Chapter 3: The Secret My Mother Took to Her Grave
“My mother?””
The word barely left my mouth.
Marcus stared at his phone.
Vanessa's face had gone pale again.
I looked between them.
“What does my mother have to do with any of this?””
Nobody answered.
“Marcus.””
He finally looked at me.
“I didn't know about your mother until two months ago.””
“Know what?””
“That Richard knew her.””
My knees weakened.
I grabbed the edge of the table.
“My mother never knew Richard Hale.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“She did.””
“No.””
“I met her once.””
I stared at Vanessa.
“When?””
“Before we went to college.””
The restaurant disappeared around me.
I could hear only my own breathing.
“You're lying.””
“I wish I were.””
Marcus took my hand.
I let him.
“Your mother worked for Richard's father,” he said.
I frowned.
“My mother was a nurse.””
“Before that.””
I shook my head.
“She never told me.””
“She didn't want you to know.””
“Why?””
Marcus looked at the photograph again.
“Because your mother witnessed something.””
“What?””
He hesitated.
“Fraud.””
Vanessa leaned forward.
“Richard's father was moving money through shell companies. Your mother discovered it.””
I stared at them.
“What does that have to do with me?””
Marcus didn't answer immediately.
Then he said, “Everything.””
My phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
“Hello?””
A man's voice came through.
Older.
Calm.
“Hello, Nia.””
I froze.
“Who is this?””
“You don't remember me.””
“Who are you?””
A quiet laugh.
“My name is Richard Hale.””
My fingers went numb.
Marcus stood immediately.
“Put it on speaker.””
I did.
Richard continued.
“Marcus has been telling you stories.””
“Why are you calling me?””
“Because I think you deserve to hear the truth from someone who isn't trying to protect you.””
Marcus reached for the phone.
Richard laughed.
“Don't.””
Marcus stopped.
Richard's voice hardened.
“Ten years ago, your mother came to my office.””
My heart pounded.
“She had evidence.””
“Evidence of what?””
“She had discovered where money was going.””
“Whose money?””
“Her employer's.””
I swallowed.
“What happened?””
“She threatened to go to the police.””
“And?””
“And then she disappeared from the investigation.””
My voice cracked.
“My mother didn't disappear.””
“No.””
Richard paused.
“She died.””
I closed my eyes.
The accident.
The rain.
The ambulance.
The phone call at midnight.
My mother's car had slid off a wet road.
At least, that's what I'd been told.
Richard continued.
“Your mother wasn't supposed to be driving that night.””
My eyes opened.
“What are you saying?””
“I think you should ask Marcus.””
I turned.
Marcus looked devastated.
“Marcus?””
Richard laughed.
“He knows.””
“What does he know?””
“Ask him why his father was at the hospital the night your mother died.””
I stared at my husband.
He didn't move.
My voice became a whisper.
“Your father?””
Marcus closed his eyes.
“Yes.””
The word broke something in me.
“You knew?””
“I found out recently.””
“You knew my mother was connected to your family?””
“I didn't know until two months ago.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I was afraid.””
“Of what?””
“Of losing you.””
I pulled my hand away.
“You should have been afraid of lying to me.””
Richard interrupted.
“She's finally seeing you clearly.””
Marcus glared at the phone.
“Stay out of this.””
Richard chuckled.
“You're almost out of time.””
“What do you want?””
“I want what your mother took.””
“She died ten years ago.””
“And she left something behind.””
I felt a chill.
“What?””
Richard said one sentence.
“A red notebook.””
My mother's handwriting flashed through my memory.
She had kept a small red notebook in her bedroom.
After she died, I'd searched for it.
It was gone.
I'd assumed someone had thrown it away.
Richard continued.
“Your mother documented everything.””
Marcus asked, “Where is it?””
Richard laughed.
“If I knew that, I wouldn't need Nia.””
I looked at Marcus.
“Why me?””
Richard answered.
“Because your mother trusted only one person with the location.””
“Who?””
“You.””
I shook my head.
“I was twenty-two.””
“She knew you'd understand when the time came.””
I felt sick.
“I don't remember anything.””
“You will.””
The line went dead.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Vanessa whispered, “He knows.””
I turned toward her.
“You knew about the notebook?””
“Yes.””
“How?””
“Richard told me.””
“Then why didn't you tell me?””
She looked ashamed.
“Because he threatened my brother.””
I stared at her.
“What?””
“My brother owes money.””
Marcus's face hardened.
“So you helped Richard.””
“I was trying to protect him.””
“You helped him destroy us.””
“I didn't know what he was planning.””
“You photographed me and Marcus.””
“I was told to.””
“You sent those pictures to me.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Vanessa's eyes filled with tears.
“Because Richard needed you to leave Marcus.””
I felt the room go silent.
“Why?””
“Because he knew Marcus would never give him what he wanted while you were beside him.””
“What does Marcus have?””
Vanessa looked at my husband.
“Something Richard has spent ten years trying to find.””
Marcus reached into his jacket.
He pulled out a small plastic evidence bag.
Inside was a key.
An old brass key.
I stared at it.
“Where did you get that?””
Marcus looked at me.
“It was in your mother's belongings.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
“Nia—”
“I've seen that key.””
Everyone went still.
I remembered.
A childhood memory.
My mother kneeling beside my bed.
Rain tapping the window.
Her fingers closing around my tiny hand.
Her whisper.
“If anything ever happens to me, sweetheart, don't trust anyone who says they knew me.””
I had forgotten the rest.
Until now.
I looked at Marcus.
“The key opens something.””
He nodded.
“We think so.””
“Where?””
“I don't know.””
Vanessa suddenly whispered, “I do.””
Marcus turned sharply.
Vanessa looked terrified.
“Where?”” I demanded.
She swallowed.
“Your mother's old storage unit.””
My heart stopped.
“There was a storage unit?””
“Yes.””
“Why didn't anyone tell me?””
“Because Richard has been searching for it for ten years.””
Marcus grabbed his keys.
“Then we're going.””
I stood.
But before I could move, the restaurant lights flickered.
Once.
Twice.
Then every light went out.
A woman's scream came from across the room.
Marcus grabbed my hand.
“Stay behind me.””
Something shattered near the bar.
Then a man's voice came through the darkness.
“Nia.””
I froze.
May you like
Richard's voice.
“You should have stayed home.””
