Chapter 8: Kayla Finally Tells the Truth
I arrived at Patricia's house twenty minutes later.
Kayla was sitting at the dining-room table.
Her hair was tied into a loose ponytail, and she was wearing an oversized sweatshirt.
She looked exhausted.
Patricia stood beside her with one hand resting gently on her shoulder.
When Kayla saw me, she immediately looked down.
"Hi, Kayla," I said softly.
She nodded.
"Can I sit?""
She nodded again.
I pulled out a chair.
"Your aunt told me you wanted to talk.""
Kayla picked at a loose thread on her sleeve.
"I don't want Mom to know.""
"I understand.""
"She'll be angry.""
"You're allowed to tell the truth without being punished for it.""
Kayla looked at Patricia.
Her aunt nodded.
Then the little girl began speaking.
"Mom told me Malik was dangerous.""
I remained quiet.
"She said he was jealous because Dad died and because you loved Malik more than me.""
I felt my chest tighten.
"Did Malik ever hurt you?""
Kayla shook her head.
"No.""
"Did you tell your mother he did?""
Her eyes filled with tears.
"She told me what to say.""
Patricia moved closer.
Kayla continued.
"She said if I told the school Malik was bothering me, then nobody would believe him when he said she was mean to him.""
I felt sick.
"Why would she want people to believe that?""
Kayla looked at me.
"Because she wanted him gone.""
The room became silent.
"Why?""
"She said he was in the way.""
I gripped the edge of the table.
"In the way of what?""
Kayla took a shaky breath.
"Your money. Mom said if Malik wasn't living with you anymore, things would be easier.""
Patricia closed her eyes.
I tried to keep my voice steady.
"Did your mother ever tell you to take things from my bedroom?""
Kayla nodded.
"The necklace. The key. And some papers.""
"What papers?""
"Mom said there was a letter from Angela.""
I leaned forward.
"Did you find it?""
Kayla shook her head.
"No. But I saw her looking through the box.""
"Did she tell you why?""
"She said Angela had promised her something and then changed her mind.""
I thought about the charitable fund.
The rejected application.
The hospital photograph.
"Kayla, do you know why your mother was angry with Angela?""
Kayla hesitated.
Then she said something that made my blood run cold.
"Because Angela found out Mom was using my name to get money.""
Patricia sat down.
"What do you mean, sweetheart?""
Kayla wiped her eyes.
"Mom said I had a serious medical condition when I didn't. She used my hospital papers to get money from people.""
I stared at Patricia.
She looked equally shocked.
"Kayla, are you sure?""
The girl nodded.
"She told me to say I was sick. She made me practice.""
I felt a wave of nausea.
The charitable fund had been created for children who needed support.
And Denise had apparently used her own daughter to obtain money meant for families in genuine need.
"Did Angela know?""
Kayla nodded.
"She found out. She came to our apartment one day and told Mom she couldn't do it anymore.""
I looked at Patricia.
"That's why they met at the hospital.""
Patricia shook her head slowly.
"Angela was probably trying to help Kayla.""
Kayla began crying harder.
"Mom said Angela ruined everything.""
I moved my chair closer.
"Did Angela ever say anything to you?""
Kayla nodded.
"She told me I could call her if I needed help.""
My throat tightened.
"Did you?""
"Once.""
"What happened?""
Kayla wiped her face.
"Mom took my phone. She said Angela was trying to steal me.""
I sat back.
A horrible possibility began forming in my mind.
Angela hadn't simply met Denise through a community organization.
She had discovered something dangerous.
She had tried to help Kayla.
And Denise had eventually entered our family anyway.
"Kayla," I asked carefully, "why did you help your mother accuse Malik?""
She stared at her hands.
"Because Mom said if I didn't, she'd send me away.""
"Where?""
"To my father.""
Patricia frowned.
"Your father?""
Kayla nodded.
"She said he'd take me and I'd never see her again.""
Patricia looked confused.
"Sweetheart, your father has been trying to contact you for years.""
Kayla looked up.
"What?""
Patricia's eyes filled.
"Your father didn't abandon you. Denise stopped letting him see you.""
I stared at the two of them.
Another lie.
Another carefully constructed story.
Kayla covered her mouth.
"Mom said he didn't want me.""
Patricia reached for her hand.
"He has been asking about you. I have the messages.""
Kayla started sobbing.
I looked away.
There was something particularly cruel about making a child believe that the parent who loved her had abandoned her.
And Denise had apparently used that fear to control her.
Patricia waited until Kayla calmed down.
Then she asked, "Sweetheart, is there anything else you want to tell Marcus?""
Kayla nodded.
She reached into her sweatshirt pocket and pulled out a small flash drive.
"I copied something from Mom's laptop.""
I stared at it.
"What is it?""
"Her messages.""
"With whom?""
Kayla shook her head.
"I don't know. But she was talking about Malik.""
Patricia placed the flash drive on the table.
"Did you read them?""
Kayla nodded.
"She said someone was going to help her get him taken away.""
I felt my heart pounding.
"Who?""
"I don't know.""
She hesitated.
Then whispered:
"But I saw a picture of Uncle Raymond.""
My head snapped up.
"Raymond?""
Kayla nodded.
"Mom said he was the reason Angela didn't get to finish what she started.""
I stood.
"Did you see anything else?""
Kayla began shaking.
"She said if Uncle Raymond ever told you the truth, she'd show you what he did.""
I felt the floor shift beneath me.
For three years, Raymond had been helping me understand the secrets surrounding Angela's death.
Now Denise was claiming my brother had been involved in something.
I looked at Patricia.
"Did you see these messages?""
She shook her head.
"No. Kayla only showed me the flash drive this morning.""
I put it carefully into my pocket.
"We need to give this to the proper authorities. Nobody should be confronting Denise or trying to access her accounts.""
Patricia nodded.
Kayla looked up at me.
"Will Malik hate me?""
The question nearly broke my heart.
"Why would he hate you?""
"Because I lied about him.""
I crouched beside her.
"Kayla, you were frightened. Adults are supposed to protect children, not make them afraid to tell the truth.""
She started crying again.
"I want to tell Malik I'm sorry.""
I gently nodded.
"We'll arrange that when it's safe and appropriate.""
As I stood, Patricia's phone vibrated.
She checked the screen.
Her expression changed immediately.
"What is it?"" I asked.
She turned the phone toward me.
It was a message from Denise.
*Denise:* I know Kayla is with you. Bring her home immediately.
Another message appeared.
*Denise:* If she has shown you anything, don't believe it. You have no idea what Angela did to this family.
Then a third message.
*Denise:* And Marcus, you should ask Raymond why he was the last person with Angela before she died.
I stared at the screen.
Patricia whispered, "She's losing control.""
But I wasn't thinking about Denise anymore.
I was thinking about Raymond.
About the hospital.
About the envelope he'd kept for three years.
And about the possibility that the person who had promised to protect my wife might know more about her final hours than he had ever admitted.
I called him.
He answered immediately.
"Marcus?""
"Denise just sent another message.""
Silence.
"She says you were the last person with Angela before she died.""
Raymond didn't answer.
"Raymond?""
Finally, he spoke.
"She's telling the truth about one thing.""
My heart pounded.
"What thing?""
"I was with Angela that night.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"I did tell you I visited her.""
"No. You told me you left before the doctors came.""
Raymond took a shaky breath.
"Marcus, I didn't leave when I said I did.""
I gripped the phone.
"Then when did you leave?""
His voice cracked.
"After Angela told me who had been visiting her when you weren't there.""
I closed my eyes.
"Who?""
May you like
Raymond whispered:
"Denise.""
