Chapter 9: The Night My Mother Disappeared
Dad stared at the photograph.
For several seconds, he seemed unable to understand what he was seeing.
Then he turned it over.
On the back was a date and a handwritten note.
*11:42 P.M. — Daniel arrived.*
Dad's voice was almost inaudible.
“I wasn't there.””
Marcus watched him carefully.
“You were.””
“No.””
“Daniel, you need to remember.””
“I was working that night.””
Marcus shook his head.
“You left the warehouse at 10:15. Your phone records confirm it.””
Dad looked at Denise.
She was crying now, but she didn't look surprised.
“You told me Claire died at the hospital,” Dad whispered.
Denise nodded.
“I know.””
“You said the doctors couldn't save her.””
“I know.””
“Then why was I at the crash site?””
Denise looked down.
“Because I called you.””
Dad stepped backward.
“You told me Claire had been in an accident. You told me to come.””
“Yes.””
“And when I arrived?””
Denise pressed her hands against her face.
“You were angry.””
“Why?””
“Because you thought I had been driving with her.””
Dad shook his head.
“I don't remember this.””
Marcus opened another envelope.
“That's because you were given medication that night.””
Dad turned toward him.
“What medication?””
Marcus looked uncomfortable.
“Denise told you that you were having a panic attack. She gave you something to calm down.””
Denise suddenly shouted.
“Stop talking!””
Marcus ignored her.
“You were disoriented when the ambulance arrived. By the time the police questioned you, you couldn't remember exactly what had happened.””
Dad looked at me.
I had never seen him so frightened.
“Why didn't anyone tell me?””
Marcus pulled out another document.
“Because the accident report was changed.””
Dad took it.
The original report listed Claire as the driver.
The amended report listed an unidentified driver.
A handwritten note indicated that the witness statements had been withdrawn.
Dad stared at the document.
“Who changed this?””
Marcus looked at Denise.
“She did.””
Denise shook her head.
“Richard handled the paperwork.””
“Because you asked him to,” Marcus replied.
Dad sat down.
I moved closer to him.
“Dad?””
He didn't look up.
“Your mother was alive when I arrived,” he said.
I felt my throat tighten.
“What?””
“I remember something.””
He closed his eyes.
“I remember headlights. Rain. Someone shouting my name.””
He rubbed his forehead.
“I remember seeing Claire lying on a stretcher.””
I took his hand.
“What happened?””
Dad began breathing faster.
“I tried to get to her, but Denise held me back. She said the paramedics were taking care of everything.””
Marcus nodded.
“That's right.””
Dad looked at him.
“Then why did you say she was asking for help?””
“Because she was.””
Dad's face crumpled.
“What did she say?””
Marcus hesitated.
Then he answered.
“She asked me to protect Maya.””
The words struck the room like a physical blow.
Dad stared at him.
“Why Maya?””
Marcus looked toward the staircase.
“Because Claire believed Denise was planning to take her inheritance.””
I felt tears gathering in my eyes.
Mom had known.
She had tried to protect Maya even while fighting for her own life.
Dad stood suddenly.
“I need to call the hospital.””
Marcus shook his head.
“It's too late for that.””
“Then the police.””
“I already contacted them.””
Denise looked up sharply.
“You did what?””
Marcus removed his phone.
“They're reviewing the original accident report. I also provided the recordings Richard sent me.””
Denise grabbed her handbag.
Dad moved in front of the door.
“Where are you going?””
“I need to speak to my lawyer.””
“You can do that here.””
“You can't keep me in this house!””
Dad stepped aside.
“I'm not keeping you anywhere. But I'm not helping you run from this anymore.””
Denise looked at Brielle.
“Come with me.””
Brielle didn't move.
“Brielle!””
She stared at the floor.
“I don't want to go with you.””
Denise's face twisted.
“After everything I've done for you?””
Brielle finally looked up.
“You lied about my father. You lied about Maya's money. You lied about Claire.””
Denise slapped the coffee table with her palm.
“Everything I did was for you!””
Brielle began crying.
“I never asked you to steal from my sister.””
Denise stared at her daughter.
Then she walked out.
The front door slammed.
Nobody followed.
Dad sat on the couch with his head in his hands.
Marcus stood near the window.
I looked at the photograph again.
“Why did Mom ask you to protect Maya?””
Marcus turned toward me.
“Because she knew something about Denise that I didn't.””
“What?””
He took a long breath.
“Before the accident, Claire discovered that Denise had been trying to change Maya's legal guardianship.””
Dad lifted his head.
“What?””
Marcus nodded.
“She wanted Maya removed from your care if something happened to you.””
Dad looked horrified.
“Why would she do that?””
“Because she wanted control of the trust.””
I felt cold.
Mom had built that trust to protect Maya.
And Denise had apparently been trying to take control of it before Mom even died.
But there was something else.
“Why would she need Maya's guardianship if she already had access to the money?””
Marcus looked at Dad.
“Because the trust contained a clause. If Maya's legal guardian changed before she turned eighteen, the guardian would gain temporary authority over certain financial decisions.””
Dad stared at him.
“Who would become her guardian?””
Marcus lowered his voice.
“Denise.””
I felt my stomach turn.
“She wanted to become Maya's guardian?””
Marcus nodded.
“And she had already prepared the paperwork.””
Dad stood.
“Where is it?””
Marcus opened his folder.
“That's what I've been trying to find.””
He removed a photocopy of a legal document.
It listed Maya's name, Dad's name, and Denise's name.
The signature line for the guardian's consent was blank.
But the court approval section was already stamped.
Dad looked at the date.
It was scheduled to take effect the following Monday.
“That's three days from now,” I whispered.
Marcus nodded.
“Someone was planning to file this before you discovered the missing money.””
Dad grabbed the document.
“Who approved this?””
Marcus pointed to the bottom.
The name belonged to a family court official.
But beneath it was another signature.
A witness.
I recognized it immediately.
It belonged to Brielle.
Dad turned toward the staircase.
“Why would Brielle sign this?””
Nobody answered.
Then a small voice came from behind us.
“Because Mom told me it was just a school form.””
We all turned.
Maya stood at the bottom of the stairs.
Her eyes were red.
She was holding a folded sheet of paper.
Dad rushed toward her.
“Sweetheart, how long have you been standing there?””
“Long enough.””
She looked at the document in his hand.
Then she held out the paper she'd been carrying.
“I found this in Brielle's backpack.””
Dad unfolded it.
It was a copy of the guardianship application.
But there was something written across the top in Maya's handwriting.
*WHY DOES THIS SAY I DON'T WANT TO LIVE WITH DAD?*
Dad's face went white.
Maya looked up at him.
“Dad, I never said that.””
He pulled her into his arms.
“I know. I know you didn't.””
But Maya wasn't finished.
She wiped her tears.
“There's another page.””
She reached into her pocket and removed a small photograph.
It showed Denise sitting at a table with a lawyer.
Beside them was a document with Maya's signature.
Except Maya had never signed it.
Dad stared at the photograph.
Then he noticed the date.
It was taken yesterday.
And the lawyer sitting beside Denise was Richard Warren's business partner.
Marcus stepped closer.
He examined the photograph.
Then he whispered:
“That's not a guardianship meeting.””
Dad looked at him.
“What is it?””
Marcus pointed to the document.
“That's a medical authorization.””
Maya frowned.
“What does that mean?””
Marcus looked at Dad.
“It means someone has been trying to obtain permission to make medical decisions for Maya without your knowledge.””
Dad tightened his arms around her.
May you like
Then Marcus said the words that changed everything.
“And if this document is genuine, they've already arranged for Maya to be taken somewhere tomorrow morning.””
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