Chapter 4: The Mother Who Knew Everything
For several seconds, I couldn't move.
My mother's name was printed on the hospital visitor record beneath Daniel's and Ethan's.
Margaret Cole.
The woman who had raised me. The woman who had held Lily during her mother's funeral. The woman who had cried at the altar when Vanessa's fake pregnancy belly fell.
My mother.
"That can't be right," I whispered.
Dr. Helen Morris stood in front of me, holding the document carefully.
"I'm sorry, Marcus.""
"Why was my mother at Sarah's hospital that night?""
Helen glanced toward Daniel.
He looked as stunned as I felt.
"I don't know," she admitted.
"Sarah specifically asked me to keep this record because she believed the three visitors were connected.""
I grabbed the paper.
"Connected how?""
"She didn't explain everything to me. She only said that if something happened to her, I should make sure you eventually saw this.""
Daniel stepped closer.
"Marcus, we need to find Lily first.""
He was right.
My daughter was somewhere with Vanessa, and every second mattered.
I pulled out my phone and called my mother.
She answered immediately.
"Marcus? Have you found Lily?""
"Not yet. Mom, I need you to answer something.""
Her breathing changed.
"What is it?""
"Were you at Sarah's hospital the night before she died?""
Silence.
Then she whispered, "Who told you that?""
My stomach dropped.
"Just answer the question.""
"Marcus, this isn't the time.""
"Mom, my daughter has been kidnapped. Vanessa is demanding Sarah's insurance documents. And I just found out you visited Sarah with Ethan and Daniel before she died.""
My mother's voice broke.
"Oh, sweetheart.""
"Don't call me that. Tell me what happened.""
She began crying.
"I was trying to protect you.""
I closed my eyes.
That sentence again.
Everyone seemed to have been protecting me while stealing pieces of my life.
"What did you do?""
"I didn't know Vanessa would go this far.""
I looked at Daniel.
He had gone completely still.
"Mom," I said slowly, "what did you know about Vanessa?""
She took a shaky breath.
"She wasn't supposed to marry you.""
The words hit harder than I expected.
"What?""
"Sarah told me everything before she died. She knew Vanessa had been asking questions about your finances.""
"Then why did you welcome her into our home?""
"Because I thought I could control the situation.""
I almost dropped the phone.
"You thought you could control the woman who was lying about carrying my child?""
"Marcus, listen to me.""
"No. You listen. Where is Lily?""
"I don't know.""
"Then why did Vanessa say you helped her?""
My mother began sobbing.
"Because she has something on me.""
I looked at the hospital record.
"What does she have?""
A long pause followed.
Then my mother said something that made my blood run cold.
"Sarah's final letter wasn't the only thing she left behind.""
"What are you talking about?""
"There's a recording. Sarah recorded a conversation before she died. Vanessa has a copy.""
I gripped the phone.
"What conversation?""
"One involving your father.""
My father had been dead for eleven years.
He had died suddenly from a heart attack when I was twenty-eight.
"What could Vanessa possibly know about Dad?""
My mother whispered, "Everything.""
Before I could question her further, the call ended.
Daniel immediately tried calling her back.
No answer.
He looked at me.
"We need the police to trace Vanessa's phone.""
"They're already working on it.""
I opened the photograph again.
Lily's tear-streaked face filled the screen.
I enlarged the image.
Something caught my attention.
Behind her was a window with a distinctive blue curtain.
I recognized it.
"That's the old Lakeside Motel.""
Daniel frowned.
"How do you know?""
"I stayed there once during a business trip. The rooms have those ridiculous blue curtains.""
I sent the photograph to the police investigator handling the case.
Within minutes, he called back.
"We're checking the location now. Do not approach the property yourself.""
I wanted to scream.
Instead, I forced myself to breathe.
Then Daniel said, "Marcus, look at the picture again.""
"What?""
"Her left hand.""
I enlarged the photograph.
Lily was holding her stuffed rabbit.
Around her wrist was a thin red string.
I recognized it immediately.
Sarah had tied that string around Lily's wrist in the hospital, three days before she died.
She had told Lily it was a protection bracelet.
Lily had never taken it off.
But there was something else.
A tiny silver charm had been attached to the string.
I had never seen it before.
Daniel leaned closer.
"Is that a key?""
It was.
A miniature brass key.
And attached to it was a small piece of paper.
The photograph was blurry, but I could make out two handwritten letters.
S.B.
Sarah's box.
I looked at Daniel.
"She put the key on Lily.""
Daniel nodded slowly.
"Sarah knew someone might come looking for it.""
My phone vibrated.
Another message from Vanessa.
*Your mother already knows what happens if you bring the police. One hour, Marcus. Don't make me repeat myself.*
Then a second message arrived.
A voice recording.
I pressed play.
Vanessa's voice came through the speaker.
"Your mother has been lying to you for years. Ask her what she did the night Sarah died. Ask her why your father never told you about the money.""
The recording ended.
Daniel stared at me.
"Your father?""
I looked toward the church doors.
My mother had known something about Sarah's death.
Something involving my father.
And Vanessa was using it to control her.
Then the police investigator called again.
"We've located the motel. We have officers approaching the property.""
I held my breath.
"Is Lily there?""
"We have a vehicle matching Vanessa's description. But there's a problem.""
"What problem?""
"The room is empty.""
My heart stopped.
"Where is my daughter?""
The investigator hesitated.
"There's no sign of Vanessa either.""
Then he added:
"We found something on the bed. It appears to be a wedding invitation with your name written on the back.""
I swallowed.
"What does it say?""
The officer read the words aloud.
*If Marcus wants the truth, he must come to the place where Sarah took her last breath.*
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And beneath it was an address.
The hospital where my wife had died.
