Chapter 11 - Patricia's Secret
Emily didn't speak.
She simply stared at the forensic report.
The room had become strangely quiet.
Daniel stood beside her, waiting.
The police officer remained near the door.
And Patricia...
Patricia was sitting across the room.
Calm.
Too calm.
Emily slowly lifted her eyes.
"How long?"
Patricia frowned.
"What?"
"How long have you known?"
Patricia's expression changed.
"Known what?"
Emily placed the report on the table.
"About the money."
Patricia glanced down.
Then back up.
Daniel looked at his mother.
"Mom?"
Patricia stood.
"I don't know what this is."
Emily's voice remained quiet.
"The first fraudulent transfer was made thirty years ago."
Patricia froze.
"That was before Daniel was born."
"I know."
"And before you were married."
"I know."
Patricia swallowed.
Emily stood.
"So tell me why your name appears in the original authorization."
Patricia's face went pale.
Daniel stared at his mother.
"Mom."
Patricia shook her head.
"I didn't do it."
Emily picked up another page.
"Then whose handwriting is this?"
Patricia looked at it.
Her lips parted.
No answer.
Daniel moved closer.
"What is happening?"
Patricia closed her eyes.
Then whispered:
"I was protecting you."
Daniel shook his head.
"You keep saying that."
"Because it's true."
"From what?"
Patricia looked at Emily.
"From the truth."
Emily felt a chill.
"What truth?"
Patricia's eyes filled with tears.
"Your mother..."
Emily froze.
"My mother?"
"She wasn't supposed to die."
Silence.
Daniel looked confused.
Emily couldn't breathe.
"What did you say?"
Patricia sat down again.
"Your mother was supposed to leave the country with you."
Emily's hands began to shake.
"You knew her?"
Patricia nodded.
"She was my sister."
Emily stared at her.
She already knew Sophia had been Patricia's sister.
But hearing Patricia say it made everything different.
"You were there?"
Patricia nodded.
"The night she disappeared."
Emily stepped closer.
"What happened?"
Patricia looked at her.
"She discovered the original Whitmore trust."
"And?"
"She wanted to expose George."
Emily's heart pounded.
"But you stopped her."
Patricia began crying.
"I tried to."
Daniel looked horrified.
"Mom..."
Patricia covered her face.
"I thought George was going to kill all of us."
Emily's voice became cold.
"So you helped him."
"I didn't know what else to do."
"You lied about my mother."
"I protected you."
"You erased my identity."
Patricia shook her head.
"Your father did."
"You helped him."
Patricia didn't answer.
Emily turned away.
The pain inside her was worse than anger.
Because suddenly she understood.
Patricia hadn't hated her.
Patricia had feared her.
And sometimes fear made people do terrible things.
Emily walked toward the window.
"Where is my mother's evidence?"
Patricia looked up.
"What?"
"You kept something."
Emily turned.
"I know you did."
Patricia remained silent.
Then she whispered:
"Your mother left a box."
"Where?"
"In the old chapel."
Daniel looked at Emily.
"The chapel?"
Patricia nodded.
"It was hidden beneath the altar."
Emily grabbed her coat.
"We're going."
Patricia stood.
"I'll show you."
But before they could leave, the lights flickered.
The police officer reached for his radio.
Then every phone in the room buzzed.
Emily looked down.
One message.
From an unknown number.
STOP DIGGING.
Another appeared.
YOUR MOTHER'S STORY IS NOT WHAT YOU THINK.
Then a third.
AND PATRICIA IS NOT THE PERSON YOU SHOULD FEAR.
Emily looked at Patricia.
Patricia's face had gone white.
May you like
Someone was watching them.
And whoever it was knew exactly what they were doing.
