Chapter 14: The Last Thing My Mother Left Me
Rachel looked at me.
She didn’t speak.
Neither did I.
Because suddenly, every person in my life had become a question.
My father.
Vanessa.
Daniel.
Rachel.
Everyone had lied.
Everyone had hidden something.
“Emily,” Rachel said.
I stepped back.
“Don’t.””
Her face fell.
“You think I did something.””
“I don’t know what to think anymore.””
She nodded slowly.
“I understand.””
“Do you?””
My voice cracked.
“My mother trusted people. Look what happened.””
Rachel looked away.
“She knew trusting people was dangerous.””
“Then why did she trust you?””
Rachel took a deep breath.
“Because I was the only person who told her the truth.””
I stared at her.
“Did you?””
“Yes.””
“Then why did Victor say you betrayed her?””
Rachel’s expression changed.
Not fear.
Pain.
“Because Victor is a liar.””
“Everyone says that about everyone else.””
She reached into her bag.
She pulled out another file.
“This is why your mother hired me.””
I didn’t move.
“Open it.””
Inside were documents.
Bank records.
Emails.
Photographs.
And one name repeated everywhere.
Victor Hale.
Not Vanessa.
Not my father.
Victor.
“He was the person moving money,” Rachel said.
I looked through the papers.
“He controlled Vanessa.””
“Yes.””
“How?””
Rachel pointed to one document.
“Debt.””
I frowned.
“She owed him money.””
“A lot.””
“So she was working for him?””
“Yes.””
The pieces started connecting.
The car.
The envelope.
The trust.
The threats.
Victor wasn’t after my mother’s money.
He was after something else.
“What was my mother hiding?””
Rachel looked at me.
“The truth about him.””
I turned another page.
And there it was.
A document signed by my mother.
A statement.
Evidence.
Against Victor.
My hands shook.
“She knew.””
“Yes.””
“She knew he was dangerous.””
“Yes.””
“Then why didn’t she go to the police?””
Rachel looked down.
“Because she was afraid.””
“Of him?””
“Of what would happen if she failed.””
I looked at the document.
“What does that mean?””
Rachel took a breath.
“Your mother believed Victor would hurt you.””
My chest tightened.
“She was protecting me.””
“Yes.””
Then my phone rang.
My father.
I almost didn’t answer.
But I did.
“Emily.””
His voice sounded broken.
“Where are you?””
“Why?””
“Because Vanessa escaped.””
My heart jumped.
“What?””
“She disappeared after the police arrived.””
“Police?””
“Rachel called them.””
I looked at Rachel.
She nodded.
“Emily, listen to me.””
My father sounded desperate.
“Victor is not the only person you need to worry about.””
I closed my eyes.
“Who else?””
A pause.
Then:
“Vanessa.””
“She’s gone.””
“No.””
His voice shook.
“She took something.””
“What?””
“The original documents your mother left.””
I stood.
“What documents?””
“The ones proving everything.””
My blood ran cold.
“She took the evidence.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
My father whispered:
“Because she knows where your mother hid the final piece.””
I looked at the file.
“The final piece?””
My father said:
“Your mother didn’t leave everything in the car.””
Silence.
“She left something for you.””
“What?””
His voice broke.
“A video.””
I froze.
“Where?””
My father answered:
“Inside the one place Vanessa would never think to search.””
My mind raced.
Then I knew.
The place my mother loved.
The place she spent her happiest moments.
May you like
The place Vanessa hated.
“My mother’s garden.””
