Chapter 7: The Night Emily Died
I read Daniel's message three times.
*I know what happened to Emily. And I know who was with her the night she died.*
For four years, I had lived with the memory of that night.
Emily had been admitted to the hospital after experiencing severe abdominal pain and dizziness. The doctors initially believed it was a complication from an infection. Her condition deteriorated unexpectedly, and despite their efforts, she died the following morning.
I had been there.
I had held her hand.
I had kissed her forehead.
And I had promised her that I would take care of Maya.
But Daniel was suggesting that someone else knew something I didn't.
I typed a reply.
*Marcus:* Where and when?
His answer came almost immediately.
*Daniel:* Tomorrow. 7 p.m. The old restaurant on Franklin Street. Come alone.
I looked at James.
"Daniel wants to meet.""
James read the messages.
"Don't go alone.""
"He specifically asked me to.""
"Then he's either frightened or manipulating you.""
I looked toward my mother.
She was sitting on the sofa, staring at the photograph of Emily.
"Do you know anything about the night she died?""
My mother slowly shook her head.
"I visited her that evening. She was awake when I arrived.""
"Did she say anything?""
"She asked me to bring her handbag.""
"Why?""
"I don't know. She said there was something inside she needed.""
I leaned forward.
"Did you bring it?""
My mother nodded.
"Yes. But when I returned, Robert was already in her room.""
My stomach tightened.
"Robert?""
"He said he had come to discuss some company paperwork.""
I stared at her.
"Emily was in a hospital bed, and he came to discuss paperwork?""
My mother began crying.
"I told him to leave. He said it would only take a minute.""
"What happened next?""
"He and Emily argued.""
"About what?""
"She wanted him to stop contacting her. She said she had already given him everything he needed to know.""
I closed my eyes.
"And you left?""
My mother nodded.
"I thought they needed privacy.""
I stood.
"Mom, that was the last evening of Emily's life.""
"I know.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
She looked at me through tears.
"Because Robert told me they had settled their disagreement. He said Emily was exhausted and needed rest.""
I stared at her.
"Did you see him leave?""
"No.""
The answer was barely audible.
I looked at James.
He immediately began writing.
"Mrs. Hayes, I need you to tell us everything you remember. Even the smallest detail.""
My mother nodded.
Then she reached into her handbag and removed a folded piece of paper.
"I found this in Emily's things after she died.""
I opened it.
It was a hospital visitor log.
The date was the night before Emily passed away.
Several names were listed.
Margaret Hayes.
Marcus Hayes.
And one name had been written in a different color of ink.
Robert Hayes.
Beside it was a time.
9:42 p.m.
I looked at my mother.
"Why did you keep this?""
"Because I thought it might matter someday.""
James took the paper carefully.
"Do you remember anyone else being there?""
My mother hesitated.
"One person.""
"Who?""
She looked at me.
"Daniel.""
I stared.
"Daniel was at the hospital that night?""
"Yes. He came with Robert.""
I remembered seeing Daniel at the funeral.
I remembered him standing beside Vanessa, saying very little.
But I had never known he had visited Emily.
My phone vibrated.
Another message from Daniel.
*Please don't involve James. There are things I can't say if lawyers are listening.*
I showed it to James.
He shook his head.
"That doesn't make me trust him.""
"Neither do I.""
But I needed answers.
The next evening, I arrived at the restaurant ten minutes early.
Daniel was already there.
He sat in the far corner, wearing a dark jacket. His coffee remained untouched.
When he saw me, he stood.
"Thanks for coming.""
I pulled out the chair opposite him.
"Start talking.""
Daniel glanced toward the entrance.
"Is James outside?""
"No.""
"Your mother?""
"No.""
He exhaled.
"Good.""
I leaned forward.
"You said you know what happened to Emily.""
Daniel rubbed his face.
"I know what happened in the hospital that night.""
"Then tell me.""
He looked at his hands.
"Robert and I went there because Vanessa had found something.""
"What?""
"Copies of the original company records.""
My jaw tightened.
"Emily's records?""
"Yes.""
"Why would Vanessa have them?""
"She had been searching Robert's office. She found a folder he had hidden.""
I stared at him.
"And you went to the hospital to retrieve them?""
Daniel nodded.
"Robert believed Emily still had the originals.""
"What happened?""
Daniel swallowed.
"When we entered her room, she was awake. She looked at my father and told him to leave.""
I felt my hands tighten.
"Then?""
"Robert asked her where the certificates were. She refused to answer.""
I stared at him.
"She was dying, Daniel.""
"I know.""
"Did your father understand that?""
Daniel looked away.
"He didn't care about anything except those documents.""
I stood halfway.
"Get to the point.""
Daniel reached into his jacket and removed a small envelope.
"Your grandfather had another copy of the estate records. Robert wanted to know where it was.""
I sat back down.
"What did Emily say?""
"She said the documents were safe. Then she told Robert that Maya would inherit everything he had tried to steal.""
My chest tightened.
Daniel continued.
"Your father lost control. He grabbed her handbag and started searching through it.""
I felt sick.
"Did you stop him?""
Daniel looked at me.
"No.""
The answer hung between us.
I pushed my chair backward.
"Get out of my sight.""
"Marcus, please.""
"You watched him search my wife's belongings while she was in a hospital bed?""
"I was scared.""
"So was Emily!""
Daniel's eyes filled with tears.
"I know.""
I stood.
He reached across the table and grabbed my wrist.
"There's more.""
I pulled away.
"What?""
Daniel lowered his voice.
"Before we left, Robert made a phone call. He told someone that the problem had been taken care of.""
I froze.
"Who did he call?""
"I don't know. But I heard him say, 'She won't be able to challenge us anymore.''"
My stomach turned.
"Are you saying he hurt her?""
Daniel shook his head quickly.
"I don't know. I'm not saying that. But something happened after we left.""
"What happened?""
"Your wife was stable when we walked out. At least, that's what the nurse told us.""
I stared at him.
"And?""
"At 11:18 p.m., someone entered her room again.""
"Who?""
Daniel slid a second piece of paper across the table.
It was a photograph of a hospital corridor.
The image was grainy, but the person walking toward Emily's room was recognizable.
Vanessa.
I looked up.
"Why was she there?""
Daniel's voice cracked.
"Because she wasn't supposed to know Emily was still conscious.""
I stared at the photograph.
Then Daniel whispered:
"Marcus, your wife left a message for someone that night. A message that disappeared from her phone after she died.""
"Who was it for?""
He looked directly into my eyes.
"Your mother.""
Before I could respond, Daniel's phone lit up.
He looked at the screen and immediately went pale.
"What's wrong?"" I asked.
He turned the phone toward me.
A message from Vanessa.
*I know you're with Marcus. Get out of there. Now.*
Daniel stood so quickly his chair fell backward.
"She's tracking me.""
I grabbed his arm.
"Daniel, who was with Emily at 11:18?""
He looked toward the door.
May you like
Then he whispered the name.
"Your mother.""
