Chapter 5: The Woman We Had Buried
I picked up the photograph with both hands.
“This is impossible.
Mother disappeared before Lily was born.”
Evelyn shook her head.
“No, Daniel.
Arthur made you believe she did.”
Arthur straightened his coat.
“Evelyn has always enjoyed drama.”
“She came to this bank six months ago,” Evelyn said.
“She was frightened, but she was alive.”
“Where is she?” Michael demanded.
Arthur glanced toward the door.
“Give me the key, and perhaps I’ll tell you.”
“You don’t have her,” I said.
He smiled.
“Would you gamble her life on that?”
Vanessa grabbed my sleeve.
“Daniel, give him the key.”
Michael slammed his palm against the table.
“That is what you always do.
He threatens someone, and you hand him whatever he wants.”
“I watched him take you once,” Vanessa cried.
“I won’t watch him take Lily.”
I turned to Evelyn.
“Open the box.”
“I need both registered holders,” she said.
“Who is the second?”
“Your mother.”
Arthur lifted the leather folder.
“Then the box stays closed.”
Two uniformed officers entered the room.
Arthur pointed at Michael.
“That’s the man who stole from my family and held my daughter-in-law against her will.”
“What?” Vanessa whispered.
One officer unfolded a printed statement.
“Mrs.
Cole, this carries your signature.”
Vanessa read the first lines and went pale.
“I never said this.”
“You signed the bottom,” Arthur replied.
“You simply failed to read what came before it.”
Michael backed against the wall as the officers approached.
“He is the victim,” I said.
“Arthur held him captjve.”
Arthur gave the officer a medical order.
“My son is unstable and dangerous.
You’ll find the court seal on page two.”
Michael looked at me.
“You brought me here.
You walked me straight back to him.”
The words broke something open inside me.
I dropped into the chair, the photograph of my mother shaking in my hand.
Lily’s voice came from the doorway.
“Dad?”
Mrs.
Greene stood beside her, one arm around her shoulders.
Her son, Deputy Samuel Greene, entered behind them.
“I told you to stay home,” I said.
Lily held up Vanessa’s tablet.
“Mom’s phone backed everything up to this.”
Vanessa stared at her.
“You opened my files?”
“No.
Your call played through the kitchen speaker after you left.”
Samuel took the tablet but did not unlock it.
“Mr.
Cole,” he said to Arthur, “these officers received their instructions from a private caller rather than dispatch.
I’d like everyone to remain here while that is checked.”
Arthur’s face hardened.
“Do you know who I am?”
“A man officially declared de@d eight years ago.”
One of the officers reached for his radio.
The other stepped away from Michael.
Mrs.
Greene pulled out a chair for me.
“Stand up, Daniel.
Your daughter came here because she still believes you can protect this family.”
I looked at Lily.
“I’m sorry,” I said.
“Then don’t give up.”
I stood.
Samuel connected the tablet to Evelyn’s computer.
A recorded call began playing.
Arthur’s voice filled the room.
“Once Daniel leaves for Chicago, move Michael.
Vanessa has delayed long enough.”
Vanessa’s voice answered, “I’ve done everything you asked.”
“Not everything.
The girl saw him.”
“She’s your granddaughter.”
“She’s a witness.”
Lily buried her face against Mrs.
Greene.
I moved toward Arthur, but Samuel held out an arm.
Arthur laughed.
“A recording without context proves nothing.”
Then another voice came through the speakers.
It was my mother’s.
“Arthur, if you touch Lily, I will come back and testify myself.”
Arthur turned toward the door.
A woman stood there with silver hair and a cane.
May you like
“Hello, Arthur,” my mother said.
“You should have stayed de@d.”
