Chapter 8: ## Chapter 8: The Mother Who Never Died
Marcus: The Mother Who Never Died
Marcus stood motionless.
For fifteen years, he had visited his mother's grave every stood motionless.
For fifteen years, he had visited his mother's grave every Christmas.
For fifteen years, he had placed flowers beside a headstone bearing her name.
For fifteen years, he had believed Eleanor Reed was Christmas.
For fifteen years, he had placed flowers beside a headstone bearing her name.
For fifteen years, he had believed Eleanor Reed was dead.
And now a police officer was telling him she was waiting outside.
"Bring her in," Marcus said.
Detective Brooks raised dead.
And now a police officer was telling him she was waiting outside.
"Bring her in," Marcus said.
Detective Brooks raised a hand.
"Wait. We need to establish who she is before you speak to her.""
"That's my mother.""
"Or someone who a hand.
"Wait. We need to establish who she is before you speak to her.""
"That's my mother.""
"Or someone who knows enough about your family to make you believe that.""
Marcus looked toward the door.
"Then let's find out.""
A few minutes later, a woman entered the interview room.
She knows enough about your family to make you believe that.""
Marcus looked toward the door.
"Then let's find out.""
A few minutes later, a woman entered the interview room.
She was older than he remembered, her dark hair now streaked with silver. She wore a simple beige coat and carried a small was older than he remembered, her dark hair now streaked with silver. She wore a simple beige coat and carried a small leather purse.
But her eyes were unmistakable.
The same gray-green eyes that had watched him blow leather purse.
But her eyes were unmistakable.
The same gray-green eyes that had watched him blow out birthday candles as a child.
The same eyes that had cried when he left for college.
The same eyes he had seen in his dreams after out birthday candles as a child.
The same eyes that had cried when he left for college.
The same eyes he had seen in his dreams after the funeral.
"Marcus?""
His knees nearly gave way.
"Mom?""
Eleanor covered her mouth.
"Oh, sweetheart.""
He stepped toward her.
Then stopped.
" the funeral.
"Marcus?""
His knees nearly gave way.
"Mom?""
Eleanor covered her mouth.
"Oh, sweetheart.""
He stepped toward her.
Then stopped.
"Don't.""
Her face crumpled.
"Marcus, please.""
"You've been dead for fifteen years.""
"I know.""
"YouDon't.""
Her face crumpled.
"Marcus, please.""
"You've been dead for fifteen years.""
"I know.""
"You let me bury an empty coffin?""
Eleanor began crying.
"I never wanted you to believe I let me bury an empty coffin?""
Eleanor began crying.
"I never wanted you to believe I was gone.""
Marcus stared at her.
"Then why did you disappear?""
Detective Brooks closed the door.
"Mrs. Reed, I'd like you to explain was gone.""
Marcus stared at her.
"Then why did you disappear?""
Detective Brooks closed the door.
"Mrs. Reed, I'd like you to explain everything.""
Eleanor sat down slowly.
She placed her purse on the table and folded her hands.
"Fifteen years ago, I discovered that Richard was everything.""
Eleanor sat down slowly.
She placed her purse on the table and folded her hands.
"Fifteen years ago, I discovered that Richard was using the company to hide money from investors. I confronted him. He promised to stop.""
Marcus shook his head.
"That sounds like Dad.""
"But he didn't stop. He using the company to hide money from investors. I confronted him. He promised to stop.""
Marcus shook his head.
"That sounds like Dad.""
"But he didn't stop. He became more secretive. He started meeting Gregory Shaw at night. Then I found records showing that Daniel had been moving money into private accounts.""
Marcus felt became more secretive. He started meeting Gregory Shaw at night. Then I found records showing that Daniel had been moving money into private accounts.""
Marcus felt a familiar anger rising.
"Daniel was involved even then?""
"Yes.""
"How old was he?""
"Twenty-four.""
a familiar anger rising.
"Daniel was involved even then?""
"Yes.""
"How old was he?""
"Twenty-four.""
"And you?""
"Thirty-nine.""
She paused.
"One night, I told Richard I was going to the police.""
Marcus leaned forward.
"What happened?""
"Three days later, my car went off"And you?""
"Thirty-nine.""
She paused.
"One night, I told Richard I was going to the police.""
Marcus leaned forward.
"What happened?""
"Three days later, my car went off the road.""
She looked down at her hands.
"The brakes failed.""
Marcus felt his blood turn cold.
Another brake the road.""
She looked down at her hands.
"The brakes failed.""
Marcus felt his blood turn cold.
Another brake failure.
Another car.
Another supposed accident.
"Did Dad do it?""
Eleanor shook her head.
"No. Richard wasn't driving failure.
Another car.
Another supposed accident.
"Did Dad do it?""
Eleanor shook her head.
"No. Richard wasn't driving. But he knew who had arranged it.""
"Daniel.""
She nodded.
"Daniel had already learned how to make accidents look convincing. But he knew who had arranged it.""
"Daniel.""
She nodded.
"Daniel had already learned how to make accidents look convincing.""
Marcus stood.
"And Dad helped cover it up?""
"At first, yes. He was terrified of losing the.""
Marcus stood.
"And Dad helped cover it up?""
"At first, yes. He was terrified of losing the company. He believed Daniel could still be controlled.""
"Controlled?""
Eleanor looked at him.
"Your father was a weak man when it came to his company. He believed Daniel could still be controlled.""
"Controlled?""
Eleanor looked at him.
"Your father was a weak man when it came to his oldest son.""
Marcus laughed bitterly.
"Apparently.""
Eleanor continued.
"When the car went off the road, I survived. I oldest son.""
Marcus laughed bitterly.
"Apparently.""
Eleanor continued.
"When the car went off the road, I survived. I was badly injured. Richard came to the hospital and told me Daniel had threatened to finish what he started if I returned home.""
"So you left.""
"I disappeared.""
"Without telling me?""
Her was badly injured. Richard came to the hospital and told me Daniel had threatened to finish what he started if I returned home.""
"So you left.""
"I disappeared.""
"Without telling me?""
Her eyes filled.
"Richard told me you would be safer if you believed I was dead.""
Marcus slammed his palm against the table.
"I was seventeen!""
"I know.""
"I spent years thinking eyes filled.
"Richard told me you would be safer if you believed I was dead.""
Marcus slammed his palm against the table.
"I was seventeen!""
"I know.""
"I spent years thinking I wasn't worth staying for!""
Eleanor began sobbing.
"I know, baby.""
"Don't I wasn't worth staying for!""
Eleanor began sobbing.
"I know, baby.""
"Don't call me that.""
She lowered her eyes.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Detective Brooks asked, "Why have you come back now?""
Eleanor opened her purse.
She removed a small envelope.
"Because Daniel made call me that.""
She lowered her eyes.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Detective Brooks asked, "Why have you come back now?""
Eleanor opened her purse.
She removed a small envelope.
"Because Daniel made a mistake.""
She placed a photograph on the table.
It showed Richard, Daniel, Vanessa, and Gregory Shaw standing outside a private bank.
On the back was a date.
Two days before Richard's death.
E a mistake.""
She placed a photograph on the table.
It showed Richard, Daniel, Vanessa, and Gregory Shaw standing outside a private bank.
On the back was a date.
Two days before Richard's death.
Eleanor pointed toward Vanessa.
"She was the person who arranged my disappearance.""
Marcus stared.
"Vanessa?""
"She worked for Richard. She knew whereleanor pointed toward Vanessa.
"She was the person who arranged my disappearance.""
Marcus stared.
"Vanessa?""
"She worked for Richard. She knew where I was staying. She told Daniel that I had contacted an attorney.""
"Why would she help him?""
"Money.""
Eleanor removed another photograph.
This one showed Vanessa holding a baby.
I was staying. She told Daniel that I had contacted an attorney.""
"Why would she help him?""
"Money.""
Eleanor removed another photograph.
This one showed Vanessa holding a baby.
Marcus frowned.
"Who's that?""
Eleanor's expression changed.
"Vanessa's daughter.""
Marcus looked closer.
TheMarcus frowned.
"Who's that?""
Eleanor's expression changed.
"Vanessa's daughter.""
Marcus looked closer.
The photograph was old.
The baby appeared to be less than a year old.
"Vanessa has a child?""
"She did.""
"What happened to her?""
Eleanor hesitated.
"Her name was Lily photograph was old.
The baby appeared to be less than a year old.
"Vanessa has a child?""
"She did.""
"What happened to her?""
Eleanor hesitated.
"Her name was Lily.""
Marcus stared.
"Was?""
Eleanor nodded.
"She died when she was three.""
Marcus felt an uncomfortable.""
Marcus stared.
"Was?""
Eleanor nodded.
"She died when she was three.""
Marcus felt an uncomfortable chill.
"How?""
"Vanessa told everyone it was an accident. But I later learned that Lily's father was Gregory Shaw. He refused to acknowledge her, and Vanessa had been using the company accounts chill.
"How?""
"Vanessa told everyone it was an accident. But I later learned that Lily's father was Gregory Shaw. He refused to acknowledge her, and Vanessa had been using the company accounts to support the child.""
Brooks leaned forward.
"How is this connected to Claire?""
Eleanor looked at Marcus.
"Because Claire discovered to support the child.""
Brooks leaned forward.
"How is this connected to Claire?""
Eleanor looked at Marcus.
"Because Claire discovered that Vanessa had used Lily's identity to create a false beneficiary account.""
Marcus frowned.
"What?""
"Vanessa had that Vanessa had used Lily's identity to create a false beneficiary account.""
Marcus frowned.
"What?""
"Vanessa had been moving money through accounts established in the child's name. When Lily died, she continued using the account.""
Brooks wrote something down.
"That would constitute serious financial fraud.""
"It was more than that," Eleanor said been moving money through accounts established in the child's name. When Lily died, she continued using the account.""
Brooks wrote something down.
"That would constitute serious financial fraud.""
"It was more than that," Eleanor said.
She took another document from the envelope.
"Claire discovered that Vanessa had been using the same account to pay people who helped cover up the deaths.""
Marcus felt.
She took another document from the envelope.
"Claire discovered that Vanessa had been using the same account to pay people who helped cover up the deaths.""
Marcus felt sick.
"Which deaths?""
Eleanor looked directly at him.
"Your father's. And mine.""
Marcus stared.
"My mother wasn't dead.""
"Not sick.
"Which deaths?""
Eleanor looked directly at him.
"Your father's. And mine.""
Marcus stared.
"My mother wasn't dead.""
"Not then.""
"But Dad...""
Eleanor nodded.
"Richard was killed four years ago. And I then.""
"But Dad...""
Eleanor nodded.
"Richard was killed four years ago. And I believe Daniel intended to kill me long before that.""
Brooks studied the document.
"Do you have proof?""
Eleanor reached into her purse again.
This time, she removed a small key.
"Your father gave me this believe Daniel intended to kill me long before that.""
Brooks studied the document.
"Do you have proof?""
Eleanor reached into her purse again.
This time, she removed a small key.
"Your father gave me this before he died.""
Marcus looked at it.
"Another key?""
"To a storage unit.""
"Where?""
"At the old Charleston railway depot before he died.""
Marcus looked at it.
"Another key?""
"To a storage unit.""
"Where?""
"At the old Charleston railway depot.""
Brooks immediately took it.
"We'll arrange a search.""
Eleanor shook her head.
"There's no time.""
"Why?""
"Because Daniel knows I came here.""
Marcus turned.
"How?""
Eleanor looked at him.""
Brooks immediately took it.
"We'll arrange a search.""
Eleanor shook her head.
"There's no time.""
"Why?""
"Because Daniel knows I came here.""
Marcus turned.
"How?""
Eleanor looked at him.
"He's been watching the hospital.""
The room fell silent.
Brooks stood.
"How do you know?""
Eleanor pulled out.
"He's been watching the hospital.""
The room fell silent.
Brooks stood.
"How do you know?""
Eleanor pulled out her phone.
A photograph appeared on the screen.
It showed Daniel standing outside the hospital entrance.
The timestamp was fifteen minutes earlier.
Underneath it was a message.
YOU SHOULD HAVE STAYED DEAD.
Marcus stared at the her phone.
A photograph appeared on the screen.
It showed Daniel standing outside the hospital entrance.
The timestamp was fifteen minutes earlier.
Underneath it was a message.
YOU SHOULD HAVE STAYED DEAD.
Marcus stared at the image.
"He's here?""
Eleanor nodded.
"He's been following me since I arrived in Charleston.""
Brooks immediately called the officers outside.
"Lock down the building. image.
"He's here?""
Eleanor nodded.
"He's been following me since I arrived in Charleston.""
Brooks immediately called the officers outside.
"Lock down the building. Nobody enters or leaves without identification.""
An officer answered.
"Understood.""
Then another voice came through the radio.
"Detective, we have a situation.""
Brooks grabbed the radio.
"What situation?""
Nobody enters or leaves without identification.""
An officer answered.
"Understood.""
Then another voice came through the radio.
"Detective, we have a situation.""
Brooks grabbed the radio.
"What situation?""
"Security camera failure on the east side. A vehicle just entered the underground parking garage.""
"Identify it.""
"Black SUV. Registered to Gregory Shaw.""
Marcus looked"Security camera failure on the east side. A vehicle just entered the underground parking garage.""
"Identify it.""
"Black SUV. Registered to Gregory Shaw.""
Marcus looked at Eleanor.
She whispered, "They're together.""
Brooks moved toward the door.
"Stay here.""
But Marcus was already standing.
"I'm coming at Eleanor.
She whispered, "They're together.""
Brooks moved toward the door.
"Stay here.""
But Marcus was already standing.
"I'm coming.""
"No.""
"That man helped kill my father. He may have helped put my mother in hiding. He was involved in the fraud that nearly killed Claire.""
".""
"No.""
"That man helped kill my father. He may have helped put my mother in hiding. He was involved in the fraud that nearly killed Claire.""
"Marcus, this is a police operation.""
"And my family is in the middle of it.""
Brooks stared at him.
Then she pointed at the chairMarcus, this is a police operation.""
"And my family is in the middle of it.""
Brooks stared at him.
Then she pointed at the chair.
"Stay with your mother and daughter. That's an order.""
Marcus reluctantly sat.
Eleanor reached for his hand.
He.
"Stay with your mother and daughter. That's an order.""
Marcus reluctantly sat.
Eleanor reached for his hand.
He pulled away.
"Not yet.""
She nodded sadly.
"I understand.""
For several minutes, the room remained silent.
Then Marcus's pulled away.
"Not yet.""
She nodded sadly.
"I understand.""
For several minutes, the room remained silent.
Then Marcus's phone rang.
Claire.
He answered immediately.
"Claire?""
Her voice was weak.
"Marcus, listen to me.""
"Are you okay?""
"Yes phone rang.
Claire.
He answered immediately.
"Claire?""
Her voice was weak.
"Marcus, listen to me.""
"Are you okay?""
"Yes. But I need you to come back to the hospital.""
"What's happened?""
"Someone came into my room.""
Marcus stood.
"Who?""
"I don't know. They were wearing. But I need you to come back to the hospital.""
"What's happened?""
"Someone came into my room.""
Marcus stood.
"Who?""
"I don't know. They were wearing a nurse's uniform.""
His stomach dropped.
"Did they hurt you?""
"No. But they left something.""
"What?""
Claire began crying.
"A photograph.""
Marcus closed his eyes.
"What photograph?""
"Of you a nurse's uniform.""
His stomach dropped.
"Did they hurt you?""
"No. But they left something.""
"What?""
Claire began crying.
"A photograph.""
Marcus closed his eyes.
"What photograph?""
"Of you.""
"Me?""
"At sixteen. Standing beside Ethan's car.""
Marcus looked toward Eleanor.
"What does it say?""
Claire swallowed.
"It.""
"Me?""
"At sixteen. Standing beside Ethan's car.""
Marcus looked toward Eleanor.
"What does it say?""
Claire swallowed.
"It says they know what really happened that night.""
Then she whispered something that made Marcus grip the phone harder.
"Marcus, there's something I haven't told you.""
"What?""
"I says they know what really happened that night.""
Then she whispered something that made Marcus grip the phone harder.
"Marcus, there's something I haven't told you.""
"What?""
"I found out who was driving the Mercedes when Ethan died.""
Marcus felt his heartbeat slow.
He knew what she was going to say.
But he needed to hear it.
"Who?""
Claire's voice found out who was driving the Mercedes when Ethan died.""
Marcus felt his heartbeat slow.
He knew what she was going to say.
But he needed to hear it.
"Who?""
Claire's voice broke.
"Daniel wasn't driving.""
Marcus closed his eyes.
"Then who was?""
Claire whispered:
"Your father.""
Marcus said nothing.
For a moment, he couldn't even breathe.
broke.
"Daniel wasn't driving.""
Marcus closed his eyes.
"Then who was?""
Claire whispered:
"Your father.""
Marcus said nothing.
For a moment, he couldn't even breathe.
Richard had written the letter.
Richard had recorded Daniel's confession.
Richard had supposedly tried to protect him.
But Claire was sayingRichard had written the letter.
Richard had recorded Daniel's confession.
Richard had supposedly tried to protect him.
But Claire was saying something else.
Something far worse.
"Claire, explain.""
"I found the original police report. The car was registered to your father. He was driving it before the accident.""
something else.
Something far worse.
"Claire, explain.""
"I found the original police report. The car was registered to your father. He was driving it before the accident.""
Marcus gripped the table.
"That's impossible.""
"I thought so too. But there's more.""
"What?""
"Your father told the police youMarcus gripped the table.
"That's impossible.""
"I thought so too. But there's more.""
"What?""
"Your father told the police you were driving.""
Marcus stared at the wall.
He remembered the accident.
He remembered waking in the hospital.
He remembered the pain.
And he remembered his father sitting beside his bed, telling him Ethan were driving.""
Marcus stared at the wall.
He remembered the accident.
He remembered waking in the hospital.
He remembered the pain.
And he remembered his father sitting beside his bed, telling him Ethan was gone.
"You've got this wrong.""
"I wish I did.""
"Why would Dad do that?""
"Because he was trying to protect Daniel.""
Marcus looked toward Eleanor.
His was gone.
"You've got this wrong.""
"I wish I did.""
"Why would Dad do that?""
"Because he was trying to protect Daniel.""
Marcus looked toward Eleanor.
His mother had heard everything.
Her face had gone white.
Then she whispered:
"Claire is right.""
Marcus turned.
"What?""
Eleanor covered her mouth.
" mother had heard everything.
Her face had gone white.
Then she whispered:
"Claire is right.""
Marcus turned.
"What?""
Eleanor covered her mouth.
"Richard was driving that night.""
The room seemed to tilt.
"And you knew?""
Eleanor nodded through tears.
"I found out after the funeral. Richard confessed everything to me before he died.""
Marcus steppedRichard was driving that night.""
The room seemed to tilt.
"And you knew?""
Eleanor nodded through tears.
"I found out after the funeral. Richard confessed everything to me before he died.""
Marcus stepped backward.
His entire life had been built around one lie.
And the person he had trusted most had been the one who created it.
backward.
May you like
His entire life had been built around one lie.
And the person he had trusted most had been the one who created it.
