Chapter 6: The Woman in the Photograph
Marcus read the name three times.
Then he looked at Daniel.
"Cancel it.""
"I've already requested a hold.""
"Then make sure it stays there.""
Daniel nodded.
"There's another complication. The request was submitted with a document claiming that Evelyn authorized Richard to collect the contents.""
Marcus shook his head.
"That's impossible.""
"Why?""
"Because Evelyn never trusted him.""
I stared at Marcus.
He looked at me.
"What?""
I swallowed.
"Nothing.""
Marcus stepped closer.
"You're going to tell me what you know.""
I shook my head.
"I don't know anything about the bank request.""
"Then tell me about Richard.""
I sat down.
My hands were trembling.
"Richard was a financial consultant. I met him through a property investment group.""
"Seven years ago?""
"Yes.""
"And he introduced you to Evelyn?""
I nodded.
Marcus rubbed his forehead.
"Why?""
"She was looking for someone who could help her review some property documents.""
"What documents?""
"Investment papers.""
Marcus looked at Daniel.
"Does that sound familiar?""
Daniel nodded slowly.
"Very.""
Marcus turned back to me.
"Did you help Evelyn with her investments?""
"Briefly.""
"Did she give you access to her accounts?""
"No.""
"Did she know about the authorization document?""
I didn't answer.
Marcus's voice rose.
"Did she know?""
I looked away.
"She suspected something.""
"What?""
"That Richard was using her name.""
Marcus went still.
Daniel closed his notebook.
"Then we need to understand the relationship between Richard and Evelyn.""
I looked up.
"There's nothing to understand.""
Marcus laughed bitterly.
"You have spent seven years hiding a relationship with my dead wife, and now you're telling me there's nothing to understand?""
I stood.
"She was difficult.""
The words escaped before I could stop them.
Marcus's expression changed.
"What did you say?""
I tried to recover.
"I mean, she was suspicious of everyone. She thought Richard was trying to steal from her.""
"Was he?""
I looked at Daniel.
He had stopped writing.
I knew I had said too much.
Marcus walked toward the window.
"Tell me what happened.""
I remained silent.
He turned back.
"Vanessa.""
I finally spoke.
"Richard wanted access to Evelyn's investment portfolio. He said she was too emotional to manage it properly.""
Marcus stared.
"She was dying.""
"She was still making decisions.""
"She was my wife!""
"I know!""
My voice cracked.
For a moment, the room was silent.
Then I continued.
"Richard said there was an opportunity to protect the family assets. He wanted Evelyn to sign a temporary authorization.""
Marcus shook his head.
"Did she sign it?""
"No.""
"Then why is there a document with her signature?""
I looked down.
"Because Richard had another copy.""
Daniel stepped forward.
"Are you saying someone forged Evelyn's signature?""
I didn't answer.
Marcus grabbed the edge of the dresser.
"Was it you?""
"No.""
"Was it Richard?""
"I don't know.""
"Vanessa!""
I covered my face.
"I didn't create the document!""
Marcus stared at me.
"Did you know it existed?""
I nodded.
The silence was unbearable.
Daniel looked toward the door.
"Marcus, I think we should stop this conversation until the authorities arrive.""
Marcus shook his head.
"Not yet.""
He turned to me.
"What happened to Evelyn?""
I felt something cold move through my chest.
"I told you. She was sick.""
"That's not what I asked.""
"Marcus, please.""
"Did Richard have anything to do with her death?""
I stared at him.
For the first time, I saw the possibility of violence in his expression.
Not toward me.
Toward the man who had supposedly manipulated his dying wife.
I shook my head.
"I don't know.""
Marcus stepped backward.
Then he picked up Evelyn's letter.
He read the last paragraph again.
Please protect Ethan. He must never know what happened that night.
He looked at his son.
"Ethan!""
Ethan appeared in the doorway.
"Yes, Dad?""
"Did your mother ever tell you about Richard Hale?""
Ethan nodded.
"Once.""
"When?""
"About a month before she died.""
Marcus frowned.
"What did she say?""
Ethan looked at me.
"She told me there was a man who wanted something from her. She said he had convinced someone close to the family to help him.""
Marcus's jaw tightened.
"Did she say who?""
Ethan shook his head.
"She was afraid.""
I laughed bitterly.
"Your mother was afraid of everything by the end.""
Ethan ignored me.
"She told me that if anything happened to her, I should look for a red notebook.""
Marcus looked confused.
"A red notebook?""
"Yes.""
"Where is it?""
"I don't know. She said it was hidden somewhere she could always reach.""
Marcus looked toward the cabinet.
We searched the folders.
We checked the jewelry box.
Daniel examined the external hard drive.
But there was no notebook.
Then Ethan stopped.
"Wait.""
He walked toward the wardrobe.
He pushed aside the hanging clothes and examined the back panel.
"Mom used to hide things in the furniture.""
Marcus looked at him.
"Why didn't you say that earlier?""
"I forgot.""
Ethan ran his fingers along the wooden frame.
Then he pressed a small indentation.
A narrow compartment opened.
Inside was a red notebook.
I stopped breathing.
Ethan carefully removed it.
The cover was worn.
A small gold letter E was engraved near the bottom.
Marcus took it.
"Is this your mother's handwriting?""
Ethan nodded.
"Yes.""
Marcus opened the first page.
There were dates.
Names.
Bank account references.
And several handwritten notes.
Daniel leaned over his shoulder.
"These appear to be transaction records.""
Marcus turned the page.
Then another.
Suddenly, he stopped.
A photograph had been attached to the inside cover.
It showed Evelyn sitting at a desk.
Across from her was Richard.
And standing behind him was a young woman.
Me.
Marcus stared at the photograph.
I felt the walls closing in.
He turned the page.
A handwritten note appeared beneath the picture.
Richard introduced Vanessa to me as someone who could help organize the investment records. I now believe that introduction was planned.
Marcus read the sentence aloud.
Ethan looked at me.
"She knew.""
I shook my head.
"That notebook could have been written by anyone.""
Daniel examined the pages.
"The handwriting appears consistent with the letter.""
Marcus turned another page.
This time, there was a list of transfers.
Several amounts were highlighted in red.
The final entry had been underlined twice.
*$300,000 — RELEASE CONDITION: MARCUS'S SIGNATURE.*
Marcus looked at the money downstairs.
Then he looked at the torn red dress I was still wearing.
His face became expressionless.
"The money on the table," he said slowly.
"Was it part of this arrangement?""
I couldn't speak.
Daniel turned the page.
There was a handwritten explanation.
If the final transfer is challenged, Richard instructed Vanessa to create evidence suggesting Ethan had stolen the funds. Marcus will be forced to remove Ethan from the house, leaving Vanessa with unrestricted access to the family documents.
Marcus looked up.
Ethan stepped backward.
"What?""
Marcus read it again.
Then he looked at me.
"You planned to frame my son?""
I started crying.
"Marcus, I can explain.""
He held up the notebook.
"Your wife wrote down the exact plan seven years ago.""
"She misunderstood Richard!""
"Then why did you follow it?""
"I didn't!""
Marcus pointed toward the stairs.
"The money. The envelope. The dress.
The recording. You did all of it.""
I shook my head.
"Richard told me it would be temporary.""
Marcus froze.
The words hung in the air.
Daniel slowly closed his briefcase.
Ethan stared at me.
"Temporary?""
I covered my mouth.
I had said too much again.
Marcus stepped closer.
"What did Richard promise you?""
I looked at him.
"That once you signed the final documents, the money would be transferred into an account we controlled.""
"We?""
I swallowed.
"Richard and I.""
Marcus looked as if he had forgotten how to breathe.
"You're telling me you were working with him?""
I began sobbing.
"He said it was the only way!""
"The only way to do what?""
I looked at the notebook.
Then at the photograph of Evelyn.
"To get what she had hidden.""
Marcus frowned.
"What did Evelyn have?""
I shook my head.
"I don't know.""
Ethan stepped forward.
"You're lying.""
I looked at him.
"Your mother kept something from Richard. Something he wanted badly. He told me it was worth more than the money.""
Marcus's voice dropped.
"What was it?""
I hesitated.
Then my phone vibrated again.
This time, the message wasn't from an unknown number.
It was from Richard.
I know Marcus has the notebook.
Another message appeared.
Do not tell him about the original recording.
I stared at the screen.
Marcus noticed my expression.
"Who is it?""
I locked the phone.
"No one.""
He held out his hand.
"Give me your phone.""
"Marcus—"
"Now.""
I reluctantly handed it over.
He opened the message.
His face changed as he read.
Then he looked at Ethan.
"What original recording?""
Ethan's expression became serious.
"I thought the voicemail was the original.""
Marcus looked back at the message.
I could hear my heartbeat.
Then Ethan slowly turned toward the old external hard drive.
"Maybe Mom left another recording.""
Daniel picked up the drive.
"Can we access it?""
Ethan nodded.
"I think so.""
He connected it to Marcus's laptop.
Several folders appeared.
One was labeled FAMILY.
Another was labeled BANK.
And the last one was simply named:
*THE NIGHT BEFORE.*
Ethan clicked it.
A video file appeared.
The thumbnail showed Evelyn sitting in her hospital room.
But she wasn't alone.
A second person was standing beside her bed.
Marcus leaned closer.
"Who is that?""
Ethan pressed play.
Evelyn looked directly into the camera.
Her face was pale.
Her voice was weak.
But her first sentence made Marcus drop into the nearest chair.
"Marcus, if you're watching this, then Vanessa has finally done what Richard and I were afraid she would do.""
She paused.
Then she turned toward the person standing beside her bed.
And whispered:
"Now tell him who you really are.""
The camera shifted.
A man's face appeared.
Marcus stared at the screen.
"That's impossible...""
Because the man standing beside Evelyn wasn't Richard Hale.
It was Daniel Reeves.
And Daniel, the attorney who had been helping Marcus investigate me all night, was standing right beside us.
He wasn't looking at the laptop anymore.
He was looking at the bedroom door.
May you like
Then he quietly said:
"Marcus, you need to hear the rest before you decide what to do.""
