Chapter 3: The Recording Grandma Never Knew Existed
“Turn that off.””
Margaret's voice was sharp.
Daniel didn't move.
He replayed the recording.
The faint background noise of a television could be heard, followed by Zoe's frightened voice.
“Grandma, I don't want to talk about Mommy.””
Margaret answered coldly.
“You need to understand something. Your mother made a terrible mistake.””
“But Daddy says Mommy loved me.””
“Your father says a lot of things.””
“Can I see Mommy's pictures?””
“No.””
“Why?””
“Because I said no.””
There was a pause.
Then Zoe whispered something.
“I heard you talking to Uncle Richard. You said Mommy didn't want Daddy to find out.””
Margaret's voice became suddenly furious.
“Your mother is dead, Zoe. Stop asking questions!””
The recording ended.
Daniel stared at the screen.
His mother took a step toward him.
“Give me that phone.””
He pulled it away.
“Who is Richard?””
Margaret looked irritated.
“An old family friend.””
“What was my wife supposed to hide from me?””
“Daniel, this is ridiculous.””
“Why did you tell my daughter that her mother didn't love her?””
Margaret folded her arms.
“I was trying to help her move on.””
“By telling her lies?””
“You weren't there! You were drowning in work while I had to deal with everything!””
Daniel's expression hardened.
“Don't use my absence to justify hurting my daughter.””
Margaret looked toward the staircase.
“She's confused. Children misunderstand conversations.””
“Then explain the recording.””
“I won't stand here and be interrogated by my own son.””
Daniel placed the phone on the table.
“Fine. I'll ask someone else.””
He picked it up again and walked toward the study.
Margaret followed.
“Daniel!””
He ignored her.
For the first time in his life, he wondered whether the mother he had spent forty years trusting had been lying to him about something far more serious than a swimming pool.
At the hospital, Zoe was sitting up in bed when Natalie returned.
She had initially planned to go straight home.
But she couldn't stop thinking about the little girl.
So she had called the nurse and asked whether Zoe needed anything.
When she arrived, she was carrying a small stuffed rabbit.
Zoe's face brightened.
“Natalie!””
Natalie smiled.
“Look what I brought you.””
The little girl hugged the rabbit.
“Is it for me?””
“Of course.””
Zoe examined its floppy ears.
“I'm going to name him Mr. Floppy.””
Natalie laughed softly.
“That's a very good name.””
For a few minutes, the room felt peaceful.
Then Zoe looked toward the door.
“Is Daddy angry with Grandma?””
Natalie hesitated.
“I don't know, sweetheart.””
“Grandma says Daddy always believes her.””
Natalie pulled her chair closer.
“You don't have to worry about grown-up arguments.””
“But what if Grandma gets angry again?””
Natalie took her hand.
“Then you tell your daddy, a doctor, or another grown-up you trust. You never have to keep a secret that makes you feel scared.””
Zoe looked down at Mr. Floppy.
“Grandma told me not to tell anyone what happened before Mommy died.””
Natalie went still.
“What happened, sweetheart?””
Zoe hesitated.
“She said Mommy fell down the stairs because she was careless.””
Natalie's heart began beating faster.
“Did you see that happen?””
Zoe shook her head.
“I heard shouting. Then I heard something break.””
Natalie kept her voice gentle.
“Where were you?””
“In my bedroom.””
“What did you hear?””
Zoe's eyes filled with tears.
“Grandma said Mommy was going to tell Daddy something. Then Mommy cried.””
Natalie felt a chill move through her.
Before she could ask anything else, Daniel appeared in the doorway.
He had heard the last sentence.
“Zoe?””
The little girl turned.
“Daddy!””
Daniel crossed the room and kissed her forehead.
“Sweetheart, can I ask you something?””
Zoe nodded.
“Do you remember anything else about that night when Mommy died?””
Natalie looked at him.
“Mr. Hawthorne, perhaps you should—”
Daniel raised one hand.
“I'm not going to frighten her. I just need to understand.””
He sat beside his daughter.
“Did Grandma say anything to Mommy?””
Zoe hugged the rabbit.
“She said Mommy had to give her the papers.””
“What papers?””
“I don't know.””
Daniel looked at Natalie.
Natalie gave a small shake of her head.
Zoe suddenly whispered:
“Daddy, Mommy gave me something before she went downstairs.””
Daniel leaned closer.
“What did she give you?””
“A little silver key.””
His breathing stopped.
“Where is it?””
Zoe pointed toward her backpack.
“I hid it because Grandma wanted to take it.””
Daniel looked at the bag.
Then at Natalie.
Something was happening inside his family that he had never imagined.
And it had started long before the swimming pool.
The following morning, Daniel visited his mother's bedroom.
Margaret was sitting at her vanity, applying lipstick.
She glanced at him through the mirror.
“You should have called before coming in.””
Daniel placed the silver key on the table.
“Where did this come from?””
Margaret's lipstick stopped halfway to her mouth.
For a second, her reflection looked almost frightened.
Then she smiled.
“Where did you find that?””
“Zoe had it.””
Margaret set down the lipstick.
“It's probably some old trinket.””
“Why did my daughter say her mother gave it to her the night she died?””
Margaret turned around.
“Daniel, you're exhausting yourself over nothing.””
“What does it open?””
“I have no idea.””
He studied her face.
“Then you won't mind if I have it examined.””
Margaret's expression changed.
“Don't be foolish.””
“Why?””
“Because some things are better left buried.””
Daniel stared at her.
“Like what?””
Margaret stood.
“You have no idea what your wife was involved in.””
“My wife?””
“She wasn't the perfect woman you remember.””
Daniel's jaw tightened.
“Be careful.””
Margaret walked toward him.
“Your wife was preparing to destroy this family.””
“By doing what?””
“She was going to take Zoe away from you.””
Daniel stared at her.
“That makes no sense.””
“Ask Richard.””
“Who is Richard?””
Margaret didn't answer.
Daniel took the key and left.
Behind him, Margaret picked up her phone.
Her hands were shaking.
That afternoon, Daniel contacted his attorney, Jonathan Reed.
Jonathan had handled the Hawthorne family's legal affairs for nearly fifteen years.
When Daniel placed the silver key on his desk, Jonathan's expression changed.
“Where did you get this?””
“My daughter had it.””
Jonathan picked it up carefully.
“Does your mother know you have it?””
“Yes.””
Jonathan leaned back.
“Daniel, I think we need to discuss something.””
“What?””
“Your late wife came to see me approximately two weeks before she died.””
Daniel frowned.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“She specifically asked me not to. She said she wanted to speak with you herself once she had everything organized.””
“What was she organizing?””
Jonathan opened a locked drawer and removed a folder.
Inside were copies of financial statements, handwritten notes, and several documents bearing Daniel's wife's signature.
Daniel recognized the handwriting immediately.
His wife had been meticulous.
He picked up the first page.
It concerned a trust fund established for Zoe.
The original trust had been created by Daniel's father, who had died several years earlier.
It was worth more than twelve million dollars.
Daniel frowned.
“What's wrong with it?””
Jonathan pointed to a series of transactions.
“Your mother was appointed temporary trustee after your father's death. These withdrawals are not consistent with the trust's stated purpose.””
Daniel scanned the figures.
Millions of dollars had been transferred to several companies he didn't recognize.
“Who authorized these?””
“According to the documents, your mother.””
Daniel felt his stomach tighten.
“How much?””
“Approximately four million dollars over three years.””
He looked up.
“Why wasn't I informed?””
“Your mother provided documents indicating that the transfers were approved by the family.””
“That's impossible.””
Jonathan nodded.
“Your wife thought so too.””
Daniel slowly sat down.
“What was she planning to do?””
“She wanted to expose the transactions and have your mother removed as trustee.””
Daniel stared at the papers.
“Is that why she died?””
Jonathan didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he reached into the folder and removed a sealed envelope.
It was addressed to Daniel.
His wife's handwriting was on the front.
For Daniel, only if I cannot tell you myself.
Daniel's fingers trembled.
He opened it.
Inside was a short letter.
My love,
If you're reading this, something has gone terribly wrong. I wanted to tell you everything, but I needed proof first.
Your mother knows about the missing money. She also knows I found the original documents.
Please don't let anyone convince you that I wanted to leave you or Zoe.
I would never abandon our daughter.
The key is for the safe deposit box. Everything you need is inside.
And Daniel, please listen carefully.
The person you trust most in our family may be the person you need to fear.
Daniel read the final line twice.
Then he looked at Jonathan.
“Where is the safe deposit box?””
Jonathan checked the key's number against the letter.
“First National Bank. Downtown.””
Daniel stood.
“Let's go.””
The bank manager escorted them into a private room.
Daniel inserted the silver key into the small metal lock.
The safe deposit box opened with a soft click.
Inside were three folders, a USB drive, several photographs, and a small sealed envelope.
Daniel picked up the photographs first.
They showed his mother entering a private office building with a man he didn't recognize.
In another photograph, the same man was handing Margaret a thick envelope.
Jonathan examined the image.
“Do you recognize him?””
Daniel shook his head.
“No.””
Jonathan turned the photograph over.
There was a date written on the back.
It was the day before Daniel's wife died.
His stomach dropped.
He opened the first folder.
It contained copies of bank transfers, contracts, and emails.
The second contained medical documents.
Daniel frowned.
“What are these?””
Jonathan took one look and went quiet.
“Daniel, this is serious.””
The papers appeared to concern the circumstances surrounding his wife's final hospitalization.
There were discrepancies between the original hospital records and the versions Daniel had received.
One medication had been listed differently.
A second document showed that someone had requested access to his wife's medical information using a signature that didn't belong to him.
Daniel gripped the edge of the table.
“Who signed this?””
Jonathan pointed to the name.
“Richard Collins.””
Daniel looked up.
“Richard?””
“Yes.””
“Who is he?””
Jonathan turned another page.
“According to this, he was your wife's financial adviser.””
Daniel shook his head.
“I've never heard of him.””
Jonathan looked at him carefully.
“Your mother may have known him very well.””
Back at the hospital, Natalie was sitting beside Zoe when her phone rang.
It was an unknown number.
She answered cautiously.
“Hello?””
A man's voice spoke.
“Is this Natalie Collins?””
“Yes. Who is this?””
“My name is Richard. I need to speak with you about the Hawthorne family.””
Natalie frowned.
“I'm sorry. I don't know anyone named Richard.””
“You may not know me, but I know you.””
A cold feeling settled in her stomach.
“What do you want?””
“I understand you witnessed an incident involving Margaret Hawthorne yesterday.””
Natalie looked toward Zoe.
“Who gave you my number?””
“That's not important.””
“It is to me.””
The man lowered his voice.
“You should be careful about what you tell Daniel.””
Natalie's fingers tightened around the phone.
“Are you threatening me?””
“I'm trying to protect you.””
“From whom?””
There was a pause.
Then he said something that made her blood run cold.
“Your late husband, Michael Collins, knew more about this family than you realize.””
Natalie stopped breathing.
Her husband had been dead for two years.
She hadn't mentioned him to anyone at the Hawthorne villa beyond the employment paperwork.
“How do you know my husband's name?””
Richard ignored the question.
“Ask Daniel to look at the second folder in his wife's safe deposit box.””
The call ended.
Natalie stared at her phone.
Her heart was pounding.
Then a message arrived.
It contained a photograph.
A photograph of Michael.
He was standing outside the Hawthorne villa, shaking hands with Margaret.
May you like
And beneath the picture were eight words:
*YOUR HUSBAND DIDN'T DIE IN AN ACCIDENT. ASK WHY.*
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