Chapter 3: What Mom Left Behind
I didn't sleep that night.
I sat on the edge of my bed with the lights off, staring at my mother's old voicemail saved on my phone.
I hadn't listened to it in years.
I was afraid to.
But after Vanessa's words, I pressed play.
My mother's voice filled the room.
“Nia, baby, if you’re hearing this, I’m probably not there to answer.””
My chest tightened.
The recording crackled.
“I want you to remember something.””
I held my breath.
“People can tell you a story so many times that eventually you start believing it happened that way.””
I sat completely still.
“But you should always ask yourself who benefits from the story.””
The message ended.
I replayed it.
Then again.
At 7:12 the next morning, someone knocked on my bedroom door.
Vanessa stood there.
She was wearing the same burgundy blouse from yesterday.
Her face looked exhausted.
“We need to talk,” she said.
I stood.
“About Mom?””
She nodded.
I opened the door wider.
“Then talk.””
She walked in.
For once, she didn't sit down.
She remained near the doorway, rubbing her hands together.
“I shouldn't have sold the car.””
I stared at her.
“No.””
“I made a mistake.””
“You stole from me.””
“I know.””
“You sold my mother's car without telling me.””
“I know.””
“And you gave the money toward Madis's BMW.””
Vanessa lowered her eyes.
“Yes.””
I waited.
She looked at me.
“But I didn't know about the envelope.””
I studied her face.
“Do you expect me to believe that?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because if I had known it was there, I never would have sold the car.””
I laughed.
“You literally just admitted you sold it because you wanted to stop me from finding things.””
Her face tightened.
“I said I wanted to keep you from reopening the past.””
“That's not the same thing?””
“No.””
“Then what is it?””
Vanessa sat on the edge of my desk chair.
“I was trying to protect you.””
“From a two-million-dollar trust?””
She flinched.
“You heard that.””
“I did.””
“It may not exist anymore.””
“Why?””
“Because it was tied to your mother.””
“What does that mean?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“I don't know.””
“You don't know?””
“No.””
“You expect me to believe there was a two-million-dollar trust connected to my mother, hidden inside my car, and you somehow knew enough to be terrified—but you don't know anything?””
She stood abruptly.
“I knew your mother was hiding something.””
“What?””
“I don't know.””
“Then what did she hide?””
“I don't know.””
“You're lying.””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“I wish I were.””
That stopped me.
Vanessa looked toward the window.
“Your mother and I weren't always enemies.””
I said nothing.
“She trusted me once.””
“Then what happened?””
“She found out something.””
“What?””
Vanessa's voice dropped.
“She found out someone had been taking money from the family.””
My stomach twisted.
“Who?””
“I don't know.””
“You just said she found out.””
“She never told me everything.””
“But you knew.””
“I knew enough to be afraid.””
“Afraid of who?””
Vanessa looked directly at me.
“I can't answer that.””
“Why?””
“Because I'm still afraid.””
Silence filled the room.
Then Madis appeared in the doorway.
“Mom?””
Vanessa turned.
“What?””
He held up his phone.
“Daniel called me.””
My entire body went cold.
“What did he say?”” I asked.
Madis looked at me.
“He wants to meet.””
“When?””
“Now.””
Vanessa immediately said, “No.””
Madis frowned.
“Why?””
“Because we don't know him.””
I grabbed my purse.
“I'm going.””
Vanessa blocked the door.
“Nia.””
“Move.””
“You don't understand.””
“I understand plenty.””
“No, you don't.””
Her voice cracked.
“You think this is about money.””
I stopped.
“It isn't?””
“No.””
“Then what is it about?””
Vanessa looked at Madis.
“Go downstairs.””
“Mom—”
“Now.””
Madis hesitated.
Then he left.
Vanessa closed the door.
She turned back toward me.
“Your mother had evidence.””
“Evidence of what?””
“Fraud.””
I stared at her.
“Whose?””
“She never told me.””
“You expect me to believe that?””
“She was going to expose someone.””
“Who?””
Vanessa's lips trembled.
“Someone close to her.””
I felt a chill move through me.
“How close?””
“Close enough that she trusted him.””
“Him?””
Vanessa immediately looked away.
I caught it.
“You said him.””
She said nothing.
“Who was he?””
“I can't.””
“You can.””
“No.””
“Was it Dad?””
Her silence was enough to make my knees weaken.
“My father?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“Your father wasn't involved.””
“Then who?””
She closed her eyes.
“He came to the house the night before your mother died.””
My breath caught.
“Who?””
“I saw them arguing.””
“Who?””
“She told him she had copies.””
“Copies of what?””
“I don't know.””
“Then what happened?””
Vanessa's eyes opened.
“She told me if anything happened to her, I was supposed to give you something.””
My heart pounded.
“What?””
“A key.””
I stared at her.
“Where is it?””
She reached into her pocket.
For a moment, I thought she would hand it to me.
Instead, she pulled out a tiny brass key.
My mother's initials were engraved on it.
A.C.
My fingers shook as I reached for it.
Vanessa didn't let go.
“Before I give you this,” she whispered, “you need to promise me something.””
“What?””
“If you find the person your mother was afraid of…”
She swallowed.
“Don't confront him.””
“Why?””
“Because he knows you exist.””
The key finally dropped into my palm.
Cold metal.
Heavy with a secret I didn't understand.
My phone buzzed.
A text from Daniel.
*I found the envelope.*
Another message appeared immediately after it.
*But I also found the person in your mother's photograph.*
Then a third message.
*He's asking for you.*
I stared at the screen.
Vanessa read over my shoulder.
All the color drained from her face.
“What?”” I whispered.
She took one step backward.
“That’s impossible.””
“Who is he?””
Vanessa looked at the key in my hand.
Then at me.
And finally she whispered a name I had never expected to hear again.
May you like
“Your mother’s attorney.””
Would you like Chapter 4 to reveal what the attorney knows first, or deepen the mystery around your mother’s death?