Chapter 4: The Call Behind the Locked Door
“Who did Mom call?”” I asked.
Mia stood in my doorway, twisting the gold ring on her right hand until the skin beneath it turned pink.
“I don't know.””
“You heard her say they needed to get the key back.””
“I heard enough.””
“Then tell me what you heard.””
Mia glanced toward the hallway. Somewhere downstairs, a cabinet slammed, followed by the familiar clink of Rachel's bracelets.
“She was in the kitchen,” Mia whispered.
“She thought I was upstairs. She said you had something that belonged to Elena, and that if Daniel took you to the lawyer tomorrow, everything could fall apart.””
My fingers tightened around my phone.
“What did the person on the other end say?””
“I couldn't hear.””
“Did Mom mention a name?””
Mia hesitated.
“Grant.””
The name meant nothing to me.
“Who is Grant?””
“I don't know. Maybe someone from Dad's office.””
“My father doesn't have anyone named Grant at his office.””
Mia looked down.
“Then maybe it's someone from Mom's past.””
“Stop saying you don't know things when you're clearly hiding something.””
Her head snapped up.
“You think I wanted any of this?””
“You burned my graduation dress.””
“I told you that was an accident!””
“You poured alcohol on it, Mia. You held a lighter to it. What exactly was the accident?””
Her eyes filled with tears, but this time I refused to feel guilty.
“I was angry,” she admitted.
“You got the scholarship, you got the graduation ceremony, and Dad was supposed to give me money for my apartment. Then he canceled everything because of some stupid argument about the inheritance.””
I stared at her.
“So you burned my dress because Dad wouldn't pay your rent?””
“I didn't know he'd react like that.””
“You didn't know he'd be angry that you destroyed something I worked six months to afford?””
Mia wiped her cheeks.
“You always make me sound like a monster.””
“No. You do that yourself when you decide hurting me is easier than hearing no.””
She looked away.
For once, she had no immediate comeback.
I moved toward the door.
“I'm going downstairs.””
Mia grabbed my wrist.
“Don't.””
I looked at her hand until she released me.
“Why?””
“Because Mom knows you're suspicious now. She's been pacing around the kitchen, checking her phone, and opening drawers. She even went into Dad's study.””
My stomach tightened.
“The study was broken into the night Mom died.””
Mia's face changed.
“What?””
I told her what Dad had revealed, watching her expression carefully.
When I mentioned the photograph of the blue ledger, she shook her head.
“No. That doesn't make sense.””
“What doesn't?””
“Mom said Dad had already taken care of everything years ago.””
“What did she mean?””
“I don't know!””
The words came out too loudly.
Mia pressed a hand over her mouth.
Then she lowered her voice.
“Last month, I heard her arguing with someone about a document. She said Dad had promised never to bring it up again. I thought they were talking about money for my apartment.””
“Who was she talking to?””
“I couldn't see. She was in the laundry room, and the door was mostly closed.””
“What else did she say?””
Mia stared at the carpet.
“She said, ‘If Claire finds out what Elena signed, we lose everything.’”
My heart seemed to stop.
“What did Elena sign?””
“I don't know.””
“You keep hearing things you don't understand.””
“Because they don't tell me anything!”” Mia burst out.
“You think being the favorite means I know everything? Mom tells me what to wear, who to invite, what to say when Dad gets upset. She even checks my messages. I'm not allowed to disappoint her.””
I studied her face.
For the first time, I saw how tightly Rachel's control had wrapped around her own daughter.
But that didn't erase the ashes on my bedroom floor.
“Then stop doing what she tells you,” I said.
Mia laughed bitterly.
“You make it sound easy.””
“It starts with telling the truth.””
She looked at me for a long moment.
Then she reached into the pocket of her white trousers and pulled out a small silver flash drive.
“I found this in Mom's handbag yesterday.””
I didn't take it immediately.
“What's on it?””
“I don't know. She was looking for it this morning. She asked me if I'd seen a little silver drive, and when I said no, she searched my room.””
“Why didn't you give it to Dad?””
“Because I heard her say your name.””
Mia held the drive out to me.
“She said if you ever got that key, this drive could destroy us.””
“Destroy who?””
“Us. The family.””
I took it.
The metal felt cold against my palm.
“Why give it to me now?””
Mia's expression crumpled.
“Because I don't want to go to prison.””
The admission was so unexpected that I almost dropped the drive.
“What?””
“I don't know what Mom has done, Claire. But she keeps saying things about forged signatures and documents. And yesterday, she asked me to sign a paper saying I'd seen you authorize her to manage your inheritance.””
I felt sick.
“Did you sign it?””
Mia closed her eyes.
“Yes.””
The room went silent.
“Why?””
“She said it was just a form confirming that you'd agreed to let her organize your college money. She said Dad already knew about it.””
“You knew about the fake authorization?””
“I didn't know it was fake!””
“You saw my name on a document and signed a statement about something I never agreed to.””
“I thought it was paperwork!””
I stepped back.
“You helped her.””
Mia began crying harder.
“I know.””
For a moment, I saw the little girl who used to follow me into the garden when we were children, carrying a plastic watering can and insisting she could help Mom plant flowers.
Then I remembered the lighter.
“I'm not going to forgive you just because you're scared,” I said.
“I know.””
“And I'm not going to lie for you.””
“I know.””
She placed her hands over her face.
“But I can tell Dad what happened. I'll tell the lawyer, too. I just need you to understand that Mom makes everything feel like it's your fault if you don't obey her.””
I slipped the flash drive into my handbag.
“Then you can start by telling Dad the truth.””
We went downstairs together.
Rachel was standing in the kitchen, pouring coffee into a white porcelain cup. Her phone lay beside the sugar bowl, its screen facing down.
She looked up.
“What's going on?””
Mia opened her mouth.
Rachel's gaze shifted to the silver drive protruding slightly from my handbag.
Her cup slipped from her fingers.
It shattered against the tile.
Nobody moved.
Then Rachel slowly straightened.
“Where did you get that?””
Mia stepped behind me.
“Mom, I—”
“Be quiet.””
Dad appeared in the kitchen doorway, drawn by the crash.
He looked at the broken cup, then at Rachel.
“What happened?””
Rachel pointed at me.
“She stole something from my handbag.””
“No, I didn't,” I replied.
“Give it back.””
Dad's voice cut through the room.
“Rachel, what is on that drive?””
Her expression changed.
“Nothing.””
“Then you won't mind if we examine it.””
She stared at him.
“You cannot be serious.””
“I'm completely serious.””
Rachel reached for the flash drive, but I moved away.
“Don't touch me.””
Her hand stopped inches from my arm.
For a split second, the mask fell away. Her eyes were cold, and her mouth tightened with unmistakable fury.
Then she smiled.
“You have no idea what you're holding, Claire.””
“Then explain it.””
“I won't discuss private family matters in front of Mia.””
Mia stepped forward.
“You mean the documents you asked me to sign?””
Rachel went completely still.
Dad turned toward Mia.
“What documents?””
Mia's voice shook, but she continued.
“The statement saying Claire agreed to let Mom manage the inheritance. I signed it because Mom told me it was legitimate.””
Dad's face hardened.
“Rachel?””
She set her cup down with deliberate care.
“This is ridiculous. Mia misunderstood what she was signing.””
“No,” Mia whispered.
“You told me Claire had already agreed.””
“I told you to help your sister.””
“You told me to lie!””
Rachel slapped her palm against the counter.
“Enough!””
Mia recoiled.
Dad moved between them.
“Do not speak to her like that.””
Rachel laughed, but the sound was brittle.
“You're all acting as if I've committed some terrible crime. I've spent seven years holding this family together while you mourned a woman who wasn't nearly as innocent as you believe.””
Dad's expression went dangerously still.
“Get out of my kitchen.””
“This is my house, too.””
“Then act like someone who deserves to live in it.””
Rachel stared at him as though she no longer recognized the man standing before her.
Then she picked up her phone.
“You'll regret this.””
She walked out, leaving the broken porcelain scattered across the floor.
Dad waited until her footsteps disappeared before turning to Mia.
“Tell me everything.””
Mia nodded, tears streaming down her face.
But before she could begin, Dad's phone rang.
The attorney's name appeared on the screen.
He answered immediately.
“Have you found the original ledger?””
The attorney spoke for several seconds.
Dad's face changed.
“No, that isn't possible. The study has been locked for years.””
Another pause.
Then Dad gripped the counter.
“What do you mean someone requested the file yesterday?””
I felt the blood drain from my face.
Dad listened, his eyes fixed on the hallway where Rachel had disappeared.
Finally, he said, “Who signed the request?””
The attorney gave him an answer.
Dad closed his eyes.
When he opened them, he looked directly at me.
“Rachel Whitmore.””
And then the attorney added something that made him drop into the nearest chair.
The request had not been made under Rachel's name alone.
May you like
It had been submitted using the identity of someone who had been dead for seven years.
My mother.
