Michael nodded.

But as he closed the folder, Madison suddenly spoke.

“There's a reason Mom was desperate to finish the transfer before today.””

Everyone turned toward her.

She wiped her cheeks.

“Grant told her the company wasn't being acquired. He said the money was already gone.””

Vanessa shot to her feet.

“Madison, stop!””

Madison flinched but continued.

“He told Mom that the only way to recover it was to get Emily's shares. And he said if she failed, he would tell everyone what happened to Emily's mother.””

My heart stopped.

Dad grabbed the edge of the table.

“What did he say happened to her?””

Madison looked at me.

“I don't know all of it. But last night, I heard Mom tell Grant that Emily's mother had discovered the truth before she died.””

Vanessa's face had become ghostly white.

I turned toward her.

“What truth?””

She shook her head frantically.

“Your mother was sick. That's all.””

Madison began to sob.

“Mom, you told me Eleanor had proof!””

Vanessa stared at her daughter as though she had betrayed something sacred.

Then she whispered six words that changed the room.

“Your mother wasn't supposed to die.””

Dad went completely still.

I couldn't breathe.

And before Vanessa could explain what she meant, someone knocked sharply on the conference room door.

Michael opened it.

A uniformed officer stood in the hallway, holding a document.

“Mr. Bennett?”” he asked.

“We need to speak with you and your family about a report filed this morning.””

Dad's face tightened.

“What report?””

The officer glanced at the paper.

“A complaint concerning the suspicious transfer of assets from your late wife's estate—and a witness who claims her death may not have been entirely accidental.””

Chapter 10: The Report That Reopened My Mother's## Chapter 10: The Report That Reopened My Mother's Death

For ten years, I had believed my mother died because cancer had taken her from us.

Now, standing in a hotel conference room on the morning of my wedding, I was listening Death

For ten years, I had believed my mother died because cancer had taken her from us.

Now, standing in a hotel conference room on the morning of my wedding, I was listening to a police officer explain that someone had filed a report suggesting her death might not have been entirely accidental.

I to a police officer explain that someone had filed a report suggesting her death might not have been entirely accidental.

I gripped the edge of the table.

“What does that mean?”” I asked.

“Are you saying someone gripped the edge of the table.

“What does that mean?”” I asked.

“Are you saying someone killed my mother?””

The officer, Detective Harris, didn't answer immediately. He placed the report in front of Michael Reeves and pulled out a chair killed my mother?””

The officer, Detective Harris, didn't answer immediately. He placed the report in front of Michael Reeves and pulled out a chair.

“I'm saying someone has provided information that warrants further investigation. We haven't established that a crime occurred.””

Dad looked as though he had aged ten years in ten minutes.

“My wife died in.

“I'm saying someone has provided information that warrants further investigation. We haven't established that a crime occurred.””

Dad looked as though he had aged ten years in ten minutes.

“My wife died in a hospital,” he said.

“She was under the care of an oncologist. I was with her.””

“I understand, Mr. Bennett,” Detective Harris replied.

“We're not making an accusation against anyone. We need to a hospital,” he said.

“She was under the care of an oncologist. I was with her.””

“I understand, Mr. Bennett,” Detective Harris replied.

“We're not making an accusation against anyone. We need to establish whether the information in this report is credible.””

Vanessa sat rigidly in her chair.

Her hands were clasped so tightly that her knuckles had turned white.

I noticed she hadn't asked a single question about my mother.

Instead establish whether the information in this report is credible.””

Vanessa sat rigidly in her chair.

Her hands were clasped so tightly that her knuckles had turned white.

I noticed she hadn't asked a single question about my mother.

Instead, she kept looking at the conference room door.

“Who filed the report?”” Dad asked.

“The source has requested protection while we assess the information. However, we have reason to believe the person has access to financial records connected to your late wife's estate.””

Michael, she kept looking at the conference room door.

“Who filed the report?”” Dad asked.

“The source has requested protection while we assess the information. However, we have reason to believe the person has access to financial records connected to your late wife's estate.””

Michael exchanged a glance with the detective.

“Was the report filed before or after the attempted trust transfer?””

“This morning.””

My phone buzzed on the table.

An unknown number.

Don't let Vanessa leave. She knows what happened in the hospital.

I stared at the message, my pulse hammering in my ears.

Daniel exchanged a glance with the detective.

“Was the report filed before or after the attempted trust transfer?””

“This morning.””

My phone buzzed on the table.

An unknown number.

Don't let Vanessa leave. She knows what happened in the hospital.

I stared at the message, my pulse hammering in my ears.

Daniel leaned over my shoulder.

“Emily? What is it?””

I passed him the phone.

His expression hardened.

“Detective, she just received this.””

Harris photographed the screen and asked me leaned over my shoulder.

“Emily? What is it?””

I passed him the phone.

His expression hardened.

“Detective, she just received this.””

Harris photographed the screen and asked me to preserve the message.

“Don't respond to it,” he instructed.

“We'll investigate the sender.””

Dad turned toward Vanessa.

“Did you know anything about this?””

She shook her head too quickly.

“No to preserve the message.

“Don't respond to it,” he instructed.

“We'll investigate the sender.””

Dad turned toward Vanessa.

“Did you know anything about this?””

She shook her head too quickly.

“No. Of course not.””

“Then why did you say your mother wasn't supposed to die?”” I demanded.

Vanessa looked at me, and for a moment her composure slipped.

“I was angry. I said something I. Of course not.””

“Then why did you say your mother wasn't supposed to die?”” I demanded.

Vanessa looked at me, and for a moment her composure slipped.

“I was angry. I said something I shouldn't have.””

“You don't accidentally say something like that about a woman who supposedly died of cancer.””

“Emily,” Dad warned softly, “let the detective ask the questions.””

I swallowed shouldn't have.””

“You don't accidentally say something like that about a woman who supposedly died of cancer.””

“Emily,” Dad warned softly, “let the detective ask the questions.””

I swallowed the anger burning my throat.

Detective Harris opened his notebook.

“Mrs. Bennett, did you know Eleanor Mercer before your marriage to Richard?””

“Yes.””

“Did she discuss your husband's business or his former wife's the anger burning my throat.

Detective Harris opened his notebook.

“Mrs. Bennett, did you know Eleanor Mercer before your marriage to Richard?””

“Yes.””

“Did she discuss your husband's business or his former wife's estate with you?””

Vanessa glanced at Michael.

“I met Eleanor through an investment group. We discussed several business opportunities.””

“Did she ever tell you that she possessed information about Emily's mother's death?””

Vanessa hesitated.

Then estate with you?””

Vanessa glanced at Michael.

“I met Eleanor through an investment group. We discussed several business opportunities.””

“Did she ever tell you that she possessed information about Emily's mother's death?””

Vanessa hesitated.

Then she whispered, “Yes.””

The room went silent.

Dad rose halfway from his chair.

“What?””

Vanessa pressed both palms against the table.

“Eleanor claimed that something had gone wrong during your she whispered, “Yes.””

The room went silent.

Dad rose halfway from his chair.

“What?””

Vanessa pressed both palms against the table.

“Eleanor claimed that something had gone wrong during your first wife's treatment. She said there were irregularities in the medical billing and that someone had changed a document after the fact.””

“Why didn't you tell me?”” Dad demanded.

“Because I didn't know if she was telling the truth!””

“Then why did you keep meeting her?””

Vanessa's eyes flashed.

“Because first wife's treatment. She said there were irregularities in the medical billing and that someone had changed a document after the fact.””

“Why didn't you tell me?”” Dad demanded.

“Because I didn't know if she was telling the truth!””

“Then why did you keep meeting her?””

Vanessa's eyes flashed.

“Because she said she could prove it.””

I stared at her.

“You used my mother's death as a bargaining chip?””

“No!””

“You knew she might have been harmed, and you said nothing?””

“I was trying to find out what happened!””

Detective Harris raised a she said she could prove it.””

I stared at her.

“You used my mother's death as a bargaining chip?””

“No!””

“You knew she might have been harmed, and you said nothing?””

“I was trying to find out what happened!””

Detective Harris raised a hand.

“Mrs. Bennett, when did these conversations occur?””

Vanessa rubbed her forehead.