Chapter 7: ## Chapter 7: The Woman Who Knew: The Woman Who Knew Too Much
“Do not Too Much
“Do not open that door,” Thomas whispered open that door,” Thomas whispered.
The pounding came again, hard enough to rattle the framed photographs on Robert's.
The pounding came again, hard enough to rattle the framed photographs on Robert's living-room wall.
“Mr. Hayes, this is Attorney Patricia Sloan. We have legal living-room wall.
“Mr. Hayes, this is Attorney Patricia Sloan. We have legal authority to secure documents related to the Bennett trust. Please open the door.””
Robert looked at authority to secure documents related to the Bennett trust. Please open the door.””
Robert looked at his brother.
“Why is an estate attorney bringing police his brother.
“Why is an estate attorney bringing police to my apartment?””
Thomas shook his head.
“Because she knows what's in those papers.””
Across to my apartment?””
Thomas shook his head.
“Because she knows what's in those papers.””
Across the room, Marcus stood motionless, staring at the door as if he had just seen a ghost.
Ki the room, Marcus stood motionless, staring at the door as if he had just seen a ghost.
Kiara noticed his expression.
“You said Patricia handled your mother's estate. Howara noticed his expression.
“You said Patricia handled your mother's estate. How long have you known her?””
“Since I was a child,” Marcus replied.
“She represented my mother for long have you known her?””
“Since I was a child,” Marcus replied.
“She represented my mother for almost thirty years.””
“And you didn't think to mention her almost thirty years.””
“And you didn't think to mention her name before now?””
Marcus rubbed both hands over his face.
“I didn't know she was involved in the name before now?””
Marcus rubbed both hands over his face.
“I didn't know she was involved in the original trust amendment.””
Thomas gave a humorless laugh.
“ original trust amendment.””
Thomas gave a humorless laugh.
“Of course you didn't. Patricia never put her own name on anything that mattered.””
Another knock.
“Mr. Hayes,” PatriciaOf course you didn't. Patricia never put her own name on anything that mattered.””
Another knock.
“Mr. Hayes,” Patricia called, “we can do this the easy way, or we can obtain a separate called, “we can do this the easy way, or we can obtain a separate order compelling you to surrender the records.””
Robert wheeled himself toward the door.
Ki order compelling you to surrender the records.””
Robert wheeled himself toward the door.
Kiara caught his hand.
“Daddy, wait.””
He looked at her.
“I'm tired of waiting,ara caught his hand.
“Daddy, wait.””
He looked at her.
“I'm tired of waiting, baby.””
“I know. But if those documents prove baby.””
“I know. But if those documents prove what Uncle Thomas says, we need to protect them properly. We shouldn't hand them over to someone whose what Uncle Thomas says, we need to protect them properly. We shouldn't hand them over to someone whose name is connected to the estate.””
Robert's eyes softened.
“You're right.””
name is connected to the estate.””
Robert's eyes softened.
“You're right.””
Thomas moved toward the small wooden cabinet beneath the television. He pulled open the bottomThomas moved toward the small wooden cabinet beneath the television. He pulled open the bottom drawer, revealing a stack of old tax records and a battered metal cash box.
“I kept copies drawer, revealing a stack of old tax records and a battered metal cash box.
“I kept copies,” he whispered.
Marcus stared at him.
“Copies of what?””
“The,” he whispered.
Marcus stared at him.
“Copies of what?””
“The original trust agreement. The hospital records. The transfer authorization.””
Thomas removed a sealed plastic envelope from the box.
“And original trust agreement. The hospital records. The transfer authorization.””
Thomas removed a sealed plastic envelope from the box.
“And the letter your mother sent me before the fire.””
Marcus's voice cracked.
“My mother wrote the letter your mother sent me before the fire.””
Marcus's voice cracked.
“My mother wrote to you?””
Thomas looked at him.
“She told me to stop investigating the accounts. She said she was to you?””
Thomas looked at him.
“She told me to stop investigating the accounts. She said she was protecting the family.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I didn't know whether she was protecting you or using you.””
The protecting the family.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I didn't know whether she was protecting you or using you.””
The words struck Marcus harder than any accusation could have.
Outside, Patricia spoke to one of the officers. words struck Marcus harder than any accusation could have.
Outside, Patricia spoke to one of the officers. Their voices were muffled, but Kiara caught enough to understand that the warrant Their voices were muffled, but Kiara caught enough to understand that the warrant was limited to specific financial records.
She turned to her father.
“If the warrant is valid, was limited to specific financial records.
She turned to her father.
“If the warrant is valid, can they take everything?””
“Not necessarily,” Robert said.
“But we need a can they take everything?””
“Not necessarily,” Robert said.
“But we need a lawyer who represents us, not the estate.””
Thomas nodded.
“There's someone lawyer who represents us, not the estate.””
Thomas nodded.
“There's someone I trust. Her name is Denise Carter. She handled a case for a friend I trust.
Her name is Denise Carter. She handled a case for a friend of mine years ago.””
Kiara looked at him sharply.
“You have a lawyer you trust, but you've of mine years ago.””
Kiara looked at him sharply.
“You have a lawyer you trust, but you've been hiding for twenty years?””
Thomas lowered his head.
“I didn't say I made good decisions.””
For the first time, Ki been hiding for twenty years?””
Thomas lowered his head.
“I didn't say I made good decisions.””
For the first time, Kiara saw something beneath her uncle's guarded expression that resembled shame rather than fearara saw something beneath her uncle's guarded expression that resembled shame rather than fear.
She stepped toward the door.
“I'm going to speak to them.””
Robert caught her hand.
“No. You.
She stepped toward the door.
“I'm going to speak to them.””
Robert caught her hand.
“No. You stay with me.””
“Daddy, they came here because of the documents. If we refuse stay with me.””
“Daddy, they came here because of the documents. If we refuse to communicate, they'll keep pushing.””
“Then let me speak.””
Kiara looked at the to communicate, they'll keep pushing.””
“Then let me speak.””
Kiara looked at the officers' shadows beneath the door.
“Fine. But nobody goes outside officers' shadows beneath the door.
“Fine. But nobody goes outside alone.””
Robert nodded.
He approached the door and spoke without opening it.
“Attorney Sloan, I want alone.””
Robert nodded.
He approached the door and spoke without opening it.
“Attorney Sloan, I want the warrant number, the issuing court, and the exact documents you're authorized to collect. We the warrant number, the issuing court, and the exact documents you're authorized to collect. We will cooperate with a valid order after our attorney reviews it.””
There was a pause.
Then Patricia answered will cooperate with a valid order after our attorney reviews it.””
There was a pause.
Then Patricia answered, her voice suddenly colder.
“Mr. Hayes, I suggest you understand the seriousness of this, her voice suddenly colder.
“Mr. Hayes, I suggest you understand the seriousness of this situation. These records may involve financial misconduct.””
Robert looked toward Marcus.
“Then the situation. These records may involve financial misconduct.””
Robert looked toward Marcus.
“Then the truth should be welcome.””
Patricia didn't answer immediately.
When she spoke again, truth should be welcome.””
Patricia didn't answer immediately.
When she spoke again, the confidence had returned to her voice.
“Your brother Thomas Hayes was declared deceased the confidence had returned to her voice.
“Your brother Thomas Hayes was declared deceased. If someone inside that apartment is impersonating him, you may be interfering with. If someone inside that apartment is impersonating him, you may be interfering with a criminal investigation.””
Thomas stepped closer to the door.
“Patricia, you know exactly who I am.””
a criminal investigation.””
Thomas stepped closer to the door.
“Patricia, you know exactly who I am.””
Silence.
Then a sharp intake of breath from the hallway.
“Thomas?””
“Hello, Patricia.””
The silence stretched long enough for KiSilence.
Then a sharp intake of breath from the hallway.
“Thomas?””
“Hello, Patricia.””
The silence stretched long enough for Kiara to hear the elevator moving somewhere down the corridor.
Then Patricia spoke in a voice so quiet that everyone insideara to hear the elevator moving somewhere down the corridor.
Then Patricia spoke in a voice so quiet that everyone inside leaned closer to listen.
“You should have stayed dead.””
Robert's leaned closer to listen.
“You should have stayed dead.””
Robert's face hardened.
Marcus staggered backward.
Kiara felt her blood turn cold.
The words had not been a face hardened.
Marcus staggered backward.
Kiara felt her blood turn cold.
The words had not been a question. They had not been an expression of surprise.
They were an accusation.
And a confession.
Robert reached question. They had not been an expression of surprise.
They were an accusation.
And a confession.
Robert reached for his phone.
“I'm recording this conversation,” he announced.
“Any further communication for his phone.
“I'm recording this conversation,” he announced.
“Any further communication can take place through our attorney.””
Patricia recovered quickly.
“You have misunderstood me.””
“No can take place through our attorney.””
Patricia recovered quickly.
“You have misunderstood me.””
“No,” Thomas replied.
“For once, somebody heard you clearly.””
The officers began speaking,” Thomas replied.
“For once, somebody heard you clearly.””
The officers began speaking over one another outside. One asked Patricia to step away from the door. Another requested identification over one another outside.
One asked Patricia to step away from the door. Another requested identification from everyone inside.
Robert remained calm.
He gave his name, confirmed his address, and stated from everyone inside.
Robert remained calm.
He gave his name, confirmed his address, and stated that he would cooperate with lawful instructions.
Thomas did the same.
When the officers finally entered that he would cooperate with lawful instructions.
Thomas did the same.
When the officers finally entered with the warrant, they did not find a secret room or a cache of stolen money. They found an with the warrant, they did not find a secret room or a cache of stolen money. They found an elderly family photograph, a wooden box of letters, and a collection of financial records that had been elderly family photograph, a wooden box of letters, and a collection of financial records that had been kept for years.
Patricia entered last.
She wore a cream-colored jacket, kept for years.
Patricia entered last.
She wore a cream-colored jacket, black trousers, and a gold watch that caught the light when she black trousers, and a gold watch that caught the light when she raised her hand to adjust her glasses. Her hair was perfectly styled, and her expression was composed.
She looked at Thomas as though he were a raised her hand to adjust her glasses. Her hair was perfectly styled, and her expression was composed.
She looked at Thomas as though he were a stain on an otherwise immaculate room.
“Twenty years,” she said.
“You disappear for twenty years, and now you return with stain on an otherwise immaculate room.
“Twenty years,” she said.
“You disappear for twenty years, and now you return with accusations.””
Thomas held her gaze.
“You changed the records.””
“I administered a trust according accusations.””
Thomas held her gaze.
“You changed the records.””
“I administered a trust according to the documents provided to me.””
“You filed an amendment after Denise's death.””
“I filed a petition that was to the documents provided to me.””
“You filed an amendment after Denise's death.””
“I filed a petition that was approved by a court.””
“Using a signature she never made.””
Patricia turned toward the officers.
“That's approved by a court.””
“Using a signature she never made.””
Patricia turned toward the officers.
“That's an allegation, not a fact.””
Kiara stepped forward.
“Then why did you tell us we an allegation, not a fact.””
Kiara stepped forward.
“Then why did you tell us we should have stayed dead?””
Patricia looked at her for the first time.
Her gaze linger should have stayed dead?””
Patricia looked at her for the first time.
Her gaze lingered on Kiara's gold stole, then on the silver bracelet at her wrist.
Something flickered acrossed on Kiara's gold stole, then on the silver bracelet at her wrist.
Something flickered across her face.
Recognition.
Not of Kiara as a person her face.
Recognition.
Not of Kiara as a person.
Of something she wore.
“Where did you get that bracelet?”” Patricia asked.
Kiara instinctively covered it with her hand.
“It belonged to my mother.””
Patricia's expression tightened.
“Take it off.””
Robert whe.
Of something she wore.
“Where did you get that bracelet?”” Patricia asked.
Kiara instinctively covered it with her hand.
“It belonged to my mother.””
Patricia's expression tightened.
“Take it off.””
Robert wheeled himself between them.
“Don't speak to my daughter like that.””
Patricia lifted her chin.
“That bracelet mayeled himself between them.
“Don't speak to my daughter like that.””
Patricia lifted her chin.
“That bracelet may be relevant to the investigation.””
“Then explain why,” Kiara demanded.
Patricia looked toward be relevant to the investigation.””
“Then explain why,” Kiara demanded.
Patricia looked toward Marcus.
“Your mother should have destroyed it.””
Marcus Marcus.
“Your mother should have destroyed it.””
Marcus stared at her.
“What are you talking about?””
Patricia's composure finally cracked stared at her.
“What are you talking about?””
Patricia's composure finally cracked.
“Evelyn told me she had taken care of the matter. She.
“Evelyn told me she had taken care of the matter. She said the second child had been transferred, the records amended, and the inheritance secured. I was said the second child had been transferred, the records amended, and the inheritance secured. I was assured that no one would ever connect the bracelet to the original hospital file.””
The room assured that no one would ever connect the bracelet to the original hospital file.””
The room went silent.
Even the officers stopped moving.
Kiara felt Robert's hand close around hers.
“Second child?”” she whispered went silent.
Even the officers stopped moving.
Kiara felt Robert's hand close around hers.
“Second child?”” she whispered.
Patricia realized what she had said.
Her mouth tightened.
“I will not answer further questions without counsel.””
Thomas stepped forward.
“You.
Patricia realized what she had said.
Her mouth tightened.
“I will not answer further questions without counsel.””
Thomas stepped forward.
“You just admitted you knew there were twins.””
“I admitted nothing.””
“You said the just admitted you knew there were twins.””
“I admitted nothing.””
“You said the second child had been transferred.””
Patricia looked toward the officers.
“I want second child had been transferred.””
Patricia looked toward the officers.
“I want this conversation terminated.””
One officer approached her.
“Ma'am, please step into the hallway while we clarify this conversation terminated.””
One officer approached her.
“Ma'am, please step into the hallway while we clarify the scope of this warrant.””
Patricia refused to move at first. Then she adjusted her jacket, collected her the scope of this warrant.””
Patricia refused to move at first. Then she adjusted her jacket, collected her handbag, and walked toward the door with the stiff dignity of someone determined not handbag, and walked toward the door with the stiff dignity of someone determined not to appear frightened.
Before leaving, she turned to Kiara.
“You have no idea what your mother did to to appear frightened.
Before leaving, she turned to Kiara.
“You have no idea what your mother did to keep you safe.””
Kiara stared at her.
“Then tell me.””
Patricia's expression softened keep you safe.””
Kiara stared at her.
“Then tell me.””
Patricia's expression softened in a way that felt more frightening than her anger.
“Your mother made a bargain. She chose which child would remain in a way that felt more frightening than her anger.
“Your mother made a bargain. She chose which child would remain with her, and which child would disappear.””
Robert shook his head.
“That's a lie.””
with her, and which child would disappear.””
Robert shook his head.
“That's a lie.””
Patricia looked directly at him.
“Ask Thomas what happened at the hospital.””
ThenPatricia looked directly at him.
“Ask Thomas what happened at the hospital.””
Then she left.
The door closed behind her.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Finally, Marcus sank into she left.
The door closed behind her.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Finally, Marcus sank into a chair and covered his face.
“My mother was involved,” he whispered.
“She was involved in all a chair and covered his face.
“My mother was involved,” he whispered.
“She was involved in all of it.””
Thomas stood beside the table, gripping the sealed envelope so tightly that his kn of it.””
Thomas stood beside the table, gripping the sealed envelope so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
Robert looked at him.
“What happened at that hospital?””
Thomas didn't answer.
“uckles turned white.
Robert looked at him.
“What happened at that hospital?””
Thomas didn't answer.
“Thomas.””
His brother's eyes filled with tears.
“I promised Denise I would never tell you unless there was no otherThomas.””
His brother's eyes filled with tears.
“I promised Denise I would never tell you unless there was no other way.””
Robert's voice broke.
“Tell me what?””
Thomas placed the envelope on the table.
Then he pulled out a photograph of two newborn girls lying in way.””
Robert's voice broke.
“Tell me what?””
Thomas placed the envelope on the table.
Then he pulled out a photograph of two newborn girls lying in separate bassinets.
One wore a white bracelet.
The other wore a gold one.
On the back, Denise had written a separate bassinets.
One wore a white bracelet.
The other wore a gold one.
On the back, Denise had written a date and two names.
*Kiara Hayes.*
*Amara Bennett.*
Kiara date and two names.
*Kiara Hayes.*
*Amara Bennett.*
Kiara stared at the second stared at the second name.
“Amara?””
Thomas nodded.
“Your twin sister.””
Robert looked at the photograph, then at his brother.
“Where is she?””
Thomas's lips trembled.
“I believe she's name.
“Amara?””
Thomas nodded.
“Your twin sister.””
Robert looked at the photograph, then at his brother.
“Where is she?””
Thomas's lips trembled.
“I believe she's alive.””
Kiara reached for the picture.
“Then where has she been all these years?””
Thomas looked alive.””
Kiara reached for the picture.
“Then where has she been all these years?””
Thomas looked toward the closed door.
“Living under the name Patricia Sloan gave her.””
May you like
toward the closed door.
“Living under the name Patricia Sloan gave her.””
