Chapter 9: The Secret Affair That Destroyed My Family
I drove home without turning on the radio.
My mother's confession kept replaying in my head.
Thomas had promised to leave his wife.
My mother had believed him.
And my father had apparently discovered the affair before he died.
When I arrived, Sienna was sitting on the sofa with her grandmother's handmade birthday card.
She looked up.
“Mom, are we going to see Grandma again?””
I placed my keys on the counter.
“Not today, sweetheart.””
She looked at the card.
“I think she might still like it.””
I sat beside her.
“Why do you think that?””
“Because I worked really hard on it.””
I brushed a strand of hair away from her face.
“I know you did.””
She leaned against me.
“Can I keep it?””
I kissed the top of her head.
“Of course.””
I didn't tell her what I'd discovered.
She was eight.
She deserved to worry about school projects, playground arguments, and what she wanted for dinner.
Not whether her grandmother had committed financial crimes.
That afternoon, Margaret Collins called.
“Emily, I've reviewed the documents you sent.””
I stood near the kitchen window.
“What do you think?””
“I think we need to act quickly.””
“Because of the loan?””
“Because of the loan, the forged signatures, and the attempted trust amendment. We need to preserve every document before anyone has an opportunity to destroy evidence.””
I glanced toward the dining table.
The blue box sat beside my laptop.
“Can I send you the USB drive?””
“Bring it directly to my office. Don't open or alter any files.””
“Understood.””
Margaret paused.
“Emily, there's something else. I contacted the county records office regarding the attempted transfer.””
“What did you find?””
“The company listed on the amendment submitted a second request yesterday.””
My stomach tightened.
“Yesterday?””
“Yes. Someone is trying to transfer ownership of two commercial properties before your birthday.””
“Who signed it?””
“Thomas Bell.””
I closed my eyes.
“Can they do that?””
“Not without proper authorization. But we should file an emergency notice disputing the transfer.””
“Please do.””
“Also, I want you to consider making a formal identity-theft report.””
“I will.””
After we hung up, I placed the USB drive in a padded envelope.
Then I received a message from Jason.
*We need to talk. It's about Dad.*
I stared at the screen.
He hadn't contacted me since the birthday party except to defend our mother.
I typed back.
*What about Dad?*
His reply came immediately.
*I know what happened the night he died.*
My heart began racing.
I called him.
He answered quietly.
“Emily.””
“What do you know?””
“Can we meet?””
“Tell me now.””
He sighed.
“Not over the phone.””
I looked toward Sienna.
“I'm not leaving her alone.””
“Bring her. We can meet somewhere public.””
I hesitated.
Then I arranged to meet him at a café near his apartment.
When I arrived, Jason was already sitting by the window.
He looked terrible.
His shirt was wrinkled, and there were dark circles beneath his eyes.
He stood when he saw me.
“Thanks for coming.””
I sat down.
“Talk.””
Jason ordered coffee.
I didn't.
He looked at my hands.
“Did Mom tell you about Thomas?””
“Yes.””
“About the affair?””
“Yes.””
He closed his eyes.
“Then you know more than I thought.””
I leaned forward.
“What happened the night Dad died?””
Jason stared at the table.
“I was seventeen.””
“I know.””
“I remember hearing them arguing.””
“Who?””
“Mom and Dad.””
My stomach tightened.
“What did they say?””
Jason rubbed his forehead.
“Dad had found the account records. He was furious. He kept saying he had proof.””
“Proof of what?””
“Thomas and Mom moving money.””
I waited.
Jason continued.
“Dad told Mom he was going to report them the next morning. He said he had already contacted someone.””
“Richard?””
Jason shook his head.
“No. A lawyer.””
I felt my pulse quicken.
“Do you remember the lawyer's name?””
“Not exactly. I think it was Collins.””
I froze.
“Margaret Collins?””
Jason nodded.
“Maybe. Dad mentioned a woman who was helping him prepare the documents.””
I sat back.
Margaret.
The same attorney now helping me.
“What happened after the argument?””
Jason stared out the window.
“I went downstairs because I heard something break. Mom was in the kitchen. Dad was in his study.””
“And?””
“She told me to go back upstairs.””
“Did you?””
He nodded.
“But about twenty minutes later, I heard Dad calling for her.””
My hands went cold.
“What did he say?””
Jason swallowed.
“He said, 'Linda, what have you done?''”
I stared at him.
“Then what?””
“I heard Mom crying. Then I heard the front door.””
“Who left?””
“Thomas.””
I couldn't speak.
Jason continued.
“I saw his car through the upstairs window. He drove away.””
“Did you tell the police?””
Jason shook his head.
“Mom said he had come to discuss business. She told me Dad was sick and I shouldn't upset anyone.””
I stared at my brother.
“You never told me this?””
“I was seventeen, Emily. Mom told me not to talk about it. I was scared.””
“Did you see Dad after Thomas left?””
Jason nodded slowly.
“I went downstairs. Dad was sitting in his chair. He looked strange.””
“What do you mean?””
“He was sweating. His hand was shaking. He told me to get Richard.””
I gripped the edge of the table.
“Did you?””
“Yes. I called him.””
“And the ambulance?””
“Mom called after Richard arrived.””
I stared at him.
“Why didn't you tell anyone Thomas had been there?””
Jason looked miserable.
“Because Mom said if I told the truth, the police would think I was involved.””
I felt sick.
“Were you?””
He shook his head.
“No. But I knew about the accounts.””
My chest tightened.
“What accounts?””
Jason looked down.
“Mom opened one in my name too.””
I stared at him.
“What?””
“Not a business loan. A credit account. She said it was temporary. She needed a way to pay some expenses.””
“Did you know she was using it?””
“Not at first.””
I leaned back.
“How much?””
“About forty thousand.””
I looked at my brother.
“Jason, why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I was ashamed.””
He rubbed his face.
“I thought if I kept quiet, she'd eventually fix everything.””
I shook my head.
“That's what she told me.””
Jason nodded.
Then he reached into his jacket and removed a folded piece of paper.
“I found this in Dad's old desk.””
I took it.
It was a hospital discharge note dated three days before his death.
But there was something handwritten on the back.
If Linda calls Thomas again, I will have no choice but to expose the entire arrangement.
I looked up.
“Where did you find this?””
“In a box of old photographs. Mom had kept some of Dad's things in the attic.””
“Why didn't you show me before?””
“I only found it last week.””
I studied his face.
“Why last week?””
Jason hesitated.
Then he said:
“Because Mom asked me to help Thomas transfer the properties.””
My stomach dropped.
“What?””
“He said there was a legal problem with the trust. He wanted me to sign some documents as a witness.””
I stared at him.
“Did you sign?””
Jason shook his head.
“Not after I read them.””
“What did they say?””
“They transferred the rental properties into a new company. The company was owned by Thomas.””
I closed my eyes.
“He's still trying.””
Jason nodded.
“Mom says it's the only way to keep the family safe.””
I laughed bitterly.
“She's been saying that for eleven years.””
He reached across the table.
“Emily, I know I should have told you sooner.””
I pulled my hand away.
“You watched her treat Sienna like she didn't belong. You watched me pay for everything. You knew there was something wrong.””
“I was scared.””
“So was I.””
Jason looked down.
“I want to help.””
I studied him.
For the first time, I believed he might be telling the truth.
But belief wasn't enough anymore.
“Then give me everything you have.””
He nodded.
“There is one more thing.””
I waited.
“Mom has a safe-deposit box at the bank. Dad opened it before he died.””
“What's inside?””
Jason swallowed.
“Thomas told her to destroy it years ago. She never did.””
“Why?””
“Because Dad left her something.””
“What?””
Jason leaned closer.
“A recording.””
I felt my heart pound.
“What recording?””
“Dad recorded an argument between him, Mom, and Thomas the night before he died.””
I stared at him.
“Does the recording still exist?””
Jason nodded.
“Mom told me she listened to it last month.””
“Why?””
“Because Thomas has started threatening her again.””
I felt a chill move down my spine.
“What does he want?””
Jason looked directly at me.
“He wants the original trust documents. He says if she doesn't give them to him, he'll release the recording.””
I stood.
“Where is the safe-deposit box?””
Jason handed me a small piece of paper.
There was a bank name and a box number.
Then he said something else.
“Emily, there's something you should know about that recording.””
I stopped.
“What?””
Jason's eyes filled with tears.
“Dad didn't just accuse Mom and Thomas of stealing money.””
He swallowed.
“He accused them of planning something before he died.””
I felt the air leave my lungs.
“What kind of planning?””
Jason looked toward the café entrance.
Then he whispered:
“Dad said someone had arranged for his medication to be changed.””
I stared at him.
“Who?””
Jason's answer came so quietly I almost didn't hear it.
“Thomas.””
My phone vibrated.
A message from Margaret.
*Emily, do not go to the bank alone. I've just discovered something alarming in the original trust records. Call me immediately.*
I called her.
She answered at once.
“Emily, I need you to listen carefully.””
“What happened?””
“The original trust contains a provision that changes everything.””
“What provision?””
She took a breath.
“Your father didn't just appoint you as the controlling beneficiary when you turned thirty-five.””
I gripped the phone.
“What else?””
“He appointed you as the person authorized to demand an independent investigation into his death if new evidence emerged.””
I stared at Jason.
Margaret continued.
“And Emily, there's a second signature on that provision.””
“Whose?””
“Your father's.””
I frowned.
“That's not possible. You said it was his trust.””
“It is. But he added the provision after consulting a doctor.””
My heart began racing.
“Why would he need a doctor?””
Margaret's voice lowered.
“Because your father believed his death might not be natural.””
I couldn't move.
Then she said the words that changed everything.
“Emily, the doctor who signed that medical statement is still alive.””
I looked at Jason.
“What's his name?””
Margaret answered.
“Dr. Andrew Whitmore.””
I recognized the name.
He had been my father's cardiologist.
And he had signed the official medical report declaring my father's death a natural heart attack.
But according to Margaret, he had also helped my father prepare a document suggesting that someone might have tampered with his medication.
I looked at the paper Jason had given me.
The bank name.
The safe-deposit box number.
The recording.
Eleven years of secrets were finally coming together.
May you like
And somewhere in the middle of them was a doctor who had declared my father dead.
A doctor who might have known why.
