Chapter 8: My Mother's Secret
I barely slept that night.
The police left shortly after midnight, but I stayed awake in the upstairs sitting room, watching the security cameras.
Marcus was gone.
He had left with the officers after giving a statement. Before walking out, he had asked whether he could return for his belongings.
I told him his attorney could arrange everything.
At 6:30 the following morning, David arrived.
He carried a leather briefcase and two coffees.
“You look terrible,” he said gently.
“Good morning to you too.””
He placed the coffees on the kitchen island.
“Did you get any sleep?””
“Not really.””
He opened his briefcase and removed several printed documents.
“I reviewed everything you sent. The forged transfer documents are serious. So are the attempted changes to your security account.””
“What about the trust?””
David folded his hands.
“Your father established it to protect the property and certain investments. The mansion was transferred into the trust several years before his death. You were the sole beneficiary.””
I frowned.
“Then why was Marcus trying to transfer it?””
“Because he appears to have obtained a copy of an outdated authorization document. Someone may have altered it to make it look as though you had approved the transfer.””
“Would that actually work?””
“Not without additional verification. But it could have been used to deceive a lender or create the appearance of a legitimate transaction.””
I looked at the documents.
“Can we stop it?””
“I've already contacted the relevant parties and started the process of challenging the fraudulent filing. We'll also request that the property records be flagged while the matter is investigated.””
I released a breath.
For the first time in hours, I felt I could think clearly.
Then David mentioned my mother.
“Have you spoken with her?””
“No.””
“Lauren, we need to understand why her name appears on that hospital authorization.””
I looked toward the windows.
“I'm calling her.””
My mother answered after the second ring.
“Lauren, sweetheart?””
Her voice sounded warm and familiar.
For a moment, I almost forgot everything.
“Mom, I need to ask you something.””
“Of course. Is everything all right?””
“Did you sign a document authorizing changes to Dad's hospital records?””
Silence.
Then a faint sigh.
“Where did you hear that?””
My stomach tightened.
“So you did?””
“Lauren, this isn't something we should discuss over the phone.””
“Why?””
“Because you're upsetting yourself.””
“Mom, someone changed the time of Dad's death. Your name is on the authorization.””
She started crying.
I closed my eyes.
“Mom?””
“I was trying to protect you.””
The words hit harder than I expected.
“Protect me from what?””
“Your father was in trouble.””
“David told me about the missing money.””
My mother sniffed.
“Your father trusted the wrong people.””
“Did he know Marcus was involved?””
She didn't answer.
“Mom, please.””
Finally, she whispered, “Your father called me that night.””
My hands began trembling.
“What did he say?””
“He told me to stay away from Daniel. He said Marcus had betrayed him.””
I looked at David.
He immediately began writing.
“Then why did you sign the hospital authorization?””
My mother broke down.
“Because Daniel came to see me after your father died. He said there were financial documents that could ruin the family. He told me that if I cooperated, you would never have to know.””
I felt tears gather in my eyes.
“What did he ask you to do?””
“He gave me papers to sign. He said they were necessary to protect your father's estate.””
“Did you read them?””
“No.””
I closed my eyes.
“Mom, what did you sign?””
She began crying harder.
“I don't know.””
I pressed my fingers against my forehead.
“Did Marcus come with him?””
A long pause followed.
Then my mother whispered, “Yes.””
I felt physically sick.
“Marcus came to your house?””
“Two days after the funeral. He said he was helping Daniel settle everything.””
I looked at David.
He wrote something on a notepad and slid it toward me.
*Ask about the original recording.*
I swallowed.
“Mom, do you know anything about a hospital recording?””
She stopped crying.
“Who told you about that?””
“Someone who worked with Dad.””
My mother lowered her voice.
“Your father recorded a conversation before he died. He kept it on a small digital recorder.””
“Where is it?””
“I don't know. Daniel searched his office, but he never found it.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I was afraid.””
“Of Daniel?””
She hesitated.
“Of everyone.””
I ended the call a few minutes later.
David sat quietly.
Then he said, “Your mother may be able to help us, but we need to verify her account.””
I nodded.
My phone rang again.
Evelyn.
“I have the recording,” she said without greeting me.
“Can I hear it?””
“Yes. But I need you to come alone.””
David immediately shook his head.
I covered the phone.
“She's asking me to meet her alone.””
“Absolutely not.””
I returned to the call.
“Evelyn, my attorney will come with me.””
She hesitated.
“Fine. But there's something you should know before you hear it.””
“What?””
“The recording doesn't just mention Daniel and Marcus.””
I waited.
“It mentions your mother.””
An hour later, David and I met Evelyn at a small private conference room near downtown Atlanta.
She was in her late forties, with short dark hair and a folder tucked beneath one arm.
When she saw me, she stood.
“Lauren?””
“Yes.””
She shook my hand.
“I'm sorry it took so long to find you.””
She placed a small digital recorder on the table.
“Your father gave this to me three days before he died. He asked me to keep it safe.””
I stared at the device.
“Why didn't you give it to the police?””
“I tried. But the original investigation was closed quickly, and I was advised that the recording wasn't sufficient to establish what had happened.””
David leaned forward.
“Can we hear it?””
Evelyn pressed play.
Static filled the room.
Then I heard my father's voice.
“Daniel, I know what you've done.””
Another voice answered.
Daniel.
“You're making a mistake.””
My father continued.
“You've been moving money through accounts connected to my daughter's trust. I have the records.””
A chair scraped.
Then another voice spoke.
Marcus.
“Sir, please. We can settle this.””
My hands began shaking.
My father said, “You don't get to settle this. You lied to me.””
Then came a sentence I would never forget.
“Marcus, I trusted you with my daughter. How could you do this to her?””
There was a long silence.
Then Daniel spoke.
“Your daughter will be fine. You just need to sign the agreement.””
My father laughed bitterly.
“I'm not signing anything.””
The recording continued for another thirty seconds.
Then a woman's voice entered the conversation.
My mother's voice.
“Please, stop. We can find another way.””
I covered my mouth.
David leaned closer to the recorder.
Then my father said something that made the entire room go silent.
“If anything happens to me, Lauren must know that her mother has already chosen their side.””
I stared at Evelyn.
“What does that mean?””
She stopped the recording.
“I don't know.””
I shook my head.
“No. Play it again.””
She did.
This time, I heard something beneath my father's final words.
A faint sound.
A phone ringing.
Then Daniel said, “It's already arranged.””
David's expression changed.
He looked at Evelyn.
“Do you have the full recording?””
She nodded.
“There's another section.””
She pressed a button.
My father's voice returned.
But this time, he sounded frightened.
“Wait. You told me the hospital would never be involved.””
Daniel answered quietly.
“They won't be, unless you force us.””
Then my mother's voice whispered:
“I'm sorry, Lauren.””
The recording ended.
I sat motionless.
My mother hadn't simply been frightened after my father's death.
May you like
She had been part of something before it happened.
And I was about to discover just how much she had known.
