Chapter 14: The Night My Father Died
Abigail sat on the edge of the hospital bed, staring at the photograph.
For several seconds, she couldn't speak.
Then she looked at Catherine.
“Mom, I need to ask you something.””
Catherine moved closer.
“Anything, sweetheart.””
“Did I ever have a serious illness when I was twelve?””
Catherine frowned.
“No. Why?””
Abigail closed her eyes.
“Because I remember being in a hospital. I remember Helen standing over me. I remember Dr. Price telling someone I wouldn't remember anything.””
Agent Hayes pulled a chair closer.
“Can you describe what happened?””
Abigail shook her head.
“Only pieces.””
“Take your time.””
Abigail swallowed.
“I remember a birthday party. There was a cake. Helen was angry because I had found something in her office.””
“What did you find?””
“A photograph.””
She looked at me.
“It was a picture of two babies. One had a bracelet with my name. The other had a bracelet with yours.””
My heart tightened.
“What happened next?””
“I asked Helen why there were two babies.””
Abigail's voice became quieter.
“She told me it was a picture from a hospital advertisement. But I knew she was lying.””
She wiped her eyes.
“Later that night, I went back into her office. I found a folder with my original birth records.””
Catherine covered her mouth.
Abigail continued.
“I confronted her. She told me I wasn't supposed to know.””
“Then?””
“She pushed me.””
Her hands began shaking.
“I fell down the stairs. I remember hitting my head. When I woke up, Dr. Price was standing beside my bed.””
Agent Hayes exchanged a glance with another investigator.
“Did you tell anyone?””
“No. Helen said I had fallen because I was sleepwalking. She told me nobody would believe me.””
Abigail looked at Catherine.
“She said my real mother had abandoned me because I was difficult.””
Catherine began crying.
“Oh, sweetheart.””
Abigail turned away.
“Please don't.””
I took her hand.
She squeezed it tightly.
Then Agent Hayes's phone rang.
She listened.
Her expression changed.
“Understood. Send the location.””
She ended the call.
“We found Helen Price.””
“Where?”” I asked.
“At the private clinic where Dr. Price works.””
“Are they together?””
“No. Dr. Price left twenty minutes ago.””
Agent Hayes looked at Abigail.
“There's something else. We found a storage locker registered to Helen. It contains medical records, financial statements, and photographs connected to Daniel Hayes.””
I stood.
“Let's go.””
The storage facility was outside the city.
Federal agents had already secured the building when we arrived.
Helen's locker was number 218.
Agent Hayes opened it.
Inside were several boxes, a filing cabinet, and a small wooden chest.
The first box contained medical records.
The second contained bank statements.
The third contained photographs.
I picked up one of them.
Daniel stood outside his house.
Helen was beside him.
They were arguing.
The photograph was dated two days before his death.
On the back, someone had written:
He knows about the transfer.
I found another photograph.
Daniel was sitting inside a restaurant with Dr. Price.
A third showed Thomas handing an envelope to Helen.
Agent Hayes examined the documents.
“There's a payment record here.””
I looked over her shoulder.
The amount was $250,000.
The recipient was Helen Price.
The date matched the night Daniel died.
I felt my stomach tighten.
“Adrian told me Thomas received that money.””
Agent Hayes compared the documents.
“It appears the funds were divided.””
“Why?””
“To keep the transaction from attracting attention.””
I stared at the records.
Then I saw a letter.
It was written by Helen.
Thomas, Daniel has discovered the truth about Abigail. He has also found the original trust certificate. If he speaks to Catherine, everything will collapse.
Below that was Thomas's reply.
Handle Daniel. Samuel will take care of the medical records. Adrian will keep Elena occupied.
I read the sentence again.
Adrian will keep Elena occupied.
My marriage.
The gala.
The foundation.
All of it had been part of the plan.
Agent Hayes continued searching.
Then she found a small envelope addressed to Abigail.
Abigail took it with trembling hands.
Inside was a photograph of her at twelve years old.
She was lying in a hospital bed.
A bandage covered her forehead.
On the back, Helen had written:
The first time she remembered.
Abigail stared at it.
“That's the accident.””
There was a folded note beneath the photograph.
She opened it.
If Abigail remembers the original birth records, the arrangement is over. She must never be allowed to contact Catherine or Elena.
Abigail dropped the note.
Catherine wrapped her arms around her.
I looked inside the wooden chest.
There was a small cassette recorder.
Beside it lay a label.
*DANIEL HAYES — FINAL STATEMENT.*
My breath caught.
“Agent Hayes.””
She approached.
“Don't touch it.””
She examined the recorder and carefully removed the cassette.
A technician brought a portable player.
We gathered around the table.
The recording began with a click.
Then my father's voice filled the room.
“Elena, if you're hearing this, I wasn't able to protect you the way I promised your mother.””
My eyes filled immediately.
His voice sounded older than I remembered.
Tired.
But unmistakably his.
“There's something I never told you. Thomas Reed didn't steal Abigail from Catherine. Helen Price arranged the adoption. She was desperate to have a child and had been told she could never become pregnant.””
A pause.
“Samuel Price knew the hospital records were being altered. He agreed to help because Helen had discovered his financial crimes. They were blackmailing each other.””
I gripped the table.
Daniel continued.
“But Helen's involvement goes further. She discovered that Abigail carried a genetic condition that could affect the inheritance trust. She believed that if Abigail were declared medically unfit, she could control the money as her guardian.””
Agent Hayes looked at the records.
The recording continued.
“I discovered that the medical diagnosis was fabricated. Abigail was healthy. Helen had been giving her unnecessary medication to make her appear ill.””
Abigail began sobbing.
My father continued.
“I confronted Helen. She told me I should mind my own business. Two days later, I was attacked.””
I closed my eyes.
“I survived the first attack. I made it home. I believed I was safe.””
A long pause.
“Then someone came into my house.””
My hands began shaking.
I knew what was coming.
Daniel's voice became quieter.
“It was not Thomas. It was not Adrian.””
The recording crackled.
“It was Helen.””
Abigail covered her mouth.
Daniel continued.
“She stood in my study and told me that if I didn't destroy the documents, she would make sure neither of my daughters ever knew the truth.””
A sound followed.
A chair scraping.
Then my father's voice again.
“I told her no.””
The recording ended with a loud crash.
Silence filled the storage unit.
Abigail was crying openly.
Catherine leaned against the filing cabinet.
I couldn't move.
My father had been killed by the woman who raised my sister.
The woman who had pretended to be a loving mother.
The woman who had attended family gatherings and sent birthday cards.
And she had done it to protect a stolen fortune.
Agent Hayes immediately called for an arrest team.
But I was staring at something else.
A document beneath the cassette recorder.
It was a handwritten list of beneficiaries.
Daniel Hayes.
Catherine Reed.
Elena Whitmore.
Abigail Reed.
And one final name.
*Helen Price.*
Beside her name was a note:
Beneficiary of the original trust only if both children are legally declared deceased.
I felt sick.
Helen hadn't simply wanted control of the money.
She had needed both of us out of the way.
Agent Hayes closed the folder.
“We have enough to arrest her.””
But before she could finish, the storage facility's security guard approached.
“Ma'am, there's a vehicle outside.””
Agent Hayes turned.
“What kind?””
“Black sedan. It's been sitting near the entrance for about ten minutes.””
She looked at the surveillance monitor.
The driver stepped out.
Helen Price.
She was holding a white envelope.
And she was walking directly toward the building.
Agent Hayes immediately signaled her team.
“Secure the exits.””
Helen entered through the main door.
She looked directly at Abigail.
Then she smiled.
“Sweetheart.””
Abigail stepped behind me.
Helen's expression softened.
“I've been looking everywhere for you.””
Abigail shook her head.
“You hurt me.””
Helen looked confused.
“What?””
“You hurt me when I was twelve.””
Helen sighed.
“Oh, Abigail. You were a difficult child.””
I stepped forward.
“Don't.””
Helen looked at me.
“Ah. Elena.””
Agent Hayes raised her weapon.
“Helen Price, you're under arrest.””
Helen didn't seem surprised.
Instead, she placed the envelope on the table.
“Before you do that, you should read what's inside.””
Agent Hayes opened it.
Her expression changed.
She looked at Richard.
Then at me.
“What is it?”” I asked.
She hesitated.
“It's a revised trust document.””
Helen smiled.
“And it proves something your father never knew.””
“What?””
Helen turned toward Abigail.
“Your sister isn't the only child Richard Bennett fathered.””
I looked at Richard.
He went completely still.
Helen continued.
“There's another daughter. And she's the one who inherited the original controlling interest.””
Richard's face drained of color.
Agent Hayes examined the document.
Then she looked at me.
“Mrs. Whitmore, this changes everything.””
I stared at the final page.
The name listed as the controlling beneficiary wasn't mine.
It wasn't Abigail's.
It was the name of the woman standing in front of us.
Helen Price.
And beneath it was a signature.
Richard Bennett's.
He whispered one sentence.
“I never signed that.””
Helen smiled.
“Of course you didn't.””
May you like
Then she reached into her coat.
“Because I signed it for you.””
