Chapter 8: The Woman Who## Chapter 8: The Woman Who Knew Too Much
Knew Too Much
David reached his parents' house in eleven minutes.
HeDavid reached his parents' house in eleven minutes.
He found Helen standing behind found Helen standing behind the locked front door, clutching her phone, while Robert sat beside the living-room window with the curtains drawn.
Linda the locked front door, clutching her phone, while Robert sat beside the living-room window with the curtains drawn.
Linda was nowhere to be seen.
“Where's Linda?”” David asked as he stepped inside.
Helen locked the door behind him.
“She left about twenty minutes ago. She said she needed was nowhere to be seen.
“Where's Linda?”” David asked as he stepped inside.
Helen locked the door behind him.
“She left about twenty minutes ago. She said she needed to get something from her apartment.””
David pulled out his phone.
“Did she say where she was going?””
“She wouldn't tell us. She looked frightened.””
David called his to get something from her apartment.””
David pulled out his phone.
“Did she say where she was going?””
“She wouldn't tell us. She looked frightened.””
David called his sister.
The call went straight to voicemail.
He tried again.
Nothing.
“David?”” Robert called sister.
The call went straight to voicemail.
He tried again.
Nothing.
“David?”” Robert called from the living room.
“What happened?””
David walked over and showed him the photograph of Linda that Marcus had displayed through from the living room.
“What happened?””
David walked over and showed him the photograph of Linda that Marcus had displayed through the SUV window.
Robert's face hardened.
“That man hasn't changed.””
“You know him well enough to say that?””
“I know what he does to people the SUV window.
Robert's face hardened.
“That man hasn't changed.””
“You know him well enough to say that?””
“I know what he does to people who refuse to obey him.””
David crouched beside his father.
“Dad, I'm going to ask you something, and I need you to be who refuse to obey him.””
David crouched beside his father.
“Dad, I'm going to ask you something, and I need you to be completely honest. Did you ever give Marcus any documents connected to Eleanor's property?””
Robert shook his head.
“No.””
“Did you ever help him contact completely honest. Did you ever give Marcus any documents connected to Eleanor's property?””
Robert shook his head.
“No.””
“Did you ever help him contact anyone?””
“No.””
“Then why is he so determined to make you look guilty?””
Robert looked toward the dark anyone?””
“No.””
“Then why is he so determined to make you look guilty?””
Robert looked toward the darkened window.
“Because I know something about Eleanor's final days that Iened window.
“Because I know something about Eleanor's final days that I never told anyone.””
David felt his stomach tighten.
“What?””
Robert swallowed.
“The week before she died, Eleanor came never told anyone.””
David felt his stomach tighten.
“What?””
Robert swallowed.
“The week before she died, Eleanor came to our house. She was carrying a small brown envelope. She asked me to keep it somewhere safe.””
“What was inside?””
“I didn't open it. She told me it contained evidence that someone to our house. She was carrying a small brown envelope. She asked me to keep it somewhere safe.””
“What was inside?””
“I didn't open it. She told me it contained evidence that someone had been stealing from her estate.””
“Where is it now?””
Robert stared at him.
“I had been stealing from her estate.””
“Where is it now?””
Robert stared at him.
“I don't know.””
David stood.
“What do you mean, you don't know?””
“I hid it in a place I thought no one would ever look. After Eleanor died, Marcus came to see me don't know.””
David stood.
“What do you mean, you don't know?””
“I hid it in a place I thought no one would ever look. After Eleanor died, Marcus came to see me. He told me the investigation was over and that the documents were worthless. A few weeks later, the envelope disappeared.””
“Did you tell the. He told me the investigation was over and that the documents were worthless. A few weeks later, the envelope disappeared.””
“Did you tell the police?””
“No. I was afraid.””
David dragged a hand through his hair.
“Dad, that envelope could be the evidence we need.””
“I police?””
“No. I was afraid.””
David dragged a hand through his hair.
“Dad, that envelope could be the evidence we need.””
“I know.””
“Then why didn't you tell me earlier?””
Robert's eyes filled.
“Because I was ashamed. know.””
“Then why didn't you tell me earlier?””
Robert's eyes filled.
“Because I was ashamed. I let fear make decisions for me. And now your mother is paying the price I let fear make decisions for me. And now your mother is paying the price.””
Helen approached them and placed a hand on Robert's shoulder.
“You were trying to protect us.””
“Perhaps.””
Helen approached them and placed a hand on Robert's shoulder.
“You were trying to protect us.””
“Perhaps,” Robert whispered.
“But I also made it easier for them to continue.””
David's phone rang.
Linda.
He answered immediately.
,” Robert whispered.
“But I also made it easier for them to continue.””
David's phone rang.
Linda.
He answered immediately.
“Where are you?””
“David, listen to me. I need you to do exactly what I say.””
Her voice was breathless, and he could hear traffic in the background.
“Where are you, Linda?””
“I'm near the old courthouse.””
“Why?””
“Because I found the person who sent you the photograph.””
David gripped the phone.
“Who?””
“Where are you?””
“David, listen to me. I need you to do exactly what I say.””
Her voice was breathless, and he could hear traffic in the background.
“Where are you, Linda?””
“I'm near the old courthouse.””
“Why?””
“Because I found the person who sent you the photograph.””
David gripped the phone.
“Who?””
“An investigator named Sarah Coleman. She worked on Eleanor's case years ago. She contacted me this morning and said she had something important“An investigator named Sarah Coleman.
She worked on Eleanor's case years ago. She contacted me this morning and said she had something important to show us.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I wasn't sure I could trust her.””
to show us.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I wasn't sure I could trust her.””
“And now you do?””
“No.””
Linda“And now you do?””
“No.””
Linda's voice cracked.
“But I think she knows why Vanessa married you.””
David went still.
“What did you just say?””
“David, I don't have time to explain. Sarah's voice cracked.
“But I think she knows why Vanessa married you.””
David went still.
“What did you just say?””
“David, I don't have time to explain. Sarah has copies of the original investigation records. She says Vanessa's name appears in them under has copies of the original investigation records. She says Vanessa's name appears in them under a different identity.””
A chill traveled down his spine.
“What identity?””
“That's what I'm trying to find out.””
“Where exactly are you?””
“ a different identity.””
A chill traveled down his spine.
“What identity?””
“That's what I'm trying to find out.””
“Where exactly are you?””
“Outside the courthouse. I'm going insideOutside the courthouse. I'm going inside now.””
“Don't go alone.””
“I already am.””
“Linda, wait for me.””
The line went dead.
David immediately called the number displayed now.””
“Don't go alone.””
“I already am.””
“Linda, wait for me.””
The line went dead.
David immediately called the number displayed on Linda's last message, but it was switched off.
He turned toward his parents.
“I'm going to find her.””
Robert on Linda's last message, but it was switched off.
He turned toward his parents.
“I'm going to find her.””
Robert struggled to his feet.
“Call the police first.””
David nodded. He contacted the authorities, reported Marcus's threat, and gave them Linda's last known location. He also forwarded the photograph struggled to his feet.
“Call the police first.””
David nodded. He contacted the authorities, reported Marcus's threat, and gave them Linda's last known location. He also forwarded the photograph of his parents and the message demanding that they withdraw their complaint.
Then he drove toward the courthouse.
The streets were slick with rain, and headlights sme of his parents and the message demanding that they withdraw their complaint.
Then he drove toward the courthouse.
The streets were slick with rain, and headlights smeared across the windshield. Every red light felt unbearable.
When David arrived, the courthouse plaza was almost empty.
Lindaared across the windshield. Every red light felt unbearable.
When David arrived, the courthouse plaza was almost empty.
Linda's car sat beside a parking meter.
The driver's door was locked.
Her purse lay on the passenger seat.
David's's car sat beside a parking meter.
The driver's door was locked.
Her purse lay on the passenger seat.
David's pulse accelerated.
He called her again.
This time, someone answered.
A woman's voice spoke quietly.
“David Mitchell?””
“Yes. pulse accelerated.
He called her again.
This time, someone answered.
A woman's voice spoke quietly.
“David Mitchell?””
“Yes. Who is this?””
“Sarah Coleman. I'm the investigator Linda told you about.””
“Where's my Who is this?””
“Sarah Coleman. I'm the investigator Linda told you about.””
“Where's my sister?””
A pause.
“She was here. We met inside the building, but she left before I could give her everything.””
“Why?””
“Because she received a phone sister?””
A pause.
“She was here. We met inside the building, but she left before I could give her everything.””
“Why?””
“Because she received a phone call. She looked terrified.””
“From whom?””
“I don't know. She wouldn't tell me.””
David looked around the empty plaza.
“Do call. She looked terrified.””
“From whom?””
“I don't know. She wouldn't tell me.””
David looked around the empty plaza.
“Do you have the records?””
“Yes. But I won't hand them over until we speak face-to-face.””
“Then tell me where you are.””
“The public library on West you have the records?””
“Yes. But I won't hand them over until we speak face-to-face.””
“Then tell me where you are.””
“The public library on West Ninth. Twenty minutes. Come alone.””
David hesitated.
“I've already reported a threat against my family. I'm Ninth. Twenty minutes. Come alone.””
David hesitated.
“I've already reported a threat against my family. I'm not going to walk into another situation blindly.””
“Good. Bring your attorney not going to walk into another situation blindly.””
“Good. Bring your attorney if you want. But understand something, Mr. Mitchell.
The people involved in this case have if you want. But understand something, Mr. Mitchell. The people involved in this case have spent seven years making sure the truth stays buried.””
“Then it's time someone dug it up.””
He ended the call and contacted Daniel Foster.
The attorney agreed to meet him spent seven years making sure the truth stays buried.””
“Then it's time someone dug it up.””
He ended the call and contacted Daniel Foster.
The attorney agreed to meet him at the library and advised him to avoid confronting anyone without the authorities being informed.
When David arrived, Sarah at the library and advised him to avoid confronting anyone without the authorities being informed.
When David arrived, Sarah was waiting at a table near the reference section. She was in her early fifties, with short brown was waiting at a table near the reference section. She was in her early fifties, with short brown hair, a charcoal coat, and a thick folder resting beneath her hands.
She studied David as he approached.
“You look like your father.””
“So I've hair, a charcoal coat, and a thick folder resting beneath her hands.
She studied David as he approached.
“You look like your father.””
“So I've been told.””
“Eleanor used to say the same thing.””
David stopped.
“You knew Eleanor personally?””
been told.””
“Eleanor used to say the same thing.””
David stopped.
“You knew Eleanor personally?””
“I interviewed her three weeks before she died.””
Sarah opened the folder.
“She was frightened, but she was“I interviewed her three weeks before she died.””
Sarah opened the folder.
“She was frightened, but she was determined to expose determined to expose what had happened to her properties. She believed Marcus Bell was working with a woman who specialized in identifying vulnerable property owners.””
David sat down.
“Vanessa?””
Sarah nodded.
“But at what had happened to her properties. She believed Marcus Bell was working with a woman who specialized in identifying vulnerable property owners.””
David sat down.
“Vanessa?””
Sarah nodded.
“But at the time, Vanessa wasn't using that name.””
She placed a photocopy in front of him.
It showed a younger woman standing beside Marcus Bell. the time, Vanessa wasn't using that name.””
She placed a photocopy in front of him.
It showed a younger woman standing beside Marcus Bell. Her hair was shorter, and she wore glasses, but David recognized her immediately.
The name beneath the photograph read **Victoria Her hair was shorter, and she wore glasses, but David recognized her immediately.
The name beneath the photograph read *Victoria Shaw*.
David stared at it.
“That's my wife.””
“Under a different identity, yes.””
“Why would she change Shaw**.
David stared at it.
“That's my wife.””
“Under a different identity, yes.””
“Why would she change her name?””
“That's what we tried to establish. We discovered that Victoria Shaw had been involved in several property disputes across her name?””
“That's what we tried to establish. We discovered that Victoria Shaw had been involved in several property disputes across three states. In each case, elderly owners reported suspicious paperwork, missing funds, or unauthorized transfers.””
David's three states. In each case, elderly owners reported suspicious paperwork, missing funds, or unauthorized transfers.””
David's mouth went dry.
“Was she convicted?””
“No. The cases were dismissed or settled before trial mouth went dry.
“Was she convicted?””
“No. The cases were dismissed or settled before trial. Witnesses withdrew statements. Documents disappeared.
One complainant died before. Witnesses withdrew statements. Documents disappeared. One complainant died before giving testimony.””
“Eleanor?””
Sarah nodded.
David felt sick.
“Are giving testimony.””
“Eleanor?””
Sarah nodded.
David felt sick.
“Are you saying Vanessa was responsible for Eleanor's death?””
“No. We never established that. Her you saying Vanessa was responsible for Eleanor's death?””
“No. We never established that. Her death was attributed to a stroke, and we have no evidence proving otherwise.
But we found evidence suggesting death was attributed to a stroke, and we have no evidence proving otherwise. But we found evidence suggesting that the property transfers continued after her death.””
Sarah removed another page.
It was a list of that the property transfers continued after her death.””
Sarah removed another page.
It was a list of bank transactions.
Several entries matched the amounts David had found on Vanessa's USB drive.
One transfer bank transactions.
Several entries matched the amounts David had found on Vanessa's USB drive.
One transfer, however, stood out.
$48,000.
The recipient, however, stood out.
$48,000.
The recipient was listed as Linda Mitchell.
David leaned forward.
“That's the payment Marcus is using to threaten my sister.””
“It's a payment made in her name. We don't know whether she received it.””
“Linda says she was listed as Linda Mitchell.
David leaned forward.
“That's the payment Marcus is using to threaten my sister.””
“It's a payment made in her name. We don't know whether she received it.””
“Linda says she didn't.””
“I believe she may be telling the truth. The account was opened using identification documents that appear to have been altered.””
David studied the paperwork.
“Who opened it?””
Sarah pointed to the signature line.
A name appeared beneath the authorization.
*Victoria Shaw.*
David's didn't.””
“I believe she may be telling the truth. The account was opened using identification documents that appear to have been altered.””
David studied the paperwork.
“Who opened it?””
Sarah pointed to the signature line.
A name appeared beneath the authorization.
*Victoria Shaw.*
David's hands curled into fists.
“So Vanessa created an account using my sister's identity, moved forty-eight thousand dollars through it, and now she's using the transaction to make hands curled into fists.
“So Vanessa created an account using my sister's identity, moved forty-eight thousand dollars through it, and now she's using the transaction to make Linda look guilty.””
“That's our working theory.””
“Can you prove it?””
“Not yet.””
Linda look guilty.””
“That's our working theory.””
“Can you prove it?””
“Not yet.””
Sarah pulled out a final document.
“This is why I asked Linda to meet me. Seven years ago, Eleanor gave me a statement identifying the person who had helped her discoverSarah pulled out a final document.
“This is why I asked Linda to meet me. Seven years ago, Eleanor gave me a statement identifying the person who had helped her discover the fraud. The statement was never formally entered into evidence because the original supporting documents disappeared the fraud. The statement was never formally entered into evidence because the original supporting documents disappeared.””
David looked at the sealed page.
“Who was the person?””
Sarah turned it toward him.
The.””
David looked at the sealed page.
“Who was the person?””
Sarah turned it toward him.
The name was unmistakable.
*Robert Mitchell.*
David stared at the page.
“My father was helping Eleanor expose name was unmistakable.
*Robert Mitchell.*
David stared at the page.
“My father was helping Eleanor expose the fraud?””
“Yes. He was one of the last people she trusted the fraud?””
“Yes. He was one of the last people she trusted.””
“Then why did he say he was afraid of Marcus?””
“Because Marcus knew.””
“Then why did he say he was afraid of Marcus?””
“Because Marcus knew your father had seen something. We believe Robert kept a copy of an original document that could prove the property transfer your father had seen something. We believe Robert kept a copy of an original document that could prove the property transfer was fraudulent.””
David thought of the brown envelope his father had described.
“An envelope?””
Sarah's eyes widened.
“He told you about it?””
“Yes. But it disappeared years ago.””
“Then was fraudulent.””
David thought of the brown envelope his father had described.
“An envelope?””
Sarah's eyes widened.
“He told you about it?””
“Yes. But it disappeared years ago.””
“Then we may still have a problem.””
“What kind of problem?””
Sarah leaned closer.
“Eleanor's statement also we may still have a problem.””
“What kind of problem?””
Sarah leaned closer.
“Eleanor's statement also mentioned that the original deed was not the only document she had hidden. She kept a second record mentioned that the original deed was not the only document she had hidden. She kept a second record showing who ultimately received the money from the fraudulent transfers.””
“Where is it?””
“Eleanor never showing who ultimately received the money from the fraudulent transfers.””
“Where is it?””
“Eleanor never told me. She said the hiding place would only make sense to someone who knew her personally.””
told me. She said the hiding place would only make sense to someone who knew her personally.””
David thought about the old photograph of the brick house.
The garden. The trees. The property that had started everything.
Before he could speak, his phone vibrDavid thought about the old photograph of the brick house.
The garden. The trees. The property that had started everything.
Before he could speak, his phone vibrated.
A message from an unknown number appeared.
**YOUR SISTER IS SAFE. FOR NOW. IF YOU WANT HER BACK, BRated.
A message from an unknown number appeared.
*YOUR SISTER IS SAFE. FOR NOW. IF YOU WANT HER BACK, BRING THE ORIGINAL DEED TO THE OLD PRICE HOUSE BY MIDNIGHT. COME ALONE.*
David's bloodING THE ORIGINAL DEED TO THE OLD PRICE HOUSE BY MIDNIGHT. COME ALONE.**
David's blood ran cold.
He showed Sarah the message.
She immediately stood.
“Don't go.””
“That's my sister.””
“And they know that. That's why they're ran cold.
He showed Sarah the message.
She immediately stood.
“Don't go.””
“That's my sister.””
“And they know that. That's why they're using her.””
David called Linda again.
This time, her phone rang.
A faint sound came through the speaker.
Then Linda's voice whispered, using her.””
David called Linda again.
This time, her phone rang.
A faint sound came through the speaker.
Then Linda's voice whispered, “David?””
“Linda “David?””
“Linda! Where are you?””
“I don't know. They took my phone, but I found another one. Listen to me. Vanessa isn't the person making the decisions.””
David froze.
“What do you mean?””
A door slammed somewhere near Linda.
She gasped! Where are you?””
“I don't know. They took my phone, but I found another one. Listen to me. Vanessa isn't the person making the decisions.””
David froze.
“What do you mean?””
A door slammed somewhere near Linda.
She gasped.
“It's someone inside our family. Someone who knew about Eleanor long before Vanessa met you.””
“Who?””
Linda began.
“It's someone inside our family. Someone who knew about Eleanor long before Vanessa met you.””
“Who?””
Linda began to cry.
“David, I saw the original file. The signature on the first transfer belongs to—”
The call to cry.
“David, I saw the original file. The signature on the first transfer belongs to—”
The call cut off.
David stared at his phone.
Then another message appeared.
This one contained a photograph of Linda sitting in a cut off.
David stared at his phone.
Then another message appeared.
This one contained a photograph of Linda sitting in a dark room, her hands tied in front of her.
Beneath the image were four words.
**MIDNIGHT. NO POL dark room, her hands tied in front of her.
Beneath the image were four words.
*MIDNIGHT. NO POLICE.*
David looked at Sarah.
“Tell me you can help me find her.””
Sarah was already reaching for her phone.
“WeICE.**
David looked at Sarah.
“Tell me you can help me find her.””
Sarah was already reaching for her phone.
“We're going to find her.””
But David couldn't shake the final words Linda had spoken.
Someone inside our family.
Someone who knew about Eleanor before Vanessa entered his're going to find her.””
But David couldn't shake the final words Linda had spoken.
Someone inside our family.
Someone who knew about Eleanor before Vanessa entered his life.
Someone who had helped the scheme survive for seven life.
Someone who had helped the scheme survive for seven years.
May you like
And someone who was now desperate enough to take years.
And someone who was now desperate enough to take his sister.
