Chapter 4: The Evidence She Couldn't Destroy
I didn't drive straight to the airport.
I drove to my mother's house.
There was one person who might know what had happened nine years earlier, and I needed to hear the truth from someone who had no reason to protect Vanessa.
My mother, Margaret, had helped Elena open the savings account for Maya. She had also been the first person to tell me that Elena was selfish for leaving.
If Vanessa had lied, I needed to know whether my own mother had helped her.
Maya sat quietly in the passenger seat, holding her stuffed rabbit.
"Are we going to see Grandma?"" she asked.
"Yes.""
"Is she going to be mad?""
I glanced at her.
"Why would you think that?""
"Because Vanessa said Grandma doesn't like talking about Mommy.""
My hands tightened around the steering wheel.
"Did Grandma ever tell you that?""
Maya nodded.
"She said some people make bad choices and we shouldn't keep asking about them.""
I swallowed.
"Sweetheart, you can ask me anything about your mother. I promise.""
She looked out the window.
"Even if the answer makes you sad?""
"Especially then.""
When we arrived, my mother was watering the flowers beside her front porch.
She smiled when she saw us.
"Michael! I thought you were supposed to be on your way to Miami.""
Then she noticed Maya's suitcase.
Her smile disappeared.
"What happened?""
I didn't bother with small talk.
"Mom, was Elena planning to take Maya away nine years ago?""
The watering can slipped from her hand.
Water spilled across the porch.
"Where did you hear that?""
"Answer me.""
My mother looked toward Maya.
"Let's go inside.""
"No. I want to know now.""
She sighed.
"Michael, this is complicated.""
"Was Elena planning to leave with Maya?""
My mother lowered her eyes.
"She was planning to visit her sister.""
"With my permission?""
She didn't answer.
I felt my chest tighten.
"Mom?""
Finally, she nodded.
"Yes.""
I stared at her.
"Why did you tell me she abandoned us?""
My mother began crying.
"I didn't know what else to do.""
I stepped backward.
"Did Vanessa tell you to lie?""
"She said it would be better if you believed Elena had chosen to leave.""
"Better for whom?""
My mother wiped her cheeks.
"For you. You were exhausted. You were barely functioning. You had a newborn daughter and a job that was taking everything out of you.""
"That doesn't explain why you lied.""
She looked toward the garden.
"Vanessa said Elena was going to file for custody. She told me she had proof Elena was having an affair.""
I stared at her.
"Did you ever see that proof?""
My mother shook her head.
"No.""
"Then why did you believe her?""
"Because Vanessa was there every day. She helped with Maya. She brought groceries. She helped you pay bills when you were behind.""
I laughed bitterly.
"She helped herself into our lives.""
My mother flinched.
Maya had been standing silently beside the sofa.
She finally spoke.
"Grandma, did you know my mommy was alive?""
My mother covered her mouth.
"Oh, sweetheart.""
"Did you know?""
A tear rolled down my mother's cheek.
"Yes.""
Maya took a step backward.
"Then why didn't you tell me?""
My mother reached for her, but Maya moved behind me.
That hurt more than anything.
I turned back to my mother.
"Do you still have the account documents?""
She nodded slowly.
"I kept them.""
"Where?""
"In the filing cabinet.""
She disappeared into the bedroom and returned with a thick folder.
Inside were bank statements, account-opening forms, and several letters from Elena.
I recognized her handwriting immediately.
There were three envelopes addressed to me.
All stamped.
All marked as returned.
But they had never reached my house.
Someone had written a small note across the front of each envelope.
*Recipient refused.*
I looked at my mother.
"Did I refuse these?""
She shook her head.
"No.""
"Then who did?""
My mother sat down.
"Vanessa said she would handle the mail.""
I closed my eyes.
Another piece of the lie.
I opened the folder again.
The bank statement showed that $42,000 had been withdrawn from Maya's account three days after Elena disappeared.
The transaction was a cashier's check.
The recipient name was partially visible.
*V. Carter.*
I stared at it.
My mother began trembling.
"Michael, I didn't know she took the money.""
"Did you know she had access to the account?""
"She said she was helping with the paperwork.""
"Did you sign anything?""
My mother shook her head.
Then she stopped.
Her expression changed.
"Wait.""
She walked back to the filing cabinet and returned with another document.
It was a bank authorization form.
My mother's signature appeared at the bottom.
But beside it was another signature.
Vanessa's.
The document granted Vanessa temporary authority to manage the account.
"Why would you sign this?"" I asked.
My mother looked ashamed.
"She told me you were overwhelmed and wanted everything organized before you returned to work.""
I stared at the date.
The authorization had been signed two days before Elena disappeared.
Vanessa hadn't acted impulsively.
She had prepared.
My phone vibrated.
A message from Elena.
*I found the original emails. I'm sending everything now.*
A moment later, several attachments appeared.
The first was an email from Elena to Vanessa.
I don't understand why Michael isn't answering. He agreed to let Maya and me visit my sister. Please tell him I'll call again tonight.
The second was Vanessa's reply.
Michael has changed his mind. He doesn't want you taking Maya anywhere. If you come near the house, he'll call the police.
Then came the third email.
It was dated the night Elena disappeared.
If you don't leave tonight, I'll tell Michael you tried to take his daughter without permission. I have already spoken to Margaret. Nobody will believe you.
I read it twice.
My mother began sobbing.
"I thought she was protecting you.""
I looked at her.
"She was protecting herself.""
Maya approached the table.
She stared at the photograph of her mother.
"Can I see Mommy today?""
I nodded.
"Yes, sweetheart.""
Then my phone rang.
Vanessa.
I answered.
"Where are you?"" she demanded.
"With my mother.""
"Come home immediately.""
"No.""
"Michael, Tyler is crying. He doesn't understand why we're not going on vacation.""
I closed my eyes.
"Tell him the truth.""
"What truth?""
"That the vacation was canceled because you canceled Maya's ticket.""
Vanessa went silent.
Then she said something I hadn't expected.
"Your daughter isn't the only person whose life you're destroying.""
Before I could respond, she hung up.
A second later, another message arrived.
It was a photograph.
Vanessa had taken it inside our bedroom.
On the bed lay a brown envelope.
Beneath it was a document with my signature.
The message read:
*Before you accuse me of stealing anything, perhaps you should remember what you signed.*
I zoomed in on the document.
It was a power-of-attorney agreement.
May you like
Dated nine years ago.
And I had no memory of signing it.
