Chapter 16: The Woman Who Signed My Death Sentence
I read the name again.
Margaret Carter.
My mother's name.
The woman who had raised me, protected me, and held my hand when the world seemed too frightening.
The woman Victor had just accused of being connected to my biological mother's death.
I looked up.
"Explain.""
Victor's eyes filled with tears.
"Helen didn't die in an accident.""
"Then why did everyone tell me she did?""
"Because your grandfather paid people to make sure nobody asked questions.""
I gripped the photograph.
"And my mother?""
Victor swallowed.
"Margaret signed the hospital release papers.""
I shook my head.
"No.""
"Daniel—"
"No. You don't get to say that and expect me to believe it.""
Victor looked toward Evelyn.
She had gone pale.
"Perhaps we should let him finish," she said quietly.
I turned back to Victor.
"Was Margaret there when Helen died?""
He nodded.
"She was there.""
"Why?""
"Because she had been told Helen was going to surrender you. Your grandfather wanted the adoption completed before anyone could change their mind.""
I stared at him.
"You're telling me my mother knew?""
"I don't know what she knew that night.""
"Then why did you put her name on this?""
Victor looked down.
"Because I saw her signature.""
I stood so abruptly that the chair fell backward.
"You're accusing the woman who raised me of murdering my biological mother, but you don't even know what she knew?""
Victor didn't answer.
I picked up my phone and called Mom.
She answered immediately.
"Daniel? Are you all right?""
"Mom, I need you to come to Riverside.""
"What happened?""
"I need to ask you about Helen.""
There was silence.
Then I heard her take a sharp breath.
"Who told you?""
I closed my eyes.
"Victor.""
Another silence.
"Daniel, listen to me. Whatever he says, you need to hear the whole story.""
My stomach tightened.
"Did you sign the hospital release papers?""
She began crying.
"Yes.""
I gripped the phone.
"Why?""
"Because they told me she was already dead.""
I looked at Victor.
He lowered his eyes.
Mom continued.
"I was told Helen had suffered a complication after childbirth. They said there was nothing anyone could do. Your grandfather brought the papers to me and said the hospital needed my signature because I was taking custody of you.""
"Did you see her body?""
"No.""
"Did you ask?""
"Of course I did!""
Her voice broke.
"Your grandfather told me the hospital wouldn't let me see her because of an investigation. He said it would be better for everyone if we went home with you.""
I felt sick.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I believed she was dead. And because every time I asked your father about it, he told me to stop digging.""
I looked at Victor.
He was staring at the floor.
"Mom, did you know Victor was my father?""
"No.""
"Did you know he was alive?""
"No, Daniel. I swear.""
I sat down slowly.
"Then why did Victor say you were involved?""
Mom's voice became almost a whisper.
"Because I signed the papers.""
She paused.
"And because I have spent forty-two years wondering whether signing them helped someone kill her.""
The call ended a moment later.
I stared at the phone.
Evelyn came to my side.
"Daniel, there's a difference between signing a document under false pretenses and arranging someone's death.""
"How do we know which one happened?""
"We don't. Not yet.""
Victor shifted in his wheelchair.
"There's another document.""
He pointed toward the envelope.
I turned it over.
A second piece of paper had been folded inside the photograph. It was an old hospital transfer form, dated the night I was born.
The first section named Helen as the patient.
The second listed her condition as stable.
But beneath that was a handwritten note.
Patient transferred to private ward under family authorization.
The signature at the bottom belonged to my grandfather.
I read it twice.
"Helen wasn't dead?""
Victor shook his head.
"No.""
"Where did they take her?""
"I don't know.""
"Then how can you say she was murdered?""
Victor looked at me.
"Because three days later, I was shown a death certificate.""
I looked at the date.
Three days after my birth.
The certificate listed a different hospital.
And the cause of death was recorded as complications from childbirth.
Evelyn examined the form.
"This is suspicious. The transfer record and death certificate don't match.""
"Can you find out where she was taken?""
"I can try.""
My phone vibrated.
A message from Mom.
Come home. There is something in your father's study you need to see.
I looked at Victor.
"I'll be back.""
He grabbed my wrist.
"Daniel, don't let anyone destroy that envelope.""
I nodded.
Then I turned to Evelyn.
"Stay with him. Don't let Rachel or anyone connected to her near this room.""
Evelyn nodded.
As I left, Victor called after me.
"One more thing!""
I stopped.
He looked terrified.
"Your grandfather didn't act alone.""
I turned.
"Who helped him?""
Victor's lips trembled.
"Someone who is still alive.""
I drove home in silence.
When I arrived, Mom was waiting in the study.
She looked exhausted.
On the desk sat an old wooden box.
"I found this after your father was taken to the rehabilitation center," she said.
"It was hidden behind the bottom drawer.""
I opened it.
Inside were letters, bank statements, and a photograph of Helen holding a newborn.
Mom touched the photograph.
"Your grandfather gave this to me the day I brought you home.""
I looked at her.
"What did he say?""
"That you were a gift. That I should never ask where you came from.""
She began crying again.
"I thought I was protecting you by keeping quiet.""
I examined the bank statements.
One payment stood out.
A transfer of $250,000 to a company called Westbridge Medical Services.
The date was the day Helen disappeared.
The authorized signature belonged to my grandfather.
But the recipient account had another name attached.
Thomas Bennett.
I stared.
"Mr. Bennett?""
Mom nodded.
"Your grandfather told me he was handling the legal arrangements.""
I called the attorney.
He answered after two rings.
"Daniel.""
"Why did my grandfather pay you $250,000 the night Helen disappeared?""
Silence.
Then he said something I never expected.
"Because I was supposed to make sure she survived.""
My grip tightened.
"Where is she?""
He breathed heavily.
"Daniel, I can tell you where Helen was taken.""
"Then tell me.""
"I can't do it over the phone.""
"Why?""
"Because the person who ordered her disappearance is listening.""
The line went dead.
And before I could call again, a message arrived from an unknown number.
It contained a photograph of Mom standing outside our house.
May you like
The caption read:
Stop asking about Helen, or Margaret will finally learn what happened to her.
