Chapter 14: The Last Lie of the Carter Family
My mother held my face between her hands.
For a moment, I was six years old again.
I remembered her brushing my hair before school, kissing my forehead, and telling me that no matter what happened, I would always have a home.
Then she looked at Grace.
“My beautiful girl.””
Grace began sobbing.
“You knew where I was?””
My mother shook her head.
“Not at first. I searched for you until I had nothing left.””
“Then why didn't you find me?””
“Because Diane changed your identity. She moved you from one family to another before we could locate you.””
Grace pulled away.
“You let her raise me.””
My mother lowered her hands.
“I know.””
“You let me believe my father abandoned me.””
“I know.””
“You let me believe I had no sister.””
My mother's face crumpled.
“I am sorry.””
Grace turned toward the window.
I wanted to comfort her, but I understood her anger.
Finding the truth didn't erase the years we had lost.
Catherine reached for our mother's hand.
“Did you know I was alive?””
My mother nodded.
“I found out when you were eleven. I saw a photograph of you in a school newsletter.””
Catherine's eyes widened.
“You knew where I was?””
“I knew the town. I didn't know the family name you were using. I was afraid that if I approached you, the people who had hidden you would move you again.””
Catherine looked down.
“So you watched me grow up from a distance?””
My mother nodded through tears.
“I attended your high school graduation. I watched you receive your nursing certificate. I even saw you working at the medical center.””
Catherine covered her mouth.
“Why didn't you come to me?””
“Because every time I got close, someone threatened your safety.””
I looked at Richard.
“Who?””
He answered.
“Thomas.””
My father walked toward the window.
“Thomas believed that if he controlled all three of you, he could control the company. He knew the trust gave each daughter an equal share.””
I shook my head.
“But why would he need Marcus?””
“Because Thomas couldn't legally claim your inheritance himself. He needed someone who could marry into the family and gain influence over the beneficiaries.””
“Marcus.””
Richard nodded.
“He was supposed to marry Nia. Then he was supposed to marry Grace. Thomas intended to use both marriages to establish control over the trust.””
Catherine frowned.
“And what about me?””
My father looked at her.
“You were the final piece.””
I stared at him.
“Was Marcus planning to marry all three of us?””
Richard's expression darkened.
“Not personally. He was working with someone else.””
I looked at my mother.
“Who?””
She reached into her handbag and removed a small photograph.
It showed Marcus standing beside a woman outside a courthouse.
The woman was wearing a wedding ring.
I recognized her from the chapel.
Grace gasped.
“That's my attorney.””
My mother nodded.
“Her name is Victoria Hale. She was the person who prepared the fraudulent marriage and estate documents.””
I studied the photograph.
“She's married to Marcus?””
“No,” my mother replied.
“She's married to Thomas.””
I felt sick.
The family tree of lies seemed to have no end.
Before I could ask another question, my phone rang.
Daniel Brooks.
I looked at Richard.
He nodded.
“Answer it.””
I pressed the speaker button.
“Nia?””
“What do you want?””
Daniel sounded exhausted.
“I need to speak with your father.””
Richard stepped closer.
“I'm here.””
A long silence followed.
Then Daniel said, “Richard, I'm sorry.””
My father closed his eyes.
“You should be.””
“I know.””
“Why did you help them?””
Daniel's voice broke.
“Because Thomas had my daughter.””
The room went silent.
I stared at the phone.
“What?””
Daniel continued.
“My daughter, Emily. She was twenty-two when Thomas discovered I had copied the original financial records. He threatened to make her disappear if I cooperated with the investigation.””
Richard's jaw tightened.
“So you gave him the documents.””
“I gave him some. Not all.””
“You helped cover up Grace's disappearance.””
“I was trying to get Emily back.””
“And you let my wife believe our daughters were gone.””
Daniel began crying.
“I know what I did. I know there's no excuse.””
I stepped forward.
“Where is Emily now?””
“She's safe.””
“Where?””
Daniel hesitated.
Then he said, “With Thomas.””
My mother shook her head.
“That's not true.””
Daniel went silent.
My mother approached the phone.
“Daniel, Thomas moved Emily two weeks ago. He doesn't intend to release her.””
A sharp breath came through the speaker.
“How do you know?””
“Because I spoke to her.””
Daniel began sobbing.
“Where is she?””
My mother looked at Richard.
He nodded.
“We have her location,” he said.
Daniel's voice became urgent.
“Tell me where.””
“Not until you help us.””
“Anything.””
Richard leaned toward the phone.
“Thomas is planning to transfer the company shares tomorrow morning. He needs all three daughters to sign the trust amendment.””
I looked at Grace.
“That's why Marcus wanted us to sign documents after the weddings.””
“Yes,” Richard replied.
“But the original trust contains a clause that Thomas doesn't know about.””
He pulled a folded document from his coat.
“If all three daughters appear together before an independent trustee, the amendment can be revoked and the company placed under temporary independent control.””
I read the page.
The provision was unmistakable.
Our father had anticipated that someone might attempt to manipulate us separately.
He had created a legal mechanism that required all three sisters to act together.
Thomas couldn't divide us if we stood united.
Daniel spoke again.
“I can help you. I still have access to the original corporate records.””
Richard looked at the phone.
“Then send them to me.””
“I will.””
“And Daniel?””
“Yes?””
“If you betray us again, I won't protect you.””
Daniel whispered, “I understand.””
The call ended.
For a few moments, nobody spoke.
Then Olivia entered the room.
She had been waiting outside with Samuel.
“Sorry,” she said.
“I didn't want to interrupt.””
I walked toward her.
“Did you find anything?””
She handed me her phone.
“Samuel recovered the rest of the recording from the basement. There's something you need to hear.””
She pressed play.
My father's voice filled the room.
“Tell me what happened at the charity dinner.””
A woman answered.
It was the same woman from the earlier recording.
“Diane brought the drinks. Thomas told her which glass to use.””
My mother closed her eyes.
The recording continued.
“Richard, I saw her put something into your wife's glass. I tried to stop her, but she told me it was medicine.””
My father asked, “Who was with her?””
The woman answered.
“Daniel.””
I looked at the phone.
Daniel had been there.
He had watched my mother drink something dangerous.
The recording continued.
“He told me not to interfere. He said Thomas had promised that nobody would get hurt.””
I looked at Richard.
“Was Daniel responsible for Mom's poisoning?””
My father shook his head.
“He didn't know what was in the glass. He believed it was medication.””
My mother opened her eyes.
“Richard, that's not the entire recording.””
She reached into her handbag and removed a second memory card.
“I found this in the safe before I came here.””
She placed it on the table.
“This is the original recording from the night I was poisoned.””
Richard inserted the card into a small device.
Static filled the room.
Then Diane's voice emerged.
“You should have signed the papers, Margaret.””
My mother went rigid.
Another voice answered.
Thomas.
“She won't sign. Richard has made her too stubborn.””
Then a third voice.
Marcus.
“What about the children?””
Diane laughed.
“We'll deal with them when the time comes.””
My blood ran cold.
The recording continued.
Then came a voice I recognized immediately.
My father's.
“Get away from my family.””
A crash.
A scream.
Then silence.
The recording ended.
Richard stared at the device.
I looked at him.
“That's the night you disappeared?””
He nodded.
“After that recording, Thomas realized I had evidence. He staged the accident.””
My mother took his hand.
“We have enough now.””
Richard looked at his daughters.
“Tomorrow morning, we end this.””
Grace stood.
“I'm not signing anything Marcus gives me.””
Catherine nodded.
“Neither am I.””
I looked at both of them.
“Then we do it together.””
My phone vibrated.
A message from an unknown number.
It contained a photograph of Olivia.
She was sitting in her car outside the hospital.
A man stood behind her.
The message read:
*Your friend has been very helpful. But she won't be if you bring the recordings to the board meeting tomorrow.*
I looked toward the hospital window.
Olivia's car was gone.
I called her immediately.
No answer.
Then a second message arrived.
*Bring the original documents. Come alone. Or Olivia disappears.*
I looked at my family.
May you like
Thomas had made his final move.
And this time, he had chosen someone I loved.
