Chapter 9: The Cousin Who Knew Everything
I had always thought of Lauren as my sister.
We grew up in the same neighborhood, spent summers together, and shared a bedroom whenever our families traveled.
When my father died, Lauren stayed with us for three weeks.
She cooked breakfast for my mother.
She helped me choose clothes for the funeral.
She even slept beside me because I couldn't bear being alone.
I had trusted her with everything.
Now I was learning that she had been listed as an alternate trustee without my father's permission.
I turned toward my mother.
"Why did you appoint her?""
My mother began crying.
"Because Richard told me it was the only way to protect the estate.""
"Protect it from whom?""
"From creditors.""
"That doesn't make sense.""
She looked at Richard.
"He said if I didn't appoint someone from outside the immediate family, the company would be forced into liquidation.""
I shook my head.
"So you gave Lauren access to my father's trust?""
"I thought it was temporary.""
"And did you tell Dad?""
My mother closed her eyes.
"No.""
The answer hurt more than I expected.
I had spent six years believing my parents had built their lives around protecting their children.
Now I was discovering that my mother had made decisions that could destroy everything my father had worked for.
Daniel gathered the documents.
"We need to establish whether Lauren knowingly participated in the unauthorized access.""
Vanessa nodded.
"She did.""
I turned toward her.
"How do you know?""
"Because she contacted me two weeks ago.""
Vanessa opened her phone and showed me a series of messages.
The first was from Lauren.
I know what Marcus is planning. I need to talk to you.
The second arrived several hours later.
Richard knows about the second trust. He wants to transfer everything before the wedding.
Then another.
If I help you, I need protection.
I read the messages again.
"Why didn't you show me these?""
Vanessa looked ashamed.
"Lauren said she was afraid you'd tell Marcus.""
"She's my cousin.""
"She was afraid of losing the money.""
I looked away.
Vanessa continued.
"She told me that Richard had promised her a share of the property if she helped him gain access to the trust.""
My stomach tightened.
"So she was helping him?""
"At first, yes.""
"And then?""
"She changed her mind.""
I looked at the photograph of the hospital.
"Why would she change her mind?""
Vanessa hesitated.
"Because she discovered something about your father's death.""
I felt my heartbeat quicken.
"What?""
Vanessa glanced at my mother.
"Lauren found an old voicemail.""
My mother looked up sharply.
"Where?""
"In your father's archived business phone records.""
Daniel stepped closer.
"Do you have a copy?""
Vanessa nodded.
"Lauren sent it to me yesterday.""
She pressed play.
Static filled the room.
Then my father's voice came through.
It was faint, but unmistakable.
Patricia, if you're listening to this, I need you to understand something. Richard isn't the only one who knows about the transfer.
A pause.
Then:
I found the second signature. It's not mine. It's not yours. And I think it's someone in the family.
My mother began shaking.
The recording continued.
I'm going to meet Daniel tonight. If anything happens, tell Nia the truth. Don't let them convince her that everything was an accident.
The recording ended.
I stared at the phone.
"Why didn't anyone play this before?""
Vanessa looked at me.
"Because Lauren didn't find it until yesterday.""
Daniel rubbed his chin.
"That recording changes the timeline. We need the original file and the metadata.""
Richard suddenly stood.
"Enough.""
He reached for his cane.
"You're all wasting your time listening to the voice of a dead man.""
Daniel moved toward him.
"Sit down.""
Richard's eyes narrowed.
"You have no authority over me.""
"Nobody is trying to detain you. But if you leave, you'll be doing so after making several statements that may be relevant to a criminal investigation.""
Richard looked at Marcus.
"Get your things.""
Marcus didn't move.
"Son.""
Marcus stared at him.
"You told me Robert had a heart attack.""
Richard's jaw tightened.
"He did.""
"You told me there was nothing anyone could have done.""
"There wasn't.""
Marcus shook his head.
"Then why did you tell me not to call an ambulance?""
Richard's expression became dangerous.
"Because I was trying to protect you.""
Marcus stepped back.
"You were protecting yourself.""
Richard raised his cane.
"Don't you dare turn against me now.""
Marcus looked at me.
Then at the documents.
"I already did.""
Richard's face darkened.
"Then you will lose everything.""
Marcus answered quietly.
"Maybe I should have lost it years ago.""
I didn't feel sorry for him.
Not yet.
Perhaps I never would.
My phone rang.
This time, it was an actual number.
The hospital.
I answered immediately.
"Hello?""
A nurse introduced herself and asked whether I was Nia Carter.
"Yes. Is Lauren okay?""
"She's conscious. She asked us to contact you.""
I closed my eyes.
"Can I speak to her?""
"She has a few minutes.""
A moment later, I heard my cousin's voice.
"Nia?""
I almost cried.
"Lauren.""
"I'm sorry.""
I pressed my hand against my forehead.
"Why did you do it?""
There was a long silence.
Then she whispered:
"Because I thought I could get away with it.""
My throat tightened.
"Get away with what?""
"Everything.""
I sat down.
Lauren continued.
"Richard offered me money to help him access the trust. He said your father had left debts and that the property would eventually be sold anyway. He told me you would receive enough money to live comfortably.""
"You knew the property belonged to me.""
"Yes.""
"You knew Marcus was marrying me to take it.""
"Yes.""
I closed my eyes.
"Why?""
Her voice broke.
"Because I was jealous.""
The words hit harder than I expected.
"Jealous of what?""
"Your life. Your relationship with your father. Your education.
Your career. Everything.""
I couldn't speak.
Lauren continued.
"When Uncle Robert died, I thought your family would fall apart. Instead, everyone kept protecting you. Your mother worried about you.
Marcus wanted you. And I was always the cousin standing beside you.""
"Lauren, you were family.""
"I know.""
"Then why would you do this?""
She began crying.
"Because Richard promised me that once the transfer was complete, I would never have to worry about money again.""
I looked toward the window.
Outside, cars moved through the afternoon traffic as though nothing had happened.
"Did you know about the night my father died?""
Lauren's breathing changed.
"Yes.""
My heart stopped.
"What?""
"I found the voicemail yesterday. But there was another recording.""
"What recording?""
She whispered:
"Uncle Robert recorded the entire meeting.""
I stood.
"Where is it?""
"I don't know. Richard took the original.""
"Then why did you tell Vanessa?""
"Because I made a copy.""
"Where?""
Lauren hesitated.
Then she said:
"In the place Uncle Robert always told us never to enter without permission.""
I frowned.
"What place?""
"The old office.""
I remembered the warehouse on Mercer Street.
My father's desk.
The locked room behind it.
The room he had forbidden us to enter when we were children.
"Is the recording there?""
"I think so.""
I swallowed.
"Why didn't you go get it?""
Her voice dropped.
"Because I wasn't the only person looking for it.""
A nurse spoke in the background, telling her she needed to rest.
"Lauren, wait. Who else knows?""
She answered in a whisper.
"Your mother.""
I looked toward Patricia.
My mother had gone completely still.
Lauren continued.
"She went to the warehouse last night. She took something from Uncle Robert's desk.""
"What did she take?""
My cousin began crying again.
"The key to the room.""
The call disconnected.
I slowly lowered my phone.
Everyone was watching me.
I turned toward my mother.
"Mom, did you go to the Mercer Street warehouse last night?""
She didn't answer.
"Did you take the key?""
Her eyes filled with tears.
Then she reached into her handbag.
And placed a small silver key on the table.
I recognized it from the photograph in my father's safe deposit box.
But there was something else.
A tiny paper tag was attached to it.
My father's handwriting was still visible.
*FOR NIA. OPEN ONLY WHEN YOU ARE READY TO KNOW WHO WAS IN THE ROOM WITH ME.*
I looked at my mother.
"Why didn't you give this to me?""
She stared at the key.
"Because I know what the recording contains.""
My blood ran cold.
"What does it contain?""
She looked at Richard.
Then Marcus.
Then Daniel.
Finally, she whispered:
"It contains my voice.""
She swallowed.
"And it proves I wasn't just standing there when your father died.""
I gripped the edge of the table.
"What did you do, Mom?""
My mother began to cry.
"I was the one who called Richard to that office.""
May you like
Then she looked directly into my eyes.
"And I was the one who locked the door.""
