Chapter 17: The Sister Who Knew Too Much
Nobody spoke.
The basement felt colder.
Lauren stared at the notebook like it had betrayed her.
“I didn’t write that.””
Detective Harris looked at her.
“The handwriting appears to match.””
“No.””
She stepped back.
“I wrote notes before.””
Her eyes moved across the page.
“But not this.””
I looked at her.
“Then who did?””
She didn’t answer.
My mother looked at Lauren.
“You knew.””
Lauren shook her head.
“No.””
“You knew about the basement.””
“No.””
“You knew about Victor.””
“Yes.””
Everyone stopped.
Lauren closed her eyes.
“I knew some things.””
My anger returned.
“Some things?””
She looked at me.
“I was trying to protect you.””
I almost laughed.
“Everyone says that.””
“I know.””
Her voice broke.
“But I mean it.””
James crossed his arms.
“Then start telling the truth.””
Lauren nodded slowly.
“I found out about Victor five years ago.””
I frowned.
“Why?””
“He contacted me.””
“Why would he contact you?””
“Because he wanted something.””
“What?””
Lauren looked at me.
“You.””
The word made me uncomfortable.
“Me?””
“He said he had proof.””
“Proof of what?””
“That your parents had lied.””
I looked at my mother.
“They had.””
“Yes.””
Lauren nodded.
“But Victor didn’t contact me because he wanted justice.””
“What did he want?””
Her eyes filled.
“He wanted access to you.””
A chill went through me.
“And you helped him?””
“No.””
She answered immediately.
“I tried to stop him.””
“Then why didn’t you tell me?””
She looked away.
“Because I was afraid you would hate me.””
I stared at her.
“You already knew I was your daughter.””
“Yes.””
“And you still let me live my whole life without knowing.””
She nodded.
“I thought I had lost the right to tell you.””
The answer hurt.
Because a part of me understood.
A part of me hated that I understood.
Then my phone rang.
Unknown number.
Everyone froze.
I answered.
No one spoke.
Only breathing.
“Who is this?””
A voice finally came through.
A woman.
“Claire.””
My blood turned cold.
I knew that voice.
My mother.
But she was standing right in front of me.
I looked at Margaret.
Her face went pale.
The voice continued.
“Don’t trust anyone in that room.””
I couldn’t speak.
“Who are you?””
A pause.
Then:
“I’m the person who knows where Emma is.””
James grabbed my shoulder.
“Put it on speaker.””
I did.
The woman laughed softly.
“Still following orders, Claire?””
My mother whispered:
“No.””
The voice continued.
“You always were easy to control.””
I looked at Margaret.
“Who is this?””
Nobody answered.
Then the voice said:
“You want your daughter back?””
My eyes filled.
“Yes.””
“Then bring me the notebook.””
Detective Harris stepped forward.
“No.””
The voice ignored him.
“Come alone.””
James immediately shook his head.
“No chance.””
The woman laughed.
“That’s exactly what Margaret said twenty-five years ago.””
My mother froze.
The voice continued.
“And look how well that worked out.””
The call ended.
Everyone stared at Margaret.
She looked terrified.
“Who was that?””
My mother whispered:
“Someone who should be dead.””
The room went silent.
“Who?””
She looked at me.
May you like
And said:
“Your grandmother.””
