Chapter 7: The Mother Who Betrayed Him
I looked at Margaret as if she had suddenly become a stranger.
"My mother?""
She nodded.
"Yes.""
"You're telling me Helen Hayes helped Richard steal from my father's company?""
Margaret wiped her eyes.
"She was involved in the financial arrangements. I don't know how much she understood at first, but by the time Daniel discovered everything, she knew.""
I shook my head.
"No. My mother wouldn't do that.""
Tiana stood quietly near the door.
The detectives exchanged glances.
Margaret placed the brass key on the table.
"Daniel found out about the transfers approximately six months before he died. He confronted your mother at their home. I was there the following morning.""
"What happened?""
"Your mother admitted she had helped Richard establish several accounts. She claimed Richard had promised to protect your inheritance.""
I laughed bitterly.
"Protect my inheritance by stealing from it?""
"She said she believed the money would eventually be returned.""
"How much did she take?""
Margaret looked down.
"Approximately $3.2 million.""
The number hung in the air.
I remembered my mother's kitchen.
The framed photographs.
The expensive renovation she had completed the year before.
The new car she had bought after my father died.
I'd assumed she was living comfortably because Daniel had provided for her.
Now I wondered how much of that comfort had been purchased with stolen money.
"Why didn't Dad divorce her?""
Margaret's expression softened.
"Because he still loved her. And because he was afraid a public investigation would destroy you.""
I walked toward the window.
My father had spent his life protecting people.
Even when they didn't deserve it.
"Did she know about the trust?""
"Yes.""
"Did she know I was the beneficiary?""
"She knew Daniel intended to leave you control.""
I turned around.
"Then why did she let me believe I had nothing?""
Margaret hesitated.
"Because Richard convinced her that if you inherited the company, you would eventually discover the truth about your birth.""
I looked at Tiana.
"And you?""
She lowered her eyes.
"I was told your mother would handle the family side of the operation. Richard wanted me to get close to you and persuade you to sign the transfer documents.""
I stared at her.
"So all three of you knew.""
Tiana began crying.
"I didn't know about the money your mother took.""
"But you knew about the plan.""
"Yes.""
I stepped away.
Detective Bennett finally spoke.
"Ms. Hayes, I need you to come with us.""
Margaret nodded.
"I understand.""
Before leaving, she turned toward me.
"Ethan, there's something else.""
I didn't answer.
"Your father didn't leave the brass key to me. He left it for you. He instructed me to give it to you only when you knew the entire truth.""
I looked at the key.
"What's it open?""
"The private archive beneath the old company headquarters.""
"What's inside?""
Margaret swallowed.
"Everything Daniel collected before he died.""
She glanced at the detectives.
"And possibly the truth about what happened that night.""
By noon, I was standing inside a small police interview room.
Detective Bennett placed a cup of coffee in front of me.
"We need to talk about your mother.""
I stared at the untouched cup.
"Can you tell me whether she's been charged?""
"Not yet.""
"Do you have evidence?""
"We have financial records linking her to three shell companies. We also have testimony from Ms. Hayes.""
I nodded.
"Then why haven't you arrested her?""
"Because the money trail is complicated. We need to establish whether she knowingly participated in the fraud.""
I looked at the detective.
"She knew.""
"How can you be certain?""
I pulled out my phone.
"Because I remember something.""
I opened my messages and searched for my mother's name.
Three weeks earlier, she had sent me a message.
Sweetheart, if anyone asks about the money your father left, tell them you don't know anything. Some things are better left in the past.
At the time, I thought she was talking about family finances.
Now I read it differently.
I showed Detective Bennett.
She photographed the screen.
"That's useful.""
I leaned forward.
"Can I call her?""
"Not until we understand what she's involved in.""
"She's my mother.""
"I understand.""
"No, you don't.""
The detective held my gaze.
"Mr. Hayes, the people we're investigating have already demonstrated that they'll use family relationships to manipulate you. Don't give them another opportunity.""
I looked away.
She was right.
But knowing that didn't make it easier.
At 2:30 P.M., I drove to my mother's house.
I didn't tell the police where I was going until I was already parked outside.
Two patrol officers arrived shortly afterward.
The house looked exactly as I remembered it.
White shutters.
Blue front door.
A small flower garden my father had planted himself.
I rang the bell.
My mother opened it.
"Ethan.""
Her smile disappeared when she saw the officers.
"What is happening?""
I stepped inside.
"We need to talk.""
She looked at the uniformed men.
"Why are the police here?""
"Because of Dad's company.""
She closed the door slowly.
Then she looked at me.
"Who told you?""
"Does it matter?""
Her eyes filled.
"Oh, sweetheart.""
"Don't.""
She stopped.
I placed my phone on the kitchen counter and showed her the financial records.
"Did you help Richard steal from Dad?""
She stared at the screen.
Then she sat down.
For a long moment, she said nothing.
Finally, she whispered:
"I thought I was helping you.""
I almost laughed.
"How?""
"Richard promised that the money would be transferred into a private account for your future.""
"Three million dollars?""
"He said it was temporary.""
"Mom, did you help him?""
She covered her face.
"Yes.""
The answer was so quiet I almost missed it.
I pulled out a chair.
"Why?""
She looked up.
"Because Daniel was going to leave everything to you.""
I frowned.
"And?""
"Richard told me he was your biological father. He said he had rights. He said if Daniel died without recognizing him, the company would become a legal disaster.""
I stared at her.
"So you helped him steal money to protect his inheritance?""
"He promised he would make sure you were taken care of.""
I shook my head.
"You could have told me.""
"Your father would never have forgiven me.""
"Apparently, you were more worried about his forgiveness than mine.""
She began crying.
Then she reached into a kitchen drawer.
"I kept something.""
She placed a small envelope on the table.
My father's handwriting appeared across the front.
*For Ethan. Only if Helen tells him the truth.*
I picked it up.
"What's this?""
"Daniel gave it to me the night before he died.""
I looked at her.
"Why didn't you give it to me?""
"Because he said if I couldn't protect you, I shouldn't be the one to deliver it.""
I opened the envelope.
Inside was a single photograph.
My father stood beside a hospital bed.
A newborn baby lay in his arms.
On the back, he had written:
The day I became your father was the day you came home. Biology never changed that.
My eyes blurred.
Beneath the photograph was a handwritten letter.
I unfolded it.
Ethan,
If your mother has given you this letter, then I am no longer there to protect you.
There is one thing you must understand.
Richard gave you life. I gave you a home. Never confuse those two things.
I stopped reading.
My mother began sobbing.
I continued.
But there is a secret even Richard doesn't know. The original company ledger is not in the archive. I moved it before I died.
The letter ended with a sentence.
The person who has the ledger is the only person who can prove what happened in the room where I took my last breath.
I looked up.
"Mom, who has the ledger?""
She stared at me.
Then she whispered:
"Your father gave it to Adrian.""
Before I could respond, her phone rang.
The caller ID displayed:
*RICHARD COLEMAN.*
She didn't answer.
A text appeared.
You have ten minutes to get Ethan out of that house. Adrian knows what happened to Daniel.
May you like
Then another message arrived.
And if he tells Ethan the truth, none of us will survive what comes next.
