She Was Never Supposed to Come Home

I read the message three times.

*Nia, I know who really arranged your mother's death. But if you want the truth, come alone.*

The second message was worse.

*And don't tell Evelyn. She's the reason your mother never got justice.*

I looked across the office at Evelyn.

She was speaking quietly to Thomas, apparently unaware of what had appeared on my screen.

For the first time since this nightmare began, I wondered whether I had trusted the wrong person.

"Who sent that?"" Thomas asked.

I locked my phone.

"Nobody.""

He looked at me.

"Nia.""

"I said nobody.""

His expression hardened.

"You're beginning to sound like your husband.""

That stopped me.

I lowered my eyes.

He was right.

Daniel had spent months teaching me to hide things, question people, and believe that everyone was working against me.

I wasn't going to let him turn me into someone I didn't recognize.

I handed Thomas my phone.

He read the messages.

Then he looked at Evelyn.

"Someone knows we've recovered the recording.""

Evelyn turned.

"What?""

Thomas showed her the screen.

She read the messages without changing expression.

"Interesting.""

I stared at her.

"Interesting?""

"The sender wants you to distrust me. That doesn't mean everything in the message is false.""

Thomas frowned.

"Evelyn.""

She raised a hand.

"I'm not asking her to trust me blindly. I'm asking her to consider the possibility that someone is manipulating the investigation.""

I took back my phone.

"Vanessa is in the hospital. I want to see her.""

Thomas shook his head.

"Absolutely not.""

"She's the only person who might know what Daniel is planning.""

"She could be part of the trap.""

"Or she could be the next person he's trying to silence.""

Evelyn studied me.

"She's right.""

Thomas looked irritated.

"We don't know who sent that message.""

"Then we take precautions," Evelyn replied.

"We don't abandon a potential witness.""

Thirty minutes later, we arrived at the hospital.

Thomas insisted on walking several steps behind me. Evelyn stayed near the reception desk while he checked the corridor.

Vanessa was in room 412.

A nurse stood outside.

"Are you family?"" she asked.

I hesitated.

"No.""

"Then you'll need permission from the patient.""

Before I could answer, a weak voice came from inside.

"Let her in.""

Vanessa was lying against two white pillows.

Her forehead was bandaged. One arm was secured in a sling. Her makeup was gone, and her blonde hair was tangled against the pillow.

For the first time, she looked like an ordinary frightened woman rather than someone who had spent months stealing pieces of my life.

She looked at me.

Then she began crying.

"Thank God.""

I remained near the door.

"Why did you send me those messages?""

She wiped her face.

"Because Daniel is going to kill me.""

I stared at her.

"Why would he?""

"Because I know what happened.""

"To my mother?""

Vanessa nodded.

I pulled a chair closer.

"Tell me.""

She glanced toward the door.

"Is Evelyn here?""

"Yes.""

"Did you bring her?""

"She's outside.""

Vanessa shook her head.

"I can't talk if she's here.""

I folded my arms.

"You don't get to make demands anymore.""

She looked down.

"I know.""

For several seconds, she said nothing.

Then she reached beneath her pillow and removed a small plastic hospital wristband.

It had a name printed on it.

*Margaret Bennett.*

My mother's name.

I stood so quickly the chair scraped across the floor.

"Where did you get that?""

Vanessa began trembling.

"Daniel kept it in his desk.""

"Why?""

"He said it was proof.""

"Proof of what?""

She closed her eyes.

"That he had access to your mother's hospital records before she died.""

I sat down again.

"Start from the beginning.""

Vanessa took a shaky breath.

"I met Daniel at a business conference. He told me he was separated from you emotionally. He said you were ill, that your marriage was practically over, and that he was only staying because of your inheritance.""

I felt my jaw tighten.

"He told me you were going to die.""

She looked at me.

"Yes.""

The room became very quiet.

"He said your mother had been terminally ill and that the family assets would eventually pass to you. He wanted me to help him organize a company that could manage the properties.""

"And you agreed.""

"Yes.""

"Why?""

She began crying harder.

"Because I believed him. He promised me a future. He said once everything was transferred, we would leave Chicago.""

I looked at her bracelets.

The gold bracelets she had worn in my living room.

"You were wearing my mother's jewelry.""

"I know.""

"You were sleeping in my bed.""

"I know.""

"You were planning to take everything she left me.""

Vanessa covered her face.

"I'm sorry.""

I leaned forward.

"Sorry doesn't explain why you helped him.""

She lowered her hands.

"Because I found out too late that I wasn't his partner. I was another person he intended to use.""

She told me that two nights earlier, she had discovered a hidden folder on Daniel's laptop.

Inside were copies of my medical records, the forged trust amendment, and a document titled *PROJECT MARGARET*.

The document included dates, payment records, and a list of people involved in my mother's final hospitalization.

One name appeared repeatedly.

Laura Whitmore.

My mother's former assistant.

"Did you see the actual document?"" I asked.

Vanessa nodded.

"I photographed it.""

"Where is the photograph?""

She looked toward the bedside cabinet.

"On a memory card. I hid it inside the lining of my handbag before the accident.""

I looked at her.

"What accident?""

Her eyes filled with tears.

"Daniel followed me after I left his office. A black SUV hit my car at an intersection. I don't think it was an accident.""

My stomach tightened.

"Did you see the driver?""

"No. But I saw Daniel's car behind me.""

I stood and picked up her handbag.

The leather was torn near the zipper.

I searched the inside pocket and found a small memory card wrapped in tissue.

Vanessa reached for my hand.

"There's something else.""

I stopped.

"What?""

"Daniel didn't know I had the photographs. But he knows I took something from his laptop.""

She swallowed.

"He's been looking for it.""

I put the card in my pocket.

Then she said the words I hadn't expected.

"Your mother knew.""

I turned.

"What?""

"She knew Daniel was planning something. She contacted me before she died.""

I stared at her.

"Why would she contact you?""

"Because she had discovered that Daniel was having an affair with me. She wanted to know whether I understood what he was doing.""

My throat tightened.

"What did she say?""

Vanessa looked at the ceiling.

"She told me that Daniel didn't love me. She said he was using me to get close to the estate.""

"And you believed her?""

"Not then.""

I turned toward the window.

Vanessa continued.

"She gave me a warning. She said, 'If Daniel ever tells you that my daughter is too weak to protect herself, remember that he is the reason she needs protection.''"

I closed my eyes.

My mother had seen everything.

And I hadn't listened.

When I finally looked back, Vanessa was staring at me.

"There's one thing I never told Daniel.""

"What?""

"Your mother gave me an envelope.""

My heart skipped.

"Where is it?""

"I hid it.""

"Where?""

She hesitated.

Then she whispered:

"Inside the house. Behind the fireplace in your mother's old study.""

I stepped closer.

"What does it contain?""

Vanessa shook her head.

"I never opened it.""

"Why not?""

"Because your mother wrote something on the front.""

"What?""

Vanessa looked directly at me.

*Only Nia should read this.*

Before I could respond, the hospital door opened.

Evelyn entered.

Behind her stood a police officer.

"Miss Bennett," the officer said, "we need you to come with us.""

I frowned.

"Why?""

He held up a document.

"Your husband has filed a formal complaint alleging that you stole confidential medical records and assaulted him during an argument at your residence.""

I stared at him.

"What?""

Evelyn stepped forward.

"That's absurd.""

The officer looked uncomfortable.

"There's also an emergency petition requesting a medical competency evaluation.""

My blood turned cold.

Daniel had moved first.

And the final line of the document was even worse.

It requested that I be placed under temporary protective supervision pending the evaluation.