Chapter 7: The Woman They Couldn't Silence
Catherine Price was alive.
For eighteen years, her name had existed only in my mother's frightened
Catherine Price was alive.
For eighteen years, her name had existed only in my mother's frightened memories, my father's hidden documents, and the unanswered questions surrounding Thomas Price's death.
Now she was lying in a hospital bed memories, my father's hidden documents, and the unanswered questions surrounding Thomas Price's death.
Now she was lying in a hospital bed, asking for me.
Detective Brooks drove us to Grady Memorial with two officers following, asking for me.
Detective Brooks drove us to Grady Memorial with two officers following in a separate vehicle. My mother sat beside me in the back seat, clutching the brass key from in a separate vehicle. My mother sat beside me in the back seat, clutching the brass key from Briarwood.
Neither of us spoke.
I couldn't stop thinking about her confession.
*I Briarwood.
Neither of us spoke.
I couldn't stop thinking about her confession.
I gave Michael her location.
It was the kind of betrayal that changed how you saw a person forever.
But Mom had also come back for me. She gave Michael her location.*
It was the kind of betrayal that changed how you saw a person forever.
But Mom had also come back for me. She had risked everything to bring the evidence into the open.
I didn't know whether forgiveness was possible.
I only had risked everything to bring the evidence into the open.
I didn't know whether forgiveness was possible.
I only knew I needed the truth.
At the hospital, Detective Brooks spoke with the attending physician knew I needed the truth.
At the hospital, Detective Brooks spoke with the attending physician before allowing us into Catherine's room.
"She's conscious, but she's weak," the before allowing us into Catherine's room.
"She's conscious, but she's weak," the doctor warned.
"She has bruising, a possible concussion, and signs of doctor warned.
"She has bruising, a possible concussion, and signs of dehydration. Keep the conversation short.""
I nodded.
The room smelled of antiseptic and fresh linen dehydration. Keep the conversation short.""
I nodded.
The room smelled of antiseptic and fresh linen. Machines beeped softly beside the bed.
A woman lay beneath a white blanket, her. Machines beeped softly beside the bed.
A woman lay beneath a white blanket, her dark hair streaked with gray. Her face was thinner than the photograph I'd found in the basement.
When she saw my dark hair streaked with gray. Her face was thinner than the photograph I'd found in the basement.
When she saw my mother, her expression changed.
"Evelyn.""
Mom stopped at the foot of the bed.
"Catherine.""
mother, her expression changed.
"Evelyn.""
Mom stopped at the foot of the bed.
"Catherine.""
For a moment, neither woman moved.
Then Catherine gave a bitter laugh.
"AfterFor a moment, neither woman moved.
Then Catherine gave a bitter laugh.
"After all these years, you finally came.""
Mom lowered her head.
"I'm sorry.""
"Sorry?""
Catherine's voice all these years, you finally came.""
Mom lowered her head.
"I'm sorry.""
"Sorry?""
Catherine's voice was weak, but the anger in it was unmistakable.
"You gave him my address. You knew what he was capable of.""
was weak, but the anger in it was unmistakable.
"You gave him my address. You knew what he was capable of.""
"I thought he would only take the documents.""
"You thought?"" Catherine turned her face toward the window.""I thought he would only take the documents.""
"You thought?"" Catherine turned her face toward the window.
"That's what everyone says after they help Michael Grant destroy another "That's what everyone says after they help Michael Grant destroy another life.""
My mother accepted the accusation without defending herself.
I stepped forward.
"I'm Marcus Carter.""
Catherine life.""
My mother accepted the accusation without defending herself.
I stepped forward.
"I'm Marcus Carter.""
Catherine looked at me for a long moment.
Then her eyes filled with tears.
"You look like looked at me for a long moment.
Then her eyes filled with tears.
"You look like Thomas.""
I swallowed.
"Did you know my father?""
"Thomas was my husband.""
Thomas.""
I swallowed.
"Did you know my father?""
"Thomas was my husband.""
She reached toward the bedside table, where a nurse had placed a small paper bagShe reached toward the bedside table, where a nurse had placed a small paper bag.
"There's something I need you to see.""
Detective Brooks intervened.
"Before we discuss evidence, I need to.
"There's something I need you to see.""
Detective Brooks intervened.
"Before we discuss evidence, I need to establish how you were injured and who brought you to the hospital.""
Catherine nodded.
"Michael's establish how you were injured and who brought you to the hospital.""
Catherine nodded.
"Michael's men found me two nights ago. They'd been searching for me since I left Atlanta eighteen men found me two nights ago. They'd been searching for me since I left Atlanta eighteen years ago.""
"Where have you been?""
"Different cities. Different names. I stayed with people who owed years ago.""
"Where have you been?""
"Different cities. Different names. I stayed with people who owed Thomas favors, then moved whenever I suspected someone was following me.""
She took Thomas favors, then moved whenever I suspected someone was following me.""
She took a shallow breath.
"I came back three weeks ago because I learned Michael was preparing to transfer the a shallow breath.
"I came back three weeks ago because I learned Michael was preparing to transfer the trust.""
My stomach tightened.
"What trust?""
"The Thomas Price Trust. Your inheritance.""
She looked directly at me.
" trust.""
My stomach tightened.
"What trust?""
"The Thomas Price Trust. Your inheritance.""
She looked directly at me.
"Michael has spent eighteen years trying to steal it. He believed thatMichael has spent eighteen years trying to steal it. He believed that if he could make you sign the right documents, the money and shares would become his if he could make you sign the right documents, the money and shares would become his.""
I thought about the paperwork I'd signed six weeks earlier.
"Did I transfer it?""
"Not completely. Richard built safeguards into the agreement. The.""
I thought about the paperwork I'd signed six weeks earlier.
"Did I transfer it?""
"Not completely. Richard built safeguards into the agreement. The documents you signed gave Michael temporary control over certain assets, documents you signed gave Michael temporary control over certain assets, but the final transfer required your biometric verification and a second signature from an independent but the final transfer required your biometric verification and a second signature from an independent trustee.""
I frowned.
"Who was the trustee?""
Catherine hesitated.
"Me.""
I trustee.""
I frowned.
"Who was the trustee?""
Catherine hesitated.
"Me.""
I stared at her.
"You?""
"Thomas appointed me before he died. Richard knew the arrangement, and he kept stared at her.
"You?""
"Thomas appointed me before he died. Richard knew the arrangement, and he kept it hidden from everyone except Evelyn.""
I turned toward my mother.
She looked devastated.
"I didn't it hidden from everyone except Evelyn.""
I turned toward my mother.
She looked devastated.
"I didn't know she was still alive," Mom whispered.
"I thought Michael had killed her.""
Catherine looked away.
know she was still alive," Mom whispered.
"I thought Michael had killed her.""
Catherine looked away.
"You didn't try hard enough to find out.""
Mom nodded.
"I know.""
I turned back"You didn't try hard enough to find out.""
Mom nodded.
"I know.""
I turned back to Catherine.
"Why didn't you contact me directly?""
"Because Michael controlled to Catherine.
"Why didn't you contact me directly?""
"Because Michael controlled your legal affairs. Every time I tried to reach you, someone intercepted the message. I sent your legal affairs. Every time I tried to reach you, someone intercepted the message.
I sent letters to your office. I contacted your company's board. I even approached you letters to your office.
I contacted your company's board. I even approached you at a public event once, but Michael saw me before I could get close.""
I remembered dozens at a public event once, but Michael saw me before I could get close.""
I remembered dozens of events where Michael had quietly guided me away from strangers.
I'd always assumed he was being protective of events where Michael had quietly guided me away from strangers.
I'd always assumed he was being protective.
Now I wondered how many times he'd kept the truth from reaching me.
Catherine reached into.
Now I wondered how many times he'd kept the truth from reaching me.
Catherine reached into the paper bag.
She removed a small silver flash drive.
"This contains copies of the original trust documents, Thomas the paper bag.
She removed a small silver flash drive.
"This contains copies of the original trust documents, Thomas's financial records, and a video Richard recorded shortly before he died.""
Detect's financial records, and a video Richard recorded shortly before he died.""
Detective Brooks took the drive and placed it inside an evidence bag.
"How did you obtain this?""
"Thomasive Brooks took the drive and placed it inside an evidence bag.
"How did you obtain this?""
"Thomas gave it to me before he died. I kept it hidden until I could find someone I gave it to me before he died. I kept it hidden until I could find someone I trusted.""
"And why bring it back now?""
"Because Michael is planning to move the money trusted.""
"And why bring it back now?""
"Because Michael is planning to move the money tonight.""
I looked at Detective Brooks.
"What does that mean?""
Catherine's voice became tonight.""
I looked at Detective Brooks.
"What does that mean?""
Catherine's voice became urgent.
"There's a private auction at the Meridian Hotel. Michael is urgent.
"There's a private auction at the Meridian Hotel. Michael is meeting several investors to sell the controlling interest in Meridian Holdings. He intends to use the proceeds meeting several investors to sell the controlling interest in Meridian Holdings. He intends to use the proceeds to disappear.""
"How much money are we talking about?""
"More to disappear.""
"How much money are we talking about?""
"More than thirty million dollars.""
Detective Brooks exchanged a glance with her colleague than thirty million dollars.""
Detective Brooks exchanged a glance with her colleague.
"Do you have evidence of the planned sale?""
"Emails, account records, and a recording of Michael discussing the.
"Do you have evidence of the planned sale?""
"Emails, account records, and a recording of Michael discussing the transaction.""
She pointed at the drive.
"It's all there.""
I looked at Catherine.
"Why would Michael sell transaction.""
She pointed at the drive.
"It's all there.""
I looked at Catherine.
"Why would Michael sell the company now?""
"Because your thirty-third birthday triggered the final clause in Thomas's trust. If you challenge the company now?""
"Because your thirty-third birthday triggered the final clause in Thomas's trust. If you challenge the transfer, he could lose everything.""
"And Vanessa?""
Catherine's expression darkened.
"Vanessa the transfer, he could lose everything.""
"And Vanessa?""
Catherine's expression darkened.
"Vanessa is helping him.""
The words still hurt, even though I should have expected them.
"Why would she do is helping him.""
The words still hurt, even though I should have expected them.
"Why would she do that?""
"Michael offered her a percentage of the proceeds. He told her that once that?""
"Michael offered her a percentage of the proceeds. He told her that once the transfer was complete, she'd be free to divorce the transfer was complete, she'd be free to divorce you and start over with enough money to live comfortably.""
I closed my eyes.
Half a million dollars on a wedding.
A you and start over with enough money to live comfortably.""
I closed my eyes.
Half a million dollars on a wedding.
A beautiful house.
A life I'd offered her without hesitation.
She had been planning her escape beautiful house.
A life I'd offered her without hesitation.
She had been planning her escape while promising me forever.
"Did she know about my mother?""
"Yes.""
C while promising me forever.
"Did she know about my mother?""
"Yes.""
Catherine looked at Evelyn.
"She was there when Michael ordered his men to keep Evelyn atatherine looked at Evelyn.
"She was there when Michael ordered his men to keep Evelyn at Briarwood. She heard everything.""
Mom's hands shook.
"I thought Vanessa was only there to frighten me.""
" Briarwood. She heard everything.""
Mom's hands shook.
"I thought Vanessa was only there to frighten me.""
"She was there because Michael didn't trust her to keep quiet.""
Detective Brooks stood.
"We need to getShe was there because Michael didn't trust her to keep quiet.""
Detective Brooks stood.
"We need to get the contents of that drive analyzed immediately. If this auction is real, we'll the contents of that drive analyzed immediately. If this auction is real, we'll coordinate with the appropriate financial-crimes investigators.""
I looked at Catherine coordinate with the appropriate financial-crimes investigators.""
I looked at Catherine.
"Can you testify?""
She nodded.
"I've waited eighteen years to tell the truth.""
.
"Can you testify?""
She nodded.
"I've waited eighteen years to tell the truth.""
Before we left, she caught my wrist.
"Marcus, there's something else. Michael wasn't onlyBefore we left, she caught my wrist.
"Marcus, there's something else. Michael wasn't only trying to steal your inheritance.""
"What else?""
"He needed you to sign a declaration trying to steal your inheritance.""
"What else?""
"He needed you to sign a declaration stating that Richard had knowingly concealed the trust from you and that the documents stating that Richard had knowingly concealed the trust from you and that the documents were invalid.""
I frowned.
"Why?""
"Because if the trust was declared invalid, Michael could claim the assets were improperly were invalid.""
I frowned.
"Why?""
"Because if the trust was declared invalid, Michael could claim the assets were improperly held and force the estate into litigation. It held and force the estate into litigation. It would give him access to accounts that are currently protected.""
I thought about the documents I'd would give him access to accounts that are currently protected.""
I thought about the documents I'd signed in Michael's office.
"He told me I was authorizing a restructuring.""
"That's what he wanted you signed in Michael's office.
"He told me I was authorizing a restructuring.""
"That's what he wanted you to believe.""
Catherine squeezed my hand.
"Your father knew Michael would try this one day. That's why he recorded to believe.""
Catherine squeezed my hand.
"Your father knew Michael would try this one day. That's why he recorded everything.""
Detective Brooks returned with a serious expression.
"We've confirmed the auction is scheduled everything.""
Detective Brooks returned with a serious expression.
"We've confirmed the auction is scheduled for nine tonight. We're preparing an operation, but Mr. Carter, you for nine tonight.
We're preparing an operation, but Mr. Carter, you need to understand something.""
"What?""
"Michael has been operating through shell companies and intermediaries for need to understand something.""
"What?""
"Michael has been operating through shell companies and intermediaries for years. We have evidence connecting him to financial crimes, but the murder allegations require corroboration. We cannot years.
We have evidence connecting him to financial crimes, but the murder allegations require corroboration. We cannot simply arrest him because we believe he's guilty.""
I nodded.
"Then we'll get you the evidence.""
"No simply arrest him because we believe he's guilty.""
I nodded.
"Then we'll get you the evidence.""
"No," she said firmly.
"You will remain under protection. You are not going to confront him.""
," she said firmly.
"You will remain under protection. You are not going to confront him.""
I wanted to argue.
Then I remembered my mother's bruises.
I remembered the message threatening to makeI wanted to argue.
Then I remembered my mother's bruises.
I remembered the message threatening to make her disappear again.
"Fine," I said.
"I'll cooperate.""
But when I stepped into the hospital corridor, my phone vibr her disappear again.
"Fine," I said.
"I'll cooperate.""
But when I stepped into the hospital corridor, my phone vibrated.
A message from Vanessa.
Michael knows Catherine is alive.
Anotherated.
A message from Vanessa.
Michael knows Catherine is alive.
Another arrived.
He knows the police have the drive.
Then a photograph appeared.
Vanessa stood beside Catherine arrived.
He knows the police have the drive.
Then a photograph appeared.
Vanessa stood beside Catherine's hospital room door.
The photograph had been taken from inside the's hospital room door.
The photograph had been taken from inside the hospital.
Below it was a single sentence.
*If you want to know what hospital.
Below it was a single sentence.
If you want to know what happened to Richard, ask me before Michael kills us both.
I looked up sharply.
Detective Brooks was speaking happened to Richard, ask me before Michael kills us both.*
I looked up sharply.
Detective Brooks was speaking with an officer near the elevators.
I turned toward Catherine's room.
The door stood slightly with an officer near the elevators.
I turned toward Catherine's room.
The door stood slightly open.
Inside, my mother was talking to a nurse.
But Vanessa was nowhere open.
Inside, my mother was talking to a nurse.
But Vanessa was nowhere in sight.
I hurried back into the room.
"Catherine, did in sight.
I hurried back into the room.
"Catherine, did you see Vanessa?""
Catherine's face went white.
"She was here?""
you see Vanessa?""
Catherine's face went white.
"She was here?""
I showed her the photograph.
She gripped the blanket.
"Then we have to leave.""
"Why?""
CatherineI showed her the photograph.
She gripped the blanket.
"Then we have to leave.""
"Why?""
Catherine stared at the door.
"Because Vanessa isn't trying to save herself.""
She swallowed.
"She's stared at the door.
"Because Vanessa isn't trying to save herself.""
She swallowed.
"She's trying to make sure Michael doesn't find out what she stole from him.""
I leaned closer.
"What did trying to make sure Michael doesn't find out what she stole from him.""
I leaned closer.
"What did she steal?""
May you like
Catherine's eyes locked onto mine.
"The original recording of your father's murder.""
