Chapter 7: The Last Night of My Mother's Life
For several seconds, nobody moved.
The photograph lay on the floor between us.
My mother's face appeared in my mind. Her tired smile. Her hands smoothing my hair when I was little. The way she used to leave the porch light on whenever I came home late.
And now my uncle was standing in her living room, admitting he'd been the last person to see her alive.
I wanted to hit him.
I wanted to scream.
Mostly, I wanted him to tell me that there was some explanation that wouldn't destroy the last memories I had of my family.
“Talk,” I said.
Robert wiped his face.
“Daniel, I never intended for any of this to happen.””
“That's not an answer.””
He looked toward Elena.
“Your mother called me at eleven forty-five that night. She said she had found Sarah.””
My heart jumped.
“She found her?””
“She said she had spoken to someone who knew where Sarah was living. She wanted me to take her there.””
“Why didn't she call the police?””
“Because she believed the police were involved.””
Elena frowned.
“Who was involved?””
Robert hesitated.
“A detective.””
Officer Reynolds had arrived outside. I could hear sirens approaching.
I ignored them.
“What detective?””
“Frank Holloway.””
Robert's answer made me stiffen.
I recognized the name.
Holloway had been the original investigator assigned to Lily's disappearance. I'd met him several times as a teenager.
He'd once put his hand on my shoulder and told me to stop blaming myself.
I remembered crying in front of him.
I remembered him saying, “Some things are beyond a boy's control.””
My stomach twisted.
“You're telling me the detective who investigated my sister was working with Margaret?””
Robert nodded.
“Your mother discovered that he had accepted money.””
Elena covered her mouth.
Robert continued.
“She confronted me because she thought I could help her. She brought the blue notebook and said she had enough evidence to expose everyone.””
“Then what happened?””
“I drove her to the old mill.””
I stepped closer.
“You took our mother to the place where Margaret was hiding children?””
“I didn't know that was what the mill was being used for. I thought we were meeting someone who could lead us to Sarah.””
“Who was there?””
“Margaret. Holloway. And another man.””
“Who?””
Robert looked down.
“I never saw his face clearly.””
I grabbed his jacket.
“Stop protecting them!””
“I'M NOT!””
His voice cracked.
Then he lowered his head.
“Your mother had a photograph. Sarah was standing outside a school. She had been using another name. Margaret admitted she knew where she was.””
Elena stepped forward.
“Did you see Sarah?””
“No.””
“Did my mother?””
Robert nodded.
“She begged Margaret to bring Sarah home.””
I released his jacket.
“What did Margaret say?””
Robert's eyes filled again.
“She said Sarah had a new family. That bringing her back would destroy everything.””
I stared at him.
“She was eleven years old.””
“I know.””
“And you let them keep her?””
“I tried to persuade Margaret. I told her the arrangement had gone too far.””
“What arrangement?””
Robert looked at me.
“The children were being moved between wealthy families. Some wanted children but didn't want the legal process. Margaret arranged it. Holloway made missing-person investigations disappear.””
Elena backed away.
“So my childhood was a business?””
Robert didn't answer.
I felt something inside me go cold.
“And Mom?””
Robert's voice dropped.
“She threatened to expose them. Margaret told her she would never see her children again.””
I looked at the photograph.
“Then what happened?””
Robert stared at the floor.
“Your mother collapsed.””
“Why?””
“I don't know.””
“Was she breathing?””
“Yes.””
“Did you call an ambulance?””
He didn't answer.
I stepped toward him.
“DID YOU CALL AN AMBULANCE?””
Robert began shaking.
“No.””
The silence was unbearable.
“Why?””
He looked up, tears running down his cheeks.
“Holloway said if we took her to the hospital, she'd tell them everything. Margaret said she had medication that could help.””
My blood ran cold.
“What medication?””
“A sedative. She said your mother was having a panic attack.””
Elena whispered, “You gave it to her?””
Robert nodded.
“And then?””
“She stopped breathing properly.””
I couldn't hear anything for a moment.
The room seemed to shrink.
“You watched her die?””
“I called Margaret. She told me to wait.””
“HOW LONG?””
Robert covered his face.
“Twenty minutes.””
I stumbled backward.
Twenty minutes.
Twenty minutes that could have saved our mother.
I turned away before I did something I couldn't take back.
Officer Reynolds entered with two uniformed officers.
“What happened here?””
I pointed at Robert.
“He just admitted he gave my mother medication and waited twenty minutes before seeking medical help.””
Reynolds immediately separated him from us.
“Mr. Carter, you're going to need to come with us.””
Robert didn't resist.
As the officers led him away, he turned.
“Daniel, there's something else.””
I didn't want to hear another word.
But he continued.
“Your mother wasn't the only one at the mill that night.””
I stopped.
“Who else?””
Robert looked directly at Elena.
“Sarah.””
Elena's knees nearly buckled.
“What?””
“She was brought there shortly before your mother arrived.””
Elena grabbed my arm.
“Was she alive?””
“Yes.””
“Did Mom see her?””
Robert nodded.
“They were together for a few minutes.””
I felt my throat close.
“Did they talk?””
Robert's eyes filled.
“Your mother told Sarah that Daniel was waiting for her.””
I closed my eyes.
For twenty-one years, I had waited.
And Mom had known where one of my sisters was.
“What happened to Sarah after Mom collapsed?””
Robert looked toward the officers.
“Margaret took her away.””
“Where?””
“I don't know.””
Then he reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper.
One of the officers moved toward him, but Robert held it out.
“Your mother gave me this before she collapsed. I kept it because I was afraid.””
I took the paper.
There was an address.
And beneath it, in Mom's handwriting, were the words:
The house where my girls were separated.
I stared at the address.
It was in the neighboring county.
A place I'd never heard of.
Officer Reynolds examined it.
“Daniel, don't go there alone.””
I nodded.
But as we prepared to leave, Elena noticed something written in the corner.
A small date.
November 14.
Tomorrow.
She looked at me.
“Daniel, I think that's where Sarah is supposed to be.””
Then Reynolds' phone rang.
He listened for several seconds.
His expression changed.
“What is it?”” I asked.
He lowered the phone.
“Frank Holloway has just been found dead.””
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And the final words from the dispatch officer made the room go silent.
“He was scheduled to testify tomorrow morning.””
