Chapter 8: The Truth Beneath the Report
Rebecca called the police before doing anything else.
This time, nobody hesitated.
No more waiting.
No more hoping the truth would reveal itself on its own.
Because we had learned something important.
Secrets didn’t disappear.
They waited.
And sometimes, they came back angry.
The police arrived within an hour.
Rebecca gave her statement.
Michael admitted his involvement with the company fraud.
My father handed over the documents from my mother’s safe.
But Dr. Alan Pierce was still missing.
And that scared me more than anything.
Because unlike Karen and Michael, he wasn’t someone who wanted money.
He was someone who had access to my mother when she was vulnerable.
The person responsible for her care.
The person everyone trusted.
That evening, my father and I sat in the living room.
The same room where Karen used to pretend to be a loving wife.
“I’m sorry.””
I looked at him.
“For what?””
He looked down.
“For not listening.””
The honesty hurt.
But it also helped.
“I needed you.””
His eyes filled with tears.
“I know.””
“No, Dad.””
My voice shook.
“You don’t know.””
He looked at me.
“I spent years thinking you didn’t believe me because I was a kid.””
I swallowed.
“But you were my dad.””
He closed his eyes.
“I should have protected you.””
A long silence passed.
Then my phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
My stomach tightened.
I opened the message.
*Your mother left something unfinished. Meet me where she took her last photo.*
I showed my father.
“Don’t go alone.””
I nodded.
We drove to the old park near the hospital.
The place where my mother used to take me every Sunday.
The place where the last family photo was taken.
The trees had grown taller.
The benches were older.
But I remembered everything.
A woman stepped out from behind the fountain.
My heart stopped.
Karen.
My father immediately moved in front of me.
“Stay away from her.””
Karen looked exhausted.
Not powerful.
Not confident.
Just desperate.
“I didn’t send that message to hurt you.””
I stared at her.
“You locked me outside in freezing weather.””
Her eyes flickered.
“I know.””
“You destroyed my family.””
She looked away.
“I know.””
My father’s voice was dangerous.
“Then why are you here?””
Karen reached into her coat.
My father tensed.
But she pulled out a folder.
“I found this before I left.””
She handed it to him.
“What is it?””
“Dr. Pierce’s records.””
My father opened the folder.
His face changed.
I looked over his shoulder.
Payments.
Transfers.
From an account connected to Michael.
To Dr. Pierce.
My blood ran cold.
“You paid him?””
Karen looked at Michael’s name.
“I wasn’t the only one making deals.””
My father looked at her.
“You expect us to believe you?””
Karen’s eyes filled with frustration.
“No.””
She looked at me.
“I expect you to believe your mother.””
That caught me off guard.
Karen continued.
“Your mother recorded everything because she knew people would lie.””
She looked at the folder.
“She knew I was dangerous.””
A pause.
“But she also knew Michael and Pierce were worse.””
My father’s expression hardened.
“Why should we trust you?””
Karen laughed quietly.
“You shouldn’t.””
That answer surprised me.
She looked at me.
“I hurt you.””
The admission was shocking.
“I was cruel to you because every time I looked at you, I saw your mother.””
I stared at her.
“That’s not an excuse.””
“I know.””
For the first time, Karen looked human.
Not kind.
Not forgiven.
Just broken.
“I hated that she had everything I wanted.””
My father said nothing.
Karen continued.
“But I never wanted her dead.””
A cold silence followed.
Then she whispered:
“Pierce was the one who changed the medication.””
My father froze.
“What?””
Karen looked terrified.
“He told me your mother would become weaker. He said she would lose control of the company.””
I stepped back.
“So you knew?””
Karen looked at me.
“Yes.””
The honesty hurt more than a lie.
“But I didn’t know he was trying to kill her.””
My father turned away.
“You expect us to believe that?””
“No.””
Karen handed him the folder.
“I expect you to look at the evidence.””
A sound came from behind us.
A car engine.
Everyone turned.
A black sedan was parked near the entrance.
The window lowered.
Dr. Alan Pierce sat inside.
Watching us.
Then he smiled.
May you like
And he said one thing before driving away.
“You should have listened when I told your mother to stop digging.””
