CHAPTER 15: THE WOMAN WITHOUT A GRAVE
Amelia had spent eight years believing her mother had abandoned the family.
Evelyn Bennett vanished without taking money, clothes, or identification.
Police found her car beside a river.
There was no body.
The case was eventually closed.
Mara reopened the old files.
“The police report says Mom was emotionally unstable.”
“She wasn’t.”
“I know.”
“Who made the statement?”
Mara scrolled through the document.
“William Carter.”
Amelia stared at her.
“Ethan’s father?”
“He told investigators Mom had been behaving irrationally.”
“Why would he know her?”
“The report says they worked together as city safety consultants.”
Evelyn had never told her daughters about that job.
According to the hidden records, she had investigated building-code violations connected to Whitmore Properties.
Three days before the mill fire, she submitted evidence of illegal chemical storage.
That evidence disappeared.
So did she.
Amelia confronted Ethan.
“Your father helped police declare my mother unstable.”
Ethan looked stunned.
“I didn’t know.”
“You lived with him.”
“He never spoke about her.”
“Did he know who I was when we started dating?”
Ethan’s silence lasted too long.
“What?” Amelia asked.
“He asked about your family name.”
“When?”
“After our first date.”
“And you never thought that was strange?”
“I thought he was being protective.”
“Did he tell you to stay away from me?”
“Yes.”
Amelia stepped back.
“Why didn’t you?”
“Because I loved you.”
“Or because you wanted to know what my family knew?”
“No.”
Ethan reached toward her.
She moved away.
A hospital guard entered.
“There’s a package for Mrs. Carter.”
The box contained a cassette recorder.
Mara pressed play.
A woman’s voice filled the room.
Amelia recognized it immediately.
Her mother.
“If Amelia hears this, then William has failed to keep her away.”
Amelia’s hand flew to her mouth.
The recording continued.
“The elevator is part of the same system. Find the original Station 17 log before they destroy it.”
A man spoke in the background.
Evelyn lowered her voice.
“I have to go. Gabriel is here.”
The recording ended.
Amelia looked at Ethan.
May you like
Her mother had recorded that message years before the hotel incident.
Yet she had mentioned the elevator.
