Chapter 4: The Recording Rachel Left Behind
I read Emily's message at least six times.
Check the recording from the day Rachel died.
My first instinct was to call her.
My second was to look at Vanessa.
She was standing near the kitchen island, staring at the envelope in Mason's hands as if it contained something capable of destroying her.
Perhaps it did.
"Michael," she said carefully, "you need to calm down.""
I laughed once.
It wasn't because anything was funny.
"You've been starving my daughter, locking her in a storage room, withholding her medication, and taking money meant for her. Now I find a message about my dead wife, and you want me to calm down?""
Vanessa rubbed her forehead.
"Emily has always hated me.""
"Why?""
"Because she thinks nobody could ever replace Rachel.""
"That doesn't answer my question.""
"She blamed me for everything after Rachel died.""
I looked at Mason.
"Buddy, go check on Lily.""
He nodded and disappeared down the hallway.
When his footsteps faded, I turned back to Vanessa.
"What happened the day Rachel died?""
She folded her arms.
"Nothing happened. Rachel was sick. You know that.""
"I know my wife died in a car accident.""
"Exactly.""
"Then why would Emily tell me to check a recording?""
Vanessa's jaw tightened.
"Because she's trying to destroy our family.""
"Our family is already destroyed.""
She stepped closer.
"Michael, listen to me. Rachel wasn't the perfect person you remember.""
I felt my stomach turn.
"Don't.""
"She had problems.""
"Don't you dare.""
"She was depressed. She was struggling. She—"
"STOP.""
My voice echoed through the kitchen.
Vanessa went silent.
I took out my phone and dialed the number on Emily's note.
She answered after two rings.
"Michael?""
"Emily, what is this?""
There was a long pause.
Then I heard her inhale sharply.
"Did you find the envelope?""
"Yes. I need you to explain.""
"Is Lily safe?""
"She's with me.""
"Is Vanessa there?""
"Yes.""
Emily lowered her voice.
"Don't let her touch the children. And don't delete anything from your phone or computer.""
I looked at Vanessa.
"Emily, what happened to Rachel?""
Another pause.
Then she said something that made my knees weaken.
"Rachel knew Vanessa was hurting Lily before she died.""
I stared at the wall.
"What?""
"Michael, I tried to tell you. Rachel contacted me three days before the accident. She said she was frightened of Vanessa.""
I looked at my wife.
Vanessa had stopped pretending to be confused.
She was staring directly at me.
"Why didn't you tell me?"" I whispered.
"I did. Remember when I called you after the funeral? You said Vanessa was helping you with Lily and you didn't want to hear accusations.""
I remembered.
I remembered Emily saying something about Rachel's belongings.
I remembered Vanessa crying beside me.
I remembered telling Emily that we needed time to grieve.
I had dismissed her.
"Do you have proof?""
"Yes. Rachel sent me a recording. I've kept it for three years.""
"Send it to me.""
"I will. But Michael, there's something else. Rachel didn't die immediately after the crash.""
I closed my eyes.
"Emily, what are you saying?""
"She was conscious for a short time after the accident. She called emergency services. But before that, she called me.""
My fingers tightened around the phone.
"What did she say?""
Emily's voice cracked.
"She said Vanessa was going to take Lily away from you.""
I couldn't breathe.
Then Emily added:
"She also said Vanessa had already been inside your house several times before you officially met her.""
I looked at Vanessa.
She suddenly moved toward the front door.
"Where are you going?"" I demanded.
"Out.""
"You're not leaving.""
"Watch me.""
I stepped between her and the door.
"Not until the authorities arrive.""
She laughed bitterly.
"You think you can keep me here?""
"I'm not keeping you anywhere. I'm protecting the children.""
She grabbed her purse.
"You'll regret this.""
"Maybe. But I'll never regret protecting Lily.""
At that moment, my phone vibrated.
Emily had sent a video.
I opened it.
The screen showed Rachel sitting in our old kitchen. Her hair was tied back, and she looked tired. She was speaking directly into the camera.
"Emily, if anything happens to me, please make sure Michael sees this.""
I felt my eyes burn.
Rachel looked toward someone outside the frame.
Then she continued.
"I don't trust Vanessa around Lily.""
The recording ended.
I stared at the frozen screen.
Three seconds later, another message arrived.
There's a second recording. This one explains why Vanessa chose Michael.
I opened the attachment.
The video began with a photograph of a document.
It was a copy of my late wife's life insurance policy.
The beneficiary information had been changed.
And the date of the change was six weeks before Rachel died.
I zoomed in.
The name listed as the person who witnessed the change was unmistakable.
Vanessa.
My wife hadn't simply entered our lives after Rachel's death.
May you like
She had been involved in our lives before Rachel died.
And now I was beginning to understand why Emily had been so desperate to warn me.
