Chapter 7: The Dead Woman Who Left One Last Message
“Daniel, you need to leave that house. Now.””
Rebecca Mills's warning echoed through the phone.
Daniel stood in Sarah's blue room, staring at the frozen image of Patricia Hayes on the computer screen.
Outside, the investigator was packing the equipment.
Victoria sat against the wall, her face buried in her hands.
Eleanor Collins was whispering a prayer.
Daniel lowered his voice.
“Rebecca, listen carefully. We have footage showing Patricia entering Sarah's house on the night she died. We also have records connecting Detective Harris to the investigation and the family investment company.””
“Do you have copies?””
“Verified forensic copies.””
“Where are they?””
“With an independent investigator.””
“Good. Do not hand anything to Harris.””
Daniel glanced toward Victoria.
“He's already trying to arrest me.””
“I know. He's telling the department you accessed a protected computer without authorization.””
“I'm here under a court order.””
“He says you exceeded the order.””
Daniel let out a bitter laugh.
“Of course he does.””
Rebecca paused.
“Daniel, there's another problem. Patricia's death is being investigated by the same detective who handled Sarah's case.””
Daniel's stomach tightened.
“James Harris?””
“Yes.””
“That is a direct conflict.””
“I know. I've requested an independent review, but Harris has already taken control of the scene.””
Daniel looked toward the investigator.
“Send me the case number and the name of the medical examiner.””
“I'll send it.””
“Rebecca, don't let him get near Michael.””
“I'll do what I can.””
Daniel ended the call.
He turned toward Victoria.
“Your sister is dead.””
Victoria lifted her head.
Her eyes were red.
“I heard.””
“Did you know she was planning to leave town?””
“No.””
“Did you know she was going to speak to the police?””
Victoria shook her head.
Daniel stepped closer.
“Then tell me what happened between you, Patricia, and Detective Harris.””
Victoria looked toward Eleanor.
“Can she leave?””
“No,” Daniel replied.
“She's a witness to the evidence we found.””
Victoria closed her eyes.
For a moment, she seemed to be fighting with herself.
Then she began speaking.
“Patricia was always the reckless one. She had debts. Gambling debts.
Bad investments. She came to me because she needed money.””
“How much?””
“Almost three hundred thousand dollars.””
Daniel nodded.
“And Sarah's inheritance became the solution.””
Victoria looked down.
“My father had left me in charge of the family investment company. Sarah inherited a controlling share of his estate, but she didn't understand how everything worked.””
Eleanor interrupted.
“She understood perfectly. That's why she caught you.””
Victoria glared at her.
“Be quiet.””
Daniel raised a hand.
“Continue.””
Victoria sighed.
“I moved money between accounts. I told myself I was borrowing it. Patricia helped me create documents that made the transfers look legitimate.””
“Did Sarah discover the theft?””
“Yes.””
“When?””
“About six months before she died.””
“What happened?””
Victoria rubbed her forehead.
“She confronted me. She threatened to report everything and remove me from the company.””
Daniel watched her carefully.
“And you threatened to take Emily away.””
Victoria didn't answer.
“That was in Sarah's notebook,” Daniel continued.
“She also mentioned Richard Palmer and Detective Harris.””
Victoria nodded.
“Richard arranged the legal documents. Harris said he could make the financial investigation disappear.””
“Why would a police detective help with financial fraud?””
Victoria looked up.
“Because he was already involved in it.””
Daniel waited.
Victoria continued.
“He had been helping certain people avoid investigations. They paid him through companies that didn't appear connected to him.””
“Did Patricia know?””
“Yes.””
“Did Sarah know?””
Victoria's lips trembled.
“She found the transfers. She had copies of everything.””
Daniel looked toward the desk.
“And the night she died?””
Victoria began crying again.
“Patricia said she was going to Sarah's house to convince her to sign the trust documents. She said she would frighten her. Nothing more.””
“Did you believe her?””
“I wanted to.””
“Did you call Harris?””
Victoria nodded.
“What did he tell you?””
“He said not to worry. He would handle everything.””
Daniel's voice hardened.
“Handle what?””
Victoria stared at him.
“The investigation.””
Daniel took a step back.
“Mrs. Hayes, you're describing a coordinated attempt to manipulate a murder investigation.””
“I didn't know she would die!””
“Did you know Michael would be blamed?””
Victoria covered her mouth.
She couldn't answer.
That silence was enough.
The investigator approached Daniel.
“We need to leave. A patrol vehicle just turned onto the street.””
Daniel nodded.
“Take the original devices. Keep the forensic copies secured. Nobody touches the computer.””
He looked at Victoria.
“You're coming with us.””
“Am I under arrest?””
“No. But you're not staying here alone with evidence that someone has already tried to destroy.””
They left the house.
Twenty minutes later, Daniel's phone rang again.
This time it was an unfamiliar number.
He answered.
“Daniel Brooks.””
A man's voice came through.
“Mr. Brooks, this is Officer Grant with the Savannah Police Department. Are you representing Michael Carter?””
“Yes.””
“We've received a request from the district attorney's office to preserve evidence in the death of Patricia Hayes. There's something you should know.””
Daniel pulled the car toward the curb.
“What?””
“We found a second phone inside her apartment. It was hidden behind a loose panel in the bedroom.””
“Was it examined?””
“Not yet. But it received a message shortly before she died.””
“From whom?””
“An account registered to a prepaid number.””
Daniel tightened his grip on the steering wheel.
“What did it say?””
The officer hesitated.
“Three words.””
“What words?””
“Stop talking. Tonight.””
Daniel looked toward the investigator.
“Can you send me a photograph of the phone and the message through the official evidence channel?””
“Yes, sir.””
“Do that immediately.””
The call ended.
Daniel turned to Victoria.
“Someone threatened your sister.””
Victoria stared out the window.
“James.””
“Do you have proof?””
She shook her head.
Daniel's phone vibrated.
A photograph had arrived.
It showed a cracked smartphone, a loose wall panel, and a message displayed on the screen.
The sender was listed as UNKNOWN.
The message read:
Stop talking. Tonight.
Below it was another message, sent two minutes later.
You promised you'd keep Michael's name on it.
Daniel felt his stomach drop.
There was no signature.
No clear identification.
But the wording suggested someone knew Patricia had been cooperating with the plan to frame Michael.
He forwarded the evidence to Rebecca.
Then he received another call.
This time, the number belonged to the prison.
“Mr. Brooks?”” a corrections officer asked.
“Michael Carter has requested to speak with you.””
“Put him through.””
A few seconds passed.
Then Michael's voice came through.
“Daniel?””
“Michael. Are you okay?””
“I heard about Patricia.””
Daniel closed his eyes.
“How?””
“Someone in the prison told me. They said she left a note saying I killed Sarah.””
Daniel spoke carefully.
“The note is being investigated. We have evidence that contradicts it.””
Michael laughed without humor.
“Of course she left a note. Everybody gets to write something about me, don't they?””
“Michael—”
“Eleven months, Daniel. Eleven months of waking up every morning knowing Emily thinks her father is a murderer.””
Daniel didn't interrupt.
Michael continued.
“I didn't kill Sarah. I didn't touch her. I would have given my own life to protect her.””
“I believe you.””
“Then tell me something.””
“What?””
“Why did Sarah tell Emily to ask about the blue room?””
Daniel looked toward Victoria.
“Because your wife knew she was in danger.””
Michael's breathing changed.
“She knew?””
“Yes.””
“Did she know who was coming?””
Daniel hesitated.
“We're still establishing that.””
Michael's voice cracked.
“Daniel, I need to know if Patricia hurt her.””
“We have footage placing Patricia inside the house. We also have evidence suggesting other people were involved.””
“Was Victoria involved?””
Daniel looked at the woman sitting beside him.
“Yes.””
Michael went silent.
Then he whispered, “I knew it.””
“Michael, listen. We need you to stay calm. The court will review the new evidence.””
“I don't care about the court right now.””
“Then what do you care about?””
“Emily.””
Daniel softened his voice.
“She knows you're innocent.””
“Make sure she stays safe.””
“I will.””
Michael paused.
Then he said something Daniel hadn't expected.
“Sarah kept another key.””
“What key?””
“A little silver key. She used to keep it inside a music box in our bedroom. She told me it opened something that belonged to her father.””
Daniel looked toward the investigator.
“Did you find a music box?””
“No,” Michael answered.
“It was missing before the police searched the house.””
Daniel's mind raced.
“Are you sure?””
“Yes. Sarah showed it to me once. She said it was the only thing her father had left her that nobody could take away.””
Daniel looked at Victoria.
“Where is the music box?””
Victoria shook her head.
“I don't know.””
Daniel turned back toward the phone.
“Michael, we'll look for it.””
The call ended.
That afternoon, Daniel returned to the courthouse with the evidence.
Detective Harris was waiting outside.
He wore a dark suit beneath his police jacket. His expression was composed, almost friendly.
“Mr. Brooks.””
Daniel stopped.
“Detective.””
“I understand you've been visiting the Carter residence.””
“Under a court order.””
“I'm aware. Unfortunately, there are concerns about the scope of your access.””
“Then file them with the judge.””
Harris smiled.
“You always were an aggressive attorney.””
Daniel didn't smile.
“Why are you here?””
“To offer you some advice. Stay away from Victoria Hayes. She's grieving, confused, and being manipulated by people who want to use her.””
Daniel looked at him.
“Are you referring to me?””
“I'm referring to everyone.””
Harris stepped closer.
“You don't understand what you're getting involved in.””
“Then explain it.””
The detective's smile disappeared.
“You've got a family to think about, Mr. Brooks.””
Daniel stared at him.
“Is that a threat?””
Harris adjusted his jacket.
“It's a warning.””
He walked away.
Daniel watched him enter the elevator.
Then his phone vibrated.
An unknown number had sent a photograph.
It showed a small wooden music box.
The same one Michael had described.
Beneath it was a handwritten message:
Sarah left something for Emily. Find the key before Harris does.
May you like
And in the background of the photograph, barely visible in the reflection of a mirror, stood someone Daniel recognized.
Eleanor Collins.
