Chapter 8: The Mother Who Had Been Hiding the Truth
Victoria stared at her mother's phone.
"Daniel knows about the key.""
Margaret nodded.
"He always knew.""
Marcus stepped closer.
"Then why didn't he take it?""
"Because he didn't know where I kept it.""
Robert glanced at the silver key.
"Where is the safe-deposit box?""
Margaret hesitated.
"At the old First National Bank downtown.""
Eleanor frowned.
"That branch closed years ago.""
Margaret shook her head.
"The building closed. The private vault was transferred to another location.""
Robert took out his phone.
"Do you have the box number?""
Margaret reached beneath her pillow and pulled out a folded piece of paper.
It contained a handwritten number and a name.
*WILLIAM HAYES — PRIVATE HOLDING 714.*
Marcus stared.
"My father opened the box?""
"Yes," Margaret replied.
"He put the documents inside and gave me the key.""
Victoria looked between them.
"Mom, why didn't you ever tell me?""
Margaret took her daughter's hand.
"Because I was ashamed.""
"Of what?""
"Of helping Arthur before I understood what he was doing.""
Victoria shook her head.
"You were threatened.""
"I still made choices. I approved transactions I should have questioned. I signed reports that allowed money to disappear.""
Robert spoke gently.
"Were you aware of the full scheme?""
"No. Not at first.""
Margaret wiped her eyes.
"Arthur told me the money was being moved to protect the company from a hostile takeover. He said William had approved everything.""
"And when did you discover the truth?"" Marcus asked.
"The day William confronted him.""
Margaret looked at Eleanor.
"He came to my office that afternoon. He said Arthur was planning to frame me for the missing money. He gave me the key and told me to disappear if anything happened to him.""
Eleanor's lips trembled.
"Why didn't you come to me afterward?""
"I tried. But two days after William died, someone broke into my apartment. They didn't take jewelry or cash. They searched my desk.""
Margaret paused.
"I understood the message.""
Victoria leaned forward.
"Mom, what does this have to do with Daniel?""
Margaret's expression became distant.
"Years later, he approached me. He said he knew about the old investigation. He offered to help me retrieve the money I had lost after being forced to leave my job.""
"You trusted him?""
"I thought he wanted to help.""
Victoria shook her head.
"He was using you.""
"Yes.""
Margaret looked at her daughter.
"And when he learned you were dating Marcus, he became very interested.""
Victoria covered her mouth.
"Did you tell him about the trust?""
"No. But he already knew about it. He had been researching the Hayes family for years.""
Marcus looked at Robert.
"Then we need that safe-deposit box.""
Robert nodded.
"I'll arrange for legal counsel and a police representative to accompany us.""
Margaret gripped the key.
"There's one more thing.""
Everyone turned.
"The box doesn't only contain financial records.""
"What else?"" Eleanor asked.
Margaret looked at Marcus.
"Your father's original medical report.""
Marcus went still.
The next morning, the four of them met outside a secure banking facility.
Two officers from the financial crimes division accompanied Robert.
Victoria walked beside her mother.
She had barely slept.
Her wedding ring was still sitting in the velvet box inside her handbag.
She had considered throwing it away.
Instead, she had kept it.
Not because she wanted Marcus back.
Because it reminded her of how badly she had misjudged the people around her.
Inside the vault, an employee verified Margaret's identity and unlocked the private holding area.
The silver key turned with a metallic click.
Box 714 slid open.
Inside were three sealed envelopes, a small cassette recorder, a stack of financial documents, and a medical report.
Marcus picked up the first envelope.
His father's handwriting was unmistakable.
*FOR ELEANOR.*
Eleanor's hands trembled as she opened it.
Inside was a short letter.
My darling Eleanor,
If Margaret has finally given you this box, then I hope you are safe.
I have discovered that Arthur has been using our company to move money through several shell corporations. But I believe the financial theft is only part of it.
He has become obsessed with controlling the trust. He believes that once Marcus marries, he can use the marriage provisions to challenge the existing structure.
Eleanor looked up.
"That's why Daniel wanted Marcus to marry Victoria.""
Marcus took the letter.
He read the final paragraph.
The person helping Arthur has access to our private medical records. If I suddenly become ill, I need you to question everything.
Marcus's fingers tightened.
"Mom, the medical report.""
He unfolded it.
The document showed William's final hospital examination.
A handwritten note appeared in the margin.
*Medication dosage inconsistent with prescribed treatment.*
Marcus stared.
"Was this ever investigated?""
Eleanor shook her head.
"The hospital told me his heart condition had worsened.""
Robert examined the report.
"This needs to go to the medical examiner.""
He opened the second envelope.
Inside was a list of payments.
One name appeared repeatedly.
*DANIEL BENNETT.*
But another name appeared beside it.
*MARGARET COLLINS.*
Victoria looked at her mother.
"Mom?""
Margaret immediately shook her head.
"I didn't receive those payments.""
Robert compared the dates.
"These transfers were made after you left the company.""
Margaret stared.
"Someone was using my identity.""
Marcus looked up.
"Arthur.""
Robert nodded.
"Possibly. But we need to know who authorized them.""
He turned to the final envelope.
It was sealed with red wax.
The words on the front made Eleanor gasp.
*THE PERSON WHO HELPED ARTHUR IS INSIDE THE HAYES FAMILY.*
Marcus looked at his mother.
"Open it.""
Eleanor carefully broke the seal.
Inside was a single photograph.
It showed Arthur Whitmore sitting at a restaurant table with a woman.
The woman was young.
Her face was partially hidden by a wineglass.
But Victoria recognized the dress.
It was a black silk dress with a pearl button at the shoulder.
She had seen it in a photograph from her engagement party.
She looked at Eleanor.
"Who is that?""
Eleanor slowly turned the photograph.
On the back, William had written:
*She has access to Marcus's personal accounts.*
Marcus leaned forward.
The woman was wearing a distinctive bracelet.
A gold bracelet with a small engraved inscription.
Victoria's bracelet.
The one she had received from Daniel as an engagement gift.
Her breathing stopped.
"That's impossible.""
Robert examined the image.
"Do you know her?""
Victoria shook her head.
"I've never met that woman.""
Then Marcus looked more closely.
He recognized the face.
Not from the engagement party.
From his childhood.
It was his father's younger sister.
His aunt.
*Catherine Hayes.*
But Catherine had died twelve years earlier.
Eleanor sat down heavily.
"That's Catherine.""
Marcus stared at the photograph.
"She died in a car accident.""
"That's what we were told.""
Robert turned the photograph over again.
The date was written beneath William's note.
It was dated three days before his death.
Marcus looked at his mother.
"Are you saying Aunt Catherine was alive when Dad died?""
Eleanor shook her head.
"I don't know what to believe anymore.""
Victoria examined the photograph.
Then she noticed something.
A small reflection in the restaurant window.
Another person sat at the table behind Catherine.
A man wearing a dark suit.
His face was partly visible.
Victoria leaned closer.
"Wait.""
Robert followed her gaze.
"What?""
"That's Daniel.""
Marcus stared.
Daniel Bennett was standing behind his supposedly dead aunt.
But the photograph contained something even more disturbing.
Catherine was holding a document.
And at the top of the page, the name was clearly visible.
*MARCUS HAYES — BENEFICIARY TRANSFER.*
Before anyone could speak, one of the officers received a phone call.
He listened for several seconds.
Then his expression changed.
"Mr. Hayes, we need you to come with us.""
Marcus stood.
"Why?""
The officer lowered his phone.
"Someone has just filed an emergency application claiming you are mentally incapable of managing your financial affairs.""
Marcus frowned.
"Who filed it?""
The officer hesitated.
Then he answered.
"Your legal guardian.""
Marcus's face went white.
"I don't have a legal guardian.""
The officer looked at the document on his phone.
"According to this filing, you do.""
He turned the screen around.
May you like
The applicant's name appeared.
*CATHERINE HAYES.*
