The Woman They Thought Was Worthless

For several seconds, I couldn't move.

My mother's name stared back at me from the document.

*Evelyn Hayes.*

The woman I had mourned for eleven years.

The woman who had just called me and told me she was alive.

The woman my father had apparently suspected of ordering his death.

Rebecca shook her head.

"No. That can't be right.""

Jonathan examined the handwriting.

"Your father wrote this himself.""

I snatched the document from him.

"Then explain it.""

Jonathan looked at the locked steel door.

"I think Martin wanted us to find this.""

"Why?""

"Because he knows we're trapped in here, and he wants us to believe your mother was responsible.""

I stared at the signature.

My father's handwriting was unmistakable.

But so was his habit of writing questions in the margins whenever he suspected something.

I examined the sentence again.

*If Martin is correct, the person who ordered my death is still inside my family.*

The words If Martin is correct had been underlined twice.

"Jonathan, what does that mean?""

He leaned closer.

"Your father wasn't making an accusation. He was recording a possibility someone had presented to him.""

"Someone?""

"Martin.""

Rebecca looked up.

"Martin told him our mother wanted him dead?""

Jonathan nodded.

"Possibly. But we need the original correspondence.""

A sudden metallic bang echoed through the corridor.

Then another.

I rushed to the door.

"Help! We're inside!""

No answer.

Jonathan examined the electronic locking mechanism.

"There's an emergency release.""

"Where?""

"Behind the maintenance panel.""

He removed his jacket and began working on the small control box.

Rebecca searched the filing cabinets.

"There's another folder here!""

She pulled out a thick blue binder.

Inside were photographs, bank statements, and copies of handwritten letters.

I took the first letter.

It was from Martin to my father.

William,

I have evidence that Evelyn has been communicating with Patricia. She has asked questions about the trust and appears to be seeking control of your shares.

I strongly advise you to reconsider her position.

The letter was dated three days before my father's death.

I turned the page.

A second letter was attached.

This one was written by my mother.

William,

I know what Martin is telling you. Please don't believe him.

Patricia has been threatening me. She knows about Rebecca, and she knows I have been helping you investigate the missing money.

If anything happens to either of us, protect Nia.

My hands began trembling.

My mother hadn't been plotting against my father.

She had been warning him.

I read the letter again.

Then I noticed something written at the bottom.

*The person who delivered the medication was not Daniel. Ask him about the blue envelope.*

I turned toward Jonathan.

"What's the blue envelope?""

He stopped working on the control panel.

"I don't know.""

Rebecca suddenly looked at me.

"I remember something.""

"What?""

"After Dad died, I found Daniel sitting in his car outside the hospital. He was holding a blue envelope.""

I stared at her.

"Why didn't you mention that?""

"I didn't know it mattered.""

Jonathan finally removed the maintenance panel.

"Whatever the envelope contained, we need to get out of here.""

He disconnected two wires.

The electronic lock clicked.

The door opened.

We stepped into the corridor.

A security guard was waiting at the far end.

"Mrs. Whitmore! Are you all right?""

I nodded.

"Where's Martin?""

"He left.""

"Did he leave alone?""

The guard hesitated.

"No.""

"Who was with him?""

He checked his phone.

"An older woman. Dark coat. Gray hair.""

Rebecca grabbed my arm.

"Mom.""

My heart stopped.

We rushed outside.

The security cameras showed a black SUV leaving the property twenty-three minutes earlier.

Jonathan immediately called the protection team.

"Locate Evelyn Hayes. Confirm her position and contact me directly.""

I turned to him.

"Don't just locate her. Bring her here.""

He nodded.

We returned to headquarters before sunrise.

I had barely stepped into my office when my phone rang.

It was my mother.

"Nia?""

"Mom, where are you?""

"Somewhere safe.""

"Are you with Martin?""

Silence.

"Who told you that?""

"Did you meet him tonight?""

My mother's breathing changed.

"Yes.""

"Why?""

"Because he threatened Rebecca.""

I looked toward my sister.

"Did he hurt you?""

"No. But he knows where I've been staying.""

I closed my eyes.

"Mom, I found Dad's documents. Your name is on one of them.""

She didn't answer.

"Did you sign a transfer authorization for two million dollars?""

A long silence followed.

Then she whispered:

"Yes.""

My heart sank.

"Why?""

"Because Martin told me your father had authorized it.""

"Was that true?""

"No.""

I gripped the desk.

"Mom!""

"I found out afterward. I tried to reverse the payment, but Martin threatened to expose Rebecca's identity and tell you that I was responsible for your father's death.""

I stared at the wall.

"Why didn't you go to the police?""

"Because he had evidence that could make it look as though I had arranged the transfer.""

"And the medication?""

My mother began crying.

"I never touched your father's medication.""

"Who did?""

She whispered one name.

"Patricia.""

I froze.

"Are you certain?""

"I saw her change the labels on the medication containers. Your father discovered it. He confronted her, and she told him it was a mistake.""

I could barely breathe.

"Why didn't you tell anyone?""

"Because Martin said he had already made arrangements. He told me that if I spoke, you would be next.""

I closed my eyes.

Then I asked the question I had been avoiding.

"Mom, did Dad know you were going to disappear?""

"Yes.""

"Did he arrange it?""

"Yes.""

"Why?""

"Because he believed Martin would kill me to keep the financial records hidden.""

My voice broke.

"Then why did he leave me alone?""

"He thought he could protect you by making everyone believe I was dead. He thought that if Martin believed I was gone, he would stop looking for me.""

I pressed my fingers against my forehead.

"Mom, I need you to come home.""

"I will.""

"When?""

"Tomorrow.""

The call ended.

Rebecca stood beside me.

"She's telling the truth.""

I looked at her.

"How do you know?""

"Because Dad told me the same thing.""

She removed a folded photograph from her handbag.

It showed my mother standing beside my father outside the old manufacturing plant.

On the back was a handwritten message.

*If Nia ever discovers the truth, tell her that her mother was never the enemy.*

I felt tears gather in my eyes.

Then Jonathan entered.

He looked unusually pale.

"Nia, the forensic team has recovered the original financial correspondence.""

"Anything important?""

He placed a printed email on my desk.

It was sent from Martin's private account to Patricia.

*Once William is gone, Evelyn can be blamed for the transfers. Daniel will support the story because he has too much to lose. The daughter will inherit the shares, but she'll never understand how to control them.*

I read it twice.

Then I noticed the date.

It had been sent the night before my father died.

At the bottom was Patricia's reply.

*Make sure the medication issue is handled. I want everything finished before morning.*

I looked up.

"That's enough to take to the authorities.""

Jonathan nodded.

"Yes. But there's another problem.""

"What?""

He turned his laptop toward me.

A corporate notification was open.