Chapter 7: The Recording My Mother Left Behind
“Give me the phone, Brianna.””
The man's voice echoed in my head long after the call disconnected.
My father was already speaking to the police.
David Morgan had moved to the dining table, making calls to the storage facility and the investigator who had located the missing briefcase.
I stood frozen beside the sofa.
My mother's handwriting.
For Madison. Open.
Seven years.
Seven years since she had written those words.
Seven years since someone had taken the briefcase that contained them.
And now Brianna had disappeared with the only person who might know what happened.
“Dad,” I whispered.
He turned immediately.
“I'm here, sweetheart.””
“Peter has Brianna.””
His expression hardened.
“We don't know that yet.””
“She sounded terrified.””
He came toward me and placed both hands on my shoulders.
“Listen to me. The police are looking into it. We're going to find her.””
“What if he hurts her?””
My father didn't answer immediately.
Then he pulled out his phone.
“I'm calling every number I have.””
David approached us.
“The investigator has confirmed that Peter Caldwell left the storage facility approximately twelve minutes ago.””
“Did he take the briefcase?”” my father asked.
“We don't know. The facility manager says he was carrying a large black case when he entered. He left carrying a different one.””
My stomach tightened.
“Could it be my mother's?””
David nodded.
“It's possible.””
My father paced across the living room.
“Where is Brianna?””
David checked his phone.
“The investigator has sent her vehicle description to the police. They are attempting to locate her.””
I looked toward the staircase.
Rhonda was standing there.
She had heard everything.
“Where did Brianna go?”” I asked.
Rhonda shook her head.
“I don't know.””
“Did you send her to that storage unit?””
“No.””
“Did you tell her to get the briefcase?””
Rhonda looked away.
My father turned toward her.
“Rhonda, if you know something, now is the time to tell us.””
She started crying.
“I didn't know Peter would be there.””
“Why did you send Brianna?””
“I didn't send her!””
David stepped closer.
“Then why was she carrying your handbag?””
Rhonda froze.
I remembered the security photograph.
The purple handbag.
The one Rhonda had bought Brianna for her birthday.
“Mom gave it to me,” Brianna had said once.
I looked at Rhonda.
“You knew she was going.””
Rhonda lowered her eyes.
“I told her to collect an envelope.””
“What envelope?””
She didn't answer.
My father struck the coffee table with his palm.
“Enough!””
Rhonda flinched.
“Tell us what you sent your daughter to collect.””
She covered her face.
“The original ownership papers.””
David frowned.
“What ownership papers?””
Rhonda looked at him.
“The documents Daniel promised me.””
My father stared at her.
“Daniel promised you ownership of what?””
“The company.””
Silence filled the room.
Rhonda wiped her cheeks.
“He said once Madison turned eighteen, the shares could be transferred. He told me there was a way to challenge the trust because Lisa had supposedly signed an amendment before she died.””
David shook his head.
“An amendment cannot be established through an unverified copy. The original must be authenticated, and the trust's legal conditions must be satisfied.””
Rhonda looked desperate.
“Daniel said he had everything.””
My father stepped closer.
“You believed a man who was stealing from your wife?””
“He told me he was protecting me!””
“From what?””
“From being left with nothing!””
I stared at her.
“You already had a home. You had Dad. You had a family.””
Rhonda looked at me with red eyes.
“You don't know what it feels like to come into a marriage where everything belongs to someone else's child.””
I felt something break inside me.
“You came into a family where a little girl had just lost her mother.””
She looked away.
For once, she had no answer.
My father's phone rang.
He answered immediately.
“Robert Ellis.””
He listened.
Then his face changed.
“Where?””
A pause.
“Is she safe?””
I stood up.
“Dad?””
He raised one hand.
“Thank you. We're coming.””
He ended the call.
“They found Brianna.””
I exhaled.
“Is she okay?””
“She was found at a gas station about fifteen miles from the storage facility. She's frightened, but she's physically safe.””
I nearly collapsed with relief.
“What about Peter?””
“He left before the officers arrived.””
David grabbed his coat.
“We need to get to the station. Brianna may have information about the briefcase.””
My father nodded.
Then he turned toward Rhonda.
“You're coming too.””
She looked horrified.
“Why?””
“Because I want the truth, and I don't intend to keep discovering it one piece at a time.””
The police station smelled of disinfectant and burnt coffee.
Brianna sat in a small interview room with a paper cup of water between her hands.
Her mascara had run.
Her expensive white sweater was stained near the sleeve.
When she saw us, she immediately stood.
“Mom!””
Rhonda rushed toward her.
“Oh, sweetheart!””
Brianna wrapped her arms around her.
Then she began crying.
My father waited until they separated.
“Brianna, I need you to tell us exactly what happened.””
She looked at him.
“I didn't do anything.””
“I'm not accusing you. I need to understand why you were at the storage unit.””
She swallowed.
“Mom gave me an address.””
Rhonda stiffened.
Brianna continued.
“She said there was an envelope inside a locker. She told me to take it and bring it home.””
“What was in the envelope?”” David asked.
“I don't know. I never found it.””
“Did you see Peter?””
Brianna nodded.
“He was standing outside the unit.””
“What did he say?””
Brianna looked at me.
“He said I looked just like my mother.””
Rhonda closed her eyes.
“He told me to get in his car. I refused. Then he said Mom had promised him something.””
My father leaned forward.
“What?””
“The trust.””
David's expression tightened.
Brianna continued.
“He said the trust was supposed to be transferred to him years ago. He said your mother ruined everything when she changed the documents.””
My father stared at her.
“Did he say anything about the night Lisa died?””
Brianna nodded slowly.
“He said she wasn't supposed to be on that road.””
The room went silent.
I felt my fingers go cold.
“What does that mean?”” I whispered.
Brianna shook her head.
“I don't know.””
My father turned toward David.
“Did you hear that?””
David nodded.
“I did.””
Brianna continued.
“Then Peter told me he had something that would prove Mom was innocent.””
I stared at her.
“Did he show you?””
She nodded.
“He showed me a photograph on his phone.””
“What photograph?””
Brianna reached into her pocket.
She pulled out a folded piece of paper.
“I took a picture of the screen before he noticed.””
David immediately examined it.
The image showed a handwritten note.
The paper was old.
At the bottom was my mother's signature.
And the date was the night she died.
I leaned closer.
There were only a few readable words.
I know who changed the brakes.
My father went completely still.
“What?””
David looked at the photograph again.
“Robert, we need to give this to the investigators immediately.””
I stared at my father.
“Someone changed Mom's brakes?””
He closed his eyes.
“Madison…”
“Someone changed her brakes?””
He took my hand.
“We don't know what happened yet.””
“But Mom wrote it!””
David carefully placed the paper inside a clear document sleeve provided by the officer.
“We need the original note. This photograph is important, but it isn't enough by itself to establish the full circumstances.””
My father looked at Brianna.
“Did Peter tell you where the original note was?””
She nodded.
“He said it was inside the briefcase.””
I felt my heart racing.
“The briefcase with my mother's name?””
Brianna nodded again.
“Before he left, he told me something else.””
“What?””
She looked directly at me.
“He said your mother had recorded the conversation with the person who ordered the brakes to be changed.””
My father stood.
“Who?””
Brianna shook her head.
“He wouldn't say.””
David looked toward the officer.
“Has Peter been located?””
The officer shook his head.
“Not yet. We're following up on the information.””
My father turned toward Rhonda.
“Did you know about the brakes?””
Rhonda looked terrified.
“No.””
“Did Daniel?””
“I don't know!””
“Did Peter?””
“I don't know!””
My father stepped away.
David approached him.
“Robert, we need to be careful. We cannot assume the identity of anyone involved until the evidence is recovered.””
My father nodded.
Then he looked at me.
“Madison, I think you should stay with me tonight.””
I nodded.
But before we left, Brianna reached for my hand.
“Madison?””
I turned.
She looked ashamed.
“I'm sorry.””
I didn't answer immediately.
She looked down.
“I knew the money wasn't mine. I knew Mom was trying to take your scholarship. I still got into that car.””
Her voice cracked.
“I wanted something that was mine for once.””
I looked at her.
“You could have asked me for help.””
She shook her head.
“I didn't want your help. I wanted what you had.””
I pulled my hand away gently.
“That's the problem, Brianna.””
She began crying again.
I walked toward the door.
But as we reached the parking lot, my father received another call.
It was the private investigator.
He listened for a few seconds.
Then he turned toward David.
“They found the briefcase.””
David frowned.
“Where?””
“In a vehicle abandoned near the old Ellis Development warehouse.””
My father looked at me.
“The warehouse where your mother used to work.””
I felt my pulse quicken.
“Is the recording inside?””
The investigator answered through the phone.
“Yes.””
Then he added:
“But there's something you should know.””
My father asked, “What?””
“The recording has already been copied.””
A pause.
“Someone sent a copy to Madison's email address.””
I checked my phone.
A new email had arrived.
No sender name.
No subject line.
Just one attachment.
*LISA_ELLIS_FINAL_RECORDING.wav*
I stared at it.
May you like
Then another message appeared.
Your mother wanted you to hear the truth. Listen alone.
