Chapter 9: The Truth About Grandma's Final Days
Dad read the note three times.
Each time, his expression became harder.
“That's my brother's name,” he whispered.
Elaine took the paper.
“Marcus, we need to be careful. This is a serious allegation. The note needs to be preserved and examined.””
Dad nodded.
But I could see the anger in his face.
“Raymond was responsible for helping Mother with her appointments,” he said.
“He handled several administrative matters when she became ill.””
I stared at him.
“Did he control her medication?””
Dad didn't answer immediately.
“Sometimes he collected prescriptions.””
I felt sick.
“Why?””
“Your grandmother had several health conditions. She trusted him to help.””
Elaine carefully placed the note into a protective document sleeve.
“Do you have her medical records?””
Dad nodded.
“Some of them.””
“Then we need the complete records, including prescription histories and pharmacy information.””
We left the storage facility and drove to the house.
Dad called Robert, the accountant, and instructed him to preserve every financial document connected to Raymond.
Then he called Elaine's office.
By the time we reached the mansion, two messages had arrived.
The first was from the police.
They had located Mom's car.
It was parked outside a hotel near downtown Atlanta.
The second was from Brielle.
*Please don't let Dad go after Uncle Raymond. He'll make everything worse.*
I read the message twice.
Then I looked at Dad.
“Brielle knows more than she's telling us.””
He nodded.
“I'm beginning to think so.””
We found her in the living room.
She was sitting on the sofa with her knees drawn up, her hair falling loosely around her shoulders.
Her makeup was smudged.
For once, she looked nothing like the confident woman who had thrown my dress into the fire.
When she saw us, she stood.
“Where's Mom?””
Dad placed his keys on the table.
“The police found her car.””
“Is she okay?””
“They're checking.””
Brielle began pacing.
“This is all getting out of control.””
I looked at her.
“Then tell us what you know.””
She stopped.
“I told you already.””
“No, you told me Grandma had medication. You didn't tell me why Raymond was involved.””
Brielle looked toward Dad.
He stepped forward.
“Brielle, did Uncle Raymond have access to your grandmother's medication?””
She shook her head.
Then she stopped.
“I don't know.””
“Think carefully.””
“He used to bring her prescriptions.””
Dad's expression tightened.
“Did your mother know?””
“I think so.””
“Did you?””
Brielle lowered her eyes.
“I knew he helped her.””
Dad sat down.
“What happened during the final months?””
Brielle looked at the window.
“Grandma was getting weaker.””
I frowned.
“She was sick.””
“I know.””
Brielle turned toward me.
“But sometimes she seemed fine. Then suddenly she'd be confused or exhausted.””
Dad leaned forward.
“Did she ever complain about her medication?””
Brielle nodded slowly.
“She said something once.””
“What?””
“She said the pills made her feel strange.””
I felt cold.
“Did she tell anyone?””
“Mom said it was normal.””
Dad stood.
“When was this?””
Brielle looked down.
“About six weeks before she died.””
He rubbed his forehead.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
Brielle's voice cracked.
“Because Raymond told us not to worry. He said her doctor had changed her prescription.””
“Did you see the prescription?””
“No.””
Dad looked at me.
Then back at Brielle.
“Did you know about the financial transfers?””
She nodded.
“How much?””
“I didn't know the exact amount.””
“Did you benefit from them?””
Brielle wiped her cheeks.
“Yes.””
The answer came quietly.
Dad closed his eyes.
“Why?””
She looked at me.
“Because I was drowning.””
I crossed my arms.
“You had an apartment, a job, a car, and a family willing to help you.””
“You don't know what my life was like!””
“Then tell us.””
Brielle began crying.
“I had debts. I was behind on payments. My business wasn't making money. I was afraid Dad would find out.””
“So you took money from Grandma's program?””
“Raymond told me it was temporary.””
“And you believed him?””
She nodded.
“He said the program had more money than it needed. He said Grandma had left it for the family.””
Dad's voice hardened.
“Did he tell you about the revised will?””
Brielle looked at him.
“Yes.””
“When?””
“Last year.””
Dad stared at her.
“And what did he say?””
“That Grandma had changed her mind.””
“About what?””
“About giving Nia control of the program.””
I looked at her.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
Brielle laughed through her tears.
“Because I didn't want you to get it!””
The room went silent.
She covered her mouth.
Then she continued.
“I thought if I could make you look irresponsible, the committee would choose me. Raymond said it would be easy.””
I stared at her.
“And the dress?””
Her eyes filled again.
“I wanted you to have nothing to wear.””
“Why?””
“Because I knew you were going to that gala. I knew people would look at you. Grandma's old friends would talk about how talented you were.””
She looked down.
“I couldn't stand it.””
I felt my throat tighten.
“So you burned something I'd spent six months working for?””
Brielle nodded.
“I was angry.””
“You were jealous.””
“Yes.””
The honesty was so unexpected that I didn't know what to say.
Dad sat heavily in his chair.
“Brielle, what exactly did Raymond promise you?””
She hesitated.
Then she reached into her pocket and removed her phone.
“He sent me something last night.””
She opened a conversation.
The first message was from Raymond.
*The committee will accept the document tomorrow. Once the program is transferred, the financial review becomes irrelevant.*
Another message followed.
*Your mother will confirm the signature. Don't let Nia speak before Patricia sees the paperwork.*
I felt my stomach turn.
Brielle scrolled further.
Then she stopped.
“There was another message.””
She handed the phone to Dad.
It was dated three weeks earlier.
Raymond had written:
*If anyone asks about Evelyn's medication, say the doctor approved everything. There is no reason to reopen that chapter.*
Dad read it silently.
Then he looked up.
“Brielle, do you still have the original messages?””
“Yes.””
“Don't delete anything.””
He handed the phone back.
“I need you to understand how serious this is.””
Brielle nodded.
For several minutes, nobody spoke.
Then I asked, “Why did Mom leave?””
Brielle shook her head.
“I think she was going to meet Raymond.””
Dad immediately reached for his phone.
He called Mom.
No answer.
He called again.
Voicemail.
Then a message arrived.
*Marcus, please don't come looking for me. I need time to explain everything.*
Dad stared at it.
“She's still with him.””
He called the police again and provided the hotel location.
An officer confirmed that Mom had been found.
She was alone in a hotel room.
Dad asked to speak with her.
The officer said she was willing to return home.
An hour later, Mom walked through the front door.
She looked exhausted.
Her eyes were swollen.
She placed her handbag on the table and stood in the middle of the living room.
“Where is Raymond?”” Dad asked.
She shook her head.
“I don't know.””
“Denise, don't lie to me.””
She looked at me.
Then at Brielle.
Finally, she turned toward Dad.
“Raymond told me he could fix everything.””
“What did he tell you about Evelyn's medication?””
Mom's face crumpled.
I felt my heart stop.
She began crying.
“Marcus, I didn't know.””
Dad stepped closer.
“Didn't know what?””
“I knew he was changing her prescriptions.””
The room went completely silent.
I gripped the back of the sofa.
“Changing them how?””
Mom shook her head.
“He said he was following the doctor's instructions.””
“Did you see the instructions?”” Dad asked.
“No.””
“Then why did you believe him?””
“Because he was helping her! He said she needed someone to organize everything.””
Dad's voice rose.
“Mother trusted him!””
Mom covered her face.
“I know!””
I stepped forward.
“Mom, did Grandma know something was wrong?””
She nodded.
“She confronted Raymond.””
“When?””
“About a month before she died.””
“What did he say?””
Mom began trembling.
“He told her she was confused. He said the medication was making her paranoid.””
Dad stared at her.
“And you believed him?””
Mom looked at the floor.
“I didn't know what to believe.””
I felt tears running down my cheeks.
“Did Grandma ask you for help?””
Mom nodded.
“She called me one night.””
“What did she say?””
Mom closed her eyes.
“She said Raymond was taking things from her. She said she didn't trust him anymore.””
Dad's hands tightened.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because Raymond threatened to expose the transfers.””
I stared at her.
“What transfers?””
Mom wiped her cheeks.
“He said if I told you, he would make sure everyone knew I'd been helping him.””
Dad looked stunned.
“So you stayed quiet.””
Mom nodded.
“And you allowed him to keep visiting my mother.””
She began sobbing.
“I was scared.””
I stepped closer.
“Mom, Grandma was scared too.””
She looked at me.
For the first time, I saw something resembling shame in her eyes.
“I know.””
Dad walked toward the window.
His shoulders were rigid.
Then he turned around.
“Did Raymond ever give Evelyn medication that wasn't prescribed by her doctor?””
Mom didn't answer.
“Denise.””
She whispered, “I saw him bring a separate bottle once.””
My stomach dropped.
“What was in it?””
“I don't know. He said it was a supplement.””
Dad looked at Elaine's contact information on his phone.
He immediately called her.
“Elaine, we need to discuss the medical records. Denise has made a statement about a separate medication bottle.””
He listened.
Then he said, “Yes. I understand. We'll preserve everything.””
He ended the call.
Mom sat down.
“Marcus, I never wanted Evelyn to die.””
Dad turned toward her.
Nobody spoke.
Finally, he said, “I hope that's true.””
I looked at Mom.
“Did you know Brielle was involved?””
She nodded.
“Some of it.””
“And the forged document?””
Mom began crying again.
“Raymond told me it was just a temporary arrangement. He said the committee needed a document to consider Brielle's application.””
“You knew Grandma hadn't signed it.””
Mom lowered her head.
“Yes.””
I stepped backward.
I couldn't look at her anymore.
Dad asked everyone to remain in the living room while he spoke with Elaine.
But before he could leave, Brielle suddenly stood.
“There's something else.””
We turned toward her.
She was staring at her phone.
“Raymond sent me a message five minutes ago.””
Dad approached.
“What does it say?””
Brielle handed him the screen.
The message was short.
*I know what you've told them. If you want to protect yourself, meet me at the old Carter warehouse at seven tonight. Come alone.*
Dad's expression darkened.
“Where is that?””
Brielle swallowed.
“The building Grandma used before the foundation moved downtown.””
Dad looked at her.
“Why would he want you there?””
She shook her head.
“I don't know.””
Then she opened another message.
This one contained a photograph.
It showed Grandma Evelyn sitting in a hospital bed, looking directly at the camera.
Beneath it, Raymond had written:
*Your grandmother left more than a letter. Ask Nia what she knows about the recording.*
I looked at the photograph.
My grandmother had been wearing the blue scarf I'd given her for Christmas.
I remembered that day.
I had visited her at the hospital, and she'd asked me to bring my sketchbook.
But I'd never known she'd been photographed.
“Dad,” I whispered, “what recording?””
He stared at the image.
Then his phone rang.
Elaine.
He answered.
I heard her voice clearly enough to understand the words.
“Marcus, I've located the final medical file. There is a note from Evelyn's physician that was never included in the family records.””
Dad closed his eyes.
“What does it say?””
A pause.
Then Elaine replied:
“It says Evelyn requested that Raymond be removed from all medical and financial responsibilities immediately before her final hospitalization.””
Dad gripped the phone.
“Why wasn't that request carried out?””
Elaine's answer was almost inaudible.
“Because the authorization was withdrawn the following morning.””
“By whom?””
Another pause.
Then she said:
“By Denise Carter.””
I looked at my mother.
She began shaking her head.
“No…”
Dad slowly lowered the phone.
And I understood that the truth about Grandma's final days was far worse than any of us had imagined.
But there was still one person who could explain why my mother had reversed that decision.
May you like
Raymond.
And he had just invited my sister to meet him alone.
