Chapter 7: The Secret My Mother Took to Her Grave
For several seconds, I couldn't look at my father.
His name was printed at the top of the investigation report.
*Subject of Investigation: Daniel Carter.*
Below it were transaction records, dates, account numbers, and handwritten notes.
My father stood beside the dining table, his face drained of color.
Renee had stopped crying.
Mia was staring at the papers.
And Elaine Porter was watching Dad as if she already knew what his reaction would be.
"Explain this," I whispered.
Dad looked at me.
"Sweetheart, I can explain.""
"Then explain why Mom was investigating you.""
He pulled out a chair but didn't sit down.
"I don't know what this document means.""
Elaine adjusted her glasses.
"Your late mother commissioned a financial investigation approximately eight months before her death. She believed money was disappearing from an investment account she shared with your father.""
Dad shook his head.
"We had separate investment accounts.""
"Not according to these records.""
Elaine opened another folder.
"Mrs. Carter discovered that several deposits from her personal business had been transferred into an account connected to Carter Construction.""
Dad rubbed his forehead.
"Victor handled the company's finances.""
Elaine nodded.
"That's correct.""
I looked at the photograph again.
My mother had been sitting across from Victor with a folder between them.
"Did Mom think you were stealing from her?""
Dad's eyes met mine.
"I never stole a dollar from your mother.""
"Then why was your name on the investigation?""
"Because the company was in my name. Victor had access to the financial records.""
Elaine placed another document on the table.
"This report suggests that your father may have been unaware of the transfers.""
Dad looked at her.
"May have been?""
"I'm not making an accusation, Mr. Carter. I'm explaining what your wife discovered.""
He sat down.
For the first time that day, he looked genuinely frightened.
"Where is Thomas Reed?""
Elaine checked her phone.
"He agreed to meet us this afternoon.""
"Then call him.""
"I already have.""
A few minutes later, a car pulled into the driveway.
A man in his seventies stepped out, carrying a worn leather briefcase.
His silver hair was neatly combed, and he walked with the careful movements of someone who had learned to conserve his energy.
Dad opened the front door.
"Thomas.""
The man looked at him.
"Daniel.""
They shook hands, but there was no warmth in the gesture.
Thomas stepped inside and immediately noticed the documents spread across the dining table.
Then he saw me.
His expression softened.
"You must be the young lady your mother talked about so often.""
I nodded.
"Yes.""
He approached me and extended his hand.
"I'm Thomas Reed. I represented your mother for many years.""
"Why did she investigate my father?""
Thomas looked at Dad before answering.
"Because she discovered that someone was using your father's position in the company to move money without his knowledge.""
Dad leaned forward.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Your wife asked me not to.""
"She thought I was stealing?""
"No, Daniel. She thought someone was using you.""
Thomas opened his briefcase.
He removed a thick envelope with a red string around it.
"Your mother discovered irregular payments to a consulting company. The company had no employees, no office, and no legitimate contracts.""
He placed a statement on the table.
"The money was transferred into this account.""
Dad read the name.
Victor Hale Consulting.
His face tightened.
"Victor?""
Thomas nodded.
"Your business partner had created the company using a registered agent. Your wife traced several payments back to him.""
Renee suddenly stood.
"That's ridiculous.""
Everyone turned.
She folded her arms.
"Victor has worked with Daniel for fifteen years. He helped build this family.""
Thomas looked at her calmly.
"Mrs. Carter, you may want to sit down.""
"I don't need to sit down.""
"Then perhaps you should listen.""
He placed another document beside the first.
"Your name also appears in the investigation.""
Renee went pale.
Dad looked at the page.
"What is this?""
Thomas tapped a transaction.
"Mrs. Carter received three payments from Victor Hale Consulting shortly after your marriage.""
Renee shook her head.
"Those were reimbursements.""
"For what?""
"Household expenses.""
Thomas nodded.
"That's what you told the investigators when they first contacted you.""
Dad turned toward her.
"Investigators?""
Renee's lips parted.
"You said nothing was wrong.""
Thomas continued.
"Your wife was preparing to report the financial irregularities when she became seriously ill. She asked me to protect the trust and preserve the evidence.""
Dad looked devastated.
"Why didn't she tell me?""
Thomas closed the folder.
"She was afraid.""
"Of me?""
"Of what would happen if you confronted Victor before we had enough evidence.""
Dad lowered his head.
I remembered my mother during those final months.
The way she sometimes watched Dad when he thought she was asleep.
The whispered conversations behind closed doors.
The day she hugged me for so long that I complained I couldn't breathe.
She had known something was wrong.
And she had been trying to protect me.
Thomas turned toward me.
"Your mother also left something else.""
He opened the red envelope.
Inside was a small silver key and a handwritten note.
"She instructed me to give you this when you turned eighteen.""
I picked up the key.
"What does it open?""
"A safe-deposit box.""
"Where?""
"At First National Bank. Box 214.""
Dad frowned.
"She had a safe-deposit box?""
Thomas nodded.
"She opened it shortly after the investigation began.""
He handed me the note.
My mother's handwriting appeared again.
For my daughter, when she is old enough to understand.
I read the next line.
The truth is not always the thing that hurts most. Sometimes it's discovering how long someone you trusted has been lying to you.
My fingers trembled.
Thomas watched me carefully.
"There's a recording inside the box.""
Dad looked up.
"A recording?""
"Your mother recorded a conversation she had with Victor.""
The room became completely silent.
Then Renee spoke.
"We don't need to do this.""
Thomas looked at her.
"Why not?""
"Because she's gone. Whatever happened before she died doesn't need to be dragged into this family.""
Dad stood.
"She is my wife.""
"Was," Renee snapped.
The word hung in the air.
Dad stared at her.
Renee looked away.
I had never heard her speak about my mother without bitterness.
Now I understood why.
My father stepped closer.
"Get out of this conversation, Renee.""
She looked shocked.
"This is my house.""
"Then you should have thought about that before trying to transfer it.""
Mia moved toward her mother.
"Can we please stop?""
Thomas quietly gathered the documents.
"Mr. Carter, I strongly recommend that we retrieve the recording before making any further decisions.""
Dad nodded.
"We're going now.""
I slipped the silver key into my pocket.
Before we left, Thomas touched my shoulder.
"Your mother wanted you to know something.""
I looked at him.
"What's that?""
"She didn't leave you money because she thought you would need saving. She left it because she wanted you to have freedom.""
My eyes filled.
Then he added something else.
"She also told me that if Victor ever appeared in your life again, I should ask him one question.""
"What question?""
Thomas looked toward the window.
"Where is the original company ledger?""
Dad turned sharply.
"What ledger?""
Thomas's expression darkened.
"The one Victor claimed was destroyed.""
May you like
He paused.
"Your mother believed it was still hidden somewhere in your house.""
