Chapter 8: The Woman Who Knew the Truth
Amy's finger trembled against the photograph.
“You know her?””
She nodded.
“From where?””
“She was at the hospital.””
I stared at her.
“The night your father died?””
“Yes.””
“Who is she?””
“I don't know her name.””
I took the photograph.
The woman stood beside Michael Vance.
Late forties, maybe early fifties.
Dark hair.
A small scar near her eyebrow.
My father stood on her other side, one hand resting on her shoulder.
It didn't look like a business photograph.
They looked like family.
“Why was she at the hospital?””
Amy shook her head.
“She wasn't a visitor.””
“What do you mean?””
“She worked there.””
“As what?””
“I don't know.””
I looked at the back of the photograph.
There was a second line beneath my father's message.
*She was the last person to see me alive.*
I felt sick.
“Then she knows what happened.””
“We have to find her.””
I grabbed my keys.
Amy stopped me.
“Connor.””
“What?””
“Your mother might know.””
We found Teresa in the garage.
She was sitting in her car with both hands on the steering wheel.
She wasn't trying to leave.
She was staring at the floor.
I opened the driver's door.
“Who is she?””
Teresa didn't answer.
I held up the photograph.
“Who is this woman?””
Her eyes locked onto it.
For the first time, she looked defeated.
“Her name is Evelyn Shaw.””
“Who is Evelyn?””
“My father's nurse,” Amy said.
Teresa nodded.
“Your father's private nurse.””
“Why didn't I know about her?””
“Because your father didn't want you involved.””
“What did she know?””
“Everything.””
I stepped closer.
“Everything about what?””
Teresa looked at me.
“About Michael.””
“And you?””
She looked away.
“About me.””
My chest tightened.
“What did you do?””
“I made one mistake.””
“One?””
She shook her head.
“I thought I could control the situation.””
“What situation?””
“Your father discovered Michael had been moving money through shell companies.””
I listened.
“He was going to report him.””
“Then Michael killed him.””
“I don't know.””
“You saw him dead.””
“Yes.””
“You told me he died in the hospital.””
“Yes.””
“Did he?””
Teresa's silence was enough.
I grabbed the garage doorframe.
“Where did he die?””
“Riverside Warehouse.””
Amy closed her eyes.
“You knew.””
Teresa nodded.
“I went there after the shooting.””
“Who shot him?””
“I don't know.””
“You're still lying.””
“No.””
“Then what happened?””
“I found your father on the floor.””
“Alive?””
“Barely.””
“Why didn't you call the police?””
She started crying.
“Because Michael was there.””
“And?””
“He told me if I called, he'd kill you.””
I stared at her.
“You believed him?””
“He showed me photographs.””
“Of me?””
“Yes.””
“Doing what?””
“Leaving work. Going home. Sleeping.””
I felt cold.
“He was watching me.””
“He was watching all of us.””
“What did Dad say?””
Teresa wiped her eyes.
“He told me to take the trust and hide it.””
“The original?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“He knew Michael would come after it.””
I looked at the document in my hand.
“Then why did you try to take the house?””
Teresa's face collapsed.
“Because I got scared.””
“That isn't an answer.””
“I thought if I controlled the house, I could keep you alive.””
“You controlled Amy.””
“I thought she was going to tell you.””
“So you terrorized her.””
“I needed her quiet.””
“You stole her money.””
“I borrowed it.””
“You transferred it to Michael.””
“I was buying time.””
“With our savings?””
“Yes.””
“And it didn't work.””
“No.””
“What happened?””
Teresa looked at me.
“Michael came back.””
“When?””
“Three months ago.””
“Why?””
“He wanted the original trust.””
“And you didn't have it.””
“I told him it was destroyed.””
“He didn't believe you.””
“No.””
“So he targeted Amy.””
Teresa nodded.
My fists clenched.
“Then the birthday party wasn't about Frederick.””
“No.””
“What was it about?””
She looked at the floor.
“Getting Amy out of the house.””
“Why?””
“Michael knew she had seen your father.””
I stared at her.
“And he knew she remembered the warehouse.””
“Yes.””
“So you wanted her gone.””
“I wanted her frightened enough to leave.””
“You used the party to keep her busy.””
“Yes.””
“You made her clean.””
Teresa began crying.
“I needed her away from the nursery.””
I felt my stomach drop.
“What?””
“She had been searching for the trust.””
“And she found it?””
“No.””
“She found the hidden phone.””
I remembered it.
The phone in the locked room.
“You planted it?””
Teresa nodded.
“It recorded conversations.””
“With whom?””
“Amy.””
“Why?””
“To prove she was unstable.””
I stared at her.
“You were going to have her declared unfit.””
Teresa said nothing.
Amy stepped forward.
“You told me if I left, Connor would lose the house.””
Teresa nodded.
“You told me Frederick would be taken from me.””
“I never wanted that.””
“You said you had lawyers.””
“I was bluffing.””
“You said Connor would hate me.””
“I knew he wouldn't.””
“Then why?””
Teresa looked at her.
“Because Michael said he'd kill Connor if I failed.””
Silence.
Amy's expression softened for the first time.
Not forgiveness.
Something closer to understanding.
But I wasn't ready.
“Where is Evelyn?””
Teresa shook her head.
“I don't know.””
“You do.””
“I haven't seen her in years.””
“Then how did she know about the trust?””
“Your father trusted her.””
“Where did she go?””
Teresa hesitated.
Then she said:
“Your father gave her instructions.””
“What instructions?””
“If he disappeared, she was supposed to find you.””
My phone buzzed.
A message.
Unknown number.
*Stop asking questions.*
Another followed.
*Come to Warehouse 14 alone.*
I stared at it.
Amy read over my shoulder.
“No.””
“I have to go.””
“You're not going alone.””
“He specifically said alone.””
“That's exactly why you shouldn't.””
I looked at Teresa.
“Does Michael know we're here?””
She shook her head.
Then her own phone rang.
She answered.
Her face changed instantly.
“Hello?””
No one spoke.
Then Teresa whispered:
“Evelyn?””
I grabbed the phone from her.
“Who is this?””
A woman's voice answered.
“Connor Bradley?””
“Yes.””
“My name is Evelyn Shaw.””
I froze.
“I know.””
“You have your father's trust document.””
“Yes.””
“Then listen carefully.””
“Where are you?””
“I don't have much time.””
“What happened to my father?””
A pause.
Then:
“He didn't die at the warehouse.””
I stared at Teresa.
“What?””
“He was alive when they took him away.””
“Who?””
“Michael.””
“Where did he take him?””
“I don't know.””
“Then why did everyone say he died?””
“Because someone needed you to believe he was dead.””
My heart hammered.
“Who?””
Evelyn's voice dropped.
“Your mother.””
Teresa shook her head.
“No.””
I turned away from her.
“Why would she do that?””
“Because your father made her choose.””
“Choose what?””
“Your life or his.””
Silence.
Then Evelyn said:
“Your mother chose you.””
The call ended.
I stood there holding the phone.
Amy whispered, “Connor…”
Before I could answer, another message appeared.
This time from Michael.
*You have one hour. Bring the trust.*
May you like
A second message followed.
*Or Evelyn dies.*
