Chapter 6: The Last Person My Mother Spoke To
“Who was the last person my mother spoke to?””
Richard Coleman didn't answer immediately.
He took the letter from my hands and examined the handwriting on the back. Then he looked at my father.
Arthur was sitting on an old wooden chair in the basement, staring at the accusation written in my mother's letter.
His hands were trembling.
“I never stole anything,” he whispered.
I crouched in front of him.
“Dad, I believe you.””
He shook his head.
“You don't understand, Ethan. If someone has documents with my signature, people will believe them. I don't have money for expensive lawyers. I don't have powerful friends.””
“You have me.””
He looked at me.
For a moment, I saw the little boy he had spent his entire life protecting.
Then Richard cleared his throat.
“There's something else.””
He opened his briefcase and removed a small notebook.
“Margaret gave me this shortly before she died. I kept it because she specifically instructed me never to destroy it.””
I stared at him.
“You had another document this entire time?””
“I didn't know whether it was relevant until today.””
He opened the notebook.
Several pages contained dates, bank account numbers, and short handwritten notes.
Near the bottom of one page was a name.
*Daniel Whitmore.*
I recognized it immediately.
Daniel was Diane's younger brother.
He had died in a boating accident fifteen years earlier.
Unlike Diane and Marcus, he had never been involved in the family business publicly.
“What did Daniel have to do with my mother?””
Richard adjusted his glasses.
“Daniel was Eleanor's financial adviser before Marcus took over the company.””
My father suddenly looked up.
“Daniel?””
Richard nodded.
“Your mother suspected he had discovered the fraudulent transfers. She believed he was trying to help her gather evidence.””
I studied the notebook.
One entry was dated the day before the accident.
Daniel says the original bank records are safe. Meeting at 4:30 p.m. Arthur must not know until I confirm everything.
I looked at my father.
“Why didn't she want you to know?””
Arthur's eyes filled.
“Because she was afraid someone might use me to get to you.””
Richard nodded.
“Margaret was worried that the people involved would threaten her family.””
I continued reading.
The next entry was shorter.
Daniel has proof. Diane knows. If anything happens, contact Richard.
My stomach tightened.
“Then who was the last person she spoke to?””
Richard turned another page.
There was a telephone number beside a handwritten name.
“Daniel Whitmore.””
I stared at him.
“But Daniel died fifteen years ago.””
“Yes.””
“And my mother died twenty-eight years ago.””
Richard nodded.
“Which means Daniel was alive when she died.””
I felt a chill.
“Why did you say he was the last person she spoke to?””
Richard placed the notebook on the table.
“Because the police report from your mother's accident included a witness statement. Someone reported seeing Margaret arguing with a man outside a restaurant shortly before the collision.””
“Who?””
Richard hesitated.
“Daniel Whitmore.””
My father stood abruptly.
“That can't be right.””
“Arthur, I have the statement.””
“You told me she was alone that evening.””
“I told you what the official report said. I never had access to the complete investigation.””
My father gripped the edge of the table.
“Why didn't anyone tell me?””
Richard looked genuinely troubled.
“Because the witness changed her statement three days later.””
“Changed it to what?””
“That she had mistaken the man's identity.””
I felt anger rising inside me.
“Who was the witness?””
Richard checked his notebook.
“Diane Whitmore.””
Nobody spoke.
I looked at the old photograph of my mother.
The woman who had kissed my forehead every night.
The woman who had taught me to tie my shoes.
The woman who had promised she would be at my seventh birthday party.
Her death had always been explained as a tragic accident.
Now I was discovering that her final hours might have involved the very family I was preparing to marry into.
I pulled out my phone.
“I'm calling the police.””
Richard stopped me.
“Not yet.””
“Why?””
“Because we need to preserve the evidence and establish the chain of custody. If we rush, Marcus could argue that the documents were altered.””
My father looked toward the basement stairs.
“Then we take everything to the police.””
Richard nodded.
“That's exactly what we'll do.””
Before we could move, my phone began vibrating.
Vanessa.
I stared at the screen.
I hadn't spoken to her since leaving the hotel.
I answered.
“What?””
Her voice was shaking.
“Ethan, where are you?””
“With my father.””
“Listen to me. You need to be careful.””
“Why?””
“Marcus knows you found the ledger.””
I looked at Richard.
“How?””
“He called Mom. She told him.””
My jaw tightened.
“Why is your brother so interested in what happens in my father's basement?””
Vanessa began crying.
“Because he knows what's in the ledger.””
I waited.
She continued.
“Ethan, I found something in Marcus's office. It's a recording.””
“What recording?””
“A conversation between Mom and my uncle Daniel. It was recorded the night before your mother's accident.””
My heart started pounding.
“Where is it?””
“In Marcus's office. He keeps it in a locked drawer.””
“Can you get it?””
“I already did.””
I stared at the phone.
“Vanessa, why are you helping me now?””
There was a long silence.
Then she whispered:
“Because I just heard my mother admit that your father's signature was forged.””
The call ended.
I immediately called her back.
No answer.
I tried again.
Nothing.
Then a text appeared.
Ethan, don't come to the house. Marcus is here.
A second message arrived.
And there's something else. The recording contains your mother's voice.
I looked at Richard.
He had heard everything.
“Can she send it?””
“I don't know.””
My phone vibrated again.
This time, it was a video message.
Vanessa had sent a recording.
The screen showed a dark office.
I heard a door close.
Then a man's voice.
Daniel.
“If Margaret gives those documents to Eleanor, everything is finished.””
A woman's voice answered.
Diane.
“She won't give them to anyone.””
Daniel sounded frightened.
“You don't understand. She has copies of the transfers.””
“Then get them.””
“And Arthur?””
A pause.
Then Diane said something that made my father grip the chair.
“Arthur will take the blame. He has no money, no influence, and no one will believe him over us.””
The recording crackled.
Then another voice appeared.
My mother's.
“You're wrong, Diane.””
I stopped breathing.
It was unmistakably Margaret Bennett.
“I have everything. And if anything happens to me, Richard knows exactly where to find it.””
A door slammed.
There was shouting.
Then the recording ended.
I replayed the final seconds.
Again.
And again.
My mother had known she was in danger.
She had known Diane was involved.
And she had left behind enough evidence to expose them.
My father sat down slowly.
“Margaret.””
He whispered her name as though she were sitting beside him.
Richard closed his briefcase.
“We need to move now.””
I looked at the video.
“Where's Vanessa?””
Before Richard could answer, another text arrived.
It contained an address.
May you like
Then five words.
Marcus found out I have it.
