Chapter 7 - The Small White Coffin
On the morning of the funeral, Lena entered the chapel before sunrise.
The candles had not yet been lit. The rows of polished wooden seats stood empty.
At the front were the two coffins.
Lena walked first to Maya’s.
She placed one hand on the polished wood.
“I found it,” she whispered. “I found everything.”
Her voice broke for the first time since the hospital.
She remembered Maya at nine years old, cutting Lena’s hair with kitchen scissors because they wanted to look like twins. She remembered Maya at seventeen, standing between Lena and a school bully. She remembered the night Maya called to say she was pregnant, laughing and crying at the same time.
Then Lena turned toward the smaller coffin.
A white ribbon was tied around it.
Maya had planned to name her daughter Hope.
Lena placed a small silver bracelet beside the ribbon. It had belonged to their mother.
“I’m sorry we never met,” Lena whispered.
Rose Caldwell entered quietly and stood beside her.
“Maya knew what Daniel was doing,” Rose said. “She also knew you would not stop.”
“I should have reached her sooner.”
“You came as soon as she called.”
“It wasn’t soon enough.”
Rose waited before responding.
“Daniel caused the delay. Not you.”
Lena looked at the framed photograph between the coffins. Maya stood in a garden, smiling with both hands over her stomach.
“I keep thinking about the last thing she said.”
“What was it?”
“She told me not to believe Daniel’s first story.”
Rose touched Lena’s shoulder.
“Then make sure everyone hears the real one.”
Outside, an unmarked police vehicle parked across the street. Officers tested their radios. Financial investigators took positions near the chapel doors.
A listening device had been placed near the entrance.
At 9:42, Daniel’s car arrived.
Celeste sat beside him in a red dress.
Before leaving the vehicle, Daniel made a phone call.
The listening team captured every word.
“Move everything from the Bellweather account today,” Daniel said. “The police have nothing. After the funeral, Celeste and I are leaving.”
The missing account had finally been identified.
Captain Hayes sent Lena a single message.
We have enough.
May you like
The chapel doors opened.
Daniel entered as though he owned the grief inside.
