A Year after Son’s Death, Woman Sees Grave of Her Daughter—But the Truth Leaves Her Stunned

Brenda is confused when her deceased son's spouse claims not to know her and shocked when she discovers her daughter-in-law's gravestone near her son's burial site. She tries to get information from her son's closest friend, but his odd conduct forces Brenda to solve the puzzle by herself. Christopher perished in a dreadful accident at just 27, leaving his mother, Brenda, to endure boundless sorrow. Her life turned bleak after his passing, and her physical condition deteriorated. Following a year-long stay at a health facility, Brenda journeyed many miles to see her son's final resting place. Carrying immeasurable sadness, she stepped off the subway in the city where Chris had resided, died, and was buried.

As Brenda moved toward the exit, she spotted a recognizable person in the throng: her son's bereaved wife, Harper. Brenda had intended to connect with Harper after visiting the gravesite and now quickly followed the young woman to catch her unexpectedly.

"Harper! Harper? Hold on!" She touched the woman's shoulder from behind.

"I'm not Harper. You've mistaken me, lady!" The young woman rudely removed Brenda's hand and hurried away.

How odd! Brenda pondered. My vision must be correct. She has identical eyes...same hair shade...and voice. That is Harper! But the woman had disappeared into the masses.

Brenda took a taxi outside the station and proceeded to the cemetery. She remained troubled by the strange meeting throughout her journey and couldn't comprehend why Harper had behaved so peculiarly.

"Ma'am...we've reached our destination," the driver announced as he stopped at the cemetery entrance, startling Brenda from her thoughts.

Eerie quietness surrounded Brenda as she looked through rows of graves for Christopher's spot. Emotions flooded her when she located it. She wept as she placed her shaking hands on Christopher's monument.

Shock ran through Brenda when she looked at the adjacent grave. The inscription carved on the headstone terrified her.

In Loving Memory of Harper. S.
January 8, 1995 – December 3, 2020
Forever cherished, Forever missed. Rest in peace.

"Oh my God...Harper died last week and nobody informed me?" Brenda exclaimed, stunned by this revelation.

A disturbing question immediately arose in her mind: "If Harper is dead, who was the girl at the subway?"

Brenda broke from her thoughts when she heard someone collecting dry leaves. The cemetery worker was nearby. Brenda went to him and asked about Harper's burial ceremony.

The man lit a cigarette and sighed, releasing smoke into the air. "It happened last week. It was unusual... No mourners attended, just funeral service staff. They delivered the coffin, buried it, placed a basic headstone, and departed. It wasn't even a proper service."

"Has anyone visited her grave since then?" Brenda asked with concern.

"Not that I've noticed, Ma'am," he answered.

"I stay here throughout the day and reside on the property. I monitor the cemetery constantly and haven't observed anyone visiting that woman's burial site."

"Fine...thank you," Brenda replied and walked away. Nothing seemed logical to her.

Eager to solve the puzzle about her daughter-in-law and her death, Brenda chose to visit Jake, her late son's closest companion and business colleague. Jake was surprised seeing his best friend's mother unexpectedly at his doorway, giving him a smile. He welcomed Brenda inside, but she detected his discomfort.

Upon entering, Brenda noticed suitcases in the living area, and she promptly questioned Jake about his trip.

"I'm departing this state, Mrs. Sutton. It's been a difficult year since Chris died," Jake explained, his face showing unusual disappointment and concern. "The business has gone bankrupt so I've decided to relocate far from all the problems I've been handling."

"How can the business be bankrupt, Jake?" Brenda questioned skeptically. "What's happening? I observed Harper's grave next to my son's burial plot. Nobody even informed me she had died! Tell me...what happened to my daughter-in-law? How did she die?"

"Mrs. Sutton, I... I didn't want to upset you. After Chris's death, you were so troubled and devastated. When I heard you'd spend a year in the hospital, I feared your health might decline if you learned about the company's money troubles and Harper's actions," Jake said, troubling Brenda further.

"What did Harper do, Jake?" Brenda inquired. "I need to know everything."

Jake inhaled deeply. "Well, Harper gained ownership of the company after Chris's death, but she refused to run it because she lacked knowledge about the business. So, through mutual consent, I stepped in to operate the company since I was already Chris's business associate."

"Truthfully, the business collapsed after your son's death. We almost declared bankruptcy when Harper proposed finding investors and securing loans to save the company," Jake clarified.

"But...you said Harper declined involvement in the business," Brenda noted, growing suspicious.

"Yes, but we all desperately wanted to rescue the company. We accepted Harper's plan. But just a week ago, Harper took the five million dollar loan money and ran away. The police began searching for her."

"Oh, my God! Harper stole the loan money?" Brenda was shocked. It seemed impossible to believe that her late son's wife had ruined his achievements after his death.

"We never thought she would betray us like this, but she suffered consequences for her treachery," Jake continued. "The police found a burned vehicle that had smashed into a cliff near the forest. It belonged to Harper. She experienced a fatal accident and died instantly."

"What? Oh my God..." Brenda cried out. "The police recovered a woman's completely burned body with Harper's gold letter 'H' necklace. They found charred pieces of hundred dollar bills."

All other items were burned beyond recognition...authorities closed the investigation as an unintended fatality."

"Goodness...Harper destroyed everything," Brenda remarked. "But hold on...what about Christopher's dedication? It's strange that the business failed after his passing."

"I recognize your concern, Mrs. Sutton," Jake replied. "But events went beyond our control. Harper faced severe consequences for her decisions, but her burial was respectful. Numerous people attended and all mourned her unfortunate death...despite the terrible act she committed against us."

"Harper's funeral??" Brenda grew doubtful. The cemetery worker had informed her that no one came to Harper's burial service. Something appeared extremely suspicious to Brenda. Jake's nervousness and impatience, along with his abrupt plan to exit the city, increased her uncertainties.

"Um, when does your plane leave, Jake?" Brenda inquired.

"First thing tomorrow...6 a.m.," he answered.

"Would it bother you if I stayed here tonight?" Brenda asked, forming an idea. "I feel uneasy about getting a hotel room by myself for tonight in an unfamiliar city."

Jake considered briefly but finally consented and directed Brenda to the guest quarters.

Brenda turned off the lights but remained awake. Instead, she tensely waited for Jake's bedroom lights to switch off so she could hunt for evidence to help her understand the situation. After Jake fell asleep, Brenda moved to the living room and searched through Jake's baggage. Her fingers shook with combined worry and dread. What if Jake pretended to sleep? What if he discovered her searching? These possibilities frightened Brenda. But she resolved to discover the truth.

Brenda's investigation turned horrifying when she found two counterfeit passports hidden in a concealed pocket. One showed a picture of her supposedly 'deceased' daughter-in-law, Harper, but using a different identity.

"Sarah? Oh, who are you trying to deceive, Harper?" Brenda whispered.

"John?" Brenda's expression changed to mistrust when she viewed Jake's image under another name in the second passport.

"What's happening here? Are they involved in something more sinister...something beyond my imagination?" She then discovered two airplane tickets to London reserved under these false names. An odd feeling developed in Brenda's stomach. Jake and his partner, Sarah, actually Harper, planned something harmful. Action was necessary.

She quickly replaced the luggage as found and rushed to the pharmacy down the street. Shortly after, she returned to Jake's residence with sleep medication.

Brenda had already started making breakfast when Jake hurried downstairs at 5 a.m.

"Good morning, Jake! Eat breakfast before your journey!" Brenda greeted cheerfully. "Here's your orange juice."

"Thanks, Mrs. Sutton, that's very thoughtful." Jake drank from the glass Brenda offered.

"It tastes...um...good...."

Approximately twenty minutes later, Jake fell asleep on the sofa, exactly as Brenda had planned. Harper couldn't fly without identification and a ticket, so now, Brenda needed to wait for her to contact Jake.

"Why is she taking so long?

"It's 5:30," Brenda whispered quietly. Abruptly, Jake's mobile rang, breaking the quiet in the space. The name "Sarah" appeared on the display. But Brenda ignored the call. Later, a text message alert showed up.

"How could you sleep late, fool? Have you forgotten our London flight today? I'm arranging a cab and heading to your place immediately."

"Come...I'm anticipating your arrival...HARPER!" Brenda smiled slyly as she concealed herself behind the front entrance.

About 30 minutes afterward, Brenda looked through the peephole and noticed a taxi stop outside. She promptly phoned the authorities.

The door opened slowly, and Harper entered. Brenda was astounded when she viewed her face. Her son's wife was certainly alive!

"Jake! Are you joking? Wake up," Harper yelled at an unconscious Jake resting on the sofa.

That's when a recognizable voice spoke from behind, alarming her.

"ARE YOU SEARCHING FOR SOMEONE, HARPER?" Brenda announced, hitting Harper's head forcefully with a vase.

A shocked Harper fell to the ground and lost consciousness.

Shortly after, Brenda heard police alarms and went outside quickly. She described the circumstances to the officers and presented them with the fraudulent passports and travel tickets.

Jake and Harper were taken to the hospital and later moved to the police station for questioning.

Jake declined to admit his wrongdoings, but Harper revealed everything when she understood her punishment might be reduced if she told the truth.

"We paid a morgue employee and took a homeless person's body. We positioned the corpse, wearing my gold necklace, in the driver's seat of my vehicle and ignited it...Then we pushed the car from the rear, making it tumble off the cliff to create the impression of an accident."

"And what about the funds you took?" The investigator gazed directly at Harper.

"The five million has been transferred to our new financial accounts...we believed everything was arranged...the new passports, the bank accounts, the journey...Jake and I thought we would escape with it. But..." Harper stopped and cried, covering her face with her handcuffed hands.