Chapter 6: The Woman My Mother Trusted
The photograph shook in my hands.
My father.
Vanessa.
A stranger.
Standing together outside a bank.
One month before my mother died.
I wanted to believe there was an explanation.
A reasonable one.
A misunderstanding.
Anything.
But my mother’s warnings kept repeating in my mind.
She had known.
She had prepared.
And now someone was trying to hide the truth.
“Who is the man?”” I asked Rachel.
She looked at the photo.
“His name is Victor Hale.””
“Why was my father meeting him?””
“Because Victor specialized in moving money without leaving obvious records.””
My stomach turned.
“You mean fraud?””
Rachel didn’t answer directly.
“He helped people hide assets.””
I looked toward my house.
“My father was involved.””
“I don’t know everything your father did.””
“But you know Vanessa was involved.””
Rachel nodded.
“Your mother believed Vanessa was controlling him.””
I swallowed.
“How did you know my mother?””
Rachel’s expression softened.
“She was my client.””
“An attorney?””
“Private investigator.””
That surprised me.
“My mother hired a private investigator?””
“Yes.””
“When?””
“Three months before she passed away.””
My hands tightened around the folder.
“She knew she was dying.””
Rachel nodded.
“She also knew she couldn’t trust everyone around her.””
I looked down.
“What did she ask you to investigate?””
Rachel hesitated.
“Your stepmother.””
The answer still hurt.
Even though I expected it.
“What did you find?””
Rachel opened another document.
“Vanessa had been searching for information about your mother’s finances before she died.””
“Why?””
“Because she believed your mother had hidden money.””
“But she didn’t know about the trust?””
“She knew there was something.””
I looked at the envelope.
“She was willing to destroy a car for this.””
“Yes.””
“Why didn’t my mother just tell me?””
Rachel looked at me sadly.
“Because she was afraid telling you would put you in danger.””
Those words broke something inside me.
My mother hadn’t forgotten me.
She had been protecting me.
Even while she was dying.
My phone suddenly rang.
Unknown number.
I answered immediately.
“Hello?””
A man’s voice whispered.
“Emily?””
My heart jumped.
“Tyler?””
“Yes.””
“Where are you?””
“I don’t have much time.””
I stood up.
“What happened?””
“They found me.””
“Who?””
“Vanessa’s people.””
My blood ran cold.
“Are you hurt?””
“No. But listen carefully.””
His breathing was heavy.
“The envelope you have isn’t complete.””
I frowned.
“What do you mean?””
“There’s a second part.””
I looked at Rachel.
“A second part?””
“Yes.””
“Where?””
Tyler hesitated.
“Your mother hid it somewhere only you would think to look.””
I tried to understand.
“My house?””
“No.””
“Her old house?””
“No.””
Then he whispered:
“The car.””
I froze.
“The car?””
“The glove compartment was a distraction.””
My heart pounded.
“What are you saying?””
“Your mother knew someone would search there.””
I looked at the envelope.
The handwriting.
The warning.
The trust.
Everything.
“Where did she hide it?””
Tyler took a breath.
“Look under the seat.””
The call suddenly became filled with static.
“Tyler?””
“Emily, one more thing…”
His voice became faint.
“Your father wasn’t the one who sold the car.””
I froze.
“What?””
The line crackled.
Then Tyler said:
“Your father was trying to save it from Vanessa.””
The call ended.
I stood there, unable to move.
Because if Tyler was telling the truth…
Then my father wasn’t my enemy.
He was hiding something else.
Rachel looked at me.
“What did he say?””
I slowly lowered my phone.
“He said the car was never supposed to be sold.””
A message appeared on my screen.
From Tyler.
One photo.
The inside of my mother’s Honda.
The glove compartment was open.
And beneath the empty space where the envelope had been…
was a hidden compartment.
With a second envelope inside.
May you like
And written on the top were four words:
*FOR EMILY. WHEN HE LIES.*
