Chapter 13: The Woman Beneath the Coffin
For eight years, I had dreamed about hearing my mother's voice again.
In those dreams, she always looked the same.
Her hair was dark. Her hands were warm. She stood in our old kitchen, asking whether Malik and I had eaten.
But the woman sitting inside the black sedan looked like someone who had spent eight years fighting to stay alive.
Her hair was almost entirely gray.
A thin scar ran along her jaw.
And her eyes carried a fear I had never seen before.
“Mom?””
She reached toward me.
“Come here, sweetheart.””
I took one step.
Patricia grabbed my wrist.
“Don't.””
I turned toward her.
“Let go.””
“She's not who you think she is.””
The woman in the car shook her head.
“Patricia, you've done enough.””
Patricia's face twisted.
“You should be grateful I kept you alive.””
My mother laughed bitterly.
“You kept me hidden.””
“I protected you!””
“You buried me.””
The words echoed through the cemetery.
I looked between them.
“What is happening?””
My mother opened the car door.
A driver stepped out and helped her stand.
She leaned heavily against him.
“Nia, I need you to listen carefully. The woman you buried wasn't a stranger.””
I looked toward the gravestone.
“Who was it?””
My mother closed her eyes.
“Someone who died because of me.””
I felt cold spread through my chest.
“Mom, whose body was in that coffin?””
She looked at Patricia.
“Tell her.””
Patricia shook her head.
“No.””
“Tell her what you did.””
“I did what I had to do.””
My mother turned back toward me.
“The woman in the coffin was Dr. Laura Bennett. She was the medical examiner who discovered Patricia's alterations to the relocation records.””
I remembered the second autopsy report.
Dr. Samuel Reed.
The hospital records.
The medical examiner's office.
“Why did you use her body?””
“Because Patricia needed everyone to believe I was dead,” Mom replied.
“And because she needed Michael to believe he had killed me.””
I stared at Patricia.
“You switched the bodies?””
Patricia's eyes filled.
“I was trying to prevent a war inside the department.””
“You made us bury another woman!””
“I had no choice!””
My mother stepped forward.
“You always had a choice, Patricia.””
For a moment, the two women stared at each other.
Then Patricia pulled something from her coat.
A small black pistol.
Morrison immediately raised his weapon.
“Drop it!””
Patricia didn't move.
“Stay back.””
Two investigators moved toward us.
Patricia pointed the pistol at my mother.
“Tell them what really happened, Evelyn.””
My mother stopped.
“Patricia, don't.””
“Tell them who signed the first relocation order.””
My mother looked down.
I felt my stomach tighten.
“Mom?””
She didn't answer.
Patricia began laughing.
“You see? She still won't tell you.””
I stepped between them.
“Put the gun down.””
Patricia looked at me.
“You have no idea what your mother did.””
“Then explain it.””
“She gave the original list to Whitmore. She signed the first transfer documents. She helped create the system you're investigating.””
My mother shook her head.
“I was trying to save those people.””
“That's what you always say!””
Patricia's voice broke.
“I spent years cleaning up after you. I changed records. I buried evidence.
I arranged identities. I did everything you asked.””
My mother looked at me.
“She's telling part of the truth.””
I stared at her.
“Which part?””
“Before the corruption began, I worked with Patricia to create an emergency relocation program. We were helping witnesses escape people who wanted them dead.””
“Then what happened?””
“Patricia began selling the identities.””
The silence was immediate.
My mother continued.
“She discovered that people could be moved, renamed, and erased without anyone questioning the paperwork. She started taking money from criminals who wanted witnesses removed.””
Patricia shook her head.
“You approved the first transfers.””
“To protect people.””
“And I protected you when you couldn't live with what you'd done!””
I looked at Morrison.
He had kept his weapon trained on Patricia.
“Captain, is any of this in the official investigation?””
He shook his head.
“Not yet.””
Patricia suddenly looked at me.
“You think this ends with me? Whitmore? Derek?””
She laughed.
“Your brother is still missing. And the person holding him has the original ledger.””
I stepped closer.
“Where is Malik?””
Patricia's expression changed.
“Ask your mother.””
I turned.
Mom looked toward the ground.
“Michael took him.””
I felt as though someone had struck me.
“My father?””
“He believes Malik is the only person who can destroy the network. He's keeping him hidden until he gets the complete ledger.””
“Where?””
My mother hesitated.
“Under the old medical examiner's building.””
Morrison immediately spoke into his radio.
“Get units to the old medical examiner's facility. Possible hostage location.””
Patricia began backing toward the cemetery road.
“Don't move!”” Morrison shouted.
She looked at me.
“You're making a mistake, Nia.””
“I'm not the one holding a gun.””
Patricia's eyes filled with tears.
“You'll understand when you know what your mother did to your father.””
Then she raised the pistol.
Morrison fired.
The shot struck Patricia's shoulder.
She dropped the weapon and collapsed beside the gravestone.
Officers rushed forward.
I barely looked at her.
My attention was on my mother.
“Mom, are you hurt?””
She shook her head.
“I need to tell you something before we go.””
“What?””
She reached into her coat and removed a small photograph.
It showed Malik standing beside Michael.
They were outside the old medical examiner's building.
On the back, my mother had written a date.
Tomorrow.
“Your father isn't keeping Malik prisoner,” she whispered.
I frowned.
“Then why did you say he took him?””
“Because Michael is trying to make him confess to something.””
“What?””
My mother looked directly into my eyes.
“The identity of the person who ordered the first disappearance.””
I felt my stomach tighten.
“Who disappeared?””
She looked toward the grave.
“Your sister.””
I stared at her.
“Elena?””
My mother nodded.
“Patricia gave birth to her. But Elena wasn't supposed to survive.””
I looked toward Patricia, who was being handcuffed.
Then I looked back at my mother.
“What are you saying?””
My mother squeezed my hand.
“Patricia didn't just help hide people, Nia.””
She leaned closer.
“She was the first person the network made disappear.””
Before I could respond, Morrison's radio crackled.
A voice came through.
“Deputy Chief, we've located a body inside the old medical examiner's building.””
Morrison reached for the radio.
“Identity?””
There was a pause.
Then the officer answered.
“Malik Carter.””
My heart stopped.
“No!””
I grabbed Morrison's arm.
“That's impossible. He was alive hours ago!””
The officer continued.
“Deputy Chief, there's something else.””
“What?””
“The body is wearing Detective Carter's brother's identification.””
I looked at my mother.
She was already crying.
Because suddenly I understood.
They hadn't found Malik.
May you like
They had found someone wearing his name.
And whoever had arranged it wanted us to believe my brother was dead.
