Chapter 7 - THE WOMAN AT THE CHRISTMAS TREEWe returned to my house at sunset.
The Christmas lights were still glowing.
The dinner table had been cleared.
The paper plate was still sitting where Victoria had placed it.
I stared at it.
A stupid little paper plate.
Yet it had exposed everything.
Arthur walked through the house with two investigators.
Julian stayed beside me.
Victoria waited near the door.
Then the bell rang.
Everyone froze.
Arthur raised his hand.
“Stay back.”
He opened the door.
Margaret stood outside.
She was carrying flowers.
Just like every Christmas.
She smiled.
“Merry Christmas, Eleanor.”
I stared at her.
She looked exactly as I remembered.
Soft gray hair.
Elegant coat.
Gentle smile.
Arthur stepped between us.
“Don't come inside.”
Margaret's smile disappeared.
“What happened?”
“You know.”
She looked at me.
“Eleanor?”
I finally found my voice.
“Why did you ask about Michael's secret?”
Her face changed.
Only slightly.
But Arthur saw it.
“So you know,” she said.
“Yes.”
She sighed.
“I was hoping you wouldn't.”
Arthur's hand moved toward his weapon.
Margaret raised both hands.
“I'm not here to hurt anyone.”
“Then why are you here?”
“To finish what Michael started.”
She reached inside her coat.
Arthur immediately raised his weapon.
Margaret stopped.
“It's a letter.”
She pulled it out.
“From Michael.”
My heart stopped.
She handed it to me.
I recognized his handwriting.
I opened it.
Eleanor,
If Margaret ever comes to you with this letter, listen to her.
I looked at Margaret.
She is the only member of my family I trusted.
My eyes filled with tears.
Arthur continued reading over my shoulder.
She knows what really happened.
I looked up.
“Tell me.”
Margaret stepped inside.
She looked around the room.
Then at the Christmas tree.
“Michael discovered the network.”
“Yes.”
“He tried to expose them.”
“Yes.”
“But he couldn't.”
“Why?”
“Because they had something he loved.”
I whispered:
“Us.”
Margaret nodded.
“They threatened Arthur.”
Arthur looked away.
“He gave them the ledger.”
“No.”
Margaret shook her head.
“He gave them a fake ledger.”
Arthur stared.
“What?”
“Your father created a second ledger.”
She opened her purse.
“That's the real one.”
Arthur took it.
The pages were filled with names.
More names than the original.
Judges.
Bankers.
Police officers.
Politicians.
Business owners.
And one final name.
Arthur stopped.
I looked.
VICTORIA HAYES.
Victoria gasped.
“No.”
Margaret looked at her.
“You were never the mastermind.”
Victoria shook her head.
“I didn't know.”
“I know.”
Margaret turned the page.
There was another name.
THOMAS REED.
Then another.
RICHARD HAYES.
Then another.
DANIEL MERCER.
Every person connected to the conspiracy.
But beneath all of them was a final name.
The name that made Arthur drop the book.
ARTHUR HAYES.
I stared.
“No.”
Margaret looked at him.
“Your father believed you were the only person strong enough to survive the truth.”
Arthur whispered:
“What did he do?”
Margaret answered:
“He made you part of the plan without telling you.”
Arthur shook his head.
“No.”
“He arranged your military career.”
Arthur stared.
“He made sure you were sent overseas.”
“He did what?”
“He wanted you away from the family.”
“Why?”
Margaret's eyes filled with tears.
“To keep you alive.”
Arthur stepped backward.
Everything he believed about his father was changing.
Then Margaret looked at me.
“Michael didn't die because he lost.”
She paused.
“He died because he won.”
I stared.
“What does that mean?”
Margaret pointed toward the fireplace.
“Your husband hid the final evidence in this house.”
Arthur looked at the wall.
“Where?”
Margaret smiled sadly.
“Under the Christmas tree.”
Everyone froze.
Arthur slowly turned.
The tree stood exactly where it had stood every Christmas for thirty years.
He moved the decorations.
Then lifted the tree skirt.
Beneath it was a wooden floor panel.
Arthur opened it.
Inside was a small black box.
He lifted it.
There was a recording.
Michael's voice filled the room.
“If you're hearing this, then I'm gone.”
I covered my mouth.
“I knew they would come for the house.”
His voice continued.
“But I also knew they would underestimate Eleanor.”
Arthur looked at me.
Michael continued:
“My wife is stronger than she believes.”
Tears rolled down my face.
“She will think she failed me.”
I shook my head.
“No…”
“But she didn't.”
The recording paused.
Then Michael said:
“Eleanor, if you are listening…”
His voice became softer.
“I loved you every day.”
I closed my eyes.
Then came the final sentence.
“And the person who betrayed us is not Margaret.”
The room went silent.
Arthur stared at the recorder.
Michael continued:
“It is someone who will be sitting at your Christmas table when you hear this.”
Everyone looked at each other.
Then the lights went out.
A voice came from the dining room.
“Very clever, Michael.”
Arthur spun around.
A figure stood beside the Christmas tree.
The lights came back on.
And I recognized him immediately.
Julian.
My son.
The boy I had raised.
The man I had sacrificed everything for.
He looked at us.
And smiled.
“Mom…”
May you like
He slowly held up the missing pages of the ledger.
“You should never have opened the box.”
