Chapter 7: The Voice Inside the Teddy Bear
“Daddy, why does Uncle Gregory keep asking me where Mommy hid the blue envelope?””
Lily stood halfway down the staircase, clutching her teddy bear against her chest.
Her eyes were red.
Her hair, or what remained of it, was covered by the pink blanket Mrs. Carter had wrapped around her shoulders.
I immediately crouched.
“Come here, sweetheart.””
She hurried into my arms.
I held her tightly before looking at the teddy bear.
“Did Uncle Gregory say something to you?””
Lily nodded.
“He called me yesterday when you were at work.””
My stomach tightened.
“Yesterday?””
“He said he wanted to talk about Mommy's things. He asked if Mommy had given me a blue envelope.””
I glanced at Marcus.
He was already taking out his phone.
“Did you tell him where it was?”” I asked.
Lily shook her head.
“I don't know where it is. But he said I shouldn't tell you he called.””
I felt something inside me break.
My brother had contacted my six-year-old daughter behind my back.
He had instructed her to keep secrets from me.
And now we had discovered a recording device hidden inside her favorite teddy bear.
I gently took the toy from her.
“Who gave you this teddy bear?””
“Mommy Vanessa.””
“When?””
“On my birthday.””
I looked at Mrs. Carter.
She nodded.
“She gave Lily that toy three months ago. She said it was a special present.””
Marcus carefully examined the bear without opening it.
“There appears to be something inside the stitching.””
I looked at him.
“Can you determine whether it's recording?””
“Not without examining it properly. We shouldn't tamper with it. I'll arrange for it to be preserved and examined by a qualified specialist.””
I turned back to Lily.
“Sweetheart, have you heard anyone speaking through this toy?””
She nodded slowly.
“Sometimes.””
My heart stopped.
“What do you mean?””
“Sometimes, when I'm sleeping, I hear a little sound. Like someone whispering.””
“What do they say?””
She looked at the teddy bear.
“They ask me where Mommy's blue envelope is.””
Mrs. Carter covered her mouth.
I felt a wave of anger rise inside me, but I forced myself to stay calm.
Lily was watching my face.
She needed to see safety, not rage.
“Listen to me, baby. You haven't done anything wrong. Nobody is going to punish you for telling me the truth.””
She buried her face in my shoulder.
“Mommy Vanessa said I wasn't supposed to tell.””
I closed my eyes.
“That's okay. You can always tell Daddy.””
Marcus stepped away to make a call.
Within minutes, he had arranged for the teddy bear to be secured and for the appropriate authorities to be contacted.
I carried Lily into the kitchen.
Mrs. Carter made her some warm milk, and I sat beside her while she slowly drank.
Then I asked a question.
“Lily, do you remember Mommy having a blue envelope?””
Her eyes brightened slightly.
“Yes.””
I leaned closer.
“Where did you see it?””
“Mommy kept it in the little blue box.””
“Where is the box?””
She pointed toward the staircase.
“Daddy, it's not in the house.””
I felt my pulse quicken.
“What happened to it?””
Lily looked down.
“Mommy Vanessa took it.””
“When?””
“Before Christmas.””
I exchanged a glance with Mrs. Carter.
“Did you see her take it?””
Lily nodded.
“She was cleaning Mommy's old room. I asked her what was inside, and she said it was something for grown-ups.””
“Did she tell you where she put it?””
“She said Uncle Gregory needed it.””
That was enough.
I stood.
“Marcus, we need to find Gregory.””
He returned from the hallway.
“I've already contacted the authorities about the recording device. But there's something you should know.””
He showed me his phone.
A message had arrived from the hospital's records department.
They had located an archived request connected to Rebecca's final admission.
The original request had been submitted electronically.
The authorization had been issued using my name.
My signature.
Except I hadn't signed it.
Someone had copied my signature.
The request had asked for Rebecca's emergency contact details to be changed and for a specific medical report to be released to a private attorney.
The attorney's name was Adrian Cross.
I stared at the screen.
“Why would Adrian want Rebecca's medical records?””
Marcus shook his head.
“We don't know yet. But this is no longer just a family dispute.””
He placed the phone on the table.
“We need to establish whether someone interfered with Rebecca's medical care, whether financial fraud occurred, and whether Lily was deliberately targeted.””
I looked toward my daughter.
She had fallen asleep on the sofa.
Her little hand was still resting on the empty space where her teddy bear had been.
I walked over and covered her with the blanket.
Then my phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
I answered.
“Darius Hale?””
“Yes.””
A woman's voice responded.
“My name is Nicole Bennett. We need to talk.””
I straightened.
“About what?””
“Your brother has made a terrible mistake.””
“Where is the blue envelope?””
She went silent.
Then she whispered:
“So Lily told you.””
I tightened my grip on the phone.
“Where are you?””
“Listen carefully. Gregory doesn't know I still have the original recording. And if he discovers I contacted you, he'll come after me.””
“Original recording of what?””
A long pause followed.
Then Nicole said something I would never forget.
“Rebecca knew someone was planning to make her disappear from your daughter's life before she even died.””
My knees nearly buckled.
“What are you saying?””
“I have proof.””
“Where?””
“Tomorrow. Nine o'clock. The old Riverside Hotel.””
Marcus heard everything.
He shook his head and mouthed, Don't go alone.
I asked Nicole one final question.
“Why should I trust you?””
Her answer came quietly.
“Because I was the person who changed Rebecca's hospital records. And I know who paid me.””
The call ended.
I stared at the phone.
Marcus immediately contacted the authorities and documented the call.
Then he said something that made the situation even more frightening.
“Darius, if Nicole is telling the truth, we may be dealing with something much bigger than the trust.””
I looked at Lily.
Her little face was peaceful now.
But I knew that peace had been stolen from her for months.
And I was determined to get it back.
The next morning, before leaving for the meeting, I received another message.
It was from Gregory.
*I know you're going to meet Nicole. Don't go. She killed Rebecca's reputation once already. She'll destroy yours next.*
Then another message appeared.
*And if you want Lily to stay safe, bring the blue envelope.*
I stared at the screen.
I hadn't told Gregory about the meeting.
May you like
Which meant someone was watching me.
Or someone was listening.
