Chapter 9: The Child Who Remembered Everything
Marcus couldn't move.
“Grandma?””
Maya nodded.
“She picked me up.””
Marcus slowly sat beside his daughter.
“Baby move.
“Grandma?””
Maya nodded.
“She picked me up.””
Marcus slowly sat beside his daughter.
“Baby, are you sure?””
Maya looked at the drawing.
“Grandma told me not to cry. She said Mommy was sleeping.””
, are you sure?””
Maya looked at the drawing.
“Grandma told me not to cry. She said Mommy was sleeping.””
Marcus's throat tightened.
His mother had died two years after Elena.
He had never imagined that she had been involved in the accident.
“What happened after GrandmaMarcus's throat tightened.
His mother had died two years after Elena.
He had never imagined that she had been involved in the accident.
“What happened after Grandma picked you up?””
Maya rubbed her eyes.
“I don't remember everything.””
“That's okay.””
“She put me in another car. There was a man driving picked you up?””
Maya rubbed her eyes.
“I don't remember everything.””
“That's okay.””
“She put me in another car. There was a man driving.””
Marcus leaned forward.
“Do you remember the man?””
Maya shook her head.
“His face was covered.””
“Did Grandma say anything?””
M.””
Marcus leaned forward.
“Do you remember the man?””
Maya shook her head.
“His face was covered.””
“Did Grandma say anything?””
Maya nodded.
“She told him to take me somewhere safe.””
Marcus felt his heart pound.
“Where?””
“I don't know. There was a big room with blueaya nodded.
“She told him to take me somewhere safe.””
Marcus felt his heart pound.
“Where?””
“I don't know. There was a big room with blue curtains.””
Olivia slowly approached.
“Marcus?””
He raised a hand.
“Give us a moment curtains.””
Olivia slowly approached.
“Marcus?””
He raised a hand.
“Give us a moment.””
Maya continued.
“Grandma gave me a little blanket. Then she said I had to forget what happened.””
Marcus felt.””
Maya continued.
“Grandma gave me a little blanket. Then she said I had to forget what happened.””
Marcus felt tears forming.
“Did she hurt you?””
Maya shook her head.
“No. She hugged me.””
The little girl looked at him.
“Daddy, why did she tears forming.
“Did she hurt you?””
Maya shook her head.
“No. She hugged me.””
The little girl looked at him.
“Daddy, why did she tell me to forget?””
Marcus pulled her close.
“I don't know, sweetheart.””
“But I didn't forget.””
He kissed her forehead.
“You don't tell me to forget?””
Marcus pulled her close.
“I don't know, sweetheart.””
“But I didn't forget.””
He kissed her forehead.
“You don't have to remember anything you don't want to.””
Maya rested her head against his chest.
For a moment, Marcus simply held her.
Then have to remember anything you don't want to.””
Maya rested her head against his chest.
For a moment, Marcus simply held her.
Then Olivia placed a glass of water on the table.
“There's something you should know about Margaret Carter,” she said quietly.
Marcus looked up Olivia placed a glass of water on the table.
“There's something you should know about Margaret Carter,” she said quietly.
Marcus looked up.
“What?””
“Your mother was involved in a private arrangement after Elena's accident.””
“What arrangement?””
“She wanted to protect.
“What?””
“Your mother was involved in a private arrangement after Elena's accident.””
“What arrangement?””
“She wanted to protect Maya from Andrew.””
Marcus frowned.
“By hiding her?””
Olivia nodded.
“She believed Andrew would use Maya's biological identity to claim the inheritance Maya from Andrew.””
Marcus frowned.
“By hiding her?””
Olivia nodded.
“She believed Andrew would use Maya's biological identity to claim the inheritance. So she arranged for Maya to stay with someone outside the family for several days.””
Marcus stared.
“Who?””
Olivia hesitated.
. So she arranged for Maya to stay with someone outside the family for several days.””
Marcus stared.
“Who?””
Olivia hesitated.
“I don't know the full details. But I found a payment to a private residence in Boston.””
Marcus immediately thought of the blue“I don't know the full details. But I found a payment to a private residence in Boston.””
Marcus immediately thought of the blue curtains Maya had mentioned.
“Find the address.””
Daniel began typing on his phone.
“I'm on it.””
Marcus curtains Maya had mentioned.
“Find the address.””
Daniel began typing on his phone.
“I'm on it.””
Marcus turned to Olivia.
“Why didn't my mother tell me?””
“Because she believed you would never agree to hiding your own turned to Olivia.
“Why didn't my mother tell me?””
“Because she believed you would never agree to hiding your own daughter.””
Marcus looked down.
He remembered the frantic days after Elena's death.
He remembered being told that Maya had been taken to his mother's house while daughter.””
Marcus looked down.
He remembered the frantic days after Elena's death.
He remembered being told that Maya had been taken to his mother's house while he handled funeral arrangements.
He remembered returning home he handled funeral arrangements.
He remembered returning home and finding his daughter asleep in and finding his daughter asleep in her old bedroom.
He had assumed everything was normal.
But now he wondered whether those memories had been carefully her old bedroom.
He had assumed everything was normal.
But now he wondered whether those memories had been carefully arranged.
“Did my mother know Maya was Andrew's biological daughter?””
Olivia nodded.
“She knew.””
“And she arranged.
“Did my mother know Maya was Andrew's biological daughter?””
Olivia nodded.
“She knew.””
“And she still let me raise her?””
“She believed you were the only person who would love Maya without expecting anything in return still let me raise her?””
“She believed you were the only person who would love Maya without expecting anything in return.””
Marcus looked toward his daughter.
Maya was drawing again.
Her small fingers moved carefully across the paper.
“Then why did.””
Marcus looked toward his daughter.
Maya was drawing again.
Her small fingers moved carefully across the paper.
“Then why did she help Andrew?””
Olivia sighed.
“Because she was afraid of the inheritance agreement. She thought Andrew would destroy the company she help Andrew?””
Olivia sighed.
“Because she was afraid of the inheritance agreement. She thought Andrew would destroy the company if he lost control of the money.””
Marcus shook his head.
“She chose the company over the truth.””
“Yes.””
“And Elena paid if he lost control of the money.””
Marcus shook his head.
“She chose the company over the truth.””
“Yes.””
“And Elena paid for it.””
Olivia didn't answer.
Daniel finally looked up from his phone.
“I found the address.””
Marcus stood.
“Where?””
“An old for it.””
Olivia didn't answer.
Daniel finally looked up from his phone.
“I found the address.””
Marcus stood.
“Where?””
“An old private residence outside Boston. It was rented through a company owned by Andrew.””
Marcus stared.
“Can we contact the owner?””
“I private residence outside Boston. It was rented through a company owned by Andrew.””
Marcus stared.
“Can we contact the owner?””
“I've already found the property manager. The building has been converted into apartments.””
“Then we're going there.””
Daniel hes've already found the property manager. The building has been converted into apartments.””
“Then we're going there.””
Daniel hesitated.
“Marcus, we need to be careful. If Andrew learns we're investigating this address, he mayitated.
“Marcus, we need to be careful. If Andrew learns we're investigating this address, he may destroy whatever evidence remains.””
Marcus looked at his daughter.
“We're not waiting.””
Three destroy whatever evidence remains.””
Marcus looked at his daughter.
“We're not waiting.””
Three hours later, Marcus and Daniel arrived at the former residence.
The building was a large white house with blue shutters and a hours later, Marcus and Daniel arrived at the former residence.
The building was a large white house with blue shutters and a narrow front porch.
Maya sat in the back seat, holding Bunny.
When she saw the curtains in narrow front porch.
Maya sat in the back seat, holding Bunny.
When she saw the curtains in the upstairs windows, she became unusually quiet.
“Daddy?””
Marcus turned.
“What's wrong?””
“This is the blue house the upstairs windows, she became unusually quiet.
“Daddy?””
Marcus turned.
“What's wrong?””
“This is the blue house.””
His chest tightened.
“You remember it?””
Maya nodded.
“This is where Grandma brought me.””
Marcus stepped.””
His chest tightened.
“You remember it?””
Maya nodded.
“This is where Grandma brought me.””
Marcus stepped out of the car.
He approached the front door and knocked.
A woman in her sixties answered.
She wore a knitted cardigan and had out of the car.
He approached the front door and knocked.
A woman in her sixties answered.
She wore a knitted cardigan and had a small dog tucked under one arm.
“Yes?””
Marcus introduced himself.
“I'm looking for information about a child who a small dog tucked under one arm.
“Yes?””
Marcus introduced himself.
“I'm looking for information about a child who stayed here several years ago.””
The woman's expression changed.
“Are you Marcus Carter?””
He stared.
“You stayed here several years ago.””
The woman's expression changed.
“Are you Marcus Carter?””
He stared.
“You know me?””
She looked toward the car.
Then she looked back at him.
“Your mother told me you know me?””
She looked toward the car.
Then she looked back at him.
“Your mother told me you might come one day.””
Marcus felt a chill.
“Who are you?””
“My name is Helen Morris. might come one day.””
Marcus felt a chill.
“Who are you?””
“My name is Helen Morris. I managed this property.””
“Did my daughter stay here?””
Helen nodded.
“For a short time.””
“Who brought her I managed this property.””
“Did my daughter stay here?””
Helen nodded.
“For a short time.””
“Who brought her?””
“An older woman named Margaret. She said the?””
“An older woman named Margaret. She said the child needed somewhere quiet.””
Marcus's voice became strained.
“Was anyone else with her?””
Helen glanced toward the street.
“Not child needed somewhere quiet.””
Marcus's voice became strained.
“Was anyone else with her?””
Helen glanced toward the street.
“Not here. Come inside.””
Marcus followed her into the house.
The living room had been renovated, but the blue here. Come inside.””
Marcus followed her into the house.
The living room had been renovated, but the blue curtains remained.
He recognized them immediately.
Maya was right.
This was the place.
Helen sat down and opened a drawer.
“I curtains remained.
He recognized them immediately.
Maya was right.
This was the place.
Helen sat down and opened a drawer.
“I kept something.””
She removed a small envelope.
kept something.””
She removed a small envelope.
It was addressed in his mother's handwriting.
*For Marcus, if he ever comes looking.*
Marcus took it.
His hands trembledIt was addressed in his mother's handwriting.
*For Marcus, if he ever comes looking.*
Marcus took it.
His hands trembled as he opened the envelope.
Inside was a letter and a photograph.
The photograph showed Maya as a toddler, sitting on a sofa with as he opened the envelope.
Inside was a letter and a photograph.
The photograph showed Maya as a toddler, sitting on a sofa with Margaret beside her.
On the back, his mother had written:
**The safest place for her Margaret beside her.
On the back, his mother had written:
*The safest place for her was the one her father would never think to look.*
Marcus opened the letter.
Marcus,
I am sorry.
I know you was the one her father would never think to look.*
Marcus opened the letter.
Marcus,
I am sorry.
I know you will hate me when you understand what I did. But I need you to know that I never wanted Maya to lose her father.
Andrew came will hate me when you understand what I did. But I need you to know that I never wanted Maya to lose her father.
Andrew came to me after Elena's accident. He told me that if the truth became public, he would challenge Maya's inheritance and destroy everything to me after Elena's accident. He told me that if the truth became public, he would challenge Maya's inheritance and destroy everything your father built.
I believed him.
I also believed that keeping Maya away from him was the only way to protect her.
your father built.*
I believed him.
I also believed that keeping Maya away from him was the only way to protect her.
There is something else.
The night Elena died, Andrew was not alone.
Marcus stopped reading.
His eyes moved to the next lineThere is something else.
The night Elena died, Andrew was not alone.
Marcus stopped reading.
His eyes moved to the next line.
There was another person in the vehicle.
He looked up at Helen.
“Who was it?””
Helen's.
There was another person in the vehicle.
He looked up at Helen.
“Who was it?””
Helen's face tightened.
“Your mother never told me.””
Marcus continued reading.
*I have spent years trying to forgive myself for what face tightened.
“Your mother never told me.””
Marcus continued reading.
I have spent years trying to forgive myself for what happened.
The person who was with Andrew was the one who caused the accident.
Marcus felt his heart pound.
The next sentence happened.*
The person who was with Andrew was the one who caused the accident.
Marcus felt his heart pound.
The next sentence was underlined twice.
*And that was underlined twice.
And that person was not Vanessa.
He looked at Olivia.
She was standing near the doorway.
“Who else was there?””
Olivia shook her head.
“I don't know.””
Marcus person was not Vanessa.*
He looked at Olivia.
She was standing near the doorway.
“Who else was there?””
Olivia shook her head.
“I don't know.””
Marcus continued reading.
*If you ever find this letter, look for the original recording from the hospital's security system. The continued reading.
If you ever find this letter, look for the original recording from the hospital's security system. The footage was copied before it disappeared.
It is hidden in the place where your father kept his most valuable documents.
Marcus frowned footage was copied before it disappeared.*
It is hidden in the place where your father kept his most valuable documents.
Marcus frowned.
His father had been a businessman who stored.
His father had been a businessman who stored important papers in a private vault beneath the old Carter headquarters.
important papers in a private vault beneath the old Carter headquarters.
The same building where Andrew now controlled several executive offices.
Marcus looked at Daniel.
“We're going to the headquarters.””
Daniel nodded.
But Helen suddenly spoke.
“Wait.””
Marcus turnedThe same building where Andrew now controlled several executive offices.
Marcus looked at Daniel.
“We're going to the headquarters.””
Daniel nodded.
But Helen suddenly spoke.
“Wait.””
Marcus turned.
“There was something else your mother said.””
“What?””
Helen looked nervous.
“She told me that if a woman named Vanessa ever came asking about Maya, I should never tell her where the.
“There was something else your mother said.””
“What?””
Helen looked nervous.
“She told me that if a woman named Vanessa ever came asking about Maya, I should never tell her where the child had been.””
Marcus felt cold.
“Did Vanessa come here?””
Helen nodded.
“Once.””
“When?””
“About six months after your mother's death.””
Marcus's expression hardened.
“What child had been.””
Marcus felt cold.
“Did Vanessa come here?””
Helen nodded.
“Once.””
“When?””
“About six months after your mother's death.””
Marcus's expression hardened.
“What did she want?””
“She asked whether the little girl had ever said anything about the accident.””
Marcus stared at her.
“What did you tell her?””
Helen swallowed did she want?””
“She asked whether the little girl had ever said anything about the accident.””
Marcus stared at her.
“What did you tell her?””
Helen swallowed.
“I told her the child had never been here.””
Marcus looked toward the window.
For years, Vanessa had known about the blue house.
She had known where Maya had.
“I told her the child had never been here.””
Marcus looked toward the window.
For years, Vanessa had known about the blue house.
She had known where Maya had been hidden.
And she had been searching for the one thing his mother had left behind.
The original security footage.
That been hidden.
And she had been searching for the one thing his mother had left behind.
The original security footage.
That evening, Marcus returned home with Maya.
He tucked her into bed and placed Bunny beside her pillow.
“Daddy evening, Marcus returned home with Maya.
He tucked her into bed and placed Bunny beside her pillow.
“Daddy?””
“Yes?””
“Are you going to find out who was in Mommy's car?””
Marcus brushed her hair back.
“Yes, baby.””
“Will you?””
“Yes?””
“Are you going to find out who was in Mommy's car?””
Marcus brushed her hair back.
“Yes, baby.””
“Will you tell me?””
“When you're ready.””
Maya nodded.
Then she whispered, “I remember something else.””
Marcus sat down.
tell me?””
“When you're ready.””
Maya nodded.
Then she whispered, “I remember something else.””
Marcus sat down.
“What is it?””
“When Grandma brought me to the blue house, she told me Mommy wasn't coming back.””
Marcus swallowed.
“I'm sorry.””
“But before“What is it?””
“When Grandma brought me to the blue house, she told me Mommy wasn't coming back.””
Marcus swallowed.
“I'm sorry.””
“But before that, Mommy told me something.””
“What did she say?””
Maya closed her eyes, concentrating.
“She said if that, Mommy told me something.””
“What did she say?””
Maya closed her eyes, concentrating.
“She said if anything happened, I should remember the lady with the red shoes.””
Marcus went completely still.
“The lady with the red shoes?””
anything happened, I should remember the lady with the red shoes.””
Marcus went completely still.
“The lady with the red shoes?””
Maya nodded.
“She was standing near Mommy's car.””
Marcus looked toward the bedside table.
His phone began vibrating.
A message from Daniel.
**We locatedMaya nodded.
“She was standing near Mommy's car.””
Marcus looked toward the bedside table.
His phone began vibrating.
A message from Daniel.
*We located the original hospital security footage. The archive is still intact. But there's a serious problem.*
Marcus typed back.
*What problem?*
Daniel's the original hospital security footage. The archive is still intact. But there's a serious problem.**
Marcus typed back.
*What problem?*
Daniel's reply appeared.
*The footage shows the person who entered Elena's vehicle before the accident.*
Another message followed.
reply appeared.
*The footage shows the person who entered Elena's vehicle before the accident.*
Another message followed.
*Marcus, you're not going to believe who it is.*
Then a photograph appeared on the screen.
It showed*Marcus, you're not going to believe who it is.*
Then a photograph appeared on the screen.
It showed a woman standing beside Elena's car.
Wearing bright red shoes.
Marcus enlarged the image.
His breath caught.
The woman a woman standing beside Elena's car.
Wearing bright red shoes.
Marcus enlarged the image.
His breath caught.
The woman wasn't Vanessa.
She wasn't Andrew.
And she wasn't his mother.
It was Rebecca Hayes.
Elena's sister.
The same woman who had been wasn't Vanessa.
She wasn't Andrew.
And she wasn't his mother.
It was Rebecca Hayes.
Elena's sister.
The same woman who had been named Maya's independent financial guardian.
The same woman who had disappeared after Vanessa attempted to remove her from the trust.
Marcus stared named Maya's independent financial guardian.
The same woman who had disappeared after Vanessa attempted to remove her from the trust.
Marcus stared at the photograph.
Then his phone rang.
An unknown number.
He answered.
A woman's voice whispered:
“Marcus, if at the photograph.
Then his phone rang.
An unknown number.
He answered.
A woman's voice whispered:
“Marcus, if you've seen that photograph, you need to understand something.””
“Who is this?””
“Rebecca.””
Marcus stood.
“Where you've seen that photograph, you need to understand something.””
“Who is this?””
“Rebecca.””
Marcus stood.
“Where have you been?””
“Running.””
“Why?””
A shaky breath came through the phone.
“Because I didn't have you been?””
“Running.””
“Why?””
A shaky breath came through the phone.
“Because I didn't kill Elena. But I know who did.””
Marcus gripped the phone.
“Tell me.””
Rebecca's voice broke.
“The person who caused kill Elena. But I know who did.””
Marcus gripped the phone.
“Tell me.””
Rebecca's voice broke.
“The person who caused the accident was someone Elena trusted more than anyone.””
A pause.
Then she whispered:
“Marcus, it was your own mother.””
the accident was someone Elena trusted more than anyone.””
A pause.
Then she whispered:
“Marcus, it was your own mother.””
The call disconnected.
Marcus stood in the dark hallway, unable to move.
And for the first time, he wondered whetherThe call disconnected.
Marcus stood in the dark hallway, unable to move.
And for the first time, he wondered whether the woman he had spent his life calling Mother had been protecting his family...
Or protecting the person who killed his wife.
May you like
the woman he had spent his life calling Mother had been protecting his family...
Or protecting the person who killed his wife.
