Chapter 7 - THE WOMAN WHO KNEW OUR MOTHER
Brett Collins had spent years pretending my family was beneath him.
Now investigators were examining whether his own family helped conceal my father's disappearance.
Detective Mitchell traced the old correspondence.
Brett's mother, Evelyn Collins, had worked as an administrative assistant for Marquette Shipping.
She also volunteered at the community center where my mother received treatment during her final illness.
The connection made my stomach twist.
I remembered Evelyn.
She used to bring casseroles.
Drive Mom to appointments.
And tell Danny and me that we could call her if we needed anything.
Then, after Mom died, she disappeared from our lives.
At the time, I thought she'd simply moved away.
Now I wondered whether something else had happened.
Investigators located her in Wisconsin.
She agreed to speak.
I traveled there with Rebecca and Detective Mitchell.
Evelyn lived in a modest retirement community.
When she saw me, her eyes filled with tears.
"Lily."
I froze.
She remembered me.
"You've grown into your mother's face."
My throat tightened.
"Then you remember Dad too."
Her expression changed.
"Michael."
I nodded.
"Where is he?"
Evelyn slowly sat down.
For a long moment, she said nothing.
Then she whispered, "I was told he was dead."
My heart sank.
"Who told you?"
"Dominic Marquette."
I stared.
"Why?"
She began crying.
"Because I helped move him."
The room went silent.
Detective Mitchell leaned forward.
"What do you mean?"
Evelyn wiped her face.
"Michael came to me after discovering the financial records. He said he was frightened."
My heart pounded.
"Did he ask for help?"
"Yes."
"And?"
"Dominic told me Michael was being placed somewhere safe until the investigation ended."
I covered my mouth.
"You believed him?"
"I wanted to."
Evelyn's voice broke.
"He said if I refused, your family would be in danger."
I stared at her.
For years, I'd wondered why nobody helped us.
Now I was learning some people had been afraid.
Others had been deceived.
And some had chosen silence.
"What happened to Dad?" I whispered.
Evelyn looked toward the detective.
"He was injured during an argument."
My stomach tightened.
"With Dominic?"
She nodded.
"I didn't see the injury happen. But I saw Michael afterward."
Tears streamed down her face.
"He was conscious. He kept asking about his children."
I began sobbing.
Danny.
Me.
Dad had been thinking about us.
Evelyn continued.
"Dominic arranged transport to a private facility."
"Northlake?"
She nodded.
"Yes."
"Did you visit him?"
"Once."
My heart stopped.
"What did he say?"
"He didn't recognize me."
I covered my mouth.
"He had severe memory problems."
For a moment, I couldn't breathe.
Then Evelyn whispered, "I tried to tell Dominic the family needed to know."
"And?"
"He threatened my son."
Brett.
My manager.
The man who'd humiliated me.
Evelyn lowered her head.
"I was afraid."
I felt furious.
But I also saw the regret in her face.
The investigation would have to determine exactly what she'd done.
Then she reached into a drawer.
"I kept something."
A small envelope.
Inside was a photograph.
My father sitting in a hospital garden.
He looked older.
Thin.
But alive.
The date was seven years after his disappearance.
I stared.
"He was alive two years ago?"
Evelyn nodded.
May you like
Then she whispered the words that made my heart stop.
"He was still looking for you and Danny."
