Chapter 10: The Night Everything Changed
Nobody spoke.
The officer’s words stayed in the room like smoke.
*Jessica was driving the car that followed Eleanor the night she died.*
Jasmine looked at her stepmother.
The woman who had raised her.
The woman who had sat beside her at family dinners.
The woman who had once held her hand at her mother’s grave.
“No,” Jasmine whispered.
Jessica’s eyes filled with tears.
“Jasmine…”
“Don’t.””
The single word broke Jessica more than any accusation could have.
David stood completely still.
His face showed nothing.
And that scared everyone.
“Officer,” David said quietly, “what exactly do those records prove?””
The officer opened the file.
“The vehicle registration matches a car owned by Mrs. Jessica Carter at the time.””
Jessica shook her head.
“That doesn’t mean I caused anything.””
The officer nodded.
“We know that. The records only show the vehicle was present.””
Michael leaned against the wall.
“But it was there.””
David turned toward him.
“You knew?””
Michael looked away.
“I knew Jessica followed Eleanor.””
Jasmine looked shocked.
“And you never told us?””
Michael’s expression hardened.
“Because I knew nobody would believe me.””
David stepped forward.
“You expect me to believe you now?””
“No,” Michael replied.
“But you should listen to the evidence.””
The officer looked at David.
“We found additional information connected to the accident.””
“What information?””
“A witness.””
Everyone froze.
David’s voice lowered.
“Who?””
The officer looked at the file.
“A mechanic who worked near the road where the accident happened.””
Jasmine’s heart raced.
“What did he see?””
The officer hesitated.
“He said Eleanor’s car was forced off the road.””
David closed his eyes.
For years, he had lived with the belief that he lost his wife because of a terrible accident.
Now he was learning that someone may have taken her from him.
Jessica covered her mouth.
“No…”
David looked at her.
“You knew something.””
Jessica looked at him with tears.
“I knew she was in danger.””
The room became silent.
Jasmine stared.
“What do you mean?””
Jessica sat down.
Her hands trembled.
“Your mother called me that night.””
David’s expression changed.
“She called you?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Jessica looked at Jasmine.
“She wanted help.””
Jasmine felt betrayed.
“Help from you?””
Jessica nodded.
“Your mother knew I had worked with the family accounts. She knew I had seen things Michael was hiding.””
Michael immediately interrupted.
“Don’t pretend you were innocent.””
Jessica looked at him.
“I’m not.””
David’s voice was cold.
“Then tell us everything.””
Jessica took a deep breath.
“That night, Eleanor told me she found evidence of missing money.””
“Michael’s money,” David said.
Jessica nodded.
“She planned to meet David and explain everything.””
Jasmine looked at her.
“Then why didn’t you tell Dad?””
Jessica’s eyes filled.
“Because before I could get there, the accident happened.””
David stared.
“You followed her.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Jessica looked down.
“Because I was scared.””
“Of what?””
Jessica whispered:
“Michael.””
Michael laughed bitterly.
“Convenient.””
Jessica ignored him.
“I thought if Eleanor was meeting David, Michael would know. I wanted to protect her.””
David’s voice cracked.
“But she died.””
Jessica closed her eyes.
“Yes.””
Jasmine stepped back.
“So after my mother died, you married my father.””
Jessica looked devastated.
“I loved your father.””
“But you also knew things.””
“Yes.””
“Things that could have changed my entire life.””
Jessica couldn’t answer.
The officer interrupted.
“There is one more thing.””
Everyone looked at him.
“The witness also reported seeing another person near the vehicle.””
David frowned.
“Who?””
The officer looked at Michael.
“Your brother.””
Michael’s face changed.
For the first time, he looked afraid.
“That’s impossible.””
The officer opened another page.
“The witness identified two vehicles.””
David looked between Michael and Jessica.
Two vehicles.
Two people.
Two secrets.
Then the officer handed David a final document.
“This was found in the original investigation file.””
David looked at it.
A statement.
Signed by Eleanor.
His hands shook as he read the first line.
*“If I disappear, do not trust either of them.””*
Jasmine looked at her father.
“Either of them?””
David slowly raised his eyes.
May you like
Because Eleanor wasn’t warning him about one person.
She was warning him about two.
