Officer: “Daniel, did a doctor officially confirm the death?”
Daniel: “Yes.”
Officer: “Which doctor?”
Daniel hesitated.
Daniel: “Dr. Reynolds.”
Maria immediately shook her head.
Maria: “That's not possible.”
Daniel: “What are you talking about?”
Maria: “Dr. Reynolds wasn't at the hospital that night.”
The officer looked at Daniel.
Officer: “How do you know that?”
Maria took a folded paper from her pocket.
Maria: “Because Mrs. Wilson showed me the hospital schedule.”
Daniel's expression changed.
Maria: “She knew something was wrong.”
The officer took the paper from her.
Officer: “We'll verify this.”
Daniel looked around the church.
Daniel: “This is ridiculous. My mother is dead.”
Maria: “Then you shouldn't be afraid of the coffin being opened.”
No one answered.
The funeral director slowly approached.
Funeral Director: “There is something you should know.”
Everyone turned toward him.
Funeral Director: “Daniel instructed us not to allow anyone to open the coffin after it arrived.”
The officer looked at Daniel.
Officer: “Why?”
Daniel: “Because my mother wanted a closed funeral.”
Maria: “She never told me that.”
Michael walked closer to the coffin.
Michael: “Open it.”
Daniel grabbed his arm.
Daniel: “Don't.”
Michael looked at him.
Michael: “Why are you stopping me?”
Daniel released his arm.
The funeral director unlocked the coffin.
The lid slowly opened.
The room became completely silent.
Mrs. Wilson appeared peaceful beneath the white cloth.
But Maria immediately noticed something.
Maria: “Wait.”
She pointed toward the woman's hand.
Maria: “Her ring is missing.”
Daniel stared at the coffin.
Daniel: “She wasn't wearing it when she died.”
Maria: “She never took it off.”
Michael leaned closer.
There was a faint mark around the woman's finger where the ring had been.
The officer carefully examined the coffin.
Then he noticed a small envelope taped underneath the lining.
Officer: “What's that?”
Daniel suddenly moved toward him.
Daniel: “Don't touch it.”
The officer stopped.
Officer: “Why not?”
Daniel had no answer.
The envelope was removed and opened.
Inside was a handwritten note.
The note contained only one sentence.
Officer: “If you are reading this, my son knows what he did.”
The entire church gasped.
Daniel stepped backward.
Daniel: “That's not her handwriting.”
Maria looked at him.
Maria: “It is.”
The officer continued reading.
The note said Mrs. Wilson had discovered that Daniel was secretly selling family property and moving money from her accounts.
She had planned to expose him.
But there was one final line.
Officer: “Maria has the key. She knows where the original evidence is.”
Everyone turned toward Maria.
Daniel's face went pale.
Daniel: “Where is it?”
Maria held up the silver key.
Maria: “Somewhere you never thought I'd look.”
Daniel suddenly ran toward the church doors.
The officer caught him before he could escape.
Maria watched silently.
She knew the truth was finally coming out.