Chapter 8: What## Chapter 8: What Happened the Night Emily Died
The message stayed Happened the Night Emily Died
The message stayed on my screen as the police rushed to the on my screen as the police rushed to the motel.
Ask your wife what she did on the night Emily died.
For motel.
Ask your wife what she did on the night Emily died.
For three years, I had remembered that night in fragments.
The hospital corridor. The relentless ticking of the clock. N three years, I had remembered that night in fragments.
The hospital corridor. The relentless ticking of the clock. Nia asleep in a chair with her head resting against my shoulder. Emily's hand growing colder inside mine.
And Vanessa, whoia asleep in a chair with her head resting against my shoulder. Emily's hand growing colder inside mine.
And Vanessa, who had been waiting outside the hospital room when the doctor told us there was nothing more they could do.
She had held me while I cried.
She had driven Nia home when I couldn't bring myself to leave Emily had been waiting outside the hospital room when the doctor told us there was nothing more they could do.
She had held me while I cried.
She had driven Nia home when I couldn't bring myself to leave Emily's side.
She had helped me choose the dress Emily would be buried in.
I had trusted her with's side.
She had helped me choose the dress Emily would be buried in.
I had trusted her with everything.
Now someone was suggesting that the woman I married had a secret connected to the worst night of my life everything.
Now someone was suggesting that the woman I married had a secret connected to the worst night of my life.
“Sir?””
A police officer's voice pulled me back.
“We've located the motel. Your.
“Sir?””
A police officer's voice pulled me back.
“We've located the motel. Your wife isn't there.””
I stared at him.
“What do you mean, she isn't there?””
“The room was empty. The wife isn't there.””
I stared at him.
“What do you mean, she isn't there?””
“The room was empty. The manager says a woman matching her description checked out about twenty minutes ago.””
“Did you find anything?””
The manager says a woman matching her description checked out about twenty minutes ago.””
“Did you find anything?””
The officer opened a notebook.
“There was a black handbag in the room. Inside, we found several documents and a small velvet pouch. The pouch was officer opened a notebook.
“There was a black handbag in the room. Inside, we found several documents and a small velvet pouch. The pouch was empty.””
My heart hammered.
“Was there any jewelry?””
“No. But we've secured the documents for examination.””
I looked at Michael empty.””
My heart hammered.
“Was there any jewelry?””
“No. But we've secured the documents for examination.””
I looked at Michael.
“The ring.””
He nodded slowly.
“Or whatever Adrian believes is hidden inside it.””
The officer continued.
“We also found a handwritten note with an.
“The ring.””
He nodded slowly.
“Or whatever Adrian believes is hidden inside it.””
The officer continued.
“We also found a handwritten note with an address. It appears to be a private storage facility on the outskirts of town. We're sending officers there now.””
I asked whether they had found Nia address. It appears to be a private storage facility on the outskirts of town. We're sending officers there now.””
I asked whether they had found Nia.
“Not yet, sir. We're doing everything we can.””
Those words offered no comfort.
I wanted to run to every place Vanessa.
“Not yet, sir. We're doing everything we can.””
Those words offered no comfort.
I wanted to run to every place Vanessa had ever mentioned, search every building, and demand answers from anyone who had known my father.
had ever mentioned, search every building, and demand answers from anyone who had known my father.
Instead, I stayed with the officers and gave them everything I remembered about Emily's finalInstead, I stayed with the officers and gave them everything I remembered about Emily's final evening.
One detail kept returning to me.
At around eight that night, Vanessa had arrived at the hospital carrying a small paper bag. She'd said she'd brought Emily a evening.
One detail kept returning to me.
At around eight that night, Vanessa had arrived at the hospital carrying a small paper bag. She'd said she'd brought Emily a few personal items from home.
I hadn't asked what was inside.
Emily was still conscious when Vanessa entered the room, although few personal items from home.
I hadn't asked what was inside.
Emily was still conscious when Vanessa entered the room, although she was weak and struggling to speak.
When Vanessa came out, she had been crying.
I'd assumed Emily had said goodbye she was weak and struggling to speak.
When Vanessa came out, she had been crying.
I'd assumed Emily had said goodbye to her.
But now I remembered something else.
As Vanessa passed me in the corridor, she had whispered, “I'm to her.
But now I remembered something else.
As Vanessa passed me in the corridor, she had whispered, “I'm sorry.””
At the time, I thought she was expressing sympathy.
What if she had been apologizing for something else?
My sorry.””
At the time, I thought she was expressing sympathy.
What if she had been apologizing for something else?
My phone rang.
Margaret.
“Daniel, the trustee has confirmed something important,” she said.
“An attempted transfer was made phone rang.
Margaret.
“Daniel, the trustee has confirmed something important,” she said.
“An attempted transfer was made against the trust three years ago, on the night Emily died.””
I gripped the phone.
“What?””
“The against the trust three years ago, on the night Emily died.””
I gripped the phone.
“What?””
“The transaction was blocked because the authorization documents were incomplete. Someone submitted a request to change the account's management and release a transaction was blocked because the authorization documents were incomplete. Someone submitted a request to change the account's management and release a portion of the funds.””
“Who submitted it?””
“Your father's former business associate was listed as the representative portion of the funds.””
“Who submitted it?””
“Your father's former business associate was listed as the representative, but the signature on the supporting document was disputed.””
“Was Vanessa involved?””
“We can't establish that yet. However, the request was, but the signature on the supporting document was disputed.””
“Was Vanessa involved?””
“We can't establish that yet. However, the request was made using information that should have been available only to someone with access to Emily's private papers.””
I thought of the paper bag.
“Margaret, did made using information that should have been available only to someone with access to Emily's private papers.””
I thought of the paper bag.
“Margaret, did Emily have any documents with her in the hospital?””
“She had a sealed envelope in her personal effects. After her Emily have any documents with her in the hospital?””
“She had a sealed envelope in her personal effects. After her death, it was supposed to be delivered to you.””
“Was it?””
“No.””
I closed my eyes.
“Then where death, it was supposed to be delivered to you.””
“Was it?””
“No.””
I closed my eyes.
“Then where did it go?””
“According to the hospital's inventory, the envelope was collected by an authorized family representative did it go?””
“According to the hospital's inventory, the envelope was collected by an authorized family representative.””
“Who?””
Margaret hesitated.
“Vanessa Reed.””
I felt something inside me break.
I could no longer pretend that these.””
“Who?””
Margaret hesitated.
“Vanessa Reed.””
I felt something inside me break.
I could no longer pretend that these were unrelated coincidences.
Vanessa had known my father. She had approached Margaret before marrying me. She were unrelated coincidences.
Vanessa had known my father. She had approached Margaret before marrying me. She had access to Emily's belongings, and now there was evidence that she had collected a document from the hospital on the night my first wife died.
“I'm had access to Emily's belongings, and now there was evidence that she had collected a document from the hospital on the night my first wife died.
“I'm going to find her,” I said.
“Daniel, please let the police handle this.””
“I am letting them going to find her,” I said.
“Daniel, please let the police handle this.””
“I am letting them handle it. But I need to know why she took that envelope.””
I ended the call and turned to Michael.
“Can handle it. But I need to know why she took that envelope.””
I ended the call and turned to Michael.
“Can you find out what was in Emily's hospital inventory?””
“I'm already working on it.””
He made you find out what was in Emily's hospital inventory?””
“I'm already working on it.””
He made a call to the hospital's records department while I sat beneath the fluorescent lights, staring at the photograph of Nia a call to the hospital's records department while I sat beneath the fluorescent lights, staring at the photograph of Nia.
I couldn't stop thinking about the last time Emily had looked at me.
She had been too weak to speak much, but she had squeezed.
I couldn't stop thinking about the last time Emily had looked at me.
She had been too weak to speak much, but she had squeezed my hand and whispered, “Take care of our girl.””
I'd promised her I would.
I had kept that promise in every my hand and whispered, “Take care of our girl.””
I'd promised her I would.
I had kept that promise in every way I knew how.
I had fed Nia, taken her to school, helped with her homework, and held way I knew how.
I had fed Nia, taken her to school, helped with her homework, and held her through nightmares about losing her mother.
But I had failed to see the person making her through nightmares about losing her mother.
But I had failed to see the person making her afraid in her own home.
A new message appeared.
This time, it came from Vanessa.
*I'm at the storage facility. Come here her afraid in her own home.
A new message appeared.
This time, it came from Vanessa.
I'm at the storage facility. Come here. I have the truth, but you need to hear it from me.
I immediately showed the message to the officer.
He called. I have the truth, but you need to hear it from me.*
I immediately showed the message to the officer.
He called the team already heading toward the facility and asked them to confirm whether the location matched the address found in the motel room.
the team already heading toward the facility and asked them to confirm whether the location matched the address found in the motel room.
It did.
The police instructed me to remain where I was while they assessed the situation. Michael stayed beside me, and we waited for confirmation.
Ten minutes passed.
ThenIt did.
The police instructed me to remain where I was while they assessed the situation. Michael stayed beside me, and we waited for confirmation.
Ten minutes passed.
Then fifteen.
Finally, an officer called.
“We've located your wife, Mr. Carter. She's inside a storage unit. She's alone, and fifteen.
Finally, an officer called.
“We've located your wife, Mr. Carter. She's inside a storage unit. She's alone, and she says she has information about the missing child.””
“Is Nia there?””
“Not at the moment. Your wife she says she has information about the missing child.””
“Is Nia there?””
“Not at the moment. Your wife claims she knows where the child is being held.””
I stood.
“I'm coming.””
The officer agreed to have me claims she knows where the child is being held.””
I stood.
“I'm coming.””
The officer agreed to have me escorted to the facility once the scene was secured.
When I arrived, Vanessa was sitting on a metal folding chair inside a small storage escorted to the facility once the scene was secured.
When I arrived, Vanessa was sitting on a metal folding chair inside a small storage unit. Cardboard boxes lined the walls. A single bare bulb illuminated the room.
She looked exhausted.
Her hair was tangled, her mascara had unit. Cardboard boxes lined the walls. A single bare bulb illuminated the room.
She looked exhausted.
Her hair was tangled, her mascara had run down her cheeks, and her hands trembled in her lap.
On the floor beside her sat a black handbag.
I stopped in the run down her cheeks, and her hands trembled in her lap.
On the floor beside her sat a black handbag.
I stopped in the doorway.
“Where is my daughter?””
Vanessa looked up.
“I don't know exactly where she is, but I know who took her doorway.
“Where is my daughter?””
Vanessa looked up.
“I don't know exactly where she is, but I know who took her.””
“Then tell me.””
“My brother has been working with someone from your father's old business. Adrian told me they only wanted the ring. He said they.””
“Then tell me.””
“My brother has been working with someone from your father's old business. Adrian told me they only wanted the ring. He said they wouldn't hurt Nia.””
“You believed him?””
“I wanted to believe him!””
Her voice cracked.
“I thought I could get the ring back, prove he forged the documents, wouldn't hurt Nia.””
“You believed him?””
“I wanted to believe him!””
Her voice cracked.
“I thought I could get the ring back, prove he forged the documents, and end this before you found out.””
“You thought you could solve this by stealing my daughter's inheritance?””
“I never wanted and end this before you found out.””
“You thought you could solve this by stealing my daughter's inheritance?””
“I never wanted Nia to lose anything.””
I stepped closer.
“Then why did you tell her she wasn't entitled to a pair of shoes?””
Vanessa lowered her head.
For Nia to lose anything.””
I stepped closer.
“Then why did you tell her she wasn't entitled to a pair of shoes?””
Vanessa lowered her head.
For the first time, she had no excuse.
“I was angry,” she whispered.
“Every time I saw her, I saw the first time, she had no excuse.
“I was angry,” she whispered.
“Every time I saw her, I saw everything Emily had that I could never replace. Your memories. The jewelry. The trust.
everything Emily had that I could never replace. Your memories. The jewelry.
The trust. Even the way you looked at Nia when she smiled.””
I stared at her.
“So you punished a child for reminding Even the way you looked at Nia when she smiled.””
I stared at her.
“So you punished a child for reminding you of her mother.””
Tears slid down Vanessa's face.
“Yes.””
The admission was so small, so pathetic, that I felt no relief hearing you of her mother.””
Tears slid down Vanessa's face.
“Yes.””
The admission was so small, so pathetic, that I felt no relief hearing it.
“Tell me what happened the night Emily died.””
Vanessa covered her mouth.
Then she began to cry.
“I went to the hospital because it.
“Tell me what happened the night Emily died.””
Vanessa covered her mouth.
Then she began to cry.
“I went to the hospital because Adrian told me Emily had the original trust documents. He said if I could get the envelope, he could prove your father had made Adrian told me Emily had the original trust documents. He said if I could get the envelope, he could prove your father had made unauthorized transfers and use that as leverage to gain access to the remaining funds.””
“Did you take the envelope?””
“Yes.””
The unauthorized transfers and use that as leverage to gain access to the remaining funds.””
“Did you take the envelope?””
“Yes.””
The room seemed to shrink around me.
“What did you do with it?””
“I gave it to Adrian. I room seemed to shrink around me.
“What did you do with it?””
“I gave it to Adrian. I thought it contained financial records. I didn't know Emily had written a letter to you.””
I clen thought it contained financial records. I didn't know Emily had written a letter to you.””
I clenched my jaw.
“Did you know Emily was dying when you took it?””
Vanched my jaw.
“Did you know Emily was dying when you took it?””
Vanessa's tears fell faster.
“Yes.””
I turned away, struggling to contain the rage rising inside me.
“You stood outside that room while I said goodbye to my wife. You watched myessa's tears fell faster.
“Yes.””
I turned away, struggling to contain the rage rising inside me.
“You stood outside that room while I said goodbye to my wife. You watched my daughter lose her mother. And while we were grieving, you were helping your brother take what Emily daughter lose her mother. And while we were grieving, you were helping your brother take what Emily had left her.””
“I know.””
“No, you don't.””
Vanessa reached into her handbag and pulled had left her.””
“I know.””
“No, you don't.””
Vanessa reached into her handbag and pulled out a folded sheet of paper.
“This is why I came here. Adrian told me to destroy it, but I couldn't.””
She handed it to me.
It out a folded sheet of paper.
“This is why I came here. Adrian told me to destroy it, but I couldn't.””
She handed it to me.
It was a photocopy of a letter written by Emily.
The first lines were familiar.
*Daniel, if anything happens to me, was a photocopy of a letter written by Emily.
The first lines were familiar.
Daniel, if anything happens to me, please protect Nia's future. The jewelry and the trust are connected, and the original instructions must remain intact.
But please protect Nia's future. The jewelry and the trust are connected, and the original instructions must remain intact.*
But the final paragraph was different from anything I'd seen before.
*There is one person who knows how your father's debt was settled and the final paragraph was different from anything I'd seen before.
There is one person who knows how your father's debt was settled and who has been trying to gain access to Nia's inheritance. I believe that person will approach our who has been trying to gain access to Nia's inheritance. I believe that person will approach our family again.
Below that was a name.
*Adrian Reed.*
I looked up.
“Your brother?””
Vanessa nodded.
“He wasn't the one who sent family again.*
Below that was a name.
*Adrian Reed.*
I looked up.
“Your brother?””
Vanessa nodded.
“He wasn't the one who sent the message about Nia,” she whispered.
“He told me that himself.””
“Then who did?””
the message about Nia,” she whispered.
“He told me that himself.””
“Then who did?””
She looked toward the open storage unit door.
“The man who has been helping him.””
“Who is he?””
Vanessa's lips trembled.
Then she spoke the words that changed everything.
“Your father's former business partner. The man who was at the hospital the night Emily died.””
Before I could ask another question, an officer hurriedShe looked toward the open storage unit door.
“The man who has been helping him.””
“Who is he?””
Vanessa's lips trembled.
Then she spoke the words that changed everything.
“Your father's former business partner. The man who was at the hospital the night Emily died.””
Before I could ask another question, an officer hurried into the unit.
“Mr. Carter, we've received a call. We have a possible location for Nia.””
I rushed toward him.
“ into the unit.
“Mr. Carter, we've received a call. We have a possible location for Nia.””
I rushed toward him.
“Where?””
He looked at Vanessa, then back at me.
“An abandoned property registered to your father's former business partner.””
Vanessa stood so quickly that her chair fell backward.
“NoWhere?””
He looked at Vanessa, then back at me.
“An abandoned property registered to your father's former business partner.””
Vanessa stood so quickly that her chair fell backward.
“No,” she whispered.
“He promised he wouldn't take her there.””
I turned toward her.
“What do,” she whispered.
“He promised he wouldn't take her there.””
I turned toward her.
“What do you mean?””
She grabbed my arm.
“Daniel, if he's taken Nia to that house, you need to know you mean?””
She grabbed my arm.
“Daniel, if he's taken Nia to that house, you need to know something before you go.””
Her face was white with terror.
“He doesn't just want the ring. He believes Nia is the only person who can something before you go.””
May you like
Her face was white with terror.
“He doesn't just want the ring. He believes Nia is the only person who can unlock the inheritance.””
