Chapter 19: The Woman Who Delivered the Money
Laura stared at the photograph.
The woman standing behind Katherine was unmistakably Evelyn Carter.
The same wedding ring.
The same distinctive coat.
The same face Jason had seen at his mother's house only hours earlier.
“No,” Jason whispered.
Patricia Ellis nodded sadly.
“Your mother recognized her immediately. She said Evelyn delivered the money to Harold Whitmore.””
Laura slowly lowered the photograph.
“Why would Evelyn do that?””
Patricia didn't answer.
Jason shook his head.
“My mother wouldn't have helped arrange an accident.””
“Perhaps she didn't know what the money was for,” Margaret said.
Patricia looked at her.
“Your mother didn't believe that. She told me Evelyn knew exactly what she was doing.””
Laura stepped away from the table.
“Then we need to ask her.””
Jason called his mother.
She answered after the second ring.
“Jason?””
“Mom, where are you?””
“At home. Sophie is watching television.””
“Stay there. Don't leave.””
“What happened?””
Jason looked at the photograph.
“I'm coming to see you. We need to talk about Katherine.””
There was a long silence.
Then Evelyn whispered:
“Did you find the second recording?””
Jason froze.
“You know about it?””
“Please come home, Jason.””
She ended the call.
Nobody spoke.
Margaret gathered the photograph, the letter, and the first cassette.
“We're not going without police protection.””
Jason nodded.
But he couldn't stop thinking about the woman in the photograph.
His mother had spent years telling him that Katherine was a dangerous woman who had tried to destroy their family.
Now he wondered whether Evelyn had been protecting them from the truth—or protecting herself from it.
They drove back toward Evelyn's house with a police vehicle following behind.
When they arrived, the front door was open.
Jason rushed inside.
“Mom?””
Evelyn stood in the living room.
Sophie was sitting on the couch with a blanket over her legs.
She looked relieved when she saw her father.
“Daddy!””
Jason hugged her.
“Are you okay?””
She nodded.
“Grandma made me hot chocolate.””
Jason looked at Evelyn.
“Where's the second recording?””
Evelyn's face tightened.
“You found the photograph.””
“Yes.””
She sat down slowly.
Laura placed the photograph on the coffee table.
“Why are you standing beside my mother?””
Evelyn stared at it.
For a long moment, she seemed unable to speak.
Then she said:
“Because I delivered the money.””
Jason closed his eyes.
“Mom…”
“I didn't know it was payment for an accident.””
Laura's voice shook.
“Then what did you think it was?””
“Protection money. Katherine said someone was threatening her. Robert told me he was paying Whitmore to make sure she could leave town safely.””
Margaret leaned forward.
“Did you see the amount?””
Evelyn nodded.
“Forty thousand dollars.””
Jason looked at her.
“And you didn't ask why?””
“I did. Robert told me the money was to secure new documents and protect Katherine from Daniel.””
Laura shook her head.
“My mother said you knew.””
“Your mother hated me.””
“Why?””
Evelyn looked at Laura.
“Because she believed Robert still loved her.””
The room went quiet.
Evelyn continued.
“Katherine came to me after the accident. She told me Robert had arranged everything. She said he wanted her gone. She also said she had evidence that could destroy him.””
Laura's eyes filled.
“Then why didn't you help her?””
“I did help her.””
“You delivered the money.””
“And I helped her leave the hospital.””
Laura looked confused.
Evelyn reached for the photograph.
“That picture was taken the day Katherine escaped. I drove her to the train station. I gave her the money because Robert said it would keep her safe.””
Jason frowned.
“But the recording says you delivered money to Whitmore.””
Evelyn nodded.
“I delivered money to Whitmore first. He was supposed to arrange the documents. Later, I discovered he had kept most of it.””
Margaret's expression sharpened.
“Did you confront him?””
“Yes. He told me the money had already been spent.””
“On what?””
Evelyn's eyes filled.
“On the people who tampered with Katherine's car.””
Laura stood.
“You knew?””
“I found out afterward.””
“And you said nothing?””
“I was afraid.””
Jason's voice rose.
“Afraid of what?””
“Robert told me if I exposed him, Daniel would be arrested for the accident, and Katherine would be hunted down. He said he could still protect everyone if I kept quiet.””
Laura laughed bitterly.
“You protected everyone except my mother.””
Evelyn lowered her head.
“I know.””
Sophie quietly climbed off the couch.
“Grandma?””
Evelyn looked up.
“Sweetheart?””
“Did you lie too?””
Evelyn's face crumpled.
“Yes.””
Sophie stood beside Jason.
“Why does everybody in this family lie?””
No one answered.
Then Evelyn rose and walked toward the hallway.
“There's something in Robert's old study.””
She returned carrying a small wooden box.
Inside was a second cassette and a folded sheet of paper.
“This is the recording Katherine left with me. I never listened to it.””
Margaret examined the cassette.
“Why keep it?””
“Because Robert told me to destroy it. I couldn't.””
Jason took the paper.
It was addressed to Evelyn.
If you ever decide to tell the truth, give this recording to Laura. She deserves to know who ordered the accident.
Laura's hands trembled.
Margaret inserted the cassette into the portable player.
Static filled the room.
Then Katherine's voice emerged.
“If you're hearing this, Evelyn, it means you finally found the courage to stop protecting Robert.””
A pause.
“I know you delivered the money. I know you believed you were helping me. But you must understand something. Robert didn't order the accident because he wanted me to leave.””
Laura gripped Jason's arm.
Katherine continued.
“He ordered it because I had discovered that he and Daniel were stealing from the property accounts. I threatened to report them. Robert panicked.””
Jason stared at the player.
Then came another voice.
Robert Carter.
“You said nobody would get hurt.””
A second voice answered.
Harold Whitmore.
“The driver knows what to do. The woman will be frightened. She'll leave.””
Robert replied:
“And if she doesn't?””
Whitmore's answer was almost inaudible.
“Then there won't be anyone left to threaten you.””
The recording continued with the sound of a door closing.
Then Katherine spoke again.
“Robert knew what Whitmore intended. He knew the car might not stop. And he let it happen.””
Laura began crying.
Jason looked at Evelyn.
“You heard this before?””
She shook her head.
“No.””
The cassette continued.
Katherine's voice softened.
“But Robert wasn't the only person who knew about the plan. Someone else delivered the final payment. Someone who understood exactly what it would buy.””
A rustling sound followed.
Then Katherine said:
“Daniel.””
Jason frowned.
“Daniel?””
Laura looked at the player.
Katherine continued.
“He knew the brakes had been tampered with. He drove the car that night anyway. He was supposed to make it look like an ordinary accident.””
Jason felt sick.
“So Daniel wasn't innocent.””
“No,” Evelyn whispered.
The recording ended with Katherine's final words.
“If Daniel ever tells you he was only following orders, don't believe him. He knew I was in that car. He knew I might die.””
The room remained silent.
Then Margaret's phone rang.
Officer Reynolds.
“Margaret, we have a problem.””
“What happened?””
“Daniel has been released.””
Jason stood.
“How?””
“Whitmore gave a statement claiming the ledger was fabricated. He also provided documents suggesting the original deed was transferred legally.””
Margaret looked at the papers on the table.
“That's impossible.””
“There's more,” Reynolds said.
“Daniel filed an emergency petition claiming Evelyn is mentally incompetent and that Jason is attempting to exploit her.””
Jason stared at his mother.
“He's trying to take the house again.””
Reynolds lowered his voice.
“And he's requesting immediate custody of Sophie, claiming the family environment is unsafe.””
Jason felt his blood run cold.
Then came a knock at the front door.
Three officers stood outside.
One held a court order.
“Mr. Carter, we need you to come with us.””
Jason looked at Sophie.
“Why?””
The officer glanced at the document.
“There's been a complaint alleging that you removed a child from her mother's lawful custody.””
Sophie clutched his hand.
“Daddy, don't let them take me.””
Jason looked toward Margaret.
May you like
Daniel had found another way to turn the family against itself.
And this time, he was using the law.
