Chapter 2: The Envelope
I didn't hang up.
Vanessa reached for my phone.
I stepped backward.
“No.””
“Nia, give me the phone.””
“Why?””
“Because this man is trying to scam you.””
The buyer immediately spoke again.
“I’m not trying to scam anybody.””
Vanessa froze.
Madis looked between us.
“What’s going on?””
I put the call on speaker.
The man's voice filled the driveway.
“My name is Daniel. I bought the Civic this morning.””
Vanessa folded her arms.
“Then you have your car. Whatever you found, keep it.””
Daniel hesitated.
“That’s not really an option.””
“Why not?”” Vanessa asked.
“Because the envelope has Nia's name on it.””
My stomach dropped.
Madis frowned.
“What envelope?””
Vanessa shot him a look.
“Madis, go inside.””
He didn't move.
“Mom?””
“I said go inside.””
I stared at her.
“Why are you scared?””
“I’m not scared.””
“You are.””
Daniel spoke again.
“Nia, I found it behind the glove box.””
My eyes moved toward the empty space in the driveway.
The Civic was gone.
But suddenly I could see it perfectly.
The cracked dashboard.
The little compartment where my mother used to keep napkins.
The glove box.
“What's inside?”” I asked.
“I haven't opened it.””
“Why?””
“Because it’s sealed.””
Vanessa's face had gone pale.
Daniel continued.
“There's a name written across the front.””
“What name?””
He exhaled.
“Yours.””
I swallowed.
“Nia Carter.””
I felt the blood drain from my face.
Madis stepped closer.
“What is this?””
I ignored him.
“What else does it say?””
Daniel was quiet.
Then he read it.
“Private. To be delivered personally to Nia Carter.””
Vanessa suddenly lunged toward me.
I moved away.
“Don't touch me.””
“Nia, listen to me.””
“No.””
“You don't know what this is.””
“Then tell me.””
She said nothing.
I looked at Madis.
“Did you know about this?””
He shook his head.
“No.””
I believed him.
For once.
His eyes moved toward his mother.
“Mom, what is she talking about?””
Vanessa didn't answer.
Daniel cleared his throat.
“There’s something else.””
My fingers tightened around the phone.
“What?””
“There’s a second line written under your name.””
“What does it say?””
Daniel paused.
“‘Two-million-dollar trust.’”
The world seemed to go silent.
Even the cicadas felt distant.
Madis blinked.
“What?””
Vanessa closed her eyes.
Just for a second.
But I saw it.
Recognition.
Not confusion.
Not surprise.
Recognition.
“You knew,” I whispered.
Vanessa opened her eyes.
“I knew nothing.””
“You recognized it.””
“Nia—”
“You recognized it!””
Madis looked at his mother.
“Mom, what is she talking about?””
Vanessa snapped, “Stay out of this.””
“But you said the car was worthless!””
“I said it was old!””
“You said there was nothing in it!””
Her face tightened.
Daniel spoke quietly through the phone.
“Actually, I found another thing.””
I looked at him.
“What?””
“A receipt.””
My heart stopped.
“What kind?””
“An old storage receipt.””
Vanessa’s face changed again.
Daniel continued.
“It has your mother’s name on it.””
I couldn't breathe.
My mother.
Not Vanessa.
Not me.
My mother.
“What storage facility?”” I asked.
Daniel gave me the name.
I repeated it under my breath.
I knew the place.
I'd passed it hundreds of times.
It was less than fifteen minutes from our house.
“What's in the storage unit?”” I asked.
“I don't know.””
“Is there a unit number?””
“Yes.””
He read it to me.
Vanessa suddenly grabbed my wrist.
“Enough.””
I yanked my arm free.
“You're hurting me.””
“You don't understand what you're doing.””
“Then explain it!””
“You're digging up things that should stay buried.””
Those words hit harder than anything else she'd said.
I stared at her.
“What happened to Mom?””
Vanessa looked away.
Madis whispered, “Mom…”
She didn't answer.
I turned back to the phone.
“Daniel, where are you?””
“At home.””
“Can you bring me the envelope?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“No.””
I looked at her.
“You don't get a vote.””
Daniel said, “I can meet you somewhere.””
“I'll come to you.””
“Nia—”
“I need it.””
Daniel paused.
“Okay. But there’s something you should know.””
“What?””
“I opened the outer packaging because I thought it was empty.””
Vanessa's face went white.
“Daniel,” she said.
He went silent.
I looked at her.
“How does he know your name?””
Vanessa didn't respond.
“Daniel?””
“Yes?””
“Why did you just stop talking?””
“I’m sorry.””
“What did you see?””
Another pause.
Then Daniel said, “A photograph.””
My heart thudded.
“Of what?””
“Your mother.””
I closed my eyes.
For a second, I was seventeen again.
My mother's lavender perfume.
Her hands around mine.
Her voice telling me to drive if I ever felt lost.
Then I opened my eyes.
“Daniel, describe the photograph.””
“I can't.””
“Why?””
“Because your mother isn't alone.””
Vanessa whispered, “Please.””
I turned toward her.
“What?””
She looked at me.
And for the first time, there was no anger in her face.
Only fear.
“She was never supposed to leave that photograph behind.””
I stared at her.
Daniel said softly, “Nia, I think you need to come get this yourself.””
“Why?””
“Because the person standing next to your mother…”
He stopped.
The line went quiet.
“Daniel?””
No answer.
“Daniel?””
The call suddenly disconnected.
I looked at the screen.
No signal.
Then Vanessa spoke behind me.
“You should have let that car go.””
I turned.
“Why?””
She stared at me for several seconds.
May you like
Then she said something that made my blood run cold.
“Because your mother didn't die for the reason you were told.””