Chapter 12 - Karen's ConfessionFor years, I had imagined my mother's face in my memories.
Sometimes I remembered her holding my hair before school.
Sometimes I remembered her making pancakes.
Then cancer came.
And those memories became poisonous.
Now I knew why.
She had known about the trust.
She had known about the trial.
And she had let me believe I was unwanted.
But hearing her admit it was different.
I called her.
She answered immediately.
“Where are you?”
“I'm with Megan.”
“Leave the house.”
“Tell me the truth first.”
Silence.
“Please.”
Her voice cracked.
“I didn't know how to stop your father.”
“You could have taken me.”
“I tried.”
My heart stopped.
“When?”
“After the hospital left you under temporary custody.”
“Why didn't you?”
“Thomas threatened to take Megan.”
I looked at Megan.
She looked stunned.
“He told me if I went against him, he'd destroy us both.”
“That didn't stop you from abandoning me.”
“I know.”
“You watched me go through chemotherapy.”
“I know.”
“You never came.”
“I know.”
“Why?”
She began crying.
“Because I was afraid.”
I clenched my jaw.
“That's not enough.”
“I know.”
“What happened to my grandfather?”
She went silent.
“Megan saw the video.”
Another pause.
Then:
“I knew.”
I felt sick.
“You knew?”
“Yes.”
“About Thomas and Eleanor?”
“Yes.”
“About the trial?”
“Yes.”
“About the money?”
“Yes.”
“Then why did you lie?”
“Because by then I was trapped.”
“In what?”
“The company.”
I frowned.
“Your grandfather discovered that Thomas had been selling proprietary research to competitors.”
“What?”
“He had been stealing data.”
“Why?”
“Money.”
“Then Eleanor?”
“She helped him.”
I thought of the video.
“And my cancer?”
Karen's voice broke.
“That was the moment everything changed.”
“What do you mean?”
“Your grandfather decided that after he died, you would inherit the controlling shares.”
I looked at Megan.
Karen continued.
“Thomas realized he would lose everything.”
“So he sabotaged me.”
“I don't know who changed your treatment.”
“But you suspected.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you tell anyone?”
“Because I was terrified.”
“You keep saying that.”
“I was.”
I closed my eyes.
“Where is Eleanor?”
Karen went silent.
“Mom.”
“She disappeared.”
“Where?”
“I don't know.”
“Daniel?”
Silence.
“You know where Daniel is.”
“No.”
“Mom.”
She whispered:
“Your father does.”
I felt something cold move through me.
Then Karen said:
“There is one more thing.”
“What?”
“Your grandfather recorded everything.”
“Where?”
She hesitated.
“The old family chapel.”
I frowned.
“There is a hidden compartment under the altar.”
Megan looked confused.
“I've never heard of a chapel.”
“Your grandfather built it after your father stole from the company.”
“What is inside?”
“I don't know.”
“You've never looked?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because Thomas was afraid of that room.”
That was enough.
We drove there that night.
The chapel stood on an old property outside the city.
Small.
Stone walls.
Dusty windows.
A wooden altar.
I searched beneath it.
Nothing.
Then I noticed a carving.
Three initials.
R.C.E.
Richard Carter Emily.
I pressed the letters.
A panel opened.
Inside was a metal box.
I opened it.
Documents.
Photographs.
A key.
And one handwritten note.
Emily, when you find this, you will finally understand why I chose you.
My hands trembled.
I opened the final folder.
A list of trial participants.
Twelve names.
The twelfth line was not mine.
It was someone else's.
I stared.
“That's impossible.”
Megan leaned closer.
“Who's Emily Carter?”
My blood turned cold.
The patient listed as number twelve was:
Emily Carter.
But beside my name was another notation.
Second identity.
I looked at Megan.
“What's second identity mean?”
Before she could answer, the chapel door slammed open.
We turned.
A man stood in the doorway.
Older.
Gray hair.
Thin face.
But I recognized him immediately.
Daniel Reeves.
The missing witness.
He looked at me.
May you like
Then whispered:
“Your grandfather didn't die of a heart attack.”
