Chapter 8: The Man Who Knew My Mother
The hospital went into lockdown at 5:12 p.m.
Security officers moved through the corridors. Visitors were redirected. A nurse wheeled Lily's bassinet into a restricted section of the maternity ward.
I watched everything from my bed.
My hands wouldn't stop shaking.
"Is Martin really here?"" I asked.
Dad stood beside the door.
"The security team saw him entering through the west entrance.""
"Why would he come here?""
"Because he wants something.""
"What?""
Dad looked toward the brass key.
"Probably the same thing Derek wants.""
Renee returned with two police officers.
One introduced himself as Detective Samuel Harris.
"Mrs. Bennett, I understand your husband has been sending threatening messages.""
I nodded.
"He's also holding property that belonged to my deceased mother.""
"Can you identify it?""
"A black notebook. She kept records of financial transactions.""
Detective Harris wrote something down.
"Did your husband tell you where he found it?""
"No. He just showed it during a video call.""
"Did he threaten to destroy it?""
"He said I had until midnight to come home.""
The detective looked at Dad.
"Did you record the call?""
Renee answered.
"The hospital system may have retained the incoming call metadata, but we also have screenshots and the messages.""
"Good. We'll need copies.""
Dad handed him a folder.
"These are the photographs, medical records, and the original messages from last night. There's also evidence of attempted financial fraud.""
Detective Harris examined the documents.
"Mr. Bennett, you've done an excellent job preserving evidence.""
Dad gave a tired nod.
"I spent my career telling people not to make the same mistakes I made.""
I looked at him.
"What mistakes?""
He didn't answer.
The detective continued.
"Mrs. Bennett, I need to ask whether Martin Cole has ever contacted you directly.""
"Only today.""
"Have you ever met him?""
I thought back.
I'd seen him at Derek's office Christmas party and once at a family barbecue.
He had shaken my hand and told me I looked just like my mother.
At the time, I'd thought it was an ordinary compliment.
Now I remembered the way he had stared at me.
Too long.
Too carefully.
"He told me I looked like my mother," I said.
Detective Harris looked up.
"When?""
"About a year after Derek and I got married.""
Dad's expression hardened.
"What else did he say?""
"He asked whether I remembered anything about her childhood home.""
"Did you?""
"No.""
The detective exchanged a glance with his partner.
"Did you tell your husband about that conversation?""
"Yes. Derek laughed and said Martin was always interested in family history.""
Renee leaned forward.
"Could that have been an attempt to establish whether she knew about the documents?""
"It's possible," the detective replied.
Suddenly, the officer outside the room spoke into his radio.
"Control, we have a visual.""
Dad immediately moved toward the doorway.
A few seconds later, a security officer appeared.
"We found him.""
"Where?""
"Third-floor corridor. He's claiming to be a family member.""
Detective Harris stood.
"Stay here.""
Dad reached for his jacket.
"I'm coming.""
The detective shook his head.
"Mr. Bennett, let us handle this.""
Dad stopped.
Then he looked at me.
"Don't leave this room.""
"I won't.""
He followed the officers.
The door closed.
I sat alone with Evelyn and Renee.
For a while, nobody spoke.
Then Evelyn looked at Lily.
"May I hold her?""
I hesitated.
She noticed.
"Of course. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked.""
I studied her face.
This woman had allowed my mother to become frightened and isolated. She had known about the threats. She had protected her family instead of protecting an innocent woman.
But she was also Lily's great-grandmother.
And I wasn't ready to decide what that meant.
"Not today," I said gently.
Evelyn nodded.
"I understand.""
A moment later, my phone vibrated.
Unknown number.
*You don't know what your father did. Ask him about Daniel Bennett.*
I showed Renee.
She frowned.
"Who sent this?""
"I don't know.""
Another message appeared.
*Your father didn't just lose your mother. He helped make sure nobody found her killer.*
My chest tightened.
I called Dad.
No answer.
I tried again.
Nothing.
Evelyn suddenly stood.
"Who sent that?""
"I don't know.""
She looked at the message.
Then her face changed.
"Daniel.""
I stared at her.
"Your son?""
She nodded.
"He used to send messages like that when he wanted people to listen.""
"Is he alive?""
Evelyn didn't answer.
I grabbed her wrist.
"Mrs. Bennett, is Daniel alive?""
She looked at me.
"I believe so.""
"Where is he?""
"I don't know.""
"Then why did you say that?""
She lowered her voice.
"Because Daniel was the only person who knew your mother had made a second copy of the ledger.""
Renee closed the laptop.
"Why didn't you mention this earlier?""
"Because I thought he was dead.""
"Who told you that?""
"Robert.""
A chill moved through me.
"How did he die?""
Evelyn looked toward the window.
"He was arrested for fraud shortly after your mother's accident. Before the trial, he disappeared. Robert told everyone Daniel had died overseas.""
"Did anyone see a body?""
"No.""
The door suddenly opened.
Dad entered with Detective Harris.
His expression was unreadable.
"Martin?"" I asked.
"He's been taken into custody for questioning.""
"Did he have anything?""
Dad looked at Renee.
She shook her head.
Then he approached my bed.
"Sweetheart, we need to talk.""
I showed him the messages.
He read them.
For the first time that day, my father looked genuinely shaken.
"Where did you get this?""
"Someone sent it.""
He sat down slowly.
"Your mother and I argued the night before she died.""
I felt my stomach drop.
"About what?""
"Daniel.""
Evelyn covered her mouth.
Dad continued.
"Your mother wanted to help him disappear. She believed he was being framed for the company's fraud. I thought she was putting herself in danger.""
"What happened?""
"I told her to go to the police. She told me she couldn't trust them.""
"And?""
"We argued. I left the house.""
He paused.
"When I came back, she was gone.""
I stared at him.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I spent sixteen years trying to find out what happened next.""
He reached for my hand.
"And because I never wanted you to believe your mother died because I failed to protect her.""
I squeezed his fingers.
Then Detective Harris received a call.
He listened for several seconds before turning toward us.
"Mr. Bennett, we've identified the person who sent those messages.""
Dad stood.
"Who?""
The detective looked at me.
"Daniel Bennett.""
Evelyn began crying.
May you like
And then the detective added something none of us expected.
"He's outside the hospital. He's asking to speak to your daughter.""
