Chapter 12: The Night My Mother Died
I couldn't look away from Michael.
For twenty years, I had rememberedI couldn't look away from Michael.
For twenty years, I had remembered my mother's death as a tragic accident.
A rainy evening.
A phone my mother's death as a tragic accident.
A rainy evening.
A phone call.
My call.
My father telling us she was gone.
Michael had been the one who held me while I cried.
He had told me that nothing could have saved her.
Now he was telling me he had been driving the car.
"Start talking," I said.
Michael rubbed his face.
"I was seventeen. Mom had gone father telling us she was gone.
Michael had been the one who held me while I cried.
He had told me that nothing could have saved her.
Now he was telling me he had been driving the car.
"Start talking," I said.
Michael rubbed his face.
"I was seventeen. Mom had gone to visit Evelyn. They argued to visit Evelyn. They argued.""
E.""
Evelyn laughed sharply.
"That's not how it happened.""
Michael ignored her.
"She asked me to drive her home. Itvelyn laughed sharply.
"That's not how it happened.""
Michael ignored her.
"She asked me to drive her home. It was raining. We were arguing about something stupid.""
"What were was raining. We were arguing about something stupid.""
"What were you arguing about?""
He looked at me.
"Laura.""
you arguing about?""
He looked at me.
"Laura.""
My stomach tightened.
"What about Laura?""
"Mom had found out aboutMy stomach tightened.
"What about Laura?""
"Mom had found out about the pregnancy.""
I stared at him.
"Which the pregnancy.""
I stared at him.
"Which pregnancy?""
"Sophie's.""
The pieces began to connect.
Michael continued.
"Mom wanted pregnancy?""
"Sophie's.""
The pieces began to connect.
Michael continued.
"Mom wanted Laura to tell you the truth. She wanted her Laura to tell you the truth. She wanted her to explain that Dad had been involved too.""
I frowned.
"My father?""
to explain that Dad had been involved too.""
I frowned.
"My father?""
Michael nodded.
"Mom had discovered that Dad knew aboutMichael nodded.
"Mom had discovered that Dad knew about Sophie's biological father. He'd known Laura Sophie's biological father. He'd known Laura was pregnant before you married her.""
I looked toward Evelyn.
She was watching us with a strange expression.
Michael was pregnant before you married her.""
I looked toward Evelyn.
She was watching us with a strange expression.
Michael continued.
"Mom wanted to confront Dad. She thought he had continued.
"Mom wanted to confront Dad. She thought he had been using the family money to keep everyone quiet.""
I felt sick.
"And been using the family money to keep everyone quiet.""
I felt sick.
"And the accident?""
Michael swallowed the accident?""
Michael swallowed.
"I was driving. Mom was in the passenger seat. We were shouting at each other. I.
"I was driving. Mom was in the passenger seat. We were shouting at each other. I looked away from the road for a second.""
He stopped.
I waited.
"Then I heard looked away from the road for a second.""
He stopped.
I waited.
"Then I heard the impact.""
My hands curled into fists.
"What did the impact.""
My hands curled into fists.
"What did you hit?""
"A truck.""
"Was you hit?""
"A truck.""
"Was Mom wearing her seat belt?""
He closed Mom wearing her seat belt?""
He closed his eyes.
"No.""
I stepped backward.
The room seemed to spin.
"Did she die at the scene?""
Michael his eyes.
"No.""
I stepped backward.
The room seemed to spin.
"Did she die at the scene?""
Michael shook his head.
"She was alive when shook his head.
"She was alive when the ambulance arrived.""
"Then why didn't she the ambulance arrived.""
"Then why didn't she survive?""
His voice broke.
" survive?""
His voice broke.
"She was taken to the hospital. They said she needed surgery.""
I stared at him.
"ThatShe was taken to the hospital. They said she needed surgery.""
I stared at him.
"That still doesn't explain why you lied.""
He looked at Evelyn.
"Because Dad told me to.""
I still doesn't explain why you lied.""
He looked at Evelyn.
"Because Dad told me to.""
I felt my blood run cold.
"What?""
Michael continued felt my blood run cold.
"What?""
Michael continued.
"He said if the police discovered I had been driving.
"He said if the police discovered I had been driving, my life would be over. He said, my life would be over. He said Mom wouldn't want that.""
I couldn't believe him.
"So Mom wouldn't want that.""
I couldn't believe him.
"So you let me believe she you let me believe she died in an accident you knew nothing about?""
"I was seventeen!""
"And I'm died in an accident you knew nothing about?""
"I was seventeen!""
"And I'm supposed to forgive you because you were seventeen?""
"No supposed to forgive you because you were seventeen?""
"No. I'm not asking you to. I'm not asking you to forgive me.""
Evelyn suddenly stepped forward.
"He's leaving forgive me.""
Evelyn suddenly stepped forward.
"He's leaving something out.""
Michael turned toward her.
"Don't.""
She ignored him.
"Your father arrived at something out.""
Michael turned toward her.
"Don't.""
She ignored him.
"Your father arrived at the hospital before the police finished questioning the witnesses. He spoke to the doctor. the hospital before the police finished questioning the witnesses. He spoke to the doctor.
He spoke to the hospital administrator. And then he He spoke to the hospital administrator. And then he made a phone call.""
I looked at her.
"To whom?""
E made a phone call.""
I looked at her.
"To whom?""
Evelyn's eyes filled.
"To avelyn's eyes filled.
"To a man named Robert Hayes.""
The name meant nothing to me.
man named Robert Hayes.""
The name meant nothing to me.
She continued.
"He was a private attorney. He handled your father's estate and several confidentialShe continued.
"He was a private attorney. He handled your father's estate and several confidential financial arrangements.""
I turned to Eleanor, who had just financial arrangements.""
I turned to Eleanor, who had just entered the room.
"Do you know that entered the room.
"Do you know that name?""
She nodded slowly.
"Robert Hayes was one of the original attorneys involved in the name?""
She nodded slowly.
"Robert Hayes was one of the original attorneys involved in the Carter estate. He retired years ago.""
Evelyn pointed at Michael.
"Your brother Carter estate. He retired years ago.""
Evelyn pointed at Michael.
"Your brother wasn't the only person who knew the truth. Your father paid people to keep the accident from becoming a criminal investigation.""
wasn't the only person who knew the truth. Your father paid people to keep the accident from becoming a criminal investigation.""
Michael shook his head.
"That's not true.""
"ThenMichael shook his head.
"That's not true.""
"Then why did your father transfer money into an why did your father transfer money into an account under my name?""
Eleanor account under my name?""
Eleanor looked up sharply.
"What account?""
Evelyn reached looked up sharply.
"What account?""
Evelyn reached into her handbag and removed a document.
It was an old bank statement.
into her handbag and removed a document.
It was an old bank statement.
The account had been opened shortly after my mother's death.
TheThe account had been opened shortly after my mother's death.
The deposits were substantial.
I looked at Michael deposits were substantial.
I looked at Michael.
"Did you know about this?""
He.
"Did you know about this?""
He shook his head.
"No.""
Evelyn laughed shook his head.
"No.""
Evelyn laughed.
"Your father was paying me to.
"Your father was paying me to stay away from the family.""
I stared at her.
" stay away from the family.""
I stared at her.
"Why would he pay you?""
"Because I knew what happened to MargaretWhy would he pay you?""
"Because I knew what happened to Margaret. And because I knew about Laura's secret.""
I felt. And because I knew about Laura's secret.""
I felt anger rising.
"Then why didn't you come forward?""
Her anger rising.
"Then why didn't you come forward?""
Her expression changed.
For the first time, she expression changed.
For the first time, she looked genuinely ashamed.
"Because I was afraid looked genuinely ashamed.
"Because I was afraid.""
"Afraid of what?""
"Your father.""
She.""
"Afraid of what?""
"Your father.""
She looked at Maya.
"And later, I was afraid of what would happen looked at Maya.
"And later, I was afraid of what would happen to the children.""
I stepped closer.
to the children.""
I stepped closer.
"You used my daughter to"You used my daughter to get those documents.""
"I wanted the truth protected get those documents.""
"I wanted the truth protected.""
"You kidnapped her!""
Evelyn fl.""
"You kidnapped her!""
Evelyn flinched.
"I didn't intend to hurt her.""
"That doesn't make it acceptableinched.
"I didn't intend to hurt her.""
"That doesn't make it acceptable.""
Detective Harris stepped between us.
".""
Detective Harris stepped between us.
"Mrs. Reed, you're coming with usMrs. Reed, you're coming with us.""
Evelyn didn't resist.
But as the officers led her toward the stairs.""
Evelyn didn't resist.
But as the officers led her toward the stairs, she turned around.
"Daniel, there's something you need to know, she turned around.
"Daniel, there's something you need to know about your father.""
I said nothing.
"He about your father.""
I said nothing.
"He didn't just leave Sophie didn't just leave Sophie his estate because she was his granddaughter his estate because she was his granddaughter.""
I frowned.
"What are you talking about?""
.""
I frowned.
"What are you talking about?""
Evelyn's voice dropped.
"Your father believedEvelyn's voice dropped.
"Your father believed Sophie was the only person who could expose what Sophie was the only person who could expose what he had done.""
Then she looked at Eleanor.
" he had done.""
Then she looked at Eleanor.
"CheckCheck the original hospital records. Not the copies your father gave you.""
Eleanor immediately pulled out her phone.
Within minutes, she was speaking with an old hospital administrator.
I the original hospital records. Not the copies your father gave you.""
Eleanor immediately pulled out her phone.
Within minutes, she was speaking with an old hospital administrator.
I sat beside Maya.
She was still holding my hand.
"Daddy?""
"Yes, sweetheart?""
"Is Grandma in trouble?""
I looked at her.
"Some grown sat beside Maya.
She was still holding my hand.
"Daddy?""
"Yes, sweetheart?""
"Is Grandma in trouble?""
I looked at her.
"Some grown-ups have done things they need-ups have done things they need to answer for.""
"Did she hurt Mommy?""
I hesitated.
"I don't know yet.""
Maya looked to answer for.""
"Did she hurt Mommy?""
I hesitated.
"I don't know yet.""
Maya looked down.
"Mommy said people should tell the truth even when they're scared.""
down.
"Mommy said people should tell the truth even when they're scared.""
I kissed her forehead.
"Your mommy was right.""
EI kissed her forehead.
"Your mommy was right.""
Eleanor returned about twenty minutes later.
Her expression was grave.
"I've located the originalleanor returned about twenty minutes later.
Her expression was grave.
"I've located the original hospital file.""
I stood.
"What does it say?""
She opened the document on her tablet.
"The official cause of death was recorded as injuries sustained in a road traffic collision hospital file.""
I stood.
"What does it say?""
She opened the document on her tablet.
"The official cause of death was recorded as injuries sustained in a road traffic collision.""
I nodded.
"That's what we knew.""
"However, the original surgical report contains an additional note.""
She turned.""
I nodded.
"That's what we knew.""
"However, the original surgical report contains an additional note.""
She turned the screen toward me.
A handwritten entry had been added by the the screen toward me.
A handwritten entry had been added by the attending physician.
**Patient's condition deteriorated following an unexplained delay in attending physician.
*Patient's condition deteriorated following an unexplained delay in authorization for emergency surgery.*
I stared.
"What does that mean?""
Eleanor scrolled down.
"There's a second note authorization for emergency surgery.**
I stared.
"What does that mean?""
Eleanor scrolled down.
"There's a second note. The doctor requested immediate authorization, but the hospital's administrative office instructed staff. The doctor requested immediate authorization, but the hospital's administrative office instructed staff to wait for a family representative.""
"Who?""
Eleanor looked at me.
"Andrew Carter to wait for a family representative.""
"Who?""
Eleanor looked at me.
"Andrew Carter.""
My father.
I felt sick.
"Why would he delay surgery?""
Eleanor continued reading.""
My father.
I felt sick.
"Why would he delay surgery?""
Eleanor continued reading.
"The original report says the patient required an emergency blood transfusion. The hospital had suitable blood available, but authorization.
"The original report says the patient required an emergency blood transfusion. The hospital had suitable blood available, but authorization was withheld for nearly fifty minutes.""
I gripped the back was withheld for nearly fifty minutes.""
I gripped the back of the chair.
"Did that cause her death?""
"We can't conclude that from this document of the chair.
"Did that cause her death?""
"We can't conclude that from this document alone. A medical investigation would be needed.""
I stared at the screen.
Fifty minutes.
My mother had been lying in a hospital bed alone. A medical investigation would be needed.""
I stared at the screen.
Fifty minutes.
My mother had been lying in a hospital bed, fighting for her life.
And my father had delayed treatment.
"Why?"", fighting for her life.
And my father had delayed treatment.
"Why?"" I whispered.
Eleanor scrolled to the final page.
There was a signature.
Andrew Carter I whispered.
Eleanor scrolled to the final page.
There was a signature.
Andrew Carter.
And beside it, a handwritten instruction.
**Do not proceed until.
And beside it, a handwritten instruction.
*Do not proceed until the family attorney arrives.*
I felt the room go silent the family attorney arrives.**
I felt the room go silent.
Then Eleanor noticed something else.
A second document had been attached to the.
Then Eleanor noticed something else.
A second document had been attached to the file.
It was a copy of a private hospital payment authorization.
The payment had been made to Robert Hayes file.
It was a copy of a private hospital payment authorization.
The payment had been made to Robert Hayes.
The same attorney Evelyn had mentioned.
But the date was.
The same attorney Evelyn had mentioned.
But the date was six months after my mother's death.
I looked at Eleanor.
"What was he paid for six months after my mother's death.
I looked at Eleanor.
"What was he paid for?""
She read the description.
Then she looked up.
"To obtain and seal a witness statement.""
"Whose statement?""
She read the description.
Then she looked up.
"To obtain and seal a witness statement.""
"Whose statement?""
She turned the page.
The witness's name was listed?""
She turned the page.
The witness's name was listed at the bottom.
**Dr. Samuel Bennett at the bottom.
*Dr. Samuel Bennett — Attending Surgeon.*
And — Attending Surgeon.**
And underneath it was a handwritten note.
**I underneath it was a handwritten note.
*I saw who entered Margaret Carter's hospital room before she died.*
My phone began ringing.
An unfamiliar saw who entered Margaret Carter's hospital room before she died.**
My phone began ringing.
An unfamiliar number appeared.
I answered.
"Hello?""
A man's tired voice came through.
"Mr. Carter number appeared.
I answered.
"Hello?""
A man's tired voice came through.
"Mr. Carter? My name is Samuel Bennett. I was the surgeon who treated your mother.""
? My name is Samuel Bennett. I was the surgeon who treated your mother.""
I stopped breathingI stopped breathing.
"Why are you calling me?""
He paused.
"Because I should have spoken twenty years ago.""
My grip.
"Why are you calling me?""
He paused.
"Because I should have spoken twenty years ago.""
My grip tightened.
"What did you see?""
His voice dropped to a whisper.
"Your mother tightened.
"What did you see?""
His voice dropped to a whisper.
"Your mother was conscious when I left her room. But someone came back was conscious when I left her room. But someone came back afterward.""
"Who?""
There was a long silence.
Then he said:
"Your father.""
I closed my eyes.
The surgeon continued.
" afterward.""
"Who?""
There was a long silence.
Then he said:
"Your father.""
I closed my eyes.
The surgeon continued.
"Mr. Carter, your mother didn't die because of the accident alone. And I have the original recordingMr.
Carter, your mother didn't die because of the accident alone. And I have the original recording of what happened in that room.""
I looked at Eleanor.
"Where are you?""
"At of what happened in that room.""
I looked at Eleanor.
"Where are you?""
"At my home. But you my home. But you need to come quickly.""
"Why?""
His voice trembled.
need to come quickly.""
"Why?""
His voice trembled.
"Because someone broke into my house last night.""
The call ended.
And seconds later, a"Because someone broke into my house last night.""
The call ended.
And seconds later, a message appeared on my phone.
It contained a photograph of message appeared on my phone.
It contained a photograph of Dr. Bennett standing outside his home.
Across the picture, someone Dr. Bennett standing outside his home.
Across the picture, someone had written:
**STOP DIGGING, DAN had written:
May you like
*STOP DIGGING, DANIEL. YOUR MOTHER WASN'T THE ONLY ONE WHO HAD TO DISIEL. YOUR MOTHER WASN'T THE ONLY ONE WHO HAD TO DISAPPEAR.*
APPEAR.**
