
“Daniel?””
“I don't know.””
I knew he was lying.
I could hear it.
“Where is Evelyn?””
“Here.””
“Put her back on.””
He hesitated.
Then Evelyn spoke.
“You have always been spoiled.””
I laughed.
“That's what you have to say?””
“You inherited everything without earning any of it.””
“My mother earned it.””
Evelyn's breathing stopped.
I knew then.
I'd hit something.
“What happened to my mother?””
“Ask your father.””
“He's dead.””
“Then perhaps you should ask the man who knows what really happened.””
My blood ran cold.
“Who?””
She hung up.
I stared at the phone.
Then it rang again.
Unknown number.
I answered.
A man's voice said, “Emily?””
“Yes.””
“This is Detective Samuel Brooks.””
My heart stopped.
“Why are you calling me?””
“Because your mother's death has been reopened.””
I stood so quickly my chair fell backward.
“What?””
“We received documents from a private investigator this morning.””
“Who?””
“Your father's former attorney.””
Jonathan.
“What do they say?””
“They suggest your mother's death may not have been accidental.””
My hand covered my mouth.
“Was she murdered?””
“We don't know.””
The detective paused.
“But we found something.””
“What?””
“An old life insurance policy.””
I closed my eyes.
“That's not unusual.””
“This one was unusual.””
“How?””
“The beneficiary was changed six days before your mother died.””
“To whom?””
He hesitated.
“Evelyn Carter.””
The room went silent.
I looked at the countdown.
*10:02.*
Detective Brooks continued.
“And Emily?””
“Yes?””
“The policy paid out forty-eight hours after your mother's death.””
“How much?””
“Eight million dollars.””
I couldn't speak.
Eight million.
My mother's death.
Evelyn.
The money.
The trust.
The construction company.
Everything suddenly looked connected.
Then the detective said:
“There is one more problem.””
“What?””
“The signature authorizing the policy change appears to have been yours.””
My blood turned to ice.
“I was twelve.””
“I know.””
“Then it wasn't mine.””
“We believe it was forged.””
I looked at my laptop.
The disclosure countdown was approaching zero.
*08:37.*
Detective Brooks said, “Emily, don't release anything yet.””
“Why?””
“Because if the documents are authentic, they could expose a homicide.””
I looked at the button.
“Then the world needs to see them.””
“Not yet.””
“Why?””
“Because someone may destroy the remaining evidence.””
My eyes moved toward the hallway.
Then I heard the front door downstairs open.
I froze.
Detective Brooks heard it too.
“Emily?””
I whispered:
“Someone's in the house.””
Then footsteps began climbing the stairs.
Slow.
Heavy.
One step at a time.
And from the hallway came Evelyn's voice.
“Emily?””
I backed away from the door.
“Come downstairs, sweetheart.””
The countdown showed:
*07:14.*
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Then Evelyn said something that made me realize she hadn't come to negotiate.
“I think it's time you learned what happened to your mother.””
