Chapter 10: The Mother Who Came Back From the Dead
Daniel couldn't move.
The woman standing beyond the police barricade looked almost exactly as he remembered her.
The same perfectly styled dark hair.
The same expensive jewelry.
The same cold blue eyes.
His mother, Margaret Parker.
The woman whose funeral he had attended fourteen years earlier.
The woman whose grave he had visited every Christmas.
The woman whose death had supposedly destroyed his father.
“Mom?””
Margaret smiled.
“Hello, Daniel.””
He stared at her.
“You're dead.””
She adjusted the sleeve of her cream-colored coat.
“Apparently, someone forgot to tell me.””
Thomas tried to sit up.
“Don't let her near Ethan.””
Margaret's smile disappeared.
“Thomas, you always were dramatic.””
Daniel turned toward his father.
“What is happening?””
Thomas grabbed his arm.
“She's the reason everything happened.””
Margaret sighed.
“Must you turn every family gathering into a tragedy?””
Officer Bennett stepped between them.
“Ma'am, I need you to identify yourself.””
Margaret opened her handbag and produced a driver's license.
“Margaret Elaine Parker. I'm Daniel's mother.””
Officer Bennett checked the document.
“According to our records, Margaret Parker died fourteen years ago.””
Margaret nodded.
“Yes. There was a misunderstanding.””
“A misunderstanding?””
“An administrative matter. My husband handled it.””
Thomas struggled to his feet.
“You told me you were leaving for good.””
Margaret looked at him.
“And you promised to keep Daniel out of my business.””
Daniel's voice rose.
“Why did you fake your death?””
Margaret looked at him as if he had asked an embarrassing question at a dinner party.
“Because I needed a new life.””
“You let me bury you!””
“I know.””
“You let Dad believe you were gone!””
“He was supposed to.””
Daniel's hands began shaking.
“What kind of person does that?””
Margaret's expression hardened.
“The kind of person who understands that money is more important than sentiment.””
Hank stood a few feet behind Daniel.
He had been quiet throughout the exchange.
Now he stepped forward.
“That's quite an introduction.””
Margaret glanced at his leather vest.
“And you are?””
“Someone who helped find the boy you apparently want to take home.””
Margaret looked toward Thomas.
“Where is Ethan?””
Daniel immediately stepped in front of her.
“You're not going near him.””
She gave a small laugh.
“Daniel, don't be ridiculous. I'm his grandmother.””
“You were dead yesterday.””
“And today I'm alive. Families change.””
Officer Bennett raised her hand.
“Ma'am, you're going to need to answer some questions about the identity documents and the possible fraudulent death records.””
Margaret looked irritated.
“I'm happy to cooperate, but I have somewhere to be.””
“Not until we've established what's happening.””
Margaret's eyes moved toward Ray, who was sitting inside a police vehicle.
“Ray.””
He looked up.
For the first time since the entire nightmare began, his expression wasn't angry.
It was frightened.
“Margaret,” he whispered.
She approached the police vehicle.
“What did you do?””
Ray stared at her.
“You told me everything was handled.””
Margaret leaned toward the open window.
“Lower your voice.””
“You said the money was secure!””
“Ray.””
“You said nobody would find out!””
Officer Bennett immediately stepped closer.
“Ma'am, step away from the vehicle.””
Margaret straightened.
“I'm his mother-in-law. I'm allowed to speak to him.””
Ray laughed bitterly.
“You're not my mother-in-law. You're the one who made me do all of it.””
Margaret's face changed.
“Be quiet.””
“You said Daniel was supposed to stay dead!””
Daniel froze.
Hank looked toward Officer Bennett.
She immediately ordered the recording equipment activated.
Margaret turned toward Ray.
“You ungrateful little fool.””
Ray shook his head.
“You promised me everything.””
“And I gave you everything.””
“No, you gave me a dead man's identity, a fake insurance policy, and a family that hates me.””
Margaret slapped the side of the police vehicle.
“Because you couldn't follow simple instructions!””
The words echoed across the driveway.
Officer Bennett stepped between them.
“That's enough.””
Margaret turned away.
But Daniel wasn't finished.
“Why did you come back?””
She looked at him.
“Because Ethan belongs with his family.””
Daniel laughed.
“His family?””
“He's a Parker.””
“Then why did you spend eight months helping Ray keep him away from me?””
Margaret's expression softened unnaturally.
“Because you were unstable.””
“I was working. I was raising my son. I was trying to find him.””
“You were never supposed to have custody.””
Daniel stared.
“What?””
Margaret sighed.
“Your father made a terrible financial decision years ago. He placed everything in a trust. You were supposed to inherit it, but only under certain conditions.””
Thomas looked horrified.
“Margaret, stop.””
She ignored him.
“The trust included Ethan as the next beneficiary. When Daniel died, the assets would have passed to the child.””
Daniel stared at her.
“So this was about my father's money?””
“Partly.””
Thomas shook his head.
“She wanted the trust.””
Margaret's smile returned.
“Your father was always too generous with you.””
Daniel looked toward the farmhouse.
“Then why the insurance policy?””
Margaret glanced at Ray.
“Because Ray needed a way to access the money before the trust could be transferred.””
Ray slammed his hand against the window.
“You told me I'd get the whole amount!””
“You were supposed to get enough to keep quiet.””
Hank shook his head.
“That's a lovely family arrangement.””
Margaret ignored him.
Then she looked directly at Daniel.
“Give me Ethan, and I can make all of this disappear.””
Daniel's expression became cold.
“You're not getting my son.””
Margaret smiled faintly.
“We'll see.””
She reached into her handbag.
Officer Bennett immediately raised her voice.
“Ma'am, keep your hands where I can see them.””
Margaret slowly removed a folded document.
“Then perhaps you'll be interested in this.””
She handed it to the officer.
It was a legal petition.
A temporary guardianship application.
The applicant was Margaret Parker.
The child named was Ethan Parker.
And the document claimed that Daniel had been declared legally deceased eleven months earlier.
Officer Bennett examined the filing date.
“Two weeks ago?””
Margaret nodded.
“I have every intention of protecting my grandson.””
Daniel felt sick.
“You filed for custody while knowing I was alive?””
Margaret looked at him.
“Of course.””
“Why?””
Her answer was chilling.
“Because I knew you would eventually come looking for him.””
She leaned closer.
“And now that you have, you've made my job considerably easier.””
Daniel frowned.
“What job?””
Margaret's eyes moved toward the farmhouse.
Then she smiled at Thomas.
“Tell him.””
Thomas closed his eyes.
Daniel looked between them.
“Dad?””
Thomas finally whispered:
“Your mother didn't come here for Ethan.””
He swallowed.
May you like
“She came because she knows where the original trust documents are hidden.””
And Margaret's smile vanished.
