Chapter 16: The Truth Buried Beneath Us
For several seconds after Rachel said the word, I forgot how to breathe.
*You.*
Not Emma.
Not Mark.
Me.
The person everyone had been circling around without telling me.
The person my father had tried to protect.
“What do you mean?”” I whispered.
Rachel’s voice was barely audible.
“Lily, your father left something behind.””
“The notebook?””
“No.””
I looked at the blue notebook sitting on the table.
“Then what?””
“A key.””
My stomach tightened.
“A key to what?””
Rachel hesitated.
“A place where your father stored the real evidence.””
I looked at Mark.
His expression changed.
“You knew about this?””
He shook his head.
“No.””
For once, I believed him.
“Rachel, where is this key?””
“I don’t have it anymore.””
My heart sank.
“Who has it?””
Silence.
“Rachel.””
“I gave it to Mark.””
I turned toward my husband.
Slowly.
“What?””
Mark stepped back.
“No.””
“You said you didn’t know anything.””
“I didn’t know it was the key.””
“You took something from my sister?””
“Lily, listen.””
“No.””
My voice became cold.
“How many things have you taken from me?””
Mark looked like he wanted to answer.
But he couldn’t.
Rachel spoke again.
“Mark didn’t know what it opened.””
“Then why give it to him?””
“Because your father trusted him.””
I almost laughed.
“My father trusted him?””
“Yes.””
“After everything?””
Rachel was quiet.
Then:
“Your father believed people could still change.””
That sounded exactly like him.
And somehow, that hurt more.
Detective Harris arrived twenty minutes later.
When I told him about the key, his entire attitude changed.
“You’re sure?””
Rachel nodded.
“It was a small silver key.””
“Where did you give it to Mark?””
“Three years ago.””
“Where?””
She looked at me.
“At Lily’s house.””
I froze.
“My house?””
“Yes.””
Mark rubbed his face.
“I remember.””
I turned.
“You remember?””
He nodded slowly.
“It was after your father’s funeral.””
My chest tightened.
“You came over that night.””
“Yes.””
“And Rachel was there.””
“Yes.””
“What happened?””
Mark looked down.
“She gave me an envelope.””
“What was inside?””
“I don’t know.””
“You didn’t open it?””
“No.””
“Why?””
He swallowed.
“Because she told me your father wanted me to keep it safe.””
I stared at him.
“You kept something from my father for six years.””
“Yes.””
“And you never thought to tell me?””
“I was scared.””
“Of what?””
Mark looked at me.
“That if you knew the truth, you’d hate me.””
I almost smiled.
“You were right.””
The detective interrupted.
“Where is the envelope now?””
Mark looked toward the floor.
“I don’t know.””
“Think.””
“I kept it.””
“Where?””
Mark closed his eyes.
Then suddenly looked up.
“The storage unit.””
My heart stopped.
“The storage unit?””
“Yes.””
“The one where we found the notebook?””
Mark nodded.
“But I checked everything.””
“No.””
His face went pale.
“I didn’t.””
Detective Harris noticed.
“What didn’t you check?””
Mark whispered:
“The wall.””
We returned to the storage unit before sunset.
The evidence team examined the back wall.
After twenty minutes, one officer called out.
“Detective.””
Everyone moved closer.
Behind a loose panel was a small compartment.
Inside was a silver key.
And another envelope.
My hands shook as I opened it.
Inside was a letter.
My father’s handwriting.
*Lily,*
I stopped reading.
I couldn’t.
Not yet.
Detective Harris looked at me.
“Do you want me to read it?””
I shook my head.
“No.””
This was my father.
My last conversation with him.
Even if he had been gone for years.
I read.
*If you found this, then Rachel and Mark failed to keep you away from the truth.*
I looked up.
Both of them went silent.
The letter continued.
*The person who destroyed our family is someone who knows how to hide behind love.*
My hands trembled.
*They will tell you they did it to protect you. They will tell you they had no choice. Do not believe them.*
I stopped.
Then I turned the page.
The final sentence was only one line.
*The person responsible for everything is the person who raised you.*
May you like
My heart stopped.
My mother.
