485: “MOM?! WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?”

My: The Secret My Mother Buried

My mother stared at me as if I were mother stared at me as if I were a stranger standing on the other side of a a stranger standing on the other side of a courtroom.

Her hands trembled in her lap. The cassette player continued to courtroom.

Her hands trembled in her lap. The cassette player continued to hum on the table, its tiny red light glowing like an accusation hum on the table, its tiny red light glowing like an accusation.

"What happened the night I was born?"" I asked.

She pressed a hand against her mouth.

"Marcus,.

"What happened the night I was born?"" I asked.

She pressed a hand against her mouth.

"Marcus, please. There's something you need to understand before I tell you.""

"No more secrets.""

please. There's something you need to understand before I tell you.""

"No more secrets.""

"I know.""

"Do you?"" My voice cracked.

"Because"I know.""

"Do you?"" My voice cracked.

"Because eighteen years ago, Dad died, and you told me it was an accident. Then eighteen years ago, Dad died, and you told me it was an accident. Then I discovered he wasn't my biological father.

Now I find out Michael Grant I discovered he wasn't my biological father. Now I find out Michael Grant might be my biological father, and you're telling me there's something else you haven't explained?""

Detect might be my biological father, and you're telling me there's something else you haven't explained?""

Detective Brooks stood beside the basement stairs, giving us a moment while twoive Brooks stood beside the basement stairs, giving us a moment while two officers secured the evidence.

My mother looked down.

"I officers secured the evidence.

My mother looked down.

"I was twenty-four when I met Michael.""

I felt my jaw was twenty-four when I met Michael.""

I felt my jaw tighten.

"He was your father's friend?""

"No. I met him before tighten.

"He was your father's friend?""

"No. I met him before Richard.""

She took a breath that seemed to hurt her.

Richard.""

She took a breath that seemed to hurt her.

"Michael was charming. He was intelligent. He made me feel like I could trust"Michael was charming. He was intelligent.

He made me feel like I could trust him with anything. When I discovered I was pregnant, he promised we'd build a him with anything. When I discovered I was pregnant, he promised we'd build a life together.""

I stared at her.

"Then why did you marry Dad?""

"Because Michael disappeared.""

She wiped life together.""

I stared at her.

"Then why did you marry Dad?""

"Because Michael disappeared.""

She wiped her cheeks.

"He told me he was going away for a few weeks to settle a her cheeks.

"He told me he was going away for a few weeks to settle a business dispute. He never came back. His apartment was empty. His phone was business dispute.

He never came back. His apartment was empty. His phone was disconnected. I went to the police, but they couldn't find him.""

"And then you met Richard.""

"Yes disconnected. I went to the police, but they couldn't find him.""

"And then you met Richard.""

"Yes. Richard knew I was pregnant. He knew I had been abandoned. He never made me feel ashamed.

Richard knew I was pregnant. He knew I had been abandoned. He never made me feel ashamed of it.""

She looked at me, her eyes shining.

"He held you the first night you came home from the hospital. You of it.""

She looked at me, her eyes shining.

"He held you the first night you came home from the hospital. You were crying so loudly the nurses could hear you from the hallway. Richard walked were crying so loudly the nurses could hear you from the hallway. Richard walked you around the room for hours until you fell asleep against his chest.""

A painful image you around the room for hours until you fell asleep against his chest.""

A painful image formed in my mind.

My father—Richard—holding me.

The man formed in my mind.

My father—Richard—holding me.

The man who had taught me to ride a bicycle, helped me with algebra, and sat beside who had taught me to ride a bicycle, helped me with algebra, and sat beside my bed when I had nightmares.

"Did he know Michael was my bed when I had nightmares.

"Did he know Michael was my biological father?""

"Yes.""

"And he still married you?""

"He loved us both my biological father?""

"Yes.""

"And he still married you?""

"He loved us both. He adopted you when you were two. He never treated you as anything other than his son.

He adopted you when you were two. He never treated you as anything other than his son.""

I swallowed.

"Then why did he keep the truth from me?""

"Because Michael returned.""

My mother's voice.""

I swallowed.

"Then why did he keep the truth from me?""

"Because Michael returned.""

My mother's voice dropped.

"He came to our house when you were two. He told me he'd made dropped.

"He came to our house when you were two. He told me he'd made mistakes, but he wanted to be part of your life. Richard refused to let him near you after mistakes, but he wanted to be part of your life. Richard refused to let him near you after he learned what Michael had been doing.""

"What was he doing?""

"Using people. he learned what Michael had been doing.""

"What was he doing?""

"Using people. Moving money through businesses. Threatening anyone who tried to leave his organization.""

She Moving money through businesses. Threatening anyone who tried to leave his organization.""

She glanced toward Detective Brooks.

"I didn't understand the full extent of it until years later.""

I sat glanced toward Detective Brooks.

"I didn't understand the full extent of it until years later.""

I sat down on a wooden crate.

"Did Michael ever hurt you down on a wooden crate.

"Did Michael ever hurt you?""

Mom didn't answer immediately.

Then she nodded.

"Not physically at first. He threatened to take?""

Mom didn't answer immediately.

Then she nodded.

"Not physically at first. He threatened to take you away. He said he could make me look unstable, that nobody would believe me because he you away. He said he could make me look unstable, that nobody would believe me because he had money and connections.""

My fingers curled into fists.

"And Richard protected you.""

"Yes. He helped me had money and connections.""

My fingers curled into fists.

"And Richard protected you.""

"Yes. He helped me obtain the adoption. He changed our names on certain documents to make it obtain the adoption.

He changed our names on certain documents to make it harder for Michael to locate us. He thought that if Michael believed you belonged to another harder for Michael to locate us. He thought that if Michael believed you belonged to another family, he'd leave us alone.""

"But he didn't.""

"No.""

Mom looked toward the ceiling.

"Michael family, he'd leave us alone.""

"But he didn't.""

"No.""

Mom looked toward the ceiling.

"Michael discovered the truth when you were fifteen. He contacted Richard and demanded money. discovered the truth when you were fifteen.

He contacted Richard and demanded money. Richard refused. After that, the threats started again.""

I remembered the night my father died.

I had been fifteen, sitting on the living Richard refused. After that, the threats started again.""

I remembered the night my father died.

I had been fifteen, sitting on the living room floor, finishing a school project. Mom was upstairs. Dad had left for room floor, finishing a school project.

Mom was upstairs. Dad had left for a business meeting.

At 11:30 p.m., two police officers knocked on our door.

a business meeting.

At 11:30 p.m., two police officers knocked on our door.

I remembered Mom's scream when they told her.

I remembered Daniel Price arrivingI remembered Mom's scream when they told her.

I remembered Daniel Price arriving an hour later and wrapping his arms around me.

I remembered Michael Grant an hour later and wrapping his arms around me.

I remembered Michael Grant standing in the hallway, silent and solemn, holding a glass of water that standing in the hallway, silent and solemn, holding a glass of water that I never drank.

He had been there from the beginning.

"Why didn't you I never drank.

He had been there from the beginning.

"Why didn't you tell the police about Michael?"" I asked.

Mom's expression crumpled.

" tell the police about Michael?"" I asked.

Mom's expression crumpled.

"Because I received a photograph the morning after Richard died.""

She reachedBecause I received a photograph the morning after Richard died.""

She reached into her cardigan and pulled out a folded piece of paper.

It was a photograph of me at fifteen, leaving into her cardigan and pulled out a folded piece of paper.

It was a photograph of me at fifteen, leaving school.

On the back, someone had written:

*Accidents happen to boys who ask too school.

On the back, someone had written:

Accidents happen to boys who ask too many questions.

I stared at it.

"Did Dad know about this?""

"He suspected Michael many questions.*

I stared at it.

"Did Dad know about this?""

"He suspected Michael was behind the threats. But he couldn't prove it. He told me that if anything happened to him was behind the threats.

But he couldn't prove it. He told me that if anything happened to him, I needed to keep you away from Michael at all costs.""

I felt sick.

"And then you let Michael, I needed to keep you away from Michael at all costs.""

I felt sick.

"And then you let Michael become my lawyer.""

"I didn't know it was the same man at first. He used become my lawyer.""

"I didn't know it was the same man at first. He used a different surname when we knew him years ago. By the time I recognized him, you were already working with him a different surname when we knew him years ago. By the time I recognized him, you were already working with him.""

I looked up sharply.

"You recognized him?""

"At your twenty-fifth birthday..""

I looked up sharply.

"You recognized him?""

"At your twenty-fifth birthday. I saw him standing beside you in the garden. I asked him to meet me privately.

He told me I saw him standing beside you in the garden. I asked him to meet me privately. He told me that if I exposed him, he'd make sure you lost everything.""

"So you stayed quiet that if I exposed him, he'd make sure you lost everything.""

"So you stayed quiet.""

"I was afraid he'd hurt you.""

I stood so abruptly that the crate scraped across the floor.

"You.""

"I was afraid he'd hurt you.""

I stood so abruptly that the crate scraped across the floor.

"You should have told me!""

"I know.""

"You should have trusted me!""

"I know, Marcus!""

Her should have told me!""

"I know.""

"You should have trusted me!""

"I know, Marcus!""

Her voice broke through the room.

"I know what I did. I have spent years voice broke through the room.

"I know what I did. I have spent years waking up in the middle of the night, wondering whether keeping quiet protected you or simply gave him more time waking up in the middle of the night, wondering whether keeping quiet protected you or simply gave him more time.""

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then she reached for my hand.

"I am not asking you to.""

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then she reached for my hand.

"I am not asking you to forgive me today. I'm asking you to let me help you finish what your father started.""

I stared at her.

I wanted to forgive me today. I'm asking you to let me help you finish what your father started.""

I stared at her.

I wanted to be angry. I was angry.

But beneath it was the memory of be angry. I was angry.

But beneath it was the memory of finding her alive in my library, bruised and terrified, after twelve days of believing she finding her alive in my library, bruised and terrified, after twelve days of believing she might be dead.

I took her hand.

"We finish it together.""

Detective Brooks approached.

"Mr. might be dead.

I took her hand.

"We finish it together.""

Detective Brooks approached.

"Mr. Carter, I need to show you something.""

She held out a photograph taken by Carter, I need to show you something.""

She held out a photograph taken by one of the officers.

It showed a black SUV parked outside Briarwood Lane the previous one of the officers.

It showed a black SUV parked outside Briarwood Lane the previous night.

The license plate was partially visible.

I recognized the vehicle.

"That's Michael's car night.

The license plate was partially visible.

I recognized the vehicle.

"That's Michael's car.""

"Yes," Detective Brooks said.

"But look at the passenger.""

The.""

"Yes," Detective Brooks said.

"But look at the passenger.""

The image was grainy, yet the person in the passenger seat was unmistakable.

Van image was grainy, yet the person in the passenger seat was unmistakable.

Vanessa.

I stared at the photograph.

"She was supposed to be at my house.""

"Accordingessa.

I stared at the photograph.

"She was supposed to be at my house.""

"According to the preliminary timeline, she left the residence shortly before officers arrived. We to the preliminary timeline, she left the residence shortly before officers arrived. We believe she may have had assistance.""

I shook my head.

"She believe she may have had assistance.""

I shook my head.

"She was under investigation. How did she leave?""

"We're still establishing exactly was under investigation. How did she leave?""

"We're still establishing exactly what happened. An officer assigned to the perimeter reported seeing a woman matching what happened. An officer assigned to the perimeter reported seeing a woman matching her description enter a vehicle before the vehicle drove away.""

My stomach tightened her description enter a vehicle before the vehicle drove away.""

My stomach tightened.

"Where did they go?""

"We don't know yet.""

Mom gripped my arm.

"She's going to.

"Where did they go?""

"We don't know yet.""

Mom gripped my arm.

"She's going to Michael.""

I looked at Detective Brooks.

"What do you need from me?""

"Your company records, Michael.""

I looked at Detective Brooks.

"What do you need from me?""

"Your company records, any recent documents you signed, and a complete list of accounts Michael could access any recent documents you signed, and a complete list of accounts Michael could access.""

"I'll give you everything.""

"And Mr. Carter, don't contact Vanessa or Michael.""

.""

"I'll give you everything.""

"And Mr. Carter, don't contact Vanessa or Michael.""

I nodded.

But my phone vibrated before I could put it away.

An unknown number.

AI nodded.

But my phone vibrated before I could put it away.

An unknown number.

A photograph appeared on the screen.

Vanessa stood beside Michael in front of a building photograph appeared on the screen.

Vanessa stood beside Michael in front of a building I didn't recognize. She wore the same white dress she'd worn when I returned I didn't recognize. She wore the same white dress she'd worn when I returned from our wedding trip. Michael had one hand on her shoulder.

Below the image from our wedding trip. Michael had one hand on her shoulder.

Below the image was a message.

You want the truth about your father? Come alone.

A second message arrived.

*Bring was a message.

You want the truth about your father? Come alone.

A second message arrived.

Bring the original trust agreement. Or your mother disappears again.

I showed Detective the original trust agreement. Or your mother disappears again.*

I showed Detective Brooks.

She read it, her expression hardening.

"Absolutely not. This is an attempt to Brooks.

She read it, her expression hardening.

"Absolutely not. This is an attempt to lure you into a dangerous situation.""

"I know.""

"Then you will not go.""

I stared at the lure you into a dangerous situation.""

"I know.""

"Then you will not go.""

I stared at the photograph.

Vanessa was looking directly into the camera.

She wasn't crying.

She wasn't frightened.

She was smiling.

And photograph.

Vanessa was looking directly into the camera.

She wasn't crying.

She wasn't frightened.

She was smiling.

And beneath the photograph was one final line.

*Ask your mother what she did beneath the photograph was one final line.

Ask your mother what she did to Catherine Price.

I turned toward Mom.

The color drained from her face.

" to Catherine Price.*

I turned toward Mom.

The color drained from her face.

"Who is Catherine?"" I asked.

She closed her eyes.

"Thomas's wife.""

"What did you do to her?""

Who is Catherine?"" I asked.

She closed her eyes.

"Thomas's wife.""

"What did you do to her?""

Mom shook her head, tears slipping down her cheeks.

"I didn't kill her.""

"I didn't ask ifMom shook her head, tears slipping down her cheeks.

"I didn't kill her.""

"I didn't ask if you killed her.""

She looked at me.

"I gave her to Michael.""

The words hung between us.

Detect you killed her.""

She looked at me.

"I gave her to Michael.""

The words hung between us.

Detective Brooks stepped closer.

"Mrs. Carter, what does that mean?""

Mom began shaking.

"Catherine came to me after Thomasive Brooks stepped closer.

"Mrs. Carter, what does that mean?""

Mom began shaking.

"Catherine came to me after Thomas died. She had evidence against Michael, and she wanted to take it to the police died. She had evidence against Michael, and she wanted to take it to the police. I told her I'd help her.""

She swallowed.

"But Michael found out. He threatened to kill Marcus. I told her I'd help her.""

She swallowed.

"But Michael found out. He threatened to kill Marcus if I helped her escape.""

My chest tightened.

"What happened to Catherine?""

Mom looked at the photograph on my if I helped her escape.""

My chest tightened.

"What happened to Catherine?""

Mom looked at the photograph on my phone.

"I gave Michael her location.""

Silence swallowed phone.

"I gave Michael her location.""

Silence swallowed the basement.

"He promised he wouldn't hurt her," Mom whispered.

"He said he only wanted the documents. I believed the basement.

"He promised he wouldn't hurt her," Mom whispered.

"He said he only wanted the documents. I believed him.""

I stepped back.

"And you never found out what happened?""

"No.""

Detective Brooks reached him.""

I stepped back.

"And you never found out what happened?""

"No.""

Detective Brooks reached for her radio.

"We need to reopen the investigation into Catherine Price's disappearance.""

I couldn't stop looking at my mother.

for her radio.

"We need to reopen the investigation into Catherine Price's disappearance.""

I couldn't stop looking at my mother.

She had spent twelve days imprisoned by people who wanted to silenceShe had spent twelve days imprisoned by people who wanted to silence her. She had endured bruises, fear, and the threat of death.

But she'd also helped her. She had endured bruises, fear, and the threat of death.

But she'd also helped those same people once.

She'd betrayed a woman who trusted her.

"Marcus," she whispered those same people once.

She'd betrayed a woman who trusted her.

"Marcus," she whispered, "I know you don't know what to think of me.""

I swallowed hard, "I know you don't know what to think of me.""

I swallowed hard.

"I don't.""

She nodded as if she'd expected nothing else.

"Then let me prove.

"I don't.""

She nodded as if she'd expected nothing else.

"Then let me prove that I'm not that woman anymore.""

I looked again at Vanessa's photograph.

If Catherine was that I'm not that woman anymore.""

I looked again at Vanessa's photograph.

If Catherine was still alive, she might be the only person who could explain what had happened to my father—and why Michael had spent eighteen still alive, she might be the only person who could explain what had happened to my father—and why Michael had spent eighteen years controlling the people around me.

I turned to Detective Brooks.

"We need to find Catherine Price years controlling the people around me.

I turned to Detective Brooks.

"We need to find Catherine Price.""

The detective nodded.

"We will.""

Then her phone rang.

She answered, listened.""

The detective nodded.

"We will.""

Then her phone rang.

She answered, listened for a few seconds, and went completely still.

"What do you mean, the hospital called for a few seconds, and went completely still.

"What do you mean, the hospital called?""

My blood ran cold.

She ended the call and looked at us.

"An unidentified woman was admitted?""

My blood ran cold.

She ended the call and looked at us.

"An unidentified woman was admitted to Grady Memorial Hospital an hour ago. She was found near the building in that to Grady Memorial Hospital an hour ago. She was found near the building in that photograph.""

Detective Brooks held up my phone.

"The woman told paramedics her name was photograph.""

Detective Brooks held up my phone.

"The woman told paramedics her name was Catherine Price.""

Mom covered her mouth.

And then the detective delivered the words that made my Catherine Price.""

Mom covered her mouth.

And then the detective delivered the words that made my heart stop.