“Take whatever you like. Those copies won't change anything.””
I slipped the trust declaration into my handbag.
“Perhaps.””
Then I looked at him.
“But you made one mistake.””
His smile faded.
“What mistake?””
“You assumed I came here to take possession of the building.””
I held up the original shareholder ledger.
“I came to find out who my mother trusted.””
For the first time, Victor looked uncertain.
Linda saw it too.
She stepped toward me.
“Evelyn, look at the last page.””
I opened the ledger.
Most of the entries were handwritten, with dates and financial amounts carefully recorded.
The final page contained a list of original shareholders.
My mother's name appeared first.
Thomas Langford's second.
Then came several smaller investors.
But beneath them was a name I had never seen before.
*Rebecca Carter — 18%.*
“That's my mother's sister.””
Victor stepped forward.
“Give me that ledger.””
I closed it.
His voice hardened.
“Ms. Carter, I suggest you understand the situation.””
“I understand perfectly.””
I turned toward the exit.
The security officers moved aside.
Victor didn't stop us.
But as I walked past him, he spoke quietly.
“Your father is not the man you think he is.””
I stopped.
“You've already said that.””
“Then perhaps you should ask him what happened to Rebecca.””
I turned around.
“What happened to her?””
Victor's expression became almost sympathetic.
“She didn't disappear.””
Linda grabbed my arm.
“Evelyn, don't listen to him.””
“She was paid to disappear.””
I felt a chill.
He looked directly at me.
“Your father.””
I left without answering.
Outside, the night air was cold.
Linda and I walked toward the street, but I could feel her anxiety growing.
“Do you believe him?”” I asked.
“Victor lies when he wants something.””
“But?””
She stopped beside a parked car.
“But I know Rebecca left town after a meeting with Richard.””
“You knew she was alive?””
“I knew she had been alive at the time.””
“Because I never knew where she went.””
I looked down at the ledger.
Eighteen percent.
My mother's sister had owned a significant portion of the company.
If she had been forced out, then the original ownership structure had been deliberately dismantled.
I called my father.
He answered immediately.
“Did you pay Rebecca to disappear?””
“Where did you hear that?””
My father sighed.
“Is it true?””
“Not exactly.””
“Dad, I'm running out of patience.””
“Rebecca came to me after Eleanor died. She was terrified.””
“Of Margaret?””
“Of Thomas.””
My father paused.
“He threatened to expose something about her past.””
“Where is she now?””
“You don't know?””
“I haven't spoken to Rebecca in more than twenty years.””
“Then why did you pay her?””
“To protect her.””
“From what?””
“From a crime she didn't commit.””
I felt my heart pounding.
“What crime?””
“Eleanor's death.””
I couldn't breathe.
The street seemed to tilt beneath my feet.
“What are you saying?””
My father sounded exhausted.
“Margaret accused Rebecca of changing Eleanor's medication during her final weeks. Thomas claimed he had evidence. Rebecca was threatened with arrest.””
Linda covered her mouth.
“That's a lie,” she whispered.
“You know something?””
Linda nodded slowly.
“Rebecca was with Eleanor every day. She loved her sister.””
I turned back to the phone.
“Dad, was there an investigation?””
“Was Rebecca ever charged?””
“Then why did she leave?””
“Because she was afraid.””
“Of being arrested?””
“Of what Margaret would do to her.””
“Where is she?””
My father hesitated.
Then he gave me an answer I wasn't expecting.
“London.””
“Is she still there?””
“I don't know. But I have an address.””
“Send it to me.””
“Evelyn, wait.””
“Before you contact Rebecca, you need to understand something.””
My father's voice broke.
“Your mother didn't die from her illness alone.””
The world seemed to go silent.
I couldn't move.
“What does that mean?””
He took a long breath.
“The medical records were altered. There were discrepancies in the medication logs.””
I felt sick.
“Are you telling me someone hurt my mother?””
“I'm telling you I never believed the official report.””
“Then why didn't you investigate?””
“I tried.””
“And?””
“Every time I got close, someone threatened to release documents implicating Rebecca.””
She was crying now.
“Evelyn, there is something else. Your mother left a sealed letter for Rebecca. It was never delivered.””
“Where is it?””
“In my safe.””
“Because I didn't know what it contained.””
“Then why did you keep it?””
“Because I promised Eleanor I would protect it.””
“Dad, you've had twenty years to protect things. All you've done is hide them.””
He didn't respond.
I ended the call.
Linda stood beside me, wiping her cheeks.
“Your mother used to say Rebecca was the only person she trusted without question.””
“Then we find her.””
I looked down at the ledger again.
There was a handwritten note beneath Rebecca's name.
If the company is ever threatened again, contact the original beneficiary before taking any action.
Beneath it was a telephone number.
An old international number.
I took out my phone and called it.
The number rang once.
Twice.
Then a woman's voice answered.
“I'm looking for Rebecca Carter.””
A long silence followed.
“Who is this?””
“My name is Evelyn.””
The woman stopped breathing for a moment.
Then she whispered something that made my knees weak.
“It's your aunt.””
For the first time in twenty-five years, I was speaking to my mother's sister.
“Where are you?”” I asked.
Another pause.
Then she said:
“Not until I tell you why your mother was afraid of your father.””
I stared at the phone.
Rebecca's voice became almost inaudible.
“Evelyn, your father didn't just sign away your mother's company.””
“What else did he do?””
“He was the last person who saw your mother alive before she was taken to the hospital.””
The call disconnected.
I stood motionless.
Linda slowly reached for my hand.
And somewhere across the Atlantic, the only person who might know what really happened to my mother had just accused my father of hiding something far worse than a stolen company.
Chapter 11: The Doctor Who Changed My Mother's Last Hours
Dr. Samuel Whitmore agreed to meet us at his private clinic in central London.
At least, that's what his assistant told us.
When we arrived, the receptionist informed us that he had suddenly canceled all appointments.
I wasn't surprised.
I had spent too many days watching people disappear whenever I got close to the truth.
I asked the receptionist to pass along a message.
Tell Dr. Whitmore that Evelyn Carter wanted to discuss Eleanor Carter's medical records.
The receptionist looked up sharply.
“Are you related to the patient?””
“I'm her daughter.””
She disappeared into the back office.
Five minutes later, a man in a white coat entered the reception area.
He was in his seventies, with thinning gray hair and a carefully trimmed beard.
He glanced at Rebecca.
His expression changed.
“Rebecca.””
“Samuel.””
He looked uncomfortable.
“I thought you were living abroad.””
“I was.””
He gestured toward a private office.
“Come with me.””