Chapter 4: The Woman Who Killed My Father
For several seconds, I couldn't move.
The photograph trembled between my fingers.
My father's car.
Daniel's black SUV.
And the name written beneath the traffic camera image.
Evelyn Carter.
My mother-in-law.
The woman who had stood beside me at my father's funeral seven years earlier. The woman who had held my shoulder when I couldn't stop crying. The woman who had told me that everything happened for a reason.
I looked at Detective Collins.
“Tell me this is a mistake.””
She didn't answer immediately.
“Marcus, I need you to understand that this document is part of an investigation. It doesn't establish guilt by itself.””
“But Nia wrote her name.””
“Yes.””
“Why would my wife accuse her own mother of killing my father?””
“That's what we need to find out.””
I looked toward the cemetery gates.
Daniel had disappeared.
Peter was missing.
And somewhere in a hospital room, my wife was carrying a secret that had apparently been eating away at her for years.
“I need to talk to Nia.””
Detective Collins nodded.
“I'm taking you back to the hospital. But I want you to promise me something.””
“What?””
“Don't confront Evelyn. Don't contact Daniel. And don't investigate this yourself.””
I almost laughed.
“My wife was buried alive, Detective. My father may have been murdered. Someone has been forging my signature and stealing millions from my company. Do you honestly expect me to sit quietly?””
“I expect you to stay alive long enough to help us find the truth.””
Her words silenced me.
Because suddenly, I remembered the note inside Nia's coffin.
IF NIA WAKES UP, MARCUS MUST DIE.
Someone had planned for both of us to disappear.
And they weren't finished.
At 4:12 a.m., we arrived at the hospital.
An officer stood outside Nia's room.
I rushed past him.
“Nia!””
She was awake.
The moment she saw my face, she tried to sit up.
“Marcus? What happened?””
I approached her bed.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
Her expression changed.
“Tell you what?””
I placed the photograph on her blanket.
She stared at it.
Then slowly closed her eyes.
“You found it.””
“Seven years, Nia. Seven years, and you never told me.””
She looked toward Detective Collins.
“Did you bring him here?””
“I did,” the detective answered.
“He has a right to know what was found.””
Nia turned back to me.
“Marcus, I wanted to tell you.””
“Then why didn't you?””
“Because I was afraid.””
“Of Evelyn?””
She nodded.
I pulled a chair beside her bed.
“Start talking.””
Nia took a shaky breath.
“Seven years ago, your father discovered that someone was using his construction company to launder money.””
I stared at her.
“My father was a contractor. He built shopping centers and apartment buildings.””
“He also handled government infrastructure contracts. Daniel was working for one of the subcontractors at the time.””
I frowned.
“Daniel knew my father?””
“Very well.””
She paused.
“Your father discovered that invoices were being inflated. Money was being transferred to companies that didn't exist. He found the same names that appeared in our company records.””
I leaned forward.
“Evelyn?””
“Your father confronted her because she was connected to one of those companies.””
I felt my jaw tighten.
“Why would my father have anything to do with Evelyn's finances?””
“Because Evelyn had invested in one of his developments. She introduced him to Daniel. She said he was a trustworthy financial adviser.””
I shook my head.
“That's impossible. Evelyn didn't even know my father that well.””
“She knew him better than you think.””
Nia's voice became quieter.
“Your father found out that Evelyn and Daniel were using his company to move money. He threatened to report them.””
“And then he died.””
She nodded.
I stood and walked toward the window.
Outside, the sky was beginning to turn gray.
“Tell me about the accident.””
Nia looked at her hands.
“Your father called me that night.””
I turned around.
“What?””
“He asked me to meet him at a restaurant. He said he had something important to tell me.””
“You were twenty-three.””
“I know.””
“Why would he call you instead of me?””
“Because he didn't want you involved.””
I stared at her.
“What did he tell you?””
“That Evelyn had threatened him. He also said Daniel had been following him.””
My throat tightened.
“Did you meet him?””
“No. I was running late. I called him and told him I'd see him the next morning.””
She began crying.
“Marcus, that was the last time I spoke to him.””
I sat down again.
“What happened afterward?””
“An hour later, the police called to say he'd been in an accident.””
I covered my face.
Nia continued.
“I went to the hospital. Evelyn was already there.””
“Of course she was.””
“She told me not to tell you about your father's phone call. She said he had been drinking and that he probably lost control of the car.””
“He never drank and drove.””
“I know.””
I looked at her.
“You knew that?””
Nia nodded.
“I also knew there was another vehicle involved.””
“What vehicle?””
“The black SUV.””
My hands began trembling.
“Daniel's?””
“Yes.””
“Did you tell the police?””
“I tried. But the traffic camera footage had disappeared. The investigating officer said there wasn't enough evidence to identify the other vehicle.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
Nia's eyes filled with tears.
“Because Evelyn came to see me two days later.””
“What did she say?””
Nia swallowed.
“She told me that if I ever mentioned Daniel or the SUV again, she would make sure you went to prison.””
I stared at her.
“She threatened you?””
“She showed me a photograph.””
“What photograph?””
“One of you leaving your father's office on the night of the accident.””
I felt sick.
“What was I doing there?””
“You had gone to collect some documents for him.””
I remembered.
I had been twenty-six, working in my father's company.
I'd gone to his office that evening to pick up a folder he needed for a meeting.
I hadn't thought anything of it.
“What did Evelyn tell you?””
“She said she could make it look like you had stolen company money. She said she could prove you had argued with your father that night.””
I shook my head.
“But I never argued with him.””
“I know.””
She reached for my hand.
“She told me that if I loved you, I'd stay quiet.””
I looked at the woman I had married.
All those years, she had carried this alone.
But something still didn't make sense.
“Why did you reopen the case six months ago?””
Nia hesitated.
“Because I found the original traffic camera recording.””
“Where?””
“In Daniel's private office.””
“How?””
“He kept a backup drive. He thought nobody knew about it.””
“And you copied it?””
She nodded.
“It showed the SUV hitting your father's car.””
I stopped breathing.
“On purpose?””
“Yes.””
A tear rolled down her cheek.
“And it showed who was driving.””
I gripped the side of her bed.
“Who?””
Nia looked directly at me.
“Evelyn.””
The room became silent.
Detective Collins stepped closer.
“Are you certain?””
Nia nodded.
“I watched it at least twenty times.””
“Why didn't you bring the recording to the police?””
“I tried. But Daniel discovered the copied files before I could meet the lawyer.””
She looked at me.
“That's why he took me.””
I felt my blood turn cold.
“He knew you had evidence.””
“Yes.””
“And the funeral?””
“Daniel wanted everyone to believe I had died before the evidence could reach the police. Evelyn helped him arrange everything.””
Detective Collins made a note.
“Do you know where the original recording is?””
Nia shook her head.
“The black phone contains a copy. But there's another file.””
“What file?””
Nia looked at me.
“Your father left a voice message.””
I leaned forward.
“What did he say?””
“I never listened to the entire thing. I only heard the beginning.””
She looked terrified.
“What did he say?””
Nia whispered:
“Marcus, if you're hearing this, don't trust the woman who calls herself your mother.””
I felt as if someone had punched me.
“My mother?””
Nia nodded.
“Your biological mother.””
I stared at her.
“My mother died when I was eight.””
“I know.””
“Evelyn is your mother.””
“I know.””
“Then what are you talking about?””
Nia's lips trembled.
“Marcus, Evelyn isn't just connected to your father's murder.””
She looked toward the door.
“She's connected to your birth.””
Before I could ask another question, Detective Collins' phone rang.
She answered.
“Yes?””
A few seconds passed.
Her expression changed.
“What do you mean the hospital security footage is missing?””
She listened again.
Then looked directly at me.
“Are you certain?””
She ended the call.
“What's happening?”” I demanded.
She hesitated.
“Someone entered the hospital through the service corridor twenty minutes ago.””
“Who?””
“The security guard says it was a woman wearing a nurse's uniform.””
My stomach tightened.
“Where did she go?””
Detective Collins looked at Nia.
“Your room.””
Nia's face went white.
“She came back.””
“Who?”” I asked.
Nia grabbed my wrist.
“Evelyn.””
Then she whispered something that made the detective immediately reach for her radio.
“She wasn't trying to kill me.””
I frowned.
“What do you mean?””
Nia's eyes filled with tears.
“She was trying to take the baby.””
I stared at her.
“What baby?””
Nia began crying.
“Marcus…”
May you like
Her hand moved slowly toward her stomach.
“I was pregnant when they put me in the coffin.””
