Chapter 13: My Mother’s Final Secret
"Then you know why I can't let you leave this hospital.""
My mother's voice echoed through the ballroom.
Graham gripped the edge of the table.
"Stop the recording.""
My father looked at him.
"Are you sure?""
Graham swallowed.
"Play it.""
On the screen, Rachel Ellison shifted against her hospital pillows.
She looked frightened, but her voice remained steady.
"Mom, you can't keep pretending this is about the foundation.""
Patricia leaned closer.
"Rachel, you're confused. The medication is making you imagine things.""
"I know what I saw.""
"You're not well.""
"I saw you signing the transfer documents. I saw Vanessa with Edward. And I know what happened to Claire's father.""
My mother went completely still.
Rachel continued.
"Richard didn't disappear because he wanted to. You threatened him.""
Patricia sighed.
"Your father was going to destroy everything.""
"Everything? You mean the money?""
"No. The family.""
Rachel shook her head.
"Claire deserves to know.""
My mother's expression changed.
"Claire has always been your father's weakness. He gave her everything. Even when she didn't deserve it.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
Rachel looked toward the camera.
"That's not true. Claire worked for everything she has.""
Patricia stood.
"You're not going to understand until you're older.""
"I'm thirty-four, Mom.""
"Then perhaps you should start acting like it.""
Rachel reached for the call button.
My mother caught her wrist.
"Don't.""
Rachel pulled away.
"Get out.""
Patricia leaned over the bed.
"If you tell Graham what you've discovered, you'll destroy his family.""
"His family is already destroyed.""
My mother's face hardened.
"Then I suppose you leave me no choice.""
The recording ended.
Nobody spoke.
Graham slowly turned toward my father.
"Is that the entire video?""
My father nodded.
"That's the original.""
Graham looked as though he might collapse.
"My sister was murdered.""
My father didn't answer immediately.
"Rachel died two days later. The hospital reported complications from an existing condition.""
"She was recovering.""
"I know.""
Graham pressed his hands against his forehead.
"Why didn't you take this to the police?""
"I tried. But the recording was incomplete at the time. The hospital's records had already been altered, and Patricia had witnesses claiming Rachel was confused.""
Martin stepped forward.
"Richard and I spent years trying to establish what happened.""
Graham looked toward the entrance.
"Where is my father now?""
"In custody," Martin replied.
"Then he'll know something.""
My father nodded.
"That's why we need the original hospital records.""
I stood frozen.
My mother.
The woman who had kissed my forehead before school.
The woman who had sat beside me when I gave birth to Lily.
The woman who had told me my father was dead.
I remembered her visiting me after Daniel left.
She had brought groceries, helped with the baby, and told me that some men simply weren't meant to be fathers.
All those years, she had known.
She had known where Daniel was.
She had known Richard was alive.
And she had helped destroy Rachel.
I turned toward my father.
"Where is Mom?""
"She was taken to the police station.""
"Did they see this recording?""
"Not yet.""
I picked up my phone.
"Then they need to see it.""
Before I could call, a message appeared.
Unknown number.
*You have exactly one hour to bring the original memory card to the Newport Medical Center parking garage. Come alone.*
I showed my father.
His face tightened.
"That's not Patricia.""
"How do you know?""
"Because she's already in custody.""
Martin examined the number.
"Edward.""
Graham immediately called the police.
Within minutes, officers were arranging to secure the location.
But then another message arrived.
This one contained a photograph.
Lily.
She was sitting in the ballroom beside Daniel.
The picture had been taken only seconds earlier.
My heart stopped.
I turned.
Daniel was still beside the chair.
Lily was gone.
"Where is my daughter?""
Daniel jumped up.
"What?""
"Where's Lily?""
He looked around.
The chair was empty.
Her little yellow cardigan was draped over it.
I ran toward the entrance.
"Police! My daughter is missing!""
The ballroom erupted.
Graham grabbed his phone.
Martin rushed toward the security desk.
Daniel searched behind the curtains and under the tables.
I could barely breathe.
Then I saw Lily's small handbag lying beside the staircase.
I picked it up.
Inside was her pink notebook.
A new page had been written.
The handwriting was shaky.
*Mom, don't be scared. The man said Grandpa needs me to help him. He said he knows where Grandma is.*
I screamed.
"Call the police!""
My father took the note.
His face became completely white.
"He has her.""
I grabbed his coat.
"Who?""
"Edward.""
"How do you know?""
My father pointed to the last sentence.
*He said he knows where Grandma is.*
He looked at me.
"Edward knows Patricia's location. He must have intercepted the police transport.""
Graham's phone rang.
He answered.
"Hello?""
A man's voice came through.
I could hear it from where I stood.
"Mr. Ellison, I believe we have something that belongs to you.""
Graham's face changed.
"Where is Lily?""
The man laughed.
"Safe. For now.""
I grabbed the phone.
"If you touch my daughter, I'll—"
"Claire Bennett," the voice interrupted.
"I've waited six years to speak to you.""
"Where is she?""
"Bring the memory card to the old Ellison residence. No police. No security. And don't make me ask twice.""
The call ended.
My father took the phone.
"He's trying to destroy the evidence.""
I shook my head.
"I don't care about the evidence. I want my daughter.""
Graham was already speaking to the police.
"Track the number. Get every available unit to the old residence.""
Daniel approached me.
"Claire, I'm coming with you.""
I looked at him.
"Why should I trust you?""
He didn't argue.
"Because I know what it's like to lose her. And I won't let it happen again.""
I stared at him.
Then I nodded.
We drove through Newport under a sky heavy with rain.
The old Ellison residence stood outside the city, surrounded by tall trees and a rusted iron fence.
It had once belonged to Graham's grandparents.
Now it was abandoned.
The front door stood open.
My father entered first.
Daniel followed.
I held the memory card in my hand.
"Edward?""
A light switched on upstairs.
Then a familiar voice answered.
"You're late, Claire.""
I looked toward the staircase.
Edward Shaw appeared at the top.
And beside him stood my mother.
Her wrists were tied.
She looked directly at me.
"Claire, don't give him the memory card!""
Edward smiled.
"Well, this is awkward.""
Then he pulled Lily into view.
My daughter was crying.
"Mom!""
I stepped forward.
Edward raised one hand.
"Careful. One wrong move, and this becomes a very different evening.""
My father moved beside me.
"Edward, let the child go.""
Edward laughed.
"Richard, you should have stayed dead.""
May you like
Then he looked at me.
"Now, Claire. Let's discuss what really happened to Rachel.""
