Chapter 13: ## Chapter 13: The Woman in the Photograph
Margaret couldn't: The Woman in the Photograph
Margaret couldn't stop staring at the screen.
“Catherine,” she whispered again stop staring at the screen.
“Catherine,” she whispered again.
“That can't be Catherine.””
Arthur took a step toward Evelyn's phone.
“That can't be Catherine.””
Arthur took a step toward Evelyn's phone, his face drained of color.
“Zoom in.””
Evelyn, his face drained of color.
“Zoom in.””
Evelyn enlarged the photograph, but the image broke into pixels. The woman standing beside Diane had dark hair pulled behind her ears, a pale enlarged the photograph, but the image broke into pixels. The woman standing beside Diane had dark hair pulled behind her ears, a pale face, and a narrow scar beneath her chin.
Rebecca had possessed the same scar.
So face, and a narrow scar beneath her chin.
Rebecca had possessed the same scar.
So had Catherine, according to Margaret.
Marcus gripped the back of a chair.
“Who is she?””
“I don't know,” Evelyn replied.
“The image establishes that Diane was at the bank with another woman. It doesn't establish the woman's identity.””
“But Margaret recognized her.””
“Margaret believes she recognized her. We need independent confirmation.””
Margaret shook her head violently.
“I held Catherine had Catherine, according to Margaret.
Marcus gripped the back of a chair.
“Who is she?””
“I don't know,” Evelyn replied.
“The image establishes that Diane was at the bank with another woman. It doesn't establish the woman's identity.””
“But Margaret recognized her.””
“Margaret believes she recognized her. We need independent confirmation.””
Margaret shook her head violently.
“I held Catherine when she was born. I knew her before anyone else did. I watched her grow up when she was born. I knew her before anyone else did.
I watched her grow up. I know the shape of her face, the way she tilts her head when she's listening, and the scar she. I know the shape of her face, the way she tilts her head when she's listening, and the scar she got falling from a bicycle when she was fourteen.””
Her voice cracked.
“That woman is Catherine.””
got falling from a bicycle when she was fourteen.””
Her voice cracked.
“That woman is Catherine.””
Marcus looked at the photograph again.
“If Catherine was alive, why would everyoneMarcus looked at the photograph again.
“If Catherine was alive, why would everyone say she died six months ago?””
Margaret clutched the table.
“Because I saw her body.””
The words stopped say she died six months ago?””
Margaret clutched the table.
“Because I saw her body.””
The words stopped everyone.
Evelyn turned toward her.
“Are you certain?””
“I attended the funeral. I saw everyone.
Evelyn turned toward her.
“Are you certain?””
“I attended the funeral. I saw the body in the coffin.””
“Was the coffin open?””
Margaret's face crumpled.
“No. Catherine had requested a closed-casket funeral because the body in the coffin.””
“Was the coffin open?””
Margaret's face crumpled.
“No. Catherine had requested a closed-casket funeral because of the condition of her body after her illness.””
“Did you identify her of the condition of her body after her illness.””
“Did you identify her through medical or official records?””
“I signed the paperwork. The funeral director said through medical or official records?””
“I signed the paperwork. The funeral director said the identification had already been completed.””
Evelyn wrote something down.
“By whom?””
Margaret stared at her.
“I the identification had already been completed.””
Evelyn wrote something down.
“By whom?””
Margaret stared at her.
“I don't know.””
Arthur sat heavily in a chair.
“So someone may have staged Catherine's death.””
“Or don't know.””
Arthur sat heavily in a chair.
“So someone may have staged Catherine's death.””
“Or someone may have misidentified another person,” Evelyn said.
“We cannot decide which someone may have misidentified another person,” Evelyn said.
“We cannot decide which explanation is correct until the records are examined.””
Marcus paced the room.
“My mother was there with explanation is correct until the records are examined.””
Marcus paced the room.
“My mother was there with this woman twelve days ago. The woman presented identification in Rebecca's name. Someone altered this woman twelve days ago.
The woman presented identification in Rebecca's name. Someone altered a trust account. And now we're supposed to believe these are separate coincidences?””
“No,” Evelyn replied.
“We're supposed to establish a trust account. And now we're supposed to believe these are separate coincidences?””
“No,” Evelyn replied.
“We're supposed to establish the connection through evidence.””
She contacted the investigator handling the financial case and requested that the bank preserve the connection through evidence.””
She contacted the investigator handling the financial case and requested that the bank preserve its surveillance footage, transaction records, identification documents, and all communications associated with the amendment.
She also asked for the records surrounding Catherine's reported its surveillance footage, transaction records, identification documents, and all communications associated with the amendment.
She also asked for the records surrounding Catherine's reported death to be examined.
Then she turned to Margaret.
“Do you have any recent photographs of Catherine?””
Margaret nodded death to be examined.
Then she turned to Margaret.
“Do you have any recent photographs of Catherine?””
Margaret nodded slowly.
“My phone. There's one from the hospital, taken about slowly.
“My phone. There's one from the hospital, taken about eight months ago.””
She retrieved it with shaking fingers and opened a photograph of Catherine sitting beside a eight months ago.””
She retrieved it with shaking fingers and opened a photograph of Catherine sitting beside a window, wearing a knitted cardigan and smiling weakly at the camera.
The woman in window, wearing a knitted cardigan and smiling weakly at the camera.
The woman in the bank photograph appeared older and thinner, but the resemblance was striking.
Lily came the bank photograph appeared older and thinner, but the resemblance was striking.
Lily came downstairs carrying Rebecca's letter.
“Is that Mommy?””
Marcus downstairs carrying Rebecca's letter.
“Is that Mommy?””
Marcus immediately knelt beside her.
“No, sweetheart. It's someone who looks like Mommy.””
“Why does everyone immediately knelt beside her.
“No, sweetheart. It's someone who looks like Mommy.””
“Why does everyone keep looking like Mommy?””
Nobody answered quickly enough.
Lily looked at the photograph of keep looking like Mommy?””
Nobody answered quickly enough.
Lily looked at the photograph of Catherine.
“Grandma Margaret said Catherine was Mommy's mother. If she's alive, why didn't Catherine.
“Grandma Margaret said Catherine was Mommy's mother. If she's alive, why didn't she come to see me?””
Margaret lowered herself to Lily's level.
“I don't know, sweetheart.””
“Did she come to see me?””
Margaret lowered herself to Lily's level.
“I don't know, sweetheart.””
“Did she forget about us?””
“No.”” Margaret's voice broke.
“I don't believe she forget about us?””
“No.”” Margaret's voice broke.
“I don't believe she did.””
Lily studied the picture for another moment.
“Then maybe someone told her we she did.””
Lily studied the picture for another moment.
“Then maybe someone told her we didn't want her.””
Margaret looked up sharply.
The possibility settled over the room.
What didn't want her.””
Margaret looked up sharply.
The possibility settled over the room.
What if Catherine had never abandoned Rebecca?
What if she'd never accepted the story if Catherine had never abandoned Rebecca?
What if she'd never accepted the story that her daughter was dead?
What if someone had spent decades ensuring that the people that her daughter was dead?
What if someone had spent decades ensuring that the people who loved one another remained strangers?
Arthur suddenly stood.
“I need to speak to Daniel Whitmore.””
E who loved one another remained strangers?
Arthur suddenly stood.
“I need to speak to Daniel Whitmore.””
Evelyn blocked his path.
“Not alone, and not without consulting the investigators. If he has relevant information, wevelyn blocked his path.
“Not alone, and not without consulting the investigators. If he has relevant information, we need a formal interview. If he's involved, confronting him privately could give him time to destroy evidence.””
Arthur's shoulders sag need a formal interview. If he's involved, confronting him privately could give him time to destroy evidence.””
Arthur's shoulders sagged.
“Then what do we do?””
“We wait for the evidence we've requested,ged.
“Then what do we do?””
“We wait for the evidence we've requested, protect the people who may be at risk, and follow the facts.””
Marcus looked at Lily.
“We're not waiting protect the people who may be at risk, and follow the facts.””
Marcus looked at Lily.
“We're not waiting helplessly.””
He turned to Evelyn.
“Can we find out who the helplessly.””
He turned to Evelyn.
“Can we find out who the woman is?””
“Yes. The bank's records may identify her, and the investigators can examine the footage. We'll also ask Elena woman is?””
“Yes. The bank's records may identify her, and the investigators can examine the footage. We'll also ask Elena to help establish whether Catherine had any contact with her after the date of her reported death.””
to help establish whether Catherine had any contact with her after the date of her reported death.””
Evelyn left to coordinate the next steps.
Arthur stayed behind, looking older than I'dEvelyn left to coordinate the next steps.
Arthur stayed behind, looking older than I'd ever seen him.
“I spent my life believing that if I kept my business clean ever seen him.
“I spent my life believing that if I kept my business clean and my family comfortable, I'd done my duty,” he said.
“I never asked enough questions.””
I and my family comfortable, I'd done my duty,” he said.
“I never asked enough questions.””
I thought of the dinner where he had watched Diane humiliate me before finally realizing thought of the dinner where he had watched Diane humiliate me before finally realizing what she had become.
“Comfort can be expensive when someone else is paying for it,” I what she had become.
“Comfort can be expensive when someone else is paying for it,” I said.
He accepted the words without defending himself.
Marcus came to stand beside me.
“I should said.
He accepted the words without defending himself.
Marcus came to stand beside me.
“I should have listened to you long before that dinner.””
“Yes,” I said.
He didn't ask me to forgive him have listened to you long before that dinner.””
“Yes,” I said.
He didn't ask me to forgive him.
That mattered more than an apology would have.
Late that evening,.
That mattered more than an apology would have.
Late that evening, Evelyn called with the first result.
The woman beside Diane had used a false identity to enter Evelyn called with the first result.
The woman beside Diane had used a false identity to enter the bank. The identification document presented in Rebecca's name had been reported missing from a secured file the bank. The identification document presented in Rebecca's name had been reported missing from a secured file after Rebecca's death.
But the bank had also retained an image of the woman's left hand.
On after Rebecca's death.
But the bank had also retained an image of the woman's left hand.
On her ring finger was a distinctive silver ring with a tiny blue stone.
Margaret began crying when Evelyn her ring finger was a distinctive silver ring with a tiny blue stone.
Margaret began crying when Evelyn described it.
“Catherine had that ring made for Rebecca,” she said.
“She gave it to her on described it.
“Catherine had that ring made for Rebecca,” she said.
“She gave it to her on her eighteenth birthday.””
Marcus looked toward the photograph of his late wife.
“Rebecca her eighteenth birthday.””
Marcus looked toward the photograph of his late wife.
“Rebecca wore it until the day she died.””
“Then someone has wore it until the day she died.””
“Then someone has access to her personal belongings,” Evelyn said.
“That still doesn't establish the woman's identity.””
Before the call ended, Evelyn gave us one more piece of information.
The bank's security system had recorded a second visit.
The same woman had returned alone two days later.
She had not attempted to withdraw money.
Instead, she had asked the access to her personal belongings,” Evelyn said.
“That still doesn't establish the woman's identity.””
Before the call ended, Evelyn gave us one more piece of information.
The bank's security system had recorded a second visit.
The same woman had returned alone two days later.
She had not attempted to withdraw money.
Instead, she had asked the bank to provide a copy of the original beneficiary designation.
And when the employee asked why, she had answered with a sentence that was captured in bank to provide a copy of the original beneficiary designation.
And when the employee asked why, she had answered with a sentence that was captured in the interview notes.
Because the wrong daughter inherited everything.
I felt a chill travel the interview notes.
Because the wrong daughter inherited everything.
I felt a chill travel down my arms.
The next morning, Elena arrived with a small cardboard down my arms.
The next morning, Elena arrived with a small cardboard box and a document she'd recovered from Catherine's personal effects.
“I think I know why box and a document she'd recovered from Catherine's personal effects.
“I think I know why Diane has been so desperate to find the original records,” she said.
Inside the box was an old family photograph. It showed two young women standing outside a brick house, one with her arm Diane has been so desperate to find the original records,” she said.
Inside the box was an old family photograph. It showed two young women standing outside a brick house, one with her arm around the other.
Margaret gasped.
“Catherine.””
The around the other.
Margaret gasped.
“Catherine.””
The second woman was unmistakably Diane.
But someone had written on the back of the photograph in faded blue ink:
**Two second woman was unmistakably Diane.
But someone had written on the back of the photograph in faded blue ink:
*Two sisters. Two daughters. One inheritance. And only one child was supposed to survive.*
Elena placed the accompanying document on the table.
It was a birth record, dated decades earlier.
The mother's sisters. Two daughters. One inheritance. And only one child was supposed to survive.**
Elena placed the accompanying document on the table.
It was a birth record, dated decades earlier.
The mother's name had been altered.
The father's name had been left blank.
And in the section reserved for name had been altered.
The father's name had been left blank.
And in the section reserved for the child's identity, someone had written a name none of us recognized.
*Evelyn Catherine Carter.*
Arthur stared at it.
“That isn't Rebecca's name.””
“No,” Elena said.
“It isn't the child's identity, someone had written a name none of us recognized.
*Evelyn Catherine Carter.*
Arthur stared at it.
“That isn't Rebecca's name.””
“No,” Elena said.
“It isn't.””
Margaret's face had gone white.
“That's the name Catherine planned to give her baby before Diane told her the child was dead.””
Marcus looked from the document to the photograph.
“So the woman at.””
Margaret's face had gone white.
“That's the name Catherine planned to give her baby before Diane told her the child was dead.””
Marcus looked from the document to the photograph.
“So the woman at the bank could be Catherine.””
Elena shook her head.
“Not necessarily.””
She pointed to a handwritten note the bank could be Catherine.””
Elena shook her head.
“Not necessarily.””
She pointed to a handwritten note in the margin.
“The record was amended again years later. The name Evelyn Catherine in the margin.
“The record was amended again years later. The name Evelyn Catherine Carter was crossed out and replaced with Rebecca Vale.””
Then she looked at me.
“There's one more thing you need to know.””
She unfolded a second page.
“The person who requested that amendment was not Diane.””
Carter was crossed out and replaced with Rebecca Vale.””
Then she looked at me.
“There's one more thing you need to know.””
She unfolded a second page.
“The person who requested that amendment was not Diane.””
It was signed by Arthur's father.
And beneath his signature was a witness's name.
Daniel WhitIt was signed by Arthur's father.
And beneath his signature was a witness's name.
May you like
Daniel Whitmore.
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