Chapter 8: The Woman Who Came Back
The pounding came again.
Three hard knocks.
Then silence.
Tasha grabbed my arm.
“Was that him?””
Evelyn didn't answer.
She moved toward the door and locked the inner security bolt.
“Stay here.””
“No,” I said.
She turned.
“Maya—”
“I've had enough people telling me what to do.””
The pounding started again.
This time, a voice came through the glass.
“Evelyn!””
Marcus.
Tasha stepped backward.
“What does he want?””
Evelyn's face hardened.
“To make sure that file never leaves this building.””
Marcus pounded again.
“Maya!””
I walked toward the reception area.
“Don't,” Tasha whispered.
But I kept going.
Marcus stood outside in the rain.
His hair was soaked.
His expensive shirt was clinging to his shoulders.
He looked furious.
But underneath the anger, I saw fear.
Real fear.
I opened the inner door.
“What do you want?””
“Maya, come with me.””
“No.””
“You don't understand what's happening.””
“Then explain.””
He looked at Evelyn.
“Not here.””
I laughed bitterly.
“You've said that all day.””
He lowered his voice.
“Your mother is in danger.””
“My mother?””
“Nia.””
Tasha stepped forward.
“After everything you've done, you expect us to believe you?””
Marcus looked at her.
“I know what it looks like.””
“It looks like you stole my money.””
“I was trying to save the family.””
“You forged documents.””
“I didn't forge those.””
I stared at him.
“Then who did?””
He looked at me.
“Nia.””
My stomach dropped.
“What?””
“She forged your signature.””
I thought of my mother admitting that she'd signed the first document.
Marcus continued.
“She wanted access to your trust.””
Evelyn shook her head.
“That doesn't explain the transfer request.””
“No,” Marcus said.
“It doesn't.””
He looked directly at me.
“Because I didn't make that request either.””
Tasha crossed her arms.
“Then who did?””
Marcus's voice dropped.
“Your biological mother.””
The room went silent.
I felt the floor tilt beneath me.
“You know Elena?””
“Yes.””
“How?””
Marcus looked away.
“She was there the night Daniel died.””
Tasha stared at him.
“You're saying she was involved?””
“I didn't say that.””
“Then what are you saying?””
Marcus rubbed his face.
“Daniel wasn't murdered.””
I stared.
“What?””
“He died in an accident.””
“You said nothing about an accident before.””
“Because I was afraid.””
“Of what?””
“Of the truth.””
Evelyn opened the door.
“Come inside.””
Marcus entered.
He removed his wet jacket.
I couldn't stop watching him.
“You knew Elena was alive.””
“Yes.””
“For how long?””
“Sixteen years.””
My heart hurt.
“You let me believe my mother was Nia.””
Marcus looked at me.
“I thought it was safer.””
“Safer for who?””
He didn't answer.
Tasha stepped forward.
“You keep saying you protected us.””
Marcus looked at her.
“Your father made a mistake.””
“What mistake?””
“He trusted the wrong person.””
“Who?””
Marcus stared at me.
“Your grandmother.””
I frowned.
“What?””
“She knew Daniel was investigating the trusts. She knew money was disappearing. But she didn't know who was doing it.””
Evelyn interrupted.
“She suspected Marcus.””
“She was wrong.””
“Then why did she leave these warnings?””
“Because she discovered something afterward.””
“What?””
Marcus looked at me.
“She discovered that Daniel had another daughter.””
I froze.
“What?””
He nodded.
“Elena wasn't Daniel's only child.””
Tasha looked confused.
“Then who?””
Marcus's eyes remained fixed on me.
“You.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
“You were born to Elena. Daniel was your father.””
“Yes.””
“But Daniel had another child.””
I couldn't understand.
“Who?””
Marcus swallowed.
“My daughter.””
Tasha went still.
I looked at her.
“What?””
Marcus nodded.
“Tasha was Daniel's biological daughter too.””
Nobody moved.
Tasha's face emptied of color.
“My mother…”
“Elena was your father's partner,” Marcus said.
“Before she met Daniel, she was with me.””
Tasha stepped backward.
“No.””
“I didn't know about Daniel until later.””
“You're lying.””
“I wish I were.””
Evelyn suddenly looked at the documents.
“That means the two trusts…”
Marcus nodded.
“They were created for both daughters.””
I stared at Tasha.
Sister.
Not stepsister.
Not half-sister.
Something much more complicated.
Tasha whispered,
“Then why did my mother give me to Marcus?””
Marcus shook his head.
“She didn't.””
“Then why am I here?””
“Because Daniel died.””
“And?””
“Because Elena disappeared.””
“Why?””
Marcus didn't answer.
Tasha screamed.
“Why?””
Marcus finally broke.
“Because someone tried to kill her!””
The room fell silent.
I stared at him.
“Who?””
He looked at Evelyn.
“Tell them.””
Evelyn slowly shook her head.
“No.””
“Evelyn.””
“No.””
I stepped between them.
“Tell me.””
Evelyn looked at me.
“Your grandmother arranged for Elena to disappear after Daniel's death.””
“Why?””
“To keep her alive.””
I couldn't breathe.
Marcus whispered,
“Because the person who killed Daniel believed Elena had the evidence.””
“What evidence?””
Marcus looked at me.
“The original trust records.””
My heart sank.
“The records that prove who stole the money?””
“Yes.””
“And Elena has them?””
He nodded.
“She always has.””
I thought about the voice on the phone.
The woman across the street.
The dark SUV.
Then I remembered her final warning.
*That's not me.*
I ran toward the front door.
Tasha followed.
Outside, across the street, the dark SUV was still there.
Its engine was running now.
Then a woman stepped out.
Long dark hair.
Black coat.
She looked up at the office.
Even from that distance, I knew.
My body recognized her before my mind did.
“Elena.””
She lifted her hand.
Then she pointed behind us.
I turned.
At the end of the hallway stood my mother.
Nia was holding a gun.
May you like
And she wasn't pointing it at Marcus.
She was pointing it at Elena.
