Chapter 7: The Second Hospital
Nia stared at the photograph on the floor.
*He was there when I woke.*
Her mother's handwriting.
Her mother's words.
And suddenly every memory Nia had of the night her mother died felt like a photograph with someone else's face pasted over it.
She looked at Arthur.
“You told me she died that night.””
Arthur didn't answer.
“Dad.””
His eyes closed.
“I told you what I believed you could survive.””
Nia's voice cracked.
“That wasn't your decision.””
Daniel stood at the bottom of the stairs.
“No,” he said quietly.
“It was his secret.””
Arthur turned sharply.
“Daniel, you have no idea what happened.””
“I know exactly what happened.””
“You disappeared.””
“I was forced to.””
“You left her.””
“I came back.””
“You came back when she was already dying.””
Daniel's expression hardened.
“I came back because she called me.””
Nia looked between them.
“My mother called you?””
Daniel nodded.
“The night she died.””
Arthur shook his head.
“She never called him.””
Daniel reached into his coat and pulled out an old phone.
“Then explain this.””
He placed it on the entry table.
The screen was cracked.
The phone looked ancient.
Nia descended the stairs.
Arthur moved toward her.
“Nia, don't.””
She ignored him.
Daniel pressed a button.
A recording played.
Static.
Then a woman's voice.
Weak.
Breathing unevenly.
But unmistakably her mother.
“Daniel… if you get this…”
Nia stopped breathing.
Her hand flew to her mouth.
Her mother's voice continued.
“I was wrong about Arthur.””
Arthur's face went rigid.
The recording crackled.
“I thought he was protecting me.””
A pause.
Then her mother whispered:
“He wasn't.””
Nia looked at Arthur.
He stared at the floor.
The recording ended.
Nobody spoke.
Nia's eyes filled with tears.
“What did he do?””
Arthur looked up.
“I didn't hurt your mother.””
“Then what did you do?””
“I made a mistake.””
“What mistake?””
Daniel stepped forward.
“Tell her.””
Arthur glared at him.
Daniel didn't move.
Arthur finally said, “Your mother discovered the money.””
“The missing money?””
“Yes.””
“And you knew?””
“I knew money was missing.””
“How much?””
Arthur hesitated.
“Your mother believed I had taken it.””
Nia's heart sank.
“Did you?””
“No.””
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“She found the transfers.””
Arthur snapped, “Transfers made through an account in my name.””
Nia frowned.
“Then someone used your identity.””
“Yes.””
“Who?””
Arthur looked toward Vanessa.
Nia followed his gaze.
Vanessa's lips trembled.
“I didn't steal it.””
Arthur's voice dropped.
“You signed the withdrawal forms.””
“Because he told me they were legitimate.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“Don't blame me for everything.””
Vanessa turned.
“You promised me he would never find out.””
“Who?””
Daniel didn't answer.
Nia looked at Vanessa.
“Who were you protecting?””
Vanessa's eyes moved toward the front door.
Then the hallway mirror.
Then the staircase.
Finally, she whispered, “Your mother's attorney.””
Nia frowned.
“My mother's attorney?””
Vanessa nodded.
“He wasn't just her lawyer.””
Daniel's expression changed.
“What are you saying?””
Vanessa looked at him.
“He was the one moving the money.””
Arthur went still.
Nia whispered, “Why?””
Vanessa's voice shook.
“Because your mother found out the house wasn't the only thing she inherited.””
Daniel stepped closer.
“What else?””
Vanessa swallowed.
“A second property.””
Nia's brow furrowed.
“Where?””
“I don't know.””
“You do.””
“I don't.””
“Vanessa.””
“I swear.””
Arthur walked toward the desk.
“There was another document.””
Nia followed him.
“What document?””
“The original trust agreement.””
He opened the legal folder again.
“It listed a second beneficiary.””
Nia's heart began pounding.
“Who?””
Arthur looked at the page.
His face changed.
Nia reached for it.
“Who?””
He handed her the document.
Her eyes moved across the page.
There were two names.
One was hers.
The other—
*Daniel Carter.*
Nia looked up.
Daniel stared at the page.
“No.””
Arthur nodded.
“Your mother left both of you something.””
Daniel's face went pale.
“What?””
Arthur turned another page.
“She didn't just leave the house to Nia.””
Nia read the next line.
*Upon the discovery of the concealed estate, ownership shall be divided according to the attached instructions.*
“What concealed estate?”” Nia asked.
Nobody answered.
Then Daniel looked at Vanessa.
“You knew.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“I knew there was something.””
“Where?””
“I don't know.””
Nia heard a faint vibration.
Everyone looked toward the entry table.
The old phone was ringing.
Daniel picked it up.
The screen showed an unknown number.
He answered.
“Hello?””
Silence.
Then a distorted voice spoke.
“You should never have brought her back into this.””
Daniel's expression changed.
“Who is this?””
The voice continued.
“The girl has the house. The father has the guilt. But the woman has the key.””
Everyone looked at Vanessa.
She went rigid.
“What key?”” Nia whispered.
The caller laughed softly.
Then the line went dead.
Vanessa reached inside her handbag.
Her fingers closed around something.
Nia saw the movement.
“What's in your hand?””
Vanessa slowly pulled it out.
A small brass key.
Different from the one found in the sewing room.
This one had a black tag.
*B-12.*
Daniel stared at it.
“I thought that was destroyed.””
Vanessa looked at him.
“So did I.””
Then someone knocked three times on the front door.
Arthur turned toward it.
Nia's eyes remained fixed on the key.
A fourth knock came.
Harder.
May you like
And from outside, a woman's voice called—
“Vanessa, I know you're in there.””
