Chapter 6 - The Son Who Wanted Her Blind
Elaine read the message three times.
“My procedure cannot be canceled without my permission.”
“It can if Brandon claims you are mentally incapacitated,” Sophie said.
“I am not incapacitated.”
“The court has only his evidence.”
“What evidence?”
“Your missed bills. The break-in. The report that you disappeared with me.”
“I did not disappear. You rescued me.”
“We have to prove that.”
The police cars stopped near the motel office.
Sophie turned off the lights.
Elaine remained standing.
“I will not run from my own son.”
“Brandon is not trying to bring you home.”
“Then what does he want?”
“He wants you unable to challenge the documents you signed.”
Elaine stared at her.
“The operation would protect my sight.”
“Yes.”
“And he canceled it.”
Sophie did not need to explain further.
If Elaine’s vision deteriorated, she would become more dependent. Brandon could present himself as the responsible son caring for a confused, disabled mother.
The understanding hurt more than the diagnosis.
Someone knocked on the motel door.
“Police. Open the door.”
Elaine stepped forward.
Sophie caught her hand.
“Listen to me. They may separate us. Tell them about the trust, the hidden room, and the man Brandon sent.”
“I will.”
“Do not let Brandon take you to a private facility.”
Elaine’s stomach tightened.
“Why would he?”
“Because he has already reserved a room.”
The police knocked again.
Elaine opened the door.
Two officers entered. They ordered Sophie to place her hands where they could see them.
Elaine immediately moved between them.
“She did not kidnap me.”
One officer spoke gently. “Mrs. Mercer, we need to confirm that you are safe.”
“I am safe with her.”
“Your son reported that Ms. Hale took you after stealing money.”
“She paid for my medical procedure.”
“With money from your late husband’s trust?”
“Yes.”
“Did you authorize her to access that trust?”
“She did not access it. The attorney transferred the money.”
The officers exchanged a glance.
“Mrs. Mercer, your son provided medical documentation suggesting you may be experiencing confusion related to impaired vision and medication.”
“What medication?”
“A sedative prescribed last month.”
“I have never taken a sedative.”
Sophie’s eyes narrowed.
“Who signed the prescription?”
The officer checked his notes.
“Dr. Leonard Vale.”
Elaine recognized the name.
Vale was Vanessa’s brother.
“He is not my doctor,” she said.
“Your son submitted records showing two consultations.”
“There were no consultations.”
The officers asked Elaine to come with them voluntarily for evaluation.
She refused until they explained that Brandon’s guardianship order required her cooperation.
Sophie was placed in handcuffs.
Elaine protested, but the officers assured her that Sophie was only being detained for questioning.
They transported Elaine to a private medical center outside the city.
Brandon waited in the lobby.
He rushed toward her with his arms open.
Elaine stepped back.
“Where is Sophie?”
“She is with the police.”
“You accused her of kidnapping me.”
“I was terrified.”
“You sent a man into my house.”
Brandon’s expression did not change.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“He said you told him where the tapes were.”
“Mother, you were frightened and your vision was failing. You may have misunderstood.”
Elaine slapped him.
The sound echoed across the lobby.
A receptionist looked up.
Brandon slowly touched his cheek.
For a moment, fury burned through the concern on his face.
Then he lowered his voice.
“That is exactly the kind of behavior the court needs to see.”
Two medical attendants approached.
Elaine backed toward the entrance, but the doors had locked automatically.
Vanessa entered from a hallway carrying a clipboard.
“You should cooperate,” she said. “It will make everything easier.”
“What have you done?”
“We are protecting you.”
“You canceled my procedure.”
“The doctor believes surgery is too risky while you are emotionally unstable.”
“My doctor recommended it.”
“You are being transferred to Dr. Vale.”
Elaine looked at Brandon.
“You would let me go blind.”
He avoided her eyes.
“Temporary vision loss is better than making a permanent medical mistake.”
“You don’t believe that.”
An attendant reached for Elaine’s arm.
She pulled away.
“I want an attorney.”
“Thomas Reed is unavailable,” Brandon said.
“How do you know which attorney I meant?”
Brandon’s silence confirmed too much.
Elaine was escorted to a private room on the third floor. The windows opened only a few inches. Her phone, handbag, and clothing were taken for safekeeping.
A nurse gave her a hospital gown.
Elaine refused medication.
At sunset, Brandon entered carrying soup.
He placed it on the table.
“You need to eat.”
Elaine turned toward the window.
“Sophie told me about the fire.”
Brandon stopped.
“She told you her version.”
“She said you locked the door.”
“She was a disturbed child.”
“She was seven.”
“She attacked me first.”
Elaine faced him.
“What did she do?”
“She told Father I had been taking money from his office.”
“Had you?”
“That is irrelevant.”
“You were eleven.”
“I was trying to leave.”
“Leave where?”
“Anywhere. Father had become obsessed with Sophie. He treated her like she belonged to him.”
“Why?”
Brandon laughed bitterly.
“You still don’t understand. Father did not create that trust because he loved her. He created it because he was afraid of her real family.”
“Who are they?”
Brandon walked closer.
“There are things Sophie does not know. Things Margaret hid even from her.”
“Tell me.”
“I will, after you sign a statement saying Sophie manipulated you.”
“No.”
“She will go to prison.”
“Not if I tell the truth.”
“You think your testimony matters now?”
Elaine looked at the locked door.
Brandon leaned down.
“The court has declared you unable to make safe decisions. By tomorrow, I will have permanent control of your finances. On Friday, the trust will dissolve. Sophie will lose everything. And you will come home with me.”
“Why Friday?”
His expression changed.
He had said more than intended.
Elaine repeated the question.
“What happens Friday?”
Brandon picked up the soup.
“You should eat before it gets cold.”
After he left, Elaine inspected the room.
There was no telephone. The television remote had been removed. A camera watched from the ceiling corner.
At ten, a night nurse entered.
She was young, with curly black hair and a name badge that read MAYA.
“I need to check your blood pressure.”
Elaine held out her arm.
Maya wrapped the cuff around it and whispered without moving her lips.
“Sophie sent me.”
Elaine kept her face still.
“Is she safe?”
“For now.”
“What happens Friday?”
Maya wrote something on the chart.
“Richard’s trust does not dissolve on Friday.”
“What does it do?”
“It reveals the controlling beneficiary.”
Elaine’s heartbeat quickened.
“Who is it?”
Maya looked toward the camera.
Then she tightened the blood pressure cuff and slipped a folded paper beneath Elaine’s palm.
Before leaving, she said aloud, “Your pressure is elevated, Mrs. Mercer. Try to rest.”
Elaine waited until the door closed.
Then she unfolded the paper beneath the blanket.
May you like
There were only four words.
The beneficiary is you.
