Chapter 7: The Woman Who Had Been Living a Double Life
I read the detective's message three times before I could believe it.
An account had been opened under Sarah Carter's name six months earlier.
Six months.
Sarah had been dead for almost four years.
"Daniel?"" Rebecca asked.
"What's wrong?""
I handed her my phone.
She read the message, then looked at me.
"Could someone have stolen Sarah's identity?""
"That's what I'm afraid of.""
I called the detective back.
"Detective Harris, I need to understand something. How was this account opened?""
"We're investigating that. The account was created using personal information belonging to your late wife. The initial deposit was relatively small, but several transfers followed.""
"From where?""
"Your household accounts.""
I rubbed my forehead.
"How much?""
"Approximately forty-eight thousand dollars so far.""
I stared at the wall.
Forty-eight thousand.
Money that should have been paying for household expenses, Maya's education, and the children's needs.
"Who authorized the transfers?""
"That's what we're trying to establish. Your household assistant's credentials were used for some of them.""
I looked at Rebecca.
"Eleanor.""
"Do you know where she is?"" the detective asked.
"She was supposed to be working today.""
"Do not confront her alone. We would like you to come to the station with the documents you found.""
"I'll be there.""
When I ended the call, Rebecca took my arm.
"Daniel, what if Eleanor knows something about Sarah's death?""
I looked at her.
"Don't say that.""
"I'm not saying she had anything to do with it. I'm saying we need to find out why someone is using Sarah's identity.""
I drove home with my sister.
Maya and Caleb were sitting at the dining table when we arrived.
Rebecca had arranged for a neighbor to bring them lunch.
Maya was coloring.
Caleb was staring at a sandwich he hadn't touched.
When he saw me, he stood.
"Daniel?""
"Hey, buddy.""
"Is Mom coming back?""
I crouched beside him.
"Not today.""
He nodded slowly.
Then he looked toward Maya.
"Can I sit with her?""
I glanced at my daughter.
Maya hesitated before moving her coloring book.
"Okay.""
Caleb sat beside her.
For several minutes, they worked quietly.
Then he pushed half his sandwich toward her.
"You can have this.""
Maya looked at him.
"Are you sure?""
He nodded.
"There's more in the kitchen.""
I turned away before either child noticed my expression.
At that moment, the doorbell rang.
Rebecca checked the camera.
"It's Eleanor.""
My stomach tightened.
I walked to the door.
Eleanor stood outside holding two grocery bags.
She was sixty-two, with silver hair usually tied into a neat bun. She had worked for us since Sarah's final year, and I'd always considered her part of the family.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Carter.""
Her smile disappeared when she saw my expression.
"Is everything all right?""
"Come inside.""
She entered.
Her eyes immediately went toward the kitchen.
"Where's Vanessa?""
"Not here.""
Eleanor set the grocery bags down.
"Is she shopping?""
"No.""
I watched her carefully.
"Did you open a bank account under Sarah's name?""
Her hands froze.
Only for a second.
But I saw it.
"What?""
"An account using my late wife's identity.""
Eleanor slowly removed her coat.
"I don't know what you're talking about.""
I held up the bank statement.
"This account received forty-eight thousand dollars from household funds.""
She looked at the document.
Then she sat down.
"Mr. Carter, I think there's been a misunderstanding.""
"Then clear it up.""
She folded her hands.
"I did what Mrs. Vanessa asked me to do.""
I felt my jaw tighten.
"Why?""
"She said it was for the children's future.""
"Which children?""
"Both of them.""
"Why use Sarah's name?""
Eleanor looked toward the stairs.
"I was told the account was part of an arrangement Mrs. Sarah had made before she died.""
I stared at her.
"Did you ever speak to Sarah about it?""
"No.""
"Then why did you believe Vanessa?""
Eleanor's eyes filled with tears.
"Because she showed me documents.""
"What documents?""
"Copies of letters. Signatures. Things that looked official.""
I sat opposite her.
"How much did Vanessa pay you?""
She looked down.
"Nothing.""
"Then why help her?""
Eleanor hesitated.
Finally, she whispered, "Because I was afraid.""
"Of Vanessa?""
She nodded.
"She told me if I didn't cooperate, she would make sure I lost my job and my pension. She said she had recordings of me taking money from the house.""
I frowned.
"Did you?""
"No!""
Her voice cracked.
"I never stole from you, Mr. Carter. Not once.""
I watched her carefully.
"Did you know Maya was being denied food?""
Eleanor began crying.
"Yes.""
The answer hit me harder than I expected.
"You knew?""
She covered her mouth.
"I tried to help her.""
"How?""
"I left food in her schoolbag. I put snacks in the laundry basket. I told her she could come to the pantry when Vanessa wasn't around.""
I stared at her.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
Eleanor looked at the floor.
"Because Vanessa threatened to send me away and tell you I was stealing.""
I stood.
"You watched my daughter suffer because you were afraid of losing your job?""
She didn't answer.
I walked toward the kitchen.
On the counter sat a small brown paper bag.
Inside were crackers, apples, and two chocolate bars.
Eleanor had brought groceries for Maya.
I turned back.
"You're going to give a full statement to the police.""
She nodded.
"I will.""
"And you're not going to contact Vanessa.""
"I won't.""
Before I could say anything else, Eleanor reached into her purse.
She removed a small photograph.
"I think you should see this.""
It showed Sarah standing beside Eleanor in our old backyard.
They were smiling.
On the back, Sarah had written something.
Eleanor knows where the original documents are.
I looked up.
"What original documents?""
Eleanor swallowed.
"Mrs. Sarah gave me a sealed package shortly before she died.""
My pulse quickened.
"Where is it?""
"I hid it.""
"Why?""
"Because Vanessa came looking for it after the funeral.""
"Where did you hide it?""
Eleanor looked directly at me.
"Inside the old storage room at the house.""
I stared at her.
There was a storage room beneath the staircase, filled with boxes we hadn't opened since Sarah died.
I had assumed it contained old holiday decorations.
"What's inside the package?""
Eleanor shook her head.
"I never opened it.""
"Then why didn't you give it to me?""
"Mrs. Sarah made me promise to wait until you asked about the trust.""
I looked at her.
"I've been asking about the trust for years.""
Eleanor started crying again.
"Mrs. Vanessa told me you already knew everything.""
I closed my eyes.
Another lie.
Another person manipulated into silence.
I took my keys.
"Show me.""
We walked toward the storage room.
Eleanor unlocked the old door.
The smell of dust and cardboard filled the narrow space.
She moved several boxes aside and pointed toward a wooden cabinet.
"Behind there.""
I pulled the cabinet forward.
A small metal box sat against the wall.
It had no lock.
Inside was a sealed envelope, a flash drive, and a folded document.
My name was written across the envelope.
Sarah's handwriting.
I opened it.
The first sentence made my blood run cold.
Daniel, if Vanessa has told you that I died because of my illness, you need to know that she is hiding something.
I looked at Eleanor.
"Did you know?""
She shook her head.
I continued reading.
The final months of my life were not what you believed.
Then I heard footsteps behind us.
A familiar voice spoke from the doorway.
"Put that envelope down, Daniel.""
I turned.
Caleb stood there.
But he wasn't alone.
Behind him stood a woman I had not seen in four years.
A woman whose face I had spent years trying not to forget.
Sarah's older sister.
Margaret.
She looked directly at me.
May you like
And whispered:
"Your wife didn't die the way they told you.""
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