Chapter 9: The Woman Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
Marcus stared at the screen.
For several seconds, he couldn't speak.
Catherine Hayes.
His aunt.
The woman he had watched being lowered into the ground twelve years earlier.
The woman whose funeral he remembered because his father had cried harder that day than he had ever seen him cry.
"That's impossible," Marcus whispered.
The officer lowered his phone.
"We understand the situation is unusual, but the filing is legally active. We need to verify its authenticity.""
Eleanor stood.
"My sister-in-law is dead.""
Robert examined the document.
"Apparently, someone has submitted identification claiming otherwise.""
Marcus took the phone.
The application contained a photograph of Catherine.
She looked older, but unmistakably alive.
At the bottom was a notarized statement claiming that Marcus had suffered a psychological breakdown and was incapable of making financial decisions.
The application also requested temporary control over his personal assets.
Marcus handed the phone back.
"Who signed this?""
The officer pointed to the electronic signature.
"An attorney representing Catherine Hayes.""
Robert immediately recognized the name.
"That's the same attorney who handled Daniel's previous business transactions.""
Eleanor looked horrified.
"Arthur has brought them together.""
Marcus clenched his fists.
"Then let's find Catherine.""
They returned to the Hayes estate with the police.
Marcus walked straight into his father's study.
He opened every drawer, checked every cabinet, and searched the old filing system.
Eleanor watched from the doorway.
"Marcus, what are you looking for?""
"Anything about Catherine.""
"Your father destroyed most of her old correspondence after the accident.""
"Why?""
Eleanor hesitated.
"Because he believed she had betrayed him.""
Marcus stopped.
"What?""
Eleanor sat in the leather chair.
"Catherine was your father's younger sister. She worked in the company's legal department. She had access to the trust records and knew how the inheritance was structured.""
"Was she involved with Arthur?""
"I don't know. But your father discovered she had authorized several suspicious transactions.""
Marcus shook his head.
"Why would he hide that from me?""
"Because he was trying to protect you.""
Marcus pulled open another drawer.
Inside was an old address book.
A name had been circled in red ink.
*Dr. Samuel Reed — Private Investigator.*
Below it was a telephone number.
Eleanor recognized the name.
"Your father hired him.""
Marcus immediately called.
A man answered after several rings.
"Reed Investigations.""
"Mr. Reed, my name is Marcus Hayes. My father was William Hayes.""
Silence.
Then the man said, "I wondered when you would call.""
Marcus gripped the phone.
"You knew my aunt was alive?""
"I suspected it.""
"Why didn't you tell anyone?""
"Because I was warned not to.""
"By whom?""
The man sighed.
"By your mother.""
Marcus looked at Eleanor.
"What?""
Reed continued.
"Your father gave me instructions before he died. He wanted me to watch Catherine. But he also wanted me to protect your mother if anything happened.""
Marcus's voice hardened.
"Are you telling me my mother knew?""
Eleanor stepped forward.
"Put him on speaker.""
Marcus did.
Reed continued.
"Mrs. Hayes contacted me twelve years ago. She asked me to investigate the circumstances surrounding Catherine's supposed death.""
Marcus looked at his mother.
"Mom?""
Eleanor's eyes filled.
"I never believed the story.""
Reed spoke again.
"The car involved in the accident was recovered, but Catherine's body was never positively identified. The authorities relied on dental records provided by a private clinic.""
Robert frowned.
"Who owned the clinic?""
Reed paused.
"Arthur Whitmore.""
The room fell silent.
Marcus closed his eyes.
His father's business partner had controlled the medical records, the investigation, and possibly the entire story of Catherine's death.
"Where is she now?"" Marcus asked.
"I don't know her current location. But I found a property connected to her three months ago.""
"Where?""
"An estate outside Charleston.""
Robert immediately wrote down the address.
"Can you send it to us?""
"I can.""
Then Reed added something else.
"But there is one thing you should know.""
Marcus waited.
"Your aunt has been receiving money from Daniel Bennett for years.""
Eleanor covered her mouth.
"Why?""
Reed's answer was chilling.
"Because she wasn't merely helping him steal from the Hayes family.""
He paused.
"She was the person who introduced him to your father.""
Two hours later, Marcus, Eleanor, Robert, and Victoria arrived at the Charleston estate.
The property stood behind tall iron gates.
The house was old, elegant, and surrounded by oak trees.
A security camera turned toward their vehicle.
Robert stepped out first.
A woman appeared on the front porch.
She wore a cream-colored suit and held a walking cane.
Her silver hair was cut short.
Marcus recognized her immediately.
"Aunt Catherine?""
The woman smiled.
"Hello, Marcus.""
Eleanor stepped forward.
"Catherine.""
The smile disappeared.
"Hello, Eleanor.""
Marcus couldn't move.
"You've been alive this whole time?""
Catherine adjusted her cane.
"Life is complicated.""
"You let us bury an empty coffin?""
She sighed.
"I did what I had to do.""
Eleanor's voice trembled.
"Your brother spent his final years believing you were dead.""
Catherine's expression hardened.
"William made his choices.""
"He was your brother!""
"And he was going to destroy everything.""
Marcus stepped forward.
"What did you do to my father?""
Catherine looked at him.
For a moment, her expression softened.
Then she turned toward the house.
"Come inside. We have much to discuss.""
The living room was filled with expensive furniture and family photographs.
One photograph showed Catherine standing beside Arthur Whitmore.
Another showed her with Daniel Bennett.
Victoria stared at the pictures.
"How long have you known Daniel?""
Catherine poured herself a glass of water.
"Long enough.""
"Did you introduce him to me?""
Catherine looked at her.
"Of course.""
Victoria felt sick.
"You knew what he was doing?""
"I knew he was useful.""
Marcus slammed his hand against the table.
"Enough!""
Catherine slowly set down her glass.
"Don't shout at me, Marcus. You're not a child anymore.""
"Then stop treating me like one!""
Catherine looked toward Eleanor.
"Your son has his father's temper.""
Eleanor replied quietly, "And thankfully, his father's conscience.""
Catherine laughed.
"Conscience? William was willing to let the company collapse just to prove he was right.""
Marcus stared.
"Was he killed?""
Catherine didn't answer.
Instead, she opened a drawer and removed a document.
She placed it on the table.
It was a copy of William's final medical report.
But unlike the one found in the safe-deposit box, this version contained an additional page.
A handwritten authorization.
Marcus read the signature.
His stomach dropped.
It belonged to Eleanor.
"Mom?""
Eleanor stared at the page.
Her face went completely pale.
"I never signed this.""
Catherine leaned back.
"That's what everyone says.""
Marcus turned toward her.
"What are you trying to prove?""
Catherine smiled faintly.
"That your mother was the last person to authorize your father's medication before he died.""
Eleanor shook her head.
"That's a lie.""
Catherine pointed to the signature.
"Then explain this.""
Marcus looked at his mother.
She was trembling.
"Marcus, I swear to you—"
Before she could finish, the front door opened.
Daniel Bennett walked into the room.
He wasn't alone.
Two men followed him.
Daniel smiled at Victoria.
"Hello, beautiful.""
Victoria stepped behind Robert.
Daniel ignored her and looked at Marcus.
"Congratulations. You've finally met your aunt.""
Marcus stood.
"Stay away from my family.""
Daniel laughed.
"Your family? That's an interesting word.""
He placed a document on the table.
"Your aunt has agreed to withdraw the emergency application if you sign this.""
Marcus glanced down.
It was a declaration transferring control of Hayes Holdings to Catherine.
"Never.""
Daniel shrugged.
"Then your mother will be arrested for falsifying your father's medical authorization.""
Eleanor stepped forward.
"That document is forged.""
Daniel smiled.
"Prove it.""
Victoria suddenly noticed something.
One of the men standing behind Daniel was holding a small leather bag.
The same bag she had seen Daniel carry during their private meetings.
She remembered what he had told her.
Everything important is always kept somewhere safe.
She looked toward the bag.
Then at the document.
Then at Catherine.
And suddenly, she understood.
Daniel hadn't come to negotiate.
He had come to retrieve something.
Victoria stepped forward.
"What's inside the bag?""
Daniel turned.
"Nothing that concerns you.""
Victoria's voice became stronger.
"Is it the original medical authorization?""
Daniel's smile vanished.
Marcus looked at her.
"Victoria?""
She continued.
"Because if it's the original, then why are you so desperate to make Marcus sign this document?""
Catherine stood abruptly.
"Daniel, get her out of here.""
But Victoria had already seen the small red light flashing inside the bag.
A recording device.
She looked at Robert.
"He's recording everything.""
Robert immediately reached for his phone.
Daniel lunged toward the bag.
One of the officers accompanying them stepped into his path.
"Don't move!""
The room erupted into chaos.
Catherine grabbed the document.
Marcus seized her wrist.
Eleanor shouted for everyone to stop.
And Daniel, realizing his plan was collapsing, made one final mistake.
He shouted:
"You're all fools! Arthur promised me the company, and Catherine promised me the medical records! I did everything they asked!""
Silence.
Every word had been captured by the recording device.
Robert looked at the officers.
"Did you get that?""
One officer nodded.
"Every word.""
Daniel's face drained of color.
Catherine stared at him.
"You idiot!""
But the biggest shock came when Eleanor approached the table and picked up the original-looking medical document.
She examined it carefully.
Then she looked at Catherine.
"There's something wrong with this.""
Catherine froze.
Eleanor turned the page toward the light.
"The hospital used a different paper format in 2011. This document was printed much later.""
Marcus stared.
"Meaning?""
Eleanor looked at Daniel.
"Meaning this was forged recently.""
Robert stepped closer.
"Then where is the original?""
Daniel said nothing.
Victoria suddenly remembered the silver key.
The safe-deposit box.
The missing medical report.
And William's final recording.
She looked at Eleanor.
"Maybe Dad's original report was never in the box.""
Eleanor slowly nodded.
"Your father said he had one final piece of evidence.""
Marcus looked at the laptop in Robert's hands.
"Then where is it?""
A phone vibrated on the table.
It belonged to Catherine.
A message appeared on the screen.
*Arthur: The original is with me. Bring Marcus to the old family estate tonight. Alone.*
Marcus stared at the message.
Then another arrived.
*And tell Eleanor that I know what she did after William died.*
Eleanor closed her eyes.
For the first time since the wedding, she looked genuinely terrified.
May you like
Because Arthur Whitmore hadn't just been threatening her family.
He knew the one secret she had spent fifteen years trying to bury.
