Chapter 4: The Secret Evelyn Buried
I didn't sleep that night.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the photograph of my mother standing beside Marcus.
Two months before she died.
And behind them, wearing the emerald necklace I had seen at my wedding, was Evelyn Carter.
My husband's mother.
At 7:15 the following morning, I sat in Daniel's office with three cups of untouched coffee between us.
He had spent the night tracing the photograph.
"There's a problem," he said.
I looked up.
"Of course there is.""
"The restaurant closed fifteen years ago. The building was sold twice, and the original security footage no longer exists.""
"What about the photographer?""
"We haven't identified one.""
I pushed the photograph toward him.
"Look at the reflection in the window.""
Daniel leaned closer.
Behind my mother, the restaurant window reflected a parked black Mercedes.
I recognized it.
It had belonged to my father.
"That car was registered to the family company," Daniel said.
"My father drove it everywhere.""
"Then he may have known about the meeting.""
I studied the photograph again.
"Why would my mother meet Marcus?""
Daniel didn't answer.
Instead, he placed another document on the table.
"We found something else in your father's private archive.""
It was a handwritten appointment book.
My father's handwriting filled the pages, recording meetings, business dinners, and personal reminders.
Daniel opened it to the date of the photograph.
October 3.
Three names had been written beneath the heading PRIVATE MEETING.
*Helen Carter. Marcus Reed. Evelyn Carter.*
I stared.
"Marcus's last name wasn't Carter then.""
"No. He changed it after your marriage.""
I felt my throat tighten.
"Reed?""
"His birth surname was Reed.""
I looked at Daniel.
"Why didn't I know that?""
"Your father knew. Your marriage certificate contains his original surname. But there was a legal name change shortly before your wedding.""
I remembered Marcus telling me that he had changed his surname because his father had abandoned the family.
I had never questioned it.
Daniel turned another page.
There was a note written in red ink.
Helen insists we tell Nia everything. E disagrees. M says we have no choice.
My mother's name.
My husband's original surname.
And Evelyn's initial.
"What does E stand for?"" I asked, although I already knew.
Daniel closed the book.
"Evelyn.""
I stood up.
"I'm going to see her.""
"Nia, I strongly recommend you don't go alone.""
"I'm not going alone.""
Daniel raised an eyebrow.
I picked up my phone.
"I'm taking you.""
Two hours later, we arrived at Evelyn's townhouse on the Upper East Side.
She lived in a beautiful brownstone with white marble floors, antique furniture, and enormous arrangements of fresh flowers.
The kind of home where nothing was ever allowed to look out of place.
She opened the door herself.
Her expression changed when she saw Daniel standing beside me.
"Good morning, Evelyn," I said.
She stepped aside.
"I wasn't expecting you.""
"That's becoming a habit.""
We followed her into the sitting room.
She wore a pale blue blouse and a pearl necklace. Her hair was perfectly arranged, and a porcelain cup rested on the table beside her.
"Would you like tea?"" she asked.
"No.""
She sat down.
"Then what is this about?""
I placed the photograph on the coffee table.
Her eyes moved toward it.
For the first time, I saw her lose control of her expression.
Only for a second.
But it was enough.
"Where did you get that?"" she asked.
"That's not important.""
"It is if someone is circulating private family photographs.""
"That's my mother.""
Evelyn looked away.
"I know who it is.""
"Then tell me why she was meeting Marcus.""
Her fingers tightened around her teacup.
"That was a long time ago.""
"Two months before she died.""
"Your mother was involved in things she didn't understand.""
I leaned forward.
"What things?""
Evelyn sighed.
"Your father had made several poor financial decisions. Helen discovered them and became convinced that people were stealing from the company.""
"Was she right?""
"Your mother was emotional.""
"Was she right?""
Evelyn put down her cup.
"Your father was under tremendous pressure. There were disagreements. That's all.""
Daniel opened his briefcase.
"We have evidence of unauthorized transfers from the family trust dating back more than twenty years.""
Evelyn's face tightened.
"Then perhaps you should speak to the people who managed the accounts.""
"We are," Daniel replied.
He removed a copy of the appointment book.
"We would also like to know why your name appears beside Helen's and Marcus's on October 3.""
Evelyn stared at the page.
Then she slowly leaned back.
"I wondered when you would find that.""
My stomach dropped.
"You knew?""
She looked at me.
"Your mother was planning to leave your father.""
The room seemed to shrink.
"What?""
"She believed he had been hiding money. She wanted to take you and move away.""
I shook my head.
"That's impossible.""
"She was unhappy, Nia.""
"Why would she tell Marcus?""
"Because Marcus was the only person she thought she could trust.""
I almost laughed.
"She trusted him?""
Evelyn's eyes flickered.
"At that time, Marcus was helping your father with some private investments. Helen believed he could help her obtain documents.""
"What documents?""
"I don't know.""
Daniel interrupted.
"Mrs. Carter, you're avoiding the question.""
Evelyn turned toward him.
"I have answered what I can.""
I reached into my bag and removed my phone.
I showed her the photograph of the emerald necklace.
"That necklace. You were wearing it the night you met my mother.""
She stared at the screen.
Then her hand moved instinctively toward her throat.
I noticed.
So did Daniel.
"Where is it now?"" I asked.
"In my bedroom.""
"May I see it?""
"No.""
"Why?""
"Because it's mine.""
I stood.
"Then I suppose you'll understand why I want to know what you were doing with my mother.""
Evelyn's voice became sharp.
"Your mother was going to destroy this family.""
I froze.
Daniel slowly closed his briefcase.
"What did you just say?"" I asked.
Evelyn realized what she had revealed.
She looked down.
"That isn't what I meant.""
"Then explain it.""
She stood abruptly.
"Your father had built an empire. Helen wanted to take everything away because she couldn't accept that he had made difficult decisions.""
"Which decisions?""
Evelyn walked toward the window.
For several seconds, she said nothing.
Then she turned.
"Ask Marcus what happened to your mother's original will.""
My heart began pounding.
"My mother had a will?""
Evelyn's lips pressed together.
"Your father never told you?""
"No.""
She looked almost satisfied.
"Then perhaps you should stop pretending you know your family.""
I stepped closer.
"Where is it?""
Evelyn didn't answer.
Instead, she looked directly at me and said something I would remember for the rest of my life.
"Your mother didn't die with nothing to leave you, Nia. She left you something very important.""
"What?""
Evelyn's expression changed.
"Something Marcus has been trying to find for twelve years.""
Before I could ask another question, her front door opened.
Marcus walked into the sitting room.
He looked at me.
Then at Daniel.
Then at the photograph on the table.
His expression hardened.
"Mother, what have you told her?""
May you like
Evelyn stood motionless.
And I realized that whatever secret she had been hiding, Marcus had been desperate to keep it buried.
