Chapter 7: The Secret Behind the Stage
The## Chapter 7: The Secret Behind the Stage
The auditorium doors were already open when Brianna and I arrived auditorium doors were already open when Brianna and I arrived.
Inside, the graduation decorations were half-finished. Rows of folding chairs faced a wooden stage, and white paper lilies hung from the balcony rail.
Inside, the graduation decorations were half-finished. Rows of folding chairs faced a wooden stage, and white paper lilies hung from the balcony railings. A group of volunteers moved between the seats, arranging programs and testing microphones.
Everything looked ordinary.
That was what frightened me.
Somewhere inside that building, my mother had hidden the document that could exposeings. A group of volunteers moved between the seats, arranging programs and testing microphones.
Everything looked ordinary.
That was what frightened me.
Somewhere inside that building, my mother had hidden the document that could expose six years of lies. Somewhere inside that building, Vanessa was searching for the same thing.
And if Daniel Mercer was right, the original contract contained something that could change Bri six years of lies. Somewhere inside that building, Vanessa was searching for the same thing.
And if Daniel Mercer was right, the original contract contained something that could change Brianna's life, too.
“Stay close,” I told her.
Brianna pulled the hood of her sweatshirt over her blond hair.
“I'm not the one who wants toanna's life, too.
“Stay close,” I told her.
Brianna pulled the hood of her sweatshirt over her blond hair.
“I'm not the one who wants to run away.””
“I'm not running away.””
“You look like you're about to punch a wall.””
“Give me five minutes.””
She almost smiled.
Then the expression disappeared.
“Nia, if we run away.””
“I'm not running away.””
“You look like you're about to punch a wall.””
“Give me five minutes.””
She almost smiled.
Then the expression disappeared.
“Nia, if we find the document, what happens to Mom?””
I looked at her.
“What do you think should happen?””
She stared toward the stage.
“I don't know.””
It was the first honest answer I'd ever find the document, what happens to Mom?””
I looked at her.
“What do you think should happen?””
She stared toward the stage.
“I don't know.””
It was the first honest answer I'd ever heard from her.
I took the gown from my bag. I had repaired the lining as best I could, but the seam beneath the bodice remained open.
“If she stole money from heard from her.
I took the gown from my bag. I had repaired the lining as best I could, but the seam beneath the bodice remained open.
“If she stole money from the trust, she has to answer for it.””
“Even if I lose everything?””
I thought about the years Brianna had spent watching Vanessa reward cruelty and punish the trust, she has to answer for it.””
“Even if I lose everything?””
I thought about the years Brianna had spent watching Vanessa reward cruelty and punish kindness. I thought about how easily she had believed that taking something from me would somehow make her own life better.
“You shouldn't have to lose everything because of what your mother did,” I kindness. I thought about how easily she had believed that taking something from me would somehow make her own life better.
“You shouldn't have to lose everything because of what your mother did,” I said.
“But you can't ask me to pretend she did nothing.””
Brianna lowered her eyes.
“I know.””
We slipped behind the stage.
The costume storage room was at the end of a said.
“But you can't ask me to pretend she did nothing.””
Brianna lowered her eyes.
“I know.””
We slipped behind the stage.
The costume storage room was at the end of a narrow corridor, past a stack of music stands and several boxes of graduation programs. The door was unlocked.
Inside, racks of old costumes lined the walls. Dust floated through the narrow beam of sunlight coming narrow corridor, past a stack of music stands and several boxes of graduation programs. The door was unlocked.
Inside, racks of old costumes lined the walls. Dust floated through the narrow beam of sunlight coming from a high window. A battered mannequin stood beside a cabinet full of sewing supplies.
I ran my fingers over the wooden panel Daniel had marked in the photograph.
Nothing.
I checked the from a high window. A battered mannequin stood beside a cabinet full of sewing supplies.
I ran my fingers over the wooden panel Daniel had marked in the photograph.
Nothing.
I checked the edges.
Still nothing.
Brianna crouched beside me.
“Maybe it's behind the cabinet.””
We pushed it aside together.
The panel was narrower than I'd expected, almost invisible beneath edges.
Still nothing.
Brianna crouched beside me.
“Maybe it's behind the cabinet.””
We pushed it aside together.
The panel was narrower than I'd expected, almost invisible beneath layers of old paint. A small indentation had been carved near the bottom.
I pressed it.
A section of wood clicked inward.
My heart hammered.
Behind the panel was a shallow layers of old paint. A small indentation had been carved near the bottom.
I pressed it.
A section of wood clicked inward.
My heart hammered.
Behind the panel was a shallow compartment containing a sealed plastic sleeve, a small cassette recorder, and a photograph of my mother holding me as a baby.
The photograph had been folded in compartment containing a sealed plastic sleeve, a small cassette recorder, and a photograph of my mother holding me as a baby.
The photograph had been folded in half.
On the back, she had written:
For my daughter, when the truth finally catches up.
I reached for the plastic sleeve.
A voice came from the doorway.
“Step away from it, Nia.””
Vanessa stood there.
She wasn't wearing her usual polished smile. Her hair was pulled into a tight knot, and her cream blouse half.
On the back, she had written:
For my daughter, when the truth finally catches up.
I reached for the plastic sleeve.
A voice came from the doorway.
“Step away from it, Nia.””
Vanessa stood there.
She wasn't wearing her usual polished smile. Her hair was pulled into a tight knot, and her cream blouse was wrinkled beneath a dark jacket. She held her phone in one hand and a set of keys in the other.
Brianna rose slowly.
“Mom.””
Vanessa looked at was wrinkled beneath a dark jacket. She held her phone in one hand and a set of keys in the other.
Brianna rose slowly.
“Mom.””
Vanessa looked at her daughter.
“What are you doing here?””
Brianna swallowed.
“Helping Nia.””
For a moment, Vanessa seemed unable to process the words.
Then she laughed once.
“You cannot her daughter.
“What are you doing here?””
Brianna swallowed.
“Helping Nia.””
For a moment, Vanessa seemed unable to process the words.
Then she laughed once.
“You cannot be serious.””
“I am.””
“You have no idea what you're doing.””
“I know you took her dress.””
Vanessa's expression hardened.
“You have no idea what I've sacrificed for you.””
“You told me Nia was stealing our money.””
“Because she was going to take everything.””
“That's not what Dad be serious.””
“I am.””
“You have no idea what you're doing.””
“I know you took her dress.””
Vanessa's expression hardened.
“You have no idea what I've sacrificed for you.””
“You told me Nia was stealing our money.””
“Because she was going to take everything.””
“That's not what Dad said.””
Vanessa stepped into the room.
“Your father has always been weak. He lets guilt make his decisions. I was the only person keeping this family together.””
“You said.””
Vanessa stepped into the room.
“Your father has always been weak. He lets guilt make his decisions. I was the only person keeping this family together.””
“You kept us together by lying?””
“Brianna, move away from her.””
“No.””
The word was small, but it changed kept us together by lying?””
“Brianna, move away from her.””
“No.””
The word was small, but it changed the room.
Vanessa stared at her daughter.
Then she turned toward me.
“Give me the sleeve.””
I held it against my chest.
“No.””
“Nia, I am trying to save you from a mistake you the room.
Vanessa stared at her daughter.
Then she turned toward me.
“Give me the sleeve.””
I held it against my chest.
“No.””
“Nia, I am trying to save you from a mistake you don't understand.””
“You said that before.””
“Because it's true.””
“Then why are you so desperate to get this document?””
Her jaw tightened.
“Because your mother don't understand.””
“You said that before.””
“Because it's true.””
“Then why are you so desperate to get this document?””
Her jaw tightened.
“Because your mother made a terrible decision, and she left the consequences for everyone else to deal with.””
“You mean she tried to protect us.””
“I mean she was dying made a terrible decision, and she left the consequences for everyone else to deal with.””
“You mean she tried to protect us.””
“I mean she was dying, frightened, and determined to punish people she believed had betrayed her.””
I looked at the photograph of my mother.
“Did she know about the money?””
, frightened, and determined to punish people she believed had betrayed her.””
I looked at the photograph of my mother.
“Did she know about the money?””
Vanessa said nothing.
“Did she know you'd transferred it?””
“Give me the sleeve.””
“Did you forge her signature?””
Vanessa lunged.
I twisted away, but she caught the plastic sleeveVanessa said nothing.
“Did she know you'd transferred it?””
“Give me the sleeve.””
“Did you forge her signature?””
Vanessa lunged.
I twisted away, but she caught the plastic sleeve with her fingertips. Brianna grabbed her mother's wrist.
“Stop!””
Vanessa jerked her arm free.
“Let go of me!””
The sleeve slipped from my hands and struck the floor.
The seal split with her fingertips. Brianna grabbed her mother's wrist.
“Stop!””
Vanessa jerked her arm free.
“Let go of me!””
The sleeve slipped from my hands and struck the floor.
The seal split.
Papers scattered across the dusty boards.
Vanessa dropped to her knees, scrambling to gather them.
I saw the first page.
A formal trust agreement.
The second page contained a table.
Papers scattered across the dusty boards.
Vanessa dropped to her knees, scrambling to gather them.
I saw the first page.
A formal trust agreement.
The second page contained a table of beneficiaries.
My name appeared first.
Beneath it was another name.
*Brianna Elise Mercer.*
Brianna stared at the page.
“What is of beneficiaries.
My name appeared first.
Beneath it was another name.
*Brianna Elise Mercer.*
Brianna stared at the page.
“What is that?””
Vanessa froze.
I snatched the document before she could reach it.
The contract stated that my grandfather had established a family trust for the education, housing, and long-term security of his descendants that?””
Vanessa froze.
I snatched the document before she could reach it.
The contract stated that my grandfather had established a family trust for the education, housing, and long-term security of his descendants. I was the primary beneficiary, but a separate provision protected Brianna as the daughter of Daniel Mercer, my mother's trusted colleague and the man my grandfather had formally recognized. I was the primary beneficiary, but a separate provision protected Brianna as the daughter of Daniel Mercer, my mother's trusted colleague and the man my grandfather had formally recognized as family.
The money had never been intended for Vanessa.
It had never been hers to transfer.
And Brianna hadn't been an outsider trying to steal my future.
She had been a beneficiary whose existence as family.
The money had never been intended for Vanessa.
It had never been hers to transfer.
And Brianna hadn't been an outsider trying to steal my future.
She had been a beneficiary whose existence Vanessa had deliberately concealed from the trust administrators.
Brianna read the page over my shoulder.
Her lips parted.
“Mom, you told me my father left us Vanessa had deliberately concealed from the trust administrators.
Brianna read the page over my shoulder.
Her lips parted.
“Mom, you told me my father left us with nothing.””
Vanessa stood abruptly.
“Your father abandoned you.””
“Then why is his name on this contract?””
“He had no right to involve himself in our affairs.””
“Why am I with nothing.””
Vanessa stood abruptly.
“Your father abandoned you.””
“Then why is his name on this contract?””
“He had no right to involve himself in our affairs.””
“Why am I listed as a beneficiary?””
“Because Elena made a mistake!””
Brianna recoiled as if she'd been struck.
I turned another page.
There was a clause requiring the trustee to preserve the original trust assets and disclose all transfers to the beneficiaries upon their eighteenth birthdays.
My eighteenth birthday listed as a beneficiary?””
“Because Elena made a mistake!””
Brianna recoiled as if she'd been struck.
I turned another page.
There was a clause requiring the trustee to preserve the original trust assets and disclose all transfers to the beneficiaries upon their eighteenth birthdays.
My eighteenth birthday had passed two months earlier.
Brianna's was only a few months away.
The original agreement had been designed to protect both of us.
Vanessa had taken the money while keeping each had passed two months earlier.
Brianna's was only a few months away.
The original agreement had been designed to protect both of us.
Vanessa had taken the money while keeping each of us ignorant of the rights we already possessed.
I looked at her.
“You didn't just steal my money.””
Her eyes flashed.
“Don't be dramatic.””
“You stole of us ignorant of the rights we already possessed.
I looked at her.
“You didn't just steal my money.””
Her eyes flashed.
“Don't be dramatic.””
“You stole Brianna's future, too.””
For the first time, Vanessa looked at her daughter and saw someone who might no longer obey her.
She took a step forward.
“Brianna, listen to me. Your father has Brianna's future, too.””
For the first time, Vanessa looked at her daughter and saw someone who might no longer obey her.
She took a step forward.
“Brianna, listen to me. Your father has been manipulating you. He wants to use you to get back at me.””
Brianna shook her head.
“You said he didn't care about me.””
“He doesn't.””
“ been manipulating you. He wants to use you to get back at me.””
Brianna shook her head.
“You said he didn't care about me.””
“He doesn't.””
“Then why did he keep trying to contact me?””
Vanessa's mouth tightened.
“He wants money.””
Brianna's eyes filled with tears.
“You always said that about NThen why did he keep trying to contact me?””
Vanessa's mouth tightened.
“He wants money.””
Brianna's eyes filled with tears.
“You always said that about Nia, too.””
Vanessa slapped the papers out of my hand.
“Enough!””
The pages scattered again.
“You have both been fedia, too.””
Vanessa slapped the papers out of my hand.
“Enough!””
The pages scattered again.
“You have both been fed lies by a dead woman and a man who abandoned his child. You think this contract will save you? It won't. It will drag this entire family through lies by a dead woman and a man who abandoned his child.
You think this contract will save you? It won't. It will drag this entire family through court, expose every private detail of your lives, and leave you with nothing.””
I bent to gather the pages.
“That's still better than living inside your lie.””
Vanessa seized my court, expose every private detail of your lives, and leave you with nothing.””
I bent to gather the pages.
“That's still better than living inside your lie.””
Vanessa seized my arm.
“You ungrateful little—”
Brianna shoved herself between us.
“Don't touch her!””
Vanessa released me.
For a second, the three of us stood frozen in the cramped room.
Then footsteps arm.
“You ungrateful little—”
Brianna shoved herself between us.
“Don't touch her!””
Vanessa released me.
For a second, the three of us stood frozen in the cramped room.
Then footsteps sounded in the corridor.
A man's voice called out.
“Nia?””
Daniel Mercer appeared in the doorway.
He was older than in the photographs, with more gray in his hair and a deeper sounded in the corridor.
A man's voice called out.
“Nia?””
Daniel Mercer appeared in the doorway.
He was older than in the photographs, with more gray in his hair and a deeper scar along his left temple. He wore a dark jacket and carried a leather document case.
His gaze went immediately to Brianna.
She stared at him.
Neither moved.
Finally, he scar along his left temple. He wore a dark jacket and carried a leather document case.
His gaze went immediately to Brianna.
She stared at him.
Neither moved.
Finally, he said, “Hello, sweetheart.””
Brianna's face crumpled.
“You came back.””
Daniel's eyes filled with tears.
“I never stopped trying.””
Vanessa stepped between them.
“Get out.””
Daniel looked at her calmly.
“No.””
“You have no right to said, “Hello, sweetheart.””
Brianna's face crumpled.
“You came back.””
Daniel's eyes filled with tears.
“I never stopped trying.””
Vanessa stepped between them.
“Get out.””
Daniel looked at her calmly.
“No.””
“You have no right to be here.””
“I have every right to be here. And I have the records to prove it.””
He opened the document case and removed several notarized statements, be here.””
“I have every right to be here. And I have the records to prove it.””
He opened the document case and removed several notarized statements, bank records, and a letter bearing my mother's signature.
“I've spent six years trying to recover the evidence Elena entrusted to me,” he said.
“You threatened my daughter, isolated her bank records, and a letter bearing my mother's signature.
“I've spent six years trying to recover the evidence Elena entrusted to me,” he said.
“You threatened my daughter, isolated her from me, and told her I abandoned her because you knew she was one of the people you were stealing from.””
Brianna covered her mouth.
Daniel looked at her.
“I should have fought harder to reach you. I'm sorry I let fear keep me away. But I never stopped loving you.””
Vanessa shook her head violently.
“Don't listen to him.””
Brianna looked at from me, and told her I abandoned her because you knew she was one of the people you were stealing from.””
Brianna covered her mouth.
Daniel looked at her.
“I should have fought harder to reach you. I'm sorry I let fear keep me away. But I never stopped loving you.””
Vanessa shook her head violently.
“Don't listen to him.””
Brianna looked at the contract in my hands.
Then at the man standing in the doorway.
Then at her mother.
“I want to know the truth.””
Vanessa's face changed.
The anger the contract in my hands.
Then at the man standing in the doorway.
Then at her mother.
“I want to know the truth.””
Vanessa's face changed.
The anger vanished, replaced by something much colder.
“Then you should know this,” she said.
“Your father wasn't the only person who helped move the money. Robert knew exactly what he was signing. He knew vanished, replaced by something much colder.
“Then you should know this,” she said.
“Your father wasn't the only person who helped move the money. Robert knew exactly what he was signing. He knew what would happen to Elena's trust, and he agreed to it because he wanted to keep the house.””
I felt the words like a punch.
Daniel looked toward me.
“Nia, don't let her turn this what would happen to Elena's trust, and he agreed to it because he wanted to keep the house.””
I felt the words like a punch.
Daniel looked toward me.
“Nia, don't let her turn this into another argument. We need to secure the original before she can destroy it.””
He reached for the papers.
I hesitated.
Something about the final page bothered me.
The contract appeared complete, but the last into another argument. We need to secure the original before she can destroy it.””
He reached for the papers.
I hesitated.
Something about the final page bothered me.
The contract appeared complete, but the last paragraph ended abruptly. There was a reference to an attached schedule listing the original account numbers and the identities of the authorized trustees.
The schedule was missing.
“Where's the rest?”” I asked.
Daniel's expression tightened.
“It should be attached.””
Vanessa suddenly smiled.
It was the same smile she had worn when she paragraph ended abruptly. There was a reference to an attached schedule listing the original account numbers and the identities of the authorized trustees.
The schedule was missing.
“Where's the rest?”” I asked.
Daniel's expression tightened.
“It should be attached.””
Vanessa suddenly smiled.
It was the same smile she had worn when she told me to clean the paint from the floor.
“You're right, Nia,” she said.
“There is another page.””
She reached into her handbag and pulled out a folded sheet.
Then she held told me to clean the paint from the floor.
“You're right, Nia,” she said.
“There is another page.””
She reached into her handbag and pulled out a folded sheet.
Then she held it over a small portable lighter she'd taken from her pocket.
“Give me the original agreement, or I'll burn the only page that identifies who really controlled the trust.””
I stared at it over a small portable lighter she'd taken from her pocket.
“Give me the original agreement, or I'll burn the only page that identifies who really controlled the trust.””
I stared at the flame trembling beneath the paper.
Behind Vanessa, Brianna whispered, “Mom, don't.””
Vanessa looked at her daughter.
“You wanted the truth? Here it is. Your the flame trembling beneath the paper.
Behind Vanessa, Brianna whispered, “Mom, don't.””
Vanessa looked at her daughter.
“You wanted the truth? Here it is. Your father was the first person to propose the transfer.””
Daniel went pale.
I turned toward him.
“Is that true?””
He didn't answer quickly enough.
Vanessa lifted the paper closer to the flame.
And father was the first person to propose the transfer.””
Daniel went pale.
I turned toward him.
“Is that true?””
He didn't answer quickly enough.
Vanessa lifted the paper closer to the flame.
And in that terrible moment, I realized the secret behind the stage might expose far more than my stepmother's crimes.
It might reveal that the people I in that terrible moment, I realized the secret behind the stage might expose far more than my stepmother's crimes.
May you like
It might reveal that the people I thought were protecting my mother had been hiding their own betrayals all along.
thought were protecting my mother had been hiding their own betrayals all along.
