Chapter 7 - THE TRAP
My mother had always believed she was smarter than everyone else.
That was her weakness.
She could not imagine losing.
So when she called me again three days later, I knew she wanted something.
“Meet me,” she said.
“Where?”
“The old family house.”
“The one in Beaufort?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“You want answers.”
I looked at Rachel.
She nodded.
“Ask her why.”
I returned to the phone.
“Why?”
“Because I have something that belongs to you.”
“What?”
“A final document.”
I almost laughed.
“You’ve forged enough documents.”
“This one is real.”
“What is it?”
“You’ll know when you see it.”
I agreed.
But I did not go alone.
The police were prepared.
Marcus was nearby.
Rachel monitored the communications.
I wore a recording device.
The old house was empty when I arrived.
The front door was unlocked.
I entered.
The house smelled like dust.
My father's study was exactly as I remembered it.
His desk.
His books.
The old leather chair.
Then my mother appeared.
She stood in the doorway.
She looked calm.
Elegant.
Perfect.
As if she were attending a business meeting.
“You came.”
“Where is Tyler?”
“Safe.”
“Where is Emily?”
My mother's smile disappeared.
“She is alive.”
I stepped forward.
“If you hurt her again—”
She raised a hand.
“You still don't understand.”
“Then explain.”
She walked toward the desk.
“Your father was going to destroy everything.”
“No. He was going to stop you from stealing.”
“He was weak.”
“You killed him.”
She looked at me.
“I did not kill your father.”
“You admitted you made sure he stopped interfering.”
“That is not the same thing.”
I stared at her.
She opened a drawer.
Inside was a folder.
She placed it on the desk.
“Your father changed his will.”
My heart stopped.
“What?”
“He left everything to you.”
I stared at the folder.
“Why didn't I know?”
“Because the will was never filed.”
“Why?”
“Because Martin made sure it disappeared.”
I opened the folder.
The document was real.
My father's signature.
The witnesses.
The date.
Everything.
He had left the company.
The house.
The investments.
Everything to me.
My mother had received nothing.
I looked at her.
“You stole my inheritance.”
“I protected what belonged to this family.”
“You stole it.”
She smiled.
“Your father was going to give everything to a boy who ran away to war.”
I felt cold.
“You mean your son.”
“He abandoned the family.”
“I served my country.”
“You left.”
“And you replaced me with Tyler.”
“He stayed.”
I stared at her.
There it was.
The truth.
She had always loved Tyler more.
Not because he was better.
Because he was easier to control.
“You used him.”
Her expression changed.
“You don't know what you're talking about.”
“You made him dependent on you.”
She slapped me.
The sound echoed through the study.
I did not move.
She stared at me.
Then smiled.
“You see?”
“What?”
“You're angry.”
I understood.
The trap.
She wanted me to attack her.
The hidden camera was probably recording.
She wanted evidence.
I stepped back.
“You wanted me to lose control.”
Her smile faded.
I pulled out my phone.
“Unfortunately for you, the police have been listening.”
Her face went white.
A voice came from outside.
“Diane Morgan! Step away from the desk!”
The police entered.
My mother looked at me.
“You betrayed me.”
I shook my head.
“No.”
Then I looked at the folder.
“You betrayed everyone.”
She was arrested.
But Tyler was still missing.
And Martin Cole had vanished.
That night, the police discovered that Tyler had transferred the last of the stolen money.
Then a message appeared on my phone.
A photograph.
Emily standing in our backyard.
Taken from a distance.
The message said:
May you like
You caught my mother.
Now come find me.
