Chapter 7: The Woman in Daniel's Car
“Vanessa was in the car with him.””
Patricia's words hung in the air.
Dad slowly lowered himself into the nearest chair.
“No,” he whispered.
I looked at him.
“What does she mean?””
He didn't answer.
Patricia continued speaking through the phone.
“Marcus, I know this is difficult, but you need to understand that Daniel was planning to tell you something that night.””
“What?””
“He had discovered that Vanessa was moving money out of your mother's trust.””
Dad closed his eyes.
“That's impossible.””
“I have the documents.””
“Why didn't you tell the police?””
“I did. But the police report stated that Daniel lost control of the vehicle during heavy rain. Vanessa told them she had been following him in another car and arrived after the accident.””
Dad stood.
“You're telling me she was actually in the passenger seat?””
“Yes.””
“And she lied?””
“Yes.””
I felt cold all over.
“Did she cause the accident?””
Patricia went silent.
Then she answered carefully.
“I cannot prove that.””
Dad grabbed his keys.
“Where are you?””
“At home.””
“I'm coming.””
“Marcus, don't come alone. Vanessa knows I still have the original documents.””
Dad looked at me.
“Send me your address.””
Patricia gave it to him.
Before ending the call, she added something else.
“Maya, sweetheart?””
“Yes?””
“There's something about Daniel you should know. He called me two days before he died. He said he was afraid someone was going to take his children away.””
I swallowed.
“Did he say who?””
“Yes.””
She paused.
“Vanessa.””
The call ended.
For several seconds, Dad stood motionless.
Then he turned toward Caleb.
“Where is your mother?””
Caleb shook his head.
“I don't know.””
“Think carefully.””
“She said she was going to stay with Aunt Patricia.””
Dad's expression hardened.
“Your mother is already with her sister?””
Caleb nodded.
I looked at him.
“You knew where she was going?””
“No. I swear.””
“Then why did you say that?””
“Because she mentioned Patricia yesterday.””
Dad stepped toward him.
“What else did she tell you?””
Caleb rubbed his face.
“She said everything would be over soon.””
“What does that mean?””
“I don't know.””
I picked up my phone.
There was another message from the unknown number.
*Don't let Marcus go to Patricia's house. Vanessa is already there.*
I showed Dad.
He read it twice.
Then he called Patricia again.
No answer.
He tried a second time.
Still nothing.
“Get your coat,” he told me.
Caleb stood.
“I'm coming too.””
Dad looked at him.
“You've lied enough.””
“I know.””
“Then why should I trust you?””
Caleb's eyes filled.
“Because I think Mom is going to hurt someone.””
That stopped Dad.
We drove to Patricia's house in separate cars.
The journey took thirty-five minutes.
Dad drove so fast that I had to grip the door handle.
When we arrived, Patricia's front door was open.
A lamp had been knocked over in the hallway.
There was a broken ceramic vase on the floor.
“Patricia?”” Dad called.
No answer.
We entered cautiously.
The living room was empty.
A coffee cup lay on its side beside the sofa.
On the dining table were several documents scattered across the surface.
Dad picked one up.
It was a photocopy of Daniel's old trust agreement.
Someone had drawn a red circle around a paragraph.
I read it.
*The surviving children of Daniel Reed shall remain equal beneficiaries of the estate.*
Dad frowned.
“Why would Vanessa care about this?””
Caleb answered from behind us.
“Because she thought I could inherit everything if the other children weren't legally recognized.””
Dad turned.
“Who told you that?””
“Mom.””
Caleb's voice shook.
“She said Grandma had created a separate provision for me. She told me Daniel wanted me to have something because I was the only child she had raised.””
Dad looked at him.
“Daniel was your uncle, Caleb. Why would he leave you his children's inheritance?””
“I didn't know the details!””
I looked at the paperwork.
There were three names written in the margin.
Maya.
Sky.
Noah.
And beneath them, another name.
*Caleb Reed.*
My stomach tightened.
“Dad, look.””
He took the document.
A door slammed upstairs.
We all turned.
“Patricia?”” Dad shouted.
Footsteps sounded overhead.
Then Vanessa appeared at the top of the staircase.
She was holding a black folder.
Her eyes widened when she saw us.
“Marcus.””
Dad took a step forward.
“Put that down.””
Vanessa backed away.
“You shouldn't be here.””
“Neither should you.””
She glanced at Caleb.
“You brought them?””
Caleb shook his head.
“I didn't know you were here.””
Vanessa looked at me.
“Maya, go outside.””
I stayed where I was.
“Why were you in Daniel's car?””
Her face changed.
Dad went still.
“What?””
I repeated the question.
“Were you in Daniel's car the night he died?””
Vanessa tightened her grip on the folder.
“I was trying to help him.””
Dad's voice dropped.
“Answer her.””
Vanessa slowly descended the stairs.
“Daniel was angry. He had found out about the money. He was threatening to expose everything.””
“What money?””
“The trust.””
Dad stared at her.
“You stole from my mother's estate?””
“I borrowed it.””
“How much?””
Vanessa looked away.
“Eighty thousand dollars.””
Caleb gasped.
Dad shook his head.
“And Daniel found out?””
“Yes.””
“What happened in the car?””
Vanessa began crying.
“He was driving too fast. It was raining. We argued. He reached across me to grab the folder, and the car swerved.””
Dad stared at her.
“Did you touch the steering wheel?””
“I was trying to stop him!””
“Did you?””
Vanessa didn't answer.
Dad moved closer.
“Did you touch the steering wheel?””
She began sobbing.
“Yes.””
The room fell silent.
“I didn't mean for him to die,” she whispered.
Dad looked as though he couldn't breathe.
“You let me bury my brother believing he had died alone.””
“I was scared.””
“You watched me stand beside his coffin!””
“I was going to tell you!””
“When?””
Vanessa looked down.
Dad reached for the folder.
She pulled it against her chest.
“Marcus, you need to listen. The documents inside explain everything.””
He took it from her.
The first page was a bank statement.
The second was a letter from Daniel.
The third was a photograph.
I looked at it.
It showed Daniel sitting beside a hospital bed.
And in the bed was my mother.
She was holding a newborn baby.
Me.
On the back, Daniel had written:
*My two beautiful girls. One day, they will know the truth.*
I looked at Dad.
“Two girls?””
He stared at the photograph.
Then his face changed.
“Rebecca had Sky. Daniel had Lily and you.””
I nodded slowly.
But something still didn't make sense.
I turned the photograph over again.
There was another name written underneath the message.
*And the boy who will protect them.*
I looked at Caleb.
He was staring at the photograph.
“Who was Daniel talking about?”” I asked.
Caleb shook his head.
“I don't know.””
Vanessa suddenly whispered:
“He was talking about you.””
I frowned.
“Me?””
“No.””
She looked at Caleb.
“He was talking about Caleb.””
Dad turned.
“What?””
Vanessa's eyes filled.
“Daniel knew Caleb's biological father.””
Caleb looked confused.
“Mom, what are you talking about?””
May you like
Vanessa lowered her voice.
“Caleb, there's something I've never told you about your father.””
