Chapter 9: The Woman Who Knew
Maya replayed the video three times.
Each time, the same words.
*Don't bring the trust papers.*
Marcus paced beside the SUV.
“He wants us to think she's helping him.””
Sarah shook her head.
“No.””
“He could be forcing her.””
“He could.””
Maya stared at the screen.
“She's trying to tell us something.””
Vanessa nodded.
“I think so.””
Marcus stopped.
“You think?””
Vanessa looked at him.
“I know Daniel.””
“He isn't your brother.””
“No.””
She swallowed.
“But I knew him for years.””
Maya looked up.
“Then tell me what he wants.””
Vanessa took a breath.
“He wants control of the trust.””
“That’s obvious.””
“He also wants something else.””
“What?””
“The original birth records.””
Marcus frowned.
“Why?””
“Because the trust requires proof that both girls survived.””
Sarah stared at her.
“That's why he kept Amara alive.””
Vanessa nodded.
“He needed both signatures.””
Maya's face tightened.
“Mine and Amara's?””
“Yes.””
Marcus looked at Maya.
“You're eighteen in three weeks.””
“And Amara?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“She was legally declared dead.””
Maya understood.
“So if I sign anything, he gets the money.””
“Not just the money,” Sarah said.
“The trust also controls several properties.””
Marcus looked at her.
“How much?””
Sarah hesitated.
“Enough to make people kill for it.””
Maya looked down.
“Then why did Daniel bring me into this?””
Vanessa answered.
“Because he needs you scared enough to cooperate.””
Maya shook her head.
“He doesn't know me very well.””
A small smile appeared on Sarah's face.
“No.””
“He doesn't.””
Marcus stopped pacing.
“Then we don't go to the river.””
Maya looked at him.
“We do.””
Marcus shook his head.
“No.””
“We need Amara.””
“And we need a plan.””
Sarah nodded.
“I have one.””
Everyone looked at her.
Sarah took out her phone.
“Evelyn Carter left something behind.””
Vanessa's eyes widened.
“What?””
“A letter.””
“Where?””
“Her lawyer's office.””
Marcus stared at Sarah.
“Why didn't you tell us?””
“Because I didn't know if I could trust anyone.””
She looked at Vanessa.
“Now I know.””
Vanessa flinched.
An hour later, they sat in a small conference room at the lawyer's office.
The attorney placed an old envelope on the table.
“This was left with specific instructions,” she said.
Sarah nodded.
“Open it.””
The attorney looked at Maya.
“It was addressed to you.””
Maya opened it.
Inside was a handwritten letter.
She read silently.
Then her eyes filled with tears.
“What does it say?”” Marcus asked.
Maya handed it to him.
Marcus read.
His face changed.
Sarah leaned over.
The letter contained only a few paragraphs.
*Maya,*
*If you're reading this, Daniel failed to keep the truth buried.*
*Your sister is alive.*
*Her name is Amara, but she doesn't know the whole truth.*
*I raised her because I promised Sarah I would protect her.*
*I couldn't protect myself.*
Maya covered her mouth.
Marcus continued reading.
Then he reached the final paragraph.
*There is one person Daniel fears.*
*The person who knows where the original records are hidden.*
*It isn't Sarah.*
*It isn't Marcus.*
*It is Vanessa.*
Everyone looked up.
Vanessa stood completely still.
Maya stared at her.
“You knew.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“I didn't know about the records.””
Marcus looked at her.
“Then why does Evelyn say you do?””
Vanessa's breathing became shallow.
“I…”
She stopped.
Maya stepped closer.
“What are you hiding?””
Vanessa began to cry.
“The original records aren't in a hospital.””
“Where are they?””
Vanessa looked at Marcus.
“In your house.””
Marcus frowned.
“What?””
“I hid them.””
“Where?””
Vanessa reached into her purse.
She pulled out a small brass key.
Maya recognized it immediately.
“The office.””
Vanessa nodded.
“The locked cabinet.””
Marcus stared at the key.
“I've had that cabinet for seventeen years.””
“I know.””
“You had the key?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Vanessa's tears rolled down her face.
“Because I couldn't destroy them.””
Maya took the key.
They returned home.
Marcus unlocked the cabinet.
Inside were old legal folders.
Tax documents.
Insurance papers.
Then Maya saw a sealed envelope.
Her name was written across it.
Not her current name.
Her full birth name.
*Maya Sarah Wright.*
Marcus opened it.
Inside were two original birth certificates.
One for Maya.
One for Amara.
But beneath them was another document.
A death certificate.
Maya picked it up.
The name on it was:
*MAYA SARAH WRIGHT.*
She stared.
“That’s me.””
Marcus's face went pale.
“No.””
Sarah grabbed the paper.
“This is forged.””
Maya looked at Vanessa.
“Why would someone make a death certificate for me?””
Vanessa whispered,
“Because according to the original plan…”
She couldn't finish.
Maya forced the words out.
“They were supposed to kill me.””
Vanessa nodded.
“But someone changed the plan.””
“Who?””
Vanessa looked at Marcus.
“Your father.””
Marcus stared at her.
“Why?””
“Because he couldn't do it.””
Maya's eyes filled.
“So he chose Amara.””
“No.””
Sarah shook her head.
“He didn't choose her.””
She pointed to the second birth certificate.
“He chose neither of you.””
Everyone looked down.
A handwritten note was attached to the documents.
Marcus pulled it free.
His father's handwriting.
Five words.
*Give both girls to Sarah.*
Marcus stared at the note.
“That means…”
Sarah whispered,
“He changed his mind.””
Vanessa nodded.
“And Daniel found out.””
A loud knock came from the front door.
Everyone froze.
Three more knocks.
Then a woman's voice came from outside.
“Maya?””
Maya's heart stopped.
Sarah turned toward the door.
She knew the voice.
So did Maya.
It was Amara.
Then Amara shouted,
“Open the door before Daniel finds me!””
Maya ran toward the foyer.
Marcus grabbed her arm.
“Wait.””
Another voice came from outside.
Daniel.
Calm.
Almost amused.
“Don't open that door, Maya.””
Maya stopped.
Daniel spoke again.
“Because the girl standing outside isn't your sister.””
Sarah's face went white.
May you like
And Amara screamed from the other side of the door,
“HE'S LYING!””
