Chapter 8: My Mother's Last Letter
I couldn't open the envelope.
Not immediately.
I sat on the floor of storage unit 214, holding it against my chest.
My mother had written my name.
She had prepared this letter for me.
And somehow, it had remained hidden for almost two decades.
Daniel crouched beside me.
“Maya, we should preserve everything here.””
I looked at him.
“Did you know about this letter?””
“No.””
“Are you sure?””
“Yes.””
I studied his face.
He seemed genuinely shocked.
But after everything I'd learned, I wasn't ready to trust appearances.
I slipped the envelope into my bag.
“We're taking it to the police.””
Daniel nodded.
“That's the right decision.””
We photographed the documents, the camera, and the trunk before leaving.
The storage manager provided a written record of our visit.
Daniel also contacted the police officer handling the investigation into Grandma's medication.
By the time we reached the parking lot, the black SUV was gone.
But there was something on my windshield.
A folded piece of paper.
I opened it.
Three words were written in block capitals.
*STOP DIGGING, MAYA.*
Daniel took the paper.
“We need to report this.””
I looked around the empty lot.
“No. We need to know who's watching us.””
“Maya, that's dangerous.””
“So is whatever happened to my mother.””
He didn't argue.
The next morning, I visited Aunt Claire at the hospital.
Grandma had regained consciousness and was able to answer questions, although the doctors were still investigating the cause of her sudden deterioration.
Claire was sitting beside her bed.
She looked exhausted.
“How is she?”” I asked.
“Better. The doctors are reviewing everything she was given.””
Grandma opened her eyes.
“Maya?””
I hurried to her side.
“I'm here.””
She looked at the bag over my shoulder.
“Did you find it?””
I nodded.
“Mom left something for me.””
Grandma began crying.
“I knew she wouldn't let them take everything.””
I sat beside her.
“Grandma, I need you to tell me the truth.””
She looked at Claire.
Aunt Claire nodded.
“It's time, Evelyn.””
Grandma took a long breath.
“Your mother discovered that money was disappearing from your grandfather's company. She found fake invoices and payments to companies that didn't exist.””
“Was Vanessa involved?””
Grandma hesitated.
“She was working for Robert Hayes.””
My stomach tightened.
“Working for him how?””
“She was helping him obtain information about the family's finances. At first, I thought she was simply doing administrative work.””
“Then what happened?””
Grandma closed her eyes.
“Your mother found out that Vanessa had copied confidential records.””
I felt sick.
“Why didn't anyone tell the police?””
“Your grandfather wanted to handle it privately. He believed Robert could be reasoned with.””
“And Mom?””
Grandma looked at me.
“Your mother was afraid.””
I reached for her hand.
“Did she tell Dad?””
“Yes. Richard confronted Vanessa. They argued for weeks.””
“Was that why they separated for a while?””
Grandma nodded.
I remembered those months.
My father had been sleeping in the guest room. My mother had taken me to stay with Grandma several times.
I'd thought it was because they were having ordinary marital problems.
Now I understood there had been something much darker happening behind closed doors.
“Grandma, did Vanessa have anything to do with Mom's death?””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“I don't know.””
The answer hurt more than I expected.
“But I do know your mother was planning to meet someone the night she died.””
“Who?””
Grandma looked toward the window.
“Robert Hayes.””
I stood.
“Why?””
“She wanted to give him copies of the financial records. She thought she could convince him to confess.””
“Did she go?””
Grandma nodded.
“She left the house around eight.””
“And what happened?””
“She never came home.””
I felt my throat tighten.
“Was it an accident?””
Grandma didn't answer.
Instead, she whispered:
“Your father never believed it was.””
I returned to Daniel's office that afternoon.
He had arranged for the letter to be examined and photographed before I opened it.
I sat at the conference table.
Daniel placed a glass of water beside me.
“You don't have to read it today,” he said.
“Yes, I do.””
I carefully opened the envelope.
Inside was a folded sheet of paper and a small photograph.
The photograph showed my mother holding me as a baby.
I turned it over.
My beautiful Maya,
If you're reading this, it means I wasn't able to tell you everything myself.
I want you to know something first.
None of what happened was your fault.
My eyes filled immediately.
I continued.
Your father loves you more than anything. If he ever seems distant, please understand that he is trying to protect you.
I discovered something about the company that could hurt people we love. I made copies of the original financial records because I knew someone was hiding money.
I thought I could fix it quietly.
I was wrong.
I wiped my cheeks.
The next paragraph made my hands shake.
Vanessa knows I have the documents. She told me to stop asking questions. She said that if I continued, Richard would lose everything.
I looked at Daniel.
He remained silent.
I continued.
There is one person I still trust. His name is Daniel Brooks. He knows where the original ledger is hidden. If something happens to me, ask him about the red file.
I stopped reading.
Slowly, I looked up.
“Daniel?””
He had gone completely still.
“What is the red file?””
He stared at the letter.
“I don't know what she meant.””
I turned the page.
There was another paragraph.
The most important thing is that Robert Hayes never learns where I hid the second ledger. It contains the names of everyone who received money.
I read the final sentence aloud.
And Maya, if you ever discover that your father moved money, don't assume he was stealing. He was trying to return something that belonged to our family.
I lowered the letter.
Daniel was staring at the table.
“What's wrong?”” I asked.
He didn't answer.
“Daniel?””
He finally looked up.
“Your mother gave me a red file shortly before she died.””
My heart stopped.
“What?””
“I kept it.””
“Where is it?””
He stood and walked toward a locked cabinet.
He entered a combination and opened the door.
Inside were several folders.
He removed a thick red one.
I stared at it.
“You've had this the entire time?””
“Yes.””
“Why didn't you give it to me?””
“Because your father asked me to keep it sealed until we could establish what was inside.””
I opened the folder.
The first page was a list of names.
Some belonged to business associates.
Others were unfamiliar.
Then I saw one that made my blood turn cold.
*Claire Carter.*
My aunt.
I looked at Daniel.
“Why is my aunt's name here?””
He closed the office door.
“Because your mother believed Claire had been helping Vanessa move money.””
I shook my head.
“No. Claire has been protecting Grandma.””
“Maybe she has.””
“Then explain this.””
Daniel pointed to a transaction dated eleven months earlier.
The date my father died.
A transfer of $90,000 had been made from the private investment account.
The recipient?
Claire Carter.
I felt as though the floor had disappeared beneath me.
My phone vibrated.
A message from Claire.
*Maya, we need to talk. Please come alone. I know you've found the red file.*
I stared at the screen.
May you like
Then another message arrived.
*Your father didn't die because of Vanessa. He died because of me.*
