Chapter 15 - My Mother-in-Law Begged Me to Save Her
Evelyn requested to see me six days after her arrest.
Thomas advised against it.
Detective Bennett said any meeting should take place only after appropriate consultation and with safeguards.
I initially refused.
Then Helen Price delivered the remainder of Daniel's envelope.
It contained a short letter explaining that Evelyn's relationship with Charles had begun years before Daniel's father's death.
Richard had discovered the affair.
He had also become suspicious of their private financial dealings.
According to Daniel's notes, Richard planned to restructure the company and remove certain administrative authorities.
But he died before those changes were completed.
Daniel had spent years believing his father's death resulted solely from natural causes.
During his investigation of North Ridge, however, he discovered evidence suggesting that his father had been under extraordinary emotional and financial pressure.
I wasn't prepared to accuse Evelyn of causing Richard's death.
Neither was Detective Bennett.
The evidence did, however, establish that the history of the quarry was far more complicated than Evelyn had admitted.
I agreed to see her.
The meeting took place in a secure interview room.
Thomas was present.
Evelyn entered wearing plain clothes.
She looked smaller without her jewelry.
But the moment she sat down, her familiar expression returned.
“Mara.”
“Evelyn.”
She studied my healing shoulder.
“I heard you've recovered.”
“Not completely.”
She looked away.
For several seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then she said:
“I need your help.”
I almost smiled.
Seven years.
Seven years of insults disguised as advice.
Six weeks of cruelty after Daniel's death.
A transfer agreement.
An abandoned well.
And now, suddenly, she needed me.
“With what?”
“My attorneys say the company may pursue recovery claims against assets I control.”
“That sounds like something to discuss with them.”
“You don't understand.”
“I understand quite a lot.”
She leaned forward.
“Everything I've worked for could disappear.”
I looked at her.
“Daniel disappeared from my life forever.”
Her expression hardened.
“I loved my son.”
“Then why did you try to take everything he left me?”
“Because you didn't understand what was at stake.”
“What was at stake, Evelyn?”
She lowered her voice.
“People were going to destroy us.”
“People like Victor Hale?”
She went still.
“Did Margaret tell you that?”
“Your sister told investigators many things.”
Evelyn closed her eyes.
When she opened them again, she looked older.
“I never wanted Daniel dead.”
The words hung between us.
I waited.
She continued.
“Victor was supposed to frighten him. Daniel was becoming reckless. He thought exposing everything would solve our problems.”
“And you believed hiding the truth would solve them?”
“You don't understand how these people operate.”
I felt anger rising.
“Then explain it.”
Evelyn looked toward Thomas.
He remained silent.
Finally, she said:
“Charles convinced Richard that North Ridge could become the most profitable part of the business. Then he began making arrangements behind his back. When Richard discovered the truth, everything fell apart.”
“And you helped Charles?”
“I was trying to protect the family.”
“By stealing from workers?”
Her face tightened.
“Don't be dramatic.”
I stood.
The chair scraped against the floor.
“You know what, Evelyn? I came here because I thought there might be one honest answer left inside you.”
“Mara, sit down.”
“No.”
Her expression changed.
For the first time, I saw fear.
Not fear of me.
Fear of losing the control she'd exercised for decades.
“I can tell you where Charles kept the remaining money,” she said quickly.
I stopped.
“What?”
“There are accounts investigators haven't found. Property too.”
“Tell your attorneys.”
“I'll cooperate if you help me preserve the estate.”
I looked at her for a long time.
Then I sat down again.
“Do you remember what you said when Grant pushed me into the well?”
Evelyn looked away.
“Now she can be buried beside him.”
Her lips trembled.
“I was angry.”
“You watched me fall.”
“I panicked.”
“You ordered Grant to put the cover back.”
She began crying.
I wanted those tears to mean something.
I wanted them to contain regret.
But all I could hear was the scrape of wood against stone.
“You had twenty feet to change your mind,” I whispered.
“And you didn't.”
Evelyn reached across the table.
“Please, Mara.”
I withdrew my hand.
Then I stood.
“I won't interfere with lawful proceedings, and I won't make promises to protect your fortune. If you have evidence, give it to investigators.”
As Thomas opened the door, Evelyn called after me.
“Mara!”
I turned.
She was crying openly now.
“Daniel knew something about the well.”
My heart stopped.
“What?”
Evelyn wiped her face.
“He knew what Charles had hidden there years ago.”
I stared at her.
May you like
Then she whispered:
“That's why I wanted the farmhouse. And that's why you were never supposed to survive.”
