Chapter 10: The Man Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
I didn’t sleep that night.
I sat beside Emma’s hospital bed with the lights off, watching the city glow through the window.
Every few minutes, I checked the door.
Every few minutes, I checked my phone.
I was no longer afraid of strangers.
That was the worst part.
I was afraid of the people whose names were already saved in my contacts.
My husband.
My sister.
The people I had trusted with my daughter’s life.
Emma stirred around 3 a.m.
“Mommy?””
I immediately leaned forward.
“I’m here, baby.””
Her eyes opened slowly.
“Are we going home soon?””
My heart broke.
“Yes,” I whispered.
“Soon.””
She looked at me.
“Is Daddy mad at me?””
The question cut deeper than anything else.
“No.””
“Then why was he yelling?””
I froze.
“When did Daddy yell?””
She looked confused.
“At Aunt Rachel’s house.””
I sat up.
“You went to Aunt Rachel’s house?””
She nodded.
“Before my birthday.””
My mouth went dry.
“Emma, who took you there?””
She frowned, trying to remember.
“Daddy.””
The room suddenly felt colder.
“Why?””
“He said we were bringing something.””
“What?””
She closed her eyes.
“A box.””
My heart started racing.
“What box?””
“I don’t know.””
She opened her eyes again.
“But Aunt Rachel cried.””
I grabbed her hand.
“What did she say?””
Emma whispered:
“She said, ‘You promised me, Mark.’”
I felt the blood leave my face.
Mark.
Again.
Always Mark.
I waited until Emma fell asleep before leaving the room.
I needed answers.
And I knew exactly where to find them.
When I arrived at the Carter house, Mark was there.
Alone.
He looked exhausted.
Like someone who hadn’t slept either.
“You came.””
I stared at him.
“You took Emma to Rachel’s house before her birthday.””
His face changed.
Only slightly.
But I saw it.
“I didn’t.””
“Don’t lie.””
“I’m not.””
“Emma remembers.””
Mark looked away.
“She’s confused.””
“She’s seven, Mark. Not stupid.””
He rubbed his forehead.
“Lily, please.””
“No.””
I stepped closer.
“What was in the box?””
Silence.
“What was in the box you brought to Rachel’s house?””
His expression collapsed.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.””
I turned to leave.
Then he said:
“It was your father’s.””
I stopped.
Slowly, I looked back.
“What?””
Mark sat down.
“I found it after he died.””
My heart pounded.
“You knew about the notebook.””
“Yes.””
“You knew about my father’s things?””
“Yes.””
“And you never told me?””
“I was trying to protect you.””
I laughed.
A painful, empty laugh.
“You keep saying that.””
“I mean it.””
“From what?””
Mark looked at me.
“From the people looking for what your father left behind.””
The room went silent.
“Who?””
“I don’t know.””
“You always don’t know.””
He looked hurt.
But I didn’t care anymore.
“Tell me everything.””
Mark stared at the floor.
“Your father discovered something.””
“What?””
“A network.””
“Doing what?””
“Moving illegal medical supplies.””
My stomach turned.
“The sedatives.””
“Yes.””
“And you?””
He closed his eyes.
“I got involved because I thought I could use information against them.””
“You sold drugs.””
“I made mistakes.””
“You almost killed our daughter.””
His face broke.
“I didn’t.””
“Then why was the sedative in your car?””
He didn’t answer.
That silence was louder than any confession.
My phone rang.
Detective Harris.
I answered.
“Mrs. Carter.””
“What happened?””
“We found the person who sent the messages.””
My breath caught.
“Who?””
A pause.
Then:
“Your father.””
I felt frozen.
“That’s impossible.””
“We traced the number.””
“My father has been dead for six years.””
“I know.””
“Then how?””
Detective Harris lowered his voice.
“Because the messages were not sent today.””
My heart stopped.
“What?””
“They were scheduled.””
“Scheduled by who?””
“We don’t know yet.””
I looked at Mark.
He was staring at me.
“What did he say?”” he asked.
I ignored him.
“Detective, when were they scheduled?””
“Six years ago.””
The room spun.
“Right before your father died.””
I couldn’t speak.
Then Detective Harris added:
“Mrs. Carter…”
“Yes?””
“There’s something else.””
“What?””
“We found the original device used to schedule them.””
My hand tightened around the phone.
“Where?””
“In your father’s old storage unit.””
A cold feeling moved through me.
“Was anything else there?””
“Yes.””
“What?””
May you like
The detective paused.
“A blue notebook.””
