Chapter 10 - The Aunt Who Disappeared First
Emma had not seen Rebecca Sloan in seventeen years.
As a child, Emma adored her.
Rebecca was glamorous where Margaret was practical.
She wore bright lipstick, drove convertibles, bought extravagant birthday presents, and disappeared for months without explanation.
Then, shortly before Emma finished nursing school, Rebecca vanished from the family.
Margaret always said they had argued.
No details.
"Where is she?" Emma asked.
"I don't know."
Margaret sat inside the villa kitchen, both hands wrapped around untouched tea.
"You haven't spoken for seventeen years?"
"Once."
"When?"
"The night your father died."
Emma stared.
Margaret's voice shook.
"Rebecca called at four in the morning."
Daniel's factory accident occurred at 6:40 a.m.
"What did she say?"
"She asked if Daniel had gone to work."
Margaret swallowed.
"I said yes."
"Then?"
"She told me to take you and Brandon away from Briarwood."
Emma felt anger rising again.
"And you didn't?"
"Daniel was dying in a hospital."
"Why didn't you tell police?"
"Because she said if I did, you would be next."
Brandon paced.
"This entire family is insane."
Emma turned.
"You forged my signature for four million dollars."
"Fair point."
Ortiz had issued alerts for Peter Caldwell, Elias Vale, and Martin Vale.
Peter did not report to work.
His wife claimed he left before dawn.
Martin's vehicle was discovered near the interstate.
Elias remained a ghost.
Meanwhile, Emma sent the forged loan records to attorney Rachel Lin.
Rachel had represented Emma in several property matters.
Her reaction was immediate.
"They were close."
"How close?"
"Possibly forty-eight hours from funding."
Emma closed her eyes.
"If I hadn't come home?"
"They might have received four million dollars against your property."
Emma looked toward Brandon.
He stared at the floor.
Rachel continued.
"I'm filing emergency notices on the title. Nobody touches the house."
"And Brandon and Vanessa?"
"If you want them removed, we begin now."
"I want them removed."
Vanessa, listening from the doorway, laughed bitterly.
"Of course you do."
Emma turned.
Vanessa had packed three suitcases.
For the first time, she looked smaller without an audience.
"I hated your mother," Vanessa said.
Margaret looked away.
Emma stood.
"Don't speak to her."
"I hated her because Brandon loved her more than me."
Brandon stared.
"Vanessa."
"It's true."
She laughed, tears appearing.
"Every decision. Every holiday. Every dollar. Margaret first."
Emma almost could not believe what she was hearing.
"So you abused her?"
Vanessa wiped her face.
"I wanted her gone."
"You could've left."
Vanessa stared at her.
"This house was supposed to save us."
Emma stepped closer.
"From what?"
Vanessa looked at Brandon.
He whispered, "Don't."
She laughed.
"Still protecting secrets?"
She opened her handbag.
Inside was a stack of letters.
"I found these six months ago."
Emma took them.
All addressed to Brandon.
All from Elias.
One included a photograph of Margaret leaving a pharmacy.
Another showed Emma outside her Chicago hospital.
The last showed a woman standing at an airport.
Emma turned it over.
A name was written on the back.
REBECCA SLOAN.
May you like
Beneath it:
SHE'S COMING HOME.
