Chapter 6: The Missing Witness
The name on the report haunted me.
Thomas Reed.
I stared at the paper.
“Who is he?””
Clara didn’t answer immediately.
That scared me.
Because Clara was someone who always had an answer.
Even when she was afraid.
Even when she was hurt.
But now she looked like someone who had just opened a door she spent two years trying to keep closed.
“Clara?””
She slowly sat down.
“Thomas was my brother’s best friend.””
Julian looked confused.
“Your brother?””
Clara’s eyes dropped.
“I had a brother.””
The room became quiet.
I felt my heart sink.
“You never told me.””
“Because he disappeared before we met.””
She took a shaky breath.
“His name was Daniel.””
I frowned.
“But this says Thomas Reed.””
“Thomas was the last person who saw Daniel alive.””
Detective Harris listened carefully.
“Tell me everything you remember.””
Clara looked at the photograph.
“Daniel didn’t trust Rebecca.””
That name again.
Rebecca.
It seemed like every dark road led back to her.
“He told me something was wrong,” Clara continued.
“He said she wasn’t just interested in my marriage.””
“What did he think she wanted?””
Clara looked at Lily.
“She wanted my life.””
A chill went through me.
Detective Harris flipped through his notes.
“Thomas Reed disappeared three days after your crash.””
“And nobody investigated?”” I asked.
“They did,” Harris said.
“But there wasn’t enough evidence.””
Clara touched the paper.
“Until now.””
That afternoon, we visited the old repair shop where Mark Ellison had worked.
The place had been closed for years.
Dust covered the windows.
Broken signs hung from the walls.
Detective Harris unlocked the door.
“He agreed to meet here.””
Inside, the air smelled like rust and old oil.
Mark sat at a table.
He looked older than I expected.
Tired.
Afraid.
When he saw Clara, he stood up.
“Oh my God.””
Clara stared at him.
“You remember me.””
Mark lowered his eyes.
“Yes.””
“Why?””
He swallowed.
“Because I watched you drive away knowing your brakes wouldn’t work.””
My hands tightened into fists.
“You knew?””
Mark looked ashamed.
“Rebecca paid me.””
Julian stepped forward.
“You almost killed my wife.””
“I know.””
“You almost destroyed my daughter’s life.””
“I know.””
Mark pulled out a small envelope.
“I kept this because I knew someday the truth would come out.””
Clara took it.
“What is it?””
“Rebecca’s instructions.””
She opened the envelope.
Inside was a handwritten note.
Clara read silently.
Then her face changed.
“What?””
She handed it to Detective Harris.
He read it.
Then looked at us.
“This isn’t only about the crash.””
“What does it say?”” Julian asked.
Detective Harris looked at Clara.
“It says Rebecca planned everything.””
My stomach dropped.
“Everything?””
He nodded.
“The accident. Your disappearance. And…”
He paused.
“And what?””
The detective looked at the final line.
“Replacing you completely.””
Clara’s eyes filled with tears.
Then Mark whispered something that made everyone turn.
“There’s one more thing.””
“What?”” Clara asked.
Mark looked terrified.
“Rebecca wasn’t working alone.””
The room went silent.
“Who was helping her?””
Mark hesitated.
May you like
Then he spoke.
“Someone inside your family.””
