Chapter 7: The Betr## Chapter 7: The Betrayal Inside My Own Family
"Your mother, Marcus.""
Gregory's words keptayal Inside My Own Family
"Your mother, Marcus.""
Gregory's words kept echoing in my head.
I stood in Daniel's office, holding my phone so tightly that my fingers echoing in my head.
I stood in Daniel's office, holding my phone so tightly that my fingers had begun to hurt.
"Say that again.""
"Your mother helped change the insurance documents," had begun to hurt.
"Say that again.""
"Your mother helped change the insurance documents," Gregory repeated.
"But she wasn't acting alone.""
I looked at Daniel.
He was already reaching for his laptop.
"Gregory, where did you get this information?""
"From an old hospital archive. Someone Gregory repeated.
"But she wasn't acting alone.""
I looked at Daniel.
He was already reaching for his laptop.
"Gregory, where did you get this information?""
"From an old hospital archive. Someone accessed Danielle's records shortly before the accident. I found a scanned authorization with Evelyn Reed's name attached accessed Danielle's records shortly before the accident. I found a scanned authorization with Evelyn Reed's name attached.""
"That's impossible.""
"I understand you don't want to believe it.""
"She's my mother.""
"And Danielle.""
"That's impossible.""
"I understand you don't want to believe it.""
"She's my mother.""
"And Danielle was my friend.""
I closed my eyes.
"Do you have proof?""
"I have documents. But I need you to understand something. The insurance policy wasn't the only thing that changed.""
"What else?""
Gregory paused.
"Danielle's medical records were altered. was my friend.""
I closed my eyes.
"Do you have proof?""
"I have documents. But I need you to understand something. The insurance policy wasn't the only thing that changed.""
"What else?""
Gregory paused.
"Danielle's medical records were altered. Someone was trying to make it look as though she had a history of emotional instability.""
My stomach tightened.
"Why?""
"So that if she ever reported what she'd discovered at the hospital, her credibility could be questioned.""
I looked at Daniel.
He had stopped typing.
Someone was trying to make it look as though she had a history of emotional instability.""
My stomach tightened.
"Why?""
"So that if she ever reported what she'd discovered at the hospital, her credibility could be questioned.""
I looked at Daniel.
He had stopped typing.
"Gregory," I said, "don't go anywhere. Don't contact anyone. We'll"Gregory," I said, "don't go anywhere.
Don't contact anyone. We'll meet with the authorities and review everything.""
"Marcus, there's no time.""
"What do you mean?""
"I received meet with the authorities and review everything.""
"Marcus, there's no time.""
"What do you mean?""
"I received another message. Someone knows I've found the archive.""
The call ended.
I immediately called my another message. Someone knows I've found the archive.""
The call ended.
I immediately called my mother.
She answered on the second ring.
"Hello, sweetheart.""
Her voice sounded exactly as it always had.
Warm.
mother.
She answered on the second ring.
"Hello, sweetheart.""
Her voice sounded exactly as it always had.
Warm.
Familiar.
ComfortingFamiliar.
Comforting.
"Mom, where are you?""
"At home. Why?""
"Are the children with you?""
"Yes. We're making sandwiches.""
I looked at Daniel.
"Don't let anyone leave the house," I said quietly.
My mother laughed.
"What's going on?""
"Nothing. I'll.
"Mom, where are you?""
"At home. Why?""
"Are the children with you?""
"Yes. We're making sandwiches.""
I looked at Daniel.
"Don't let anyone leave the house," I said quietly.
My mother laughed.
"What's going on?""
"Nothing. I'll be there shortly.""
I ended the call.
Daniel stood.
"Marcus, you need to be careful. We don't know whether Gregory's information is accurate.""
"I know.""
"And don't confront your mother alone.""
I nodded.
But inside, I was already remembering things.
Six years earlier, when Danielle died, my mother had taken charge of be there shortly.""
I ended the call.
Daniel stood.
"Marcus, you need to be careful. We don't know whether Gregory's information is accurate.""
"I know.""
"And don't confront your mother alone.""
I nodded.
But inside, I was already remembering things.
Six years earlier, when Danielle died, my mother had taken charge of almost everything.
She had helped organize the funeral.
She had contacted the insurance company.
She had collected Danielle almost everything.
She had helped organize the funeral.
She had contacted the insurance company.
She had collected Danielle's belongings from the hospital.
She had even offered to handle the paperwork while I struggled to care for the children.
At the time, I'd been grateful.
I'd been barely functioning's belongings from the hospital.
She had even offered to handle the paperwork while I struggled to care for the children.
At the time, I'd been grateful.
I'd been barely functioning.
I hadn't questioned anything.
Now I wondered what she'd actually been doing.
Daniel drove with me to the house.
The dark sedan Gregory.
I hadn't questioned anything.
Now I wondered what she'd actually been doing.
Daniel drove with me to the house.
The dark sedan Gregory had mentioned was gone.
My mother's car was parked in the driveway.
I entered through the front door.
The smell of toasted bread filled the kitchen.
My had mentioned was gone.
My mother's car was parked in the driveway.
I entered through the front door.
The smell of toasted bread filled the kitchen.
My mother stood at the counter, spreading peanut butter across a slice.
Caleb sat at the table.
Imani was drawing butterflies mother stood at the counter, spreading peanut butter across a slice.
Caleb sat at the table.
Imani was drawing butterflies.
Everything looked painfully ordinary.
"There's my boy," Mom said.
She smiled.
Then she noticed Daniel behind me.
Her.
Everything looked painfully ordinary.
"There's my boy," Mom said.
She smiled.
Then she noticed Daniel behind me.
Her smile faded.
"What's wrong?""
I walked into the kitchen.
"Mom, we need to talk.""
She put the knife down.
" smile faded.
"What's wrong?""
I walked into the kitchen.
"Mom, we need to talk.""
She put the knife down.
"Of course.""
I looked at the children.
"Caleb, can you take Imani into the living room?""
My mother immediately objectOf course.""
I looked at the children.
"Caleb, can you take Imani into the living room?""
My mother immediately objected.
"Why? They can stay.""
"Please, Mom.""
Caleb took his sister's hand.
ed.
"Why? They can stay.""
"Please, Mom.""
Caleb took his sister's hand.
They walked out.
I waited until they were gone.
Then I placed the photocopy of the insurance authorization on the counter.
My mother looked at it.
Her faceThey walked out.
I waited until they were gone.
Then I placed the photocopy of the insurance authorization on the counter.
My mother looked at it.
Her face went completely still.
"Where did you get this?""
"Is that your signature?""
She didn't answer.
"Mom.""
She slowly pulled went completely still.
"Where did you get this?""
"Is that your signature?""
She didn't answer.
"Mom.""
She slowly pulled out a chair.
"Marcus, you don't understand what happened.""
I felt my chest tighten.
"Then explain it.""
She looked toward the living room.
" out a chair.
"Marcus, you don't understand what happened.""
I felt my chest tighten.
"Then explain it.""
She looked toward the living room.
"Not in front of the children.""
"They're not here.""
She folded her hands.
"Your father was very ill when Danielle diedNot in front of the children.""
"They're not here.""
She folded her hands.
"Your father was very ill when Danielle died.""
I frowned.
"What does Dad have to do with this?""
"Your father had debts. Medical bills..""
I frowned.
"What does Dad have to do with this?""
"Your father had debts. Medical bills. Business problems. Things you never knew about.""
I stared at her.
"Mom, what did Business problems. Things you never knew about.""
I stared at her.
"Mom, what did you do?""
She looked down.
"Danielle had taken out a life insurance policy. She wanted the children protected.""
"I know.""
"Your father you do?""
She looked down.
"Danielle had taken out a life insurance policy. She wanted the children protected.""
"I know.""
"Your father believed the money should be managed by someone responsible.""
"That doesn't explain believed the money should be managed by someone responsible.""
"That doesn't explain why your signature is on a document changing the beneficiary.""
She closed her eyes.
"Your father asked me to help.""
I felt as if someone had punched me.
"My father?""
why your signature is on a document changing the beneficiary.""
She closed her eyes.
"Your father asked me to help.""
I felt as if someone had punched me.
"My father?""
"He was worried about what would happen to the money if it went directly into a trust.""
"That money belonged to my children.""
"I know.""
"Then why?""
Her eyes"He was worried about what would happen to the money if it went directly into a trust.""
"That money belonged to my children.""
"I know.""
"Then why?""
Her eyes filled.
"Because we were desperate.""
I stepped backward.
"Where did the money go?""
She began crying.
"Some of it went toward your father's debts.""
"Some of it?""
"The rest was supposed to filled.
"Because we were desperate.""
I stepped backward.
"Where did the money go?""
She began crying.
"Some of it went toward your father's debts.""
"Some of it?""
"The rest was supposed to be returned.""
"Was it?""
She didn't answer.
I placed both hands on the counter.
"Mom, look at me.""
She be returned.""
"Was it?""
She didn't answer.
I placed both hands on the counter.
"Mom, look at me.""
She raised her eyes.
"Did you forge Danielle's signature?""
Her lips trembled.
"I didn't write her name.""
"Did you help raised her eyes.
"Did you forge Danielle's signature?""
Her lips trembled.
"I didn't write her name.""
"Did you help someone else do it?""
Silence.
Then she whispered, "Yes.""
I felt the room spin.
"Who?""
My mother covered someone else do it?""
Silence.
Then she whispered, "Yes.""
I felt the room spin.
"Who?""
My mother covered her face.
"Your father.""
I couldn't speak.
"Your father had access to the documents," she continued.
"He knew Danielle's handwriting. He said it her face.
"Your father.""
I couldn't speak.
"Your father had access to the documents," she continued.
"He knew Danielle's handwriting. He said it was temporary. He said we would replace the money.""
"How much?""
"Three hundred and eighty thousand dollars.""
I stared was temporary. He said we would replace the money.""
"How much?""
"Three hundred and eighty thousand dollars.""
I stared at her.
"Nearly the entire policy?""
She nodded.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because your father said you'd never forgive us.""
I at her.
"Nearly the entire policy?""
She nodded.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because your father said you'd never forgive us.""
I laughed bitterly.
"You were right.""
She began sobbing.
"I was trying to protect the family.""
"No. You were protecting laughed bitterly.
"You were right.""
She began sobbing.
"I was trying to protect the family.""
"No. You were protecting yourselves.""
She looked at me.
"Marcus, your father was sick. We were drowning in debt. I thought we'd yourselves.""
She looked at me.
"Marcus, your father was sick. We were drowning in debt. I thought we'd have time to fix everything.""
"And what about Danielle?""
My mother looked confused.
"What about her?""
"Did you know she was investigating the hospital?""
have time to fix everything.""
"And what about Danielle?""
My mother looked confused.
"What about her?""
"Did you know she was investigating the hospital?""
Her expression changed.
I noticed it immediately.
"Mom?""
She looked toward the window.
"I knew she had foundHer expression changed.
I noticed it immediately.
"Mom?""
She looked toward the window.
"I knew she had found something.""
"What?""
"She came to see me a few weeks before the accident.""
I felt my heartbeat quicken.
"What something.""
"What?""
"She came to see me a few weeks before the accident.""
I felt my heartbeat quicken.
"What did she say?""
"She asked me whether I'd signed anything related to her insurance.""
"And?""
"I told her I did she say?""
"She asked me whether I'd signed anything related to her insurance.""
"And?""
"I told her I hadn't.""
"Why?""
"Because I was afraid.""
I gripped the counter.
"Did she know Dad had forged her signature?""
My hadn't.""
"Why?""
"Because I was afraid.""
I gripped the counter.
"Did she know Dad had forged her signature?""
My mother nodded slowly.
"She suspected.""
The kitchen became silent.
"Did she confront him?""
"Yes.""
"When?""
"Two days before the accident.""
I stared at her.
"What mother nodded slowly.
"She suspected.""
The kitchen became silent.
"Did she confront him?""
"Yes.""
"When?""
"Two days before the accident.""
I stared at her.
"What happened?""
My mother wiped her cheeks.
"Your father told her he would return the money. He begged happened?""
My mother wiped her cheeks.
"Your father told her he would return the money. He begged her not to tell you.""
"And she agreed?""
"No.""
My mother's voice broke.
"She said she was going to the police.""
I stepped her not to tell you.""
"And she agreed?""
"No.""
My mother's voice broke.
"She said she was going to the police.""
I stepped away from the counter.
That was the first time the story made sense.
Danielle had discovered the forged insurance documents.
She had confronted my away from the counter.
That was the first time the story made sense.
Danielle had discovered the forged insurance documents.
She had confronted my father.
She had planned to expose everything.
And then she had died.
"Did Dad know she was meeting Gregory that night?""
My mother father.
She had planned to expose everything.
And then she had died.
"Did Dad know she was meeting Gregory that night?""
My mother looked at me.
"Yes.""
I felt my stomach turn.
"How?""
"Your father had been following her.""
I stared at her.
"Why looked at me.
"Yes.""
I felt my stomach turn.
"How?""
"Your father had been following her.""
I stared at her.
"Why didn't you stop him?""
She began shaking.
"I tried.""
"How?""
"He said he only wanted to talk to her.""
I closed my eyes didn't you stop him?""
She began shaking.
"I tried.""
"How?""
"He said he only wanted to talk to her.""
I closed my eyes.
For a moment, I couldn't hear anything except my own breathing.
Then my mother whispered:
"Marcus, there's.
For a moment, I couldn't hear anything except my own breathing.
Then my mother whispered:
"Marcus, there's something else.""
I opened my eyes.
"What?""
"Your father wasn't the only person who knew Danielle was going to meet Gregory.""
"Who else?""
She looked toward the stairs.
"Tasha.""
I turned something else.""
I opened my eyes.
"What?""
"Your father wasn't the only person who knew Danielle was going to meet Gregory.""
"Who else?""
She looked toward the stairs.
"Tasha.""
I turned toward the hallway.
My mother continued.
"She called your father that night. She told him where Danielle was going.""
I felt sick.
"Why toward the hallway.
My mother continued.
"She called your father that night. She told him where Danielle was going.""
I felt sick.
"Why?""
"I don't know.""
I looked at Daniel.
He was recording the conversation on his phone.
"Mom, you need to tell the authorities everything.""
?""
"I don't know.""
I looked at Daniel.
He was recording the conversation on his phone.
"Mom, you need to tell the authorities everything.""
She nodded weakly.
Then she grabbed my wrist.
"Please don't let them takeShe nodded weakly.
Then she grabbed my wrist.
"Please don't let them take me away.""
I looked at her.
"You should have thought about that before you helped steal from your grandchildren.""
A me away.""
I looked at her.
"You should have thought about that before you helped steal from your grandchildren.""
A small voice came from the doorway.
"Grandma?""
We turned.
Imani was standing there.
Her eyes were fixed on my mother.
"Did you take small voice came from the doorway.
"Grandma?""
We turned.
Imani was standing there.
Her eyes were fixed on my mother.
"Did you take Mommy's money?""
My mother began crying harder.
"Sweetheart...""
"Was that Mommy's money?""
My mother began crying harder.
"Sweetheart...""
"Was that money supposed to be mine and Caleb's?""
Nobody spoke.
Imani looked at me.
Then money supposed to be mine and Caleb's?""
Nobody spoke.
Imani looked at me.
Then she asked the question that made my heart break.
"Is that why Mommy died?""
I dropped to my knees.
"No, baby.""
She began crying.
"Then she asked the question that made my heart break.
"Is that why Mommy died?""
I dropped to my knees.
"No, baby.""
She began crying.
"Then why does everyone keep lying about her?""
I pulled her into my arms.
"I don't know everything yet. But I promise you, I'm going to find why does everyone keep lying about her?""
I pulled her into my arms.
"I don't know everything yet. But I promise you, I'm going to find out.""
Behind me, my mother whispered something.
Something that changed the direction of the entire investigation.
"Your father has been out.""
Behind me, my mother whispered something.
Something that changed the direction of the entire investigation.
"Your father has been telling everyone Danielle died in an accident.""
She paused.
"But I telling everyone Danielle died in an accident.""
She paused.
"But I saw the second car.""
I looked up.
"What second car?""
My mother's face was white.
"The one saw the second car.""
I looked up.
"What second car?""
My mother's face was white.
"The one your father was driving.""
And then she said:
"He came home that night with blood on his sleeve.""
your father was driving.""
May you like
And then she said:
"He came home that night with blood on his sleeve.""
