Chapter 7: The Woman Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
The woman stood in the doorway with Richard's phone in one hand.
Rain whispered against the windows.
No one spoke.
Claire stared at her as if she were looking at a ghost.
“You said my sister was dead.””
The woman looked at her.
“I never said that.””
“You were at her funeral.””
“No.””
Claire shook her head violently.
“I saw you.””
“You saw a woman wearing my coat.””
“That was you.””
The woman stepped farther into the house.
“My sister had my coat.””
Claire's lips parted.
“You're lying.””
The woman smiled sadly.
“You've always been very sure of things you never actually checked.””
Marcus moved between the woman and Margaret.
“Let's start with your name.””
The woman looked at him.
“Catherine Morgan.””
Claire backed against the wall.
“No.””
Catherine tilted her head.
“You can keep saying that.””
“Catherine died eight years ago.””
“So did my identity.””
Ethan looked at Marcus.
“She isn't denying being Catherine.””
“No,” Marcus said.
“She isn't.””
Catherine placed Richard's phone on the entry table.
“Victor is running out of patience.””
Marcus glanced at the screen.
“Where is he?””
“Watching.””
“From where?””
Catherine smiled.
“You're still thinking like this is a house.””
Marcus didn't react.
“What should I be thinking?””
“A trap.””
Jake stepped closer.
“Then why walk into it?””
Catherine looked at him.
“Because I was invited.””
“By who?””
“Edward.””
Margaret's head snapped up.
“My husband is dead.””
“I know.””
“He couldn't invite you.””
Catherine looked at her.
“He planned for his death long before it happened.””
Ethan stepped forward.
“What do you know about Edward's final night?””
Catherine's expression changed.
“Everything.””
Samuel suddenly whispered:
“No.””
Catherine turned toward him.
“Hello, Samuel.””
Samuel looked terrified.
“You're supposed to be dead.””
“So is half this house.””
Richard stared at her.
“Did you know my father?””
“Yes.””
“How?””
“I worked for him.””
Margaret stared.
“Doing what?””
Catherine looked around the room.
“Keeping secrets.””
Ethan folded his arms.
“That's vague.””
“It's supposed to be.””
“We don't have time for games.””
“Neither did Edward.””
Catherine walked toward the dining room.
She stopped beside the photograph of Edward.
“I met him when I was twenty-four.””
Marcus watched her.
“That was thirty years ago.””
“Yes.””
“You were working for Victor.””
“At first.””
“And later?””
“For Edward.””
Richard looked stunned.
“You were helping my father?””
“I tried.””
“What happened?””
Catherine looked at him.
“Your father made one mistake.””
“What?””
“He believed he could save you without telling you the truth.””
Richard lowered his eyes.
Margaret looked toward the metal box.
“The ledger.””
Catherine nodded.
“Yes.””
“Where is it?””
“Not where you think.””
Ethan held up the folded papers.
“Then tell us.””
Catherine's gaze moved to him.
“You found the outer ledger.””
“Outer ledger?””
“The transactions.””
“What about the inner ledger?””
Catherine's smile faded.
“It contains names.””
Marcus said, “We already have names.””
“Not those names.””
“What names?””
“The names of people who ordered the crimes.””
Silence.
Margaret tightened her grip on the chair.
“Edward had that?””
“He did.””
“Then where is it?””
Catherine looked at Richard.
“You gave it to Victor.””
Richard's face went blank.
“I never had it.””
“You did.””
“No.””
Catherine stepped closer.
“You took it from your father's office the night he died.””
Richard shook his head.
“I took papers.””
“You took the ledger.””
“I didn't know what it was.””
“You knew it was important.””
Richard looked at his hands.
“I was scared.””
Catherine's voice softened.
“And Victor used that fear.””
Richard whispered:
“He said he'd kill Mom.””
Margaret looked at him.
“You never told me.””
“I couldn't.””
“You could have.””
“He had people watching the house.””
Margaret's eyes filled with tears.
“I was right here.””
“I know.””
“You should have trusted me.””
Richard looked at her.
“I trusted him to keep you alive.””
Catherine's expression hardened.
“And that's where you made your biggest mistake.””
Richard stared.
“What?””
“Victor never intended to keep his promises.””
A noise came from upstairs.
Everyone stopped.
Footsteps.
One.
Two.
Three.
Slowly coming down the staircase.
Marcus lifted one hand.
Jake and Luis spread out.
Ethan turned off the lights in the foyer.
The staircase disappeared into darkness.
A shadow moved.
Then a voice.
“Richard.””
Victor.
Richard went rigid.
Margaret whispered:
“Where is he?””
The voice came from above.
“Right here.””
A figure appeared on the landing.
Victor Hale.
He was older than Margaret expected.
Late seventies.
Tall and thin.
Silver hair combed neatly backward.
A dark suit.
No coat.
No weapon visible.
He looked almost ordinary.
That made him more frightening.
He slowly walked down the stairs.
Marcus moved forward.
“Stop.””
Victor smiled.
“You must be Marcus.””
Marcus's eyes narrowed.
“How do you know my name?””
Victor looked toward Richard.
“Your son told me.””
Marcus glanced at Richard.
Richard looked confused.
“I didn't.””
Victor smiled.
“You've never been good at remembering who has access to you.””
Ethan stepped forward.
“Then explain something.””
Victor looked at him.
“What?””
“The signature.””
Victor smiled.
“Which one?””
“The forged signature on the property transfer.””
“I didn't sign it.””
“Someone did.””
“Yes.””
“Who?””
Victor looked toward Margaret.
“Her husband.””
Margaret stiffened.
“You just admitted he signed it.””
“No.””
Victor's smile remained.
“I said someone used his signature.””
Ethan watched him.
“You knew.””
“I know many things.””
“You knew about Edward's death.””
“Yes.””
Margaret's voice broke.
“Did you kill him?””
Victor looked directly at her.
“No.””
Margaret almost sagged with relief.
Then Victor added:
“But I allowed it to happen.””
The room went silent.
Margaret stared at him.
“You watched him die?””
Victor shook his head.
“I wasn't there.””
“Then what do you mean?””
“I created the circumstances.””
Marcus stepped toward him.
“That's still murder.””
Victor gave a small shrug.
“Call it what you like.””
Marcus's jaw tightened.
“I might.””
Victor smiled.
“But first you should listen.””
He reached into his jacket.
Jake's hand moved toward his waistband.
Victor noticed.
“Relax.””
He removed a folded sheet of paper.
“The truth is worth more than any weapon tonight.””
He handed it to Marcus.
Marcus opened it.
It was a hospital report.
Edward Hayes.
Date of admission.
Eleven months earlier.
Diagnosis:
*Acute myocardial infarction.*
Marcus read the next line.
*Patient arrived conscious.*
He looked at Victor.
“This says he was conscious.””
“Yes.””
“He spoke?””
“Yes.””
“What did he say?””
Victor glanced at Margaret.
“He asked for his wife.””
Margaret's eyes filled.
“He knew he was dying.””
“No.””
Victor's answer was immediate.
“He knew someone wanted him dead.””
Margaret covered her mouth.
“Then why did the doctors say heart attack?””
Victor pointed to the report.
“They didn't.””
Ethan took the paper.
He read the final section.
Then stopped.
“This isn't the full report.””
“No.””
“Where's the toxicology?””
Victor smiled.
“Destroyed.””
“By whom?””
“Daniel Cross.””
Ethan looked up.
“You're blaming Daniel?””
“He was trying to protect Edward.””
“By destroying medical evidence?””
“By hiding it.””
Victor's expression became cold.
“He found traces of a drug in Edward's blood.””
Margaret whispered:
“What drug?””
“Something that weakens the heart.””
Ethan's face hardened.
“Digitalis?””
Victor nodded.
“An overdose can resemble cardiac failure.””
Margaret stared at the floor.
“My husband was poisoned.””
“Yes.””
“Who did it?””
Victor was silent.
Then he looked toward Samuel.
Samuel began shaking.
Margaret followed his gaze.
“No.””
Victor nodded.
“Ask him.””
Samuel closed his eyes.
“I didn't kill Edward.””
Victor smiled.
“I didn't say you did.””
Samuel looked at him.
“Then stop.””
“You gave the killer access.””
Samuel whispered:
“I had no choice.””
“You always had a choice.””
Richard turned on Samuel.
“What did you do?””
Samuel's voice cracked.
“I brought the medication.””
Margaret looked horrified.
“You?””
“I thought it was legitimate.””
“For who?””
“For Richard.””
Richard froze.
“What?””
“You were taking heart medication.””
“No, I wasn't.””
“You were supposed to start.””
“I never did.””
Samuel nodded.
“I know.””
Richard suddenly understood.
“You were using my name.””
“Yes.””
“To buy something.””
“Yes.””
“What?””
Samuel looked at Victor.
“Something Victor gave me.””
Victor interrupted.
“Something I was told was harmless.””
Ethan stepped closer.
“Who told you?””
Victor said nothing.
Ethan's eyes narrowed.
“Who?””
Victor looked toward Catherine.
Catherine was already staring at him.
Victor's expression changed.
Catherine said quietly:
“Don't.””
Victor laughed.
“You haven't changed.””
Catherine's face hardened.
“Neither have you.””
Marcus looked between them.
“What happened?””
Catherine took a breath.
“I was the one who ordered the medication.””
Margaret stared.
“What?””
“I thought it was a sedative.””
“You poisoned my husband?””
“No.””
Catherine's voice broke.
“I was told it would make him sleep.””
“Who told you?””
She looked at Victor.
He smiled.
“You know who.””
Catherine whispered:
“Your doctor.””
Margaret frowned.
“My doctor?””
Catherine nodded.
“Dr. Alan Pierce.””
Margaret's face drained of color.
Her longtime family physician.
The same man who had signed Edward's death certificate.
Ethan immediately reached for his phone.
“I know that name.””
Marcus looked at him.
“From where?””
“The ledger.””
Ethan unfolded the list again.
There it was.
Alan Pierce.
One of the five names that hadn't been crossed out.
Richard whispered:
“He's the one who told Dad he had a weak heart.””
Margaret's eyes widened.
“No.””
Catherine nodded.
“He was part of it.””
Victor's smile returned.
“And now you finally understand.””
Margaret stared at him.
“Understand what?””
Victor walked toward the dining room table.
“This was never about your house.””
He pointed toward the documents.
“The property is simply collateral.””
He pointed at Richard.
“Your son is leverage.””
He pointed at Samuel.
“Your friend is a witness.””
Then at Catherine.
“She is a liability.””
Finally, he looked at Margaret.
“And you…”
He smiled.
“You are the last loose end.””
Marcus stepped forward.
“You're not touching her.””
Victor laughed softly.
“I'm not here to touch anyone.””
He pulled another document from his jacket.
“I came to offer Margaret a choice.””
“What choice?””
“Sign the transfer.””
Margaret looked at the paper.
“And then?””
“I disappear.””
“You expect me to believe that?””
“No.””
Victor smiled.
“I expect you to believe that refusing will cost someone their life.””
A sharp sound came from outside.
A gunshot.
Everyone ducked.
Glass shattered from the side window.
Claire screamed.
Marcus pulled Margaret to the floor.
Jake tackled Richard.
Luis dragged Samuel behind the kitchen island.
Ethan killed the remaining lights.
Catherine dropped flat.
Another shot.
Then another.
The house shook with the sound.
Victor didn't move.
Marcus looked toward him.
“You knew.””
Victor calmly adjusted his cuff.
“Yes.””
“Who is shooting?””
Victor smiled.
“The men who have been waiting for that ledger.””
Margaret shouted from the floor.
“Where is Richard?””
Marcus looked.
Richard was gone.
Jake cursed.
“He was right here!””
Ethan looked at the back door.
Open.
Mud covered the floor.
Richard had escaped.
Or been taken.
Victor walked toward the open door.
Marcus grabbed his arm.
Victor stopped.
“Let go.””
“No.””
Victor looked at him.
“You still don't understand.””
“Explain.””
Victor's eyes hardened.
“The ledger isn't with Richard.””
Marcus frowned.
“Then where is it?””
Victor looked toward Margaret.
“She has it.””
Margaret's eyes widened.
“What?””
Victor smiled.
“Edward hid the real ledger before he died.””
Marcus turned toward the kitchen.
The old stove.
The metal box.
The papers.
Everything they'd found.
Victor leaned closer.
“Your husband knew that eventually someone would discover the hiding place.””
Marcus said nothing.
Victor continued.
“So he made sure the person opening that box would think they'd found everything.””
Ethan's eyes widened.
“The outer ledger.””
Victor nodded.
“Exactly.””
“Then where's the real one?””
Victor looked at Margaret's purse.
Her face changed.
She slowly remembered something.
Before dinner, she'd found a strange weight at the bottom of her purse.
She had assumed it was an old compact.
She reached inside.
Pulled out a small black notebook.
There was no title.
No label.
Only Edward's initials embossed on the cover.
E.H.
Margaret stared at it.
“I've had this all day.””
Victor smiled.
“That's the ledger.””
Marcus took one step toward her.
Ethan whispered:
“Don't open it yet.””
Victor laughed.
“Too late.””
Margaret opened the first page.
Names filled the paper.
Not nine.
Not twenty.
Dozens.
Hundreds.
Bankers.
Lawyers.
Business owners.
Politicians.
Doctors.
Police officers.
At the bottom of the first page was a handwritten note from Edward.
Margaret read aloud.
“If this book is open, then Victor knows.””
She turned the page.
Another note.
*The final name is the only one that matters.*
She turned the page again.
There was one name written in red ink.
Margaret froze.
Marcus noticed her expression.
“What is it?””
She didn't answer.
“Margaret?””
She looked up.
Her voice trembled.
“I know this person.””
Ethan stepped closer.
“Who?””
Margaret slowly turned the notebook toward him.
Ethan read the name.
Then his face went completely still.
Marcus looked over his shoulder.
His stomach dropped.
The final name wasn't Victor Hale.
It wasn't Richard.
It wasn't Samuel.
It wasn't Dr. Pierce.
It was someone none of them had suspected.
Someone who had been standing beside Margaret throughout the entire night.
Catherine Morgan.
Marcus lifted his eyes.
Catherine was already gone.
The back door slammed.
Victor laughed.
And somewhere outside, a motorcycle engine roared to life.
Marcus grabbed his jacket.
“Everybody stay here.””
Margaret clutched the ledger.
Ethan shook his head.
“No.””
Marcus turned.
Ethan pointed at the final page.
“There’s one more line.””
Marcus looked.
Beneath Catherine's name was a sentence written in Edward's handwriting.
*Catherine was never working for Victor.*
Ethan swallowed.
“She was working for me.””
May you like
And beneath that sentence was one final word.
*RUN.*
