Chapter 9: The Last Thing Daniel Asked of Me
Rebecca arrived at my house forty minutes later.
She came alone, carrying a canvas bag and wearing the same gray coat of Me
Rebecca arrived at my house forty minutes later.
She came alone, carrying a canvas bag and wearing the same gray coat she'd worn to Daniel's funeral.
When I opened the door, she looked as though she'd aged ten years in a single afternoon.
“Is Miles here she'd worn to Daniel's funeral.
When I opened the door, she looked as though she'd aged ten years in a single afternoon.
“Is Miles here?”” she asked.
“He's upstairs with our neighbor. The police asked him to stay somewhere safe while they finish examining the house.””
Rebecca nodded.
?”” she asked.
“He's upstairs with our neighbor. The police asked him to stay somewhere safe while they finish examining the house.””
Rebecca nodded.
“Good.””
I stepped aside, but I didn't offer her a hug.
She noticed.
“I deserve that,” she“Good.””
I stepped aside, but I didn't offer her a hug.
She noticed.
“I deserve that,” she whispered.
I led her into the kitchen.
On the table lay the photograph of her outside the old Harris house.
I pushed it whispered.
I led her into the kitchen.
On the table lay the photograph of her outside the old Harris house.
I pushed it toward her.
“Tell me about the recording.””
Rebecca stared at the picture.
Then she sat down.
“Daniel gave it to me three months before he died.””
“Why?””
“Because he thought someone might come toward her.
“Tell me about the recording.””
Rebecca stared at the picture.
Then she sat down.
“Daniel gave it to me three months before he died.””
“Why?””
“Because he thought someone might come looking for the documents. He wanted me to keep the recording somewhere Richard would never find it.””
“Where is it?””
She opened her canvas bag and removed a small, battered metal box.
The sight of it made my heart looking for the documents. He wanted me to keep the recording somewhere Richard would never find it.””
“Where is it?””
She opened her canvas bag and removed a small, battered metal box.
The sight of it made my heart race.
It was the same box I'd seen in the photograph of Daniel and Michael as boys.
Rebecca placed it on the table.
“I took it from the old house this morning. I was going to bring it to you, but someone race.
It was the same box I'd seen in the photograph of Daniel and Michael as boys.
Rebecca placed it on the table.
“I took it from the old house this morning. I was going to bring it to you, but someone followed me. I hid it in my car and called the police.””
“Then why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I was afraid.””
I leaned forward.
“Afraid of what?””
“That the recording would prove Richard was responsible followed me. I hid it in my car and called the police.””
“Then why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I was afraid.””
I leaned forward.
“Afraid of what?””
“That the recording would prove Richard was responsible for Thomas's death. That Daniel had spent his entire life believing he was responsible for something he hadn't done. And that if the truth came out, everyone would learn how much I had helped Richard for Thomas's death.
That Daniel had spent his entire life believing he was responsible for something he hadn't done. And that if the truth came out, everyone would learn how much I had helped Richard hide.””
I stared at her.
“You were a child.””
“I was a child when it happened. I wasn't a child when I lied to you at Daniel's funeral.””
Her eyes filled.
“I told you hide.””
I stared at her.
“You were a child.””
“I was a child when it happened. I wasn't a child when I lied to you at Daniel's funeral.””
Her eyes filled.
“I told you Matthew was dead because I wanted you to stop asking questions. I told myself I was protecting Daniel's memory. The truth was, I was protecting my own.””
I sat opposite her.
“Why did you send Miles those messages?””
Rebecca Matthew was dead because I wanted you to stop asking questions. I told myself I was protecting Daniel's memory. The truth was, I was protecting my own.””
I sat opposite her.
“Why did you send Miles those messages?””
Rebecca looked up sharply.
“I didn't.””
“Someone used your photograph. Someone knew about the recording and the box.””
“I know. That's why I brought it here.””
She opened the box.
Inside were several folded letters, a looked up sharply.
“I didn't.””
“Someone used your photograph. Someone knew about the recording and the box.””
“I know. That's why I brought it here.””
She opened the box.
Inside were several folded letters, a small cassette tape, and a photograph of Daniel standing beside a man I recognized from the restored family picture.
Michael.
Rebecca picked up the cassette.
“Daniel said this was the only recording Richard never small cassette tape, and a photograph of Daniel standing beside a man I recognized from the restored family picture.
Michael.
Rebecca picked up the cassette.
“Daniel said this was the only recording Richard never knew existed.””
“What's on it?””
“I haven't listened to it.””
“Why not?””
“Because Daniel asked me not to.””
I stared at her.
“Rebecca, he is gone. We can't keep knew existed.””
“What's on it?””
“I haven't listened to it.””
“Why not?””
“Because Daniel asked me not to.””
I stared at her.
“Rebecca, he is gone. We can't keep making decisions based on what a dead man might have wanted.””
She flinched.
“You're right.””
I found an old cassette player among Daniel's belongings and placed the tape inside.
My hands trembled as I pressed play.
making decisions based on what a dead man might have wanted.””
She flinched.
“You're right.””
I found an old cassette player among Daniel's belongings and placed the tape inside.
My hands trembled as I pressed play.
At first, there was only static.
Then Richard's voice filled the kitchen.
“You don't tell me what to do in my own house.””
Another voice answered.
Thomas.
“It's not your house.At first, there was only static.
Then Richard's voice filled the kitchen.
“You don't tell me what to do in my own house.””
Another voice answered.
Thomas.
“It's not your house. The money belongs to Michael, and you know it.””
“You ungrateful—”
A crash interrupted him.
Then came Daniel's voice, The money belongs to Michael, and you know it.””
“You ungrateful—”
A crash interrupted him.
Then came Daniel's voice, thin and frightened.
“Dad, stop!””
I covered my mouth.
Richard shouted something I couldn't make out.
Thomas said, “Leave thin and frightened.
“Dad, stop!””
I covered my mouth.
Richard shouted something I couldn't make out.
Thomas said, “Leave the boy alone!””
A struggle followed. Footsteps struck the wooden floor. Something heavy fell.
Then silence.
Several seconds passed before Richard spoke again.
“He fell.””
Daniel's voice trem the boy alone!””
A struggle followed. Footsteps struck the wooden floor. Something heavy fell.
Then silence.
Several seconds passed before Richard spoke again.
“He fell.””
Daniel's voice trembled.
“You pushed him.””
“He fell,” Richard repeated, more forcefully.
“Do you understand me? He fell.””
“But I sawbled.
“You pushed him.””
“He fell,” Richard repeated, more forcefully.
“Do you understand me? He fell.””
“But I saw—”
Richard struck something. A sharp crack echoed through the recording.
“Listen to me, Daniel. If you tell anyone what happened, they'll take you away. Your mother will lose everything. And you'll—”
Richard struck something. A sharp crack echoed through the recording.
“Listen to me, Daniel. If you tell anyone what happened, they'll take you away. Your mother will lose everything. And you'll spend the rest of your life knowing you destroyed this family.””
Daniel began to cry.
Then came the words that haunted me spend the rest of your life knowing you destroyed this family.””
Daniel began to cry.
Then came the words that haunted me.
“I don't want to go away.””
“You won't,” Richard said.
“As long as you remember what happened.””
The tape continued for another minute.
Richard instructed Daniel to tell the police that.
“I don't want to go away.””
“You won't,” Richard said.
“As long as you remember what happened.””
The tape continued for another minute.
Richard instructed Daniel to tell the police that Thomas had lost his balance. He told him to repeat the story until he believed it himself.
Then the recording ended.
I sat motionless.
For years, Daniel had carried a memory that had been deliberately twisted into Thomas had lost his balance. He told him to repeat the story until he believed it himself.
Then the recording ended.
I sat motionless.
For years, Daniel had carried a memory that had been deliberately twisted into a weapon against him.
He had been a child, frightened and manipulated by the person who was supposed to protect him.
But that didn't mean his later choices hadn't mattered.
It meant he had spent his life trying a weapon against him.
He had been a child, frightened and manipulated by the person who was supposed to protect him.
But that didn't mean his later choices hadn't mattered.
It meant he had spent his life trying to become someone different from the man who had taught him cruelty.
Rebecca wiped her eyes.
“Daniel wanted you to have this.””
I looked at her.
“Then why didn't he give it to me himself?””
“He was going to to become someone different from the man who had taught him cruelty.
Rebecca wiped her eyes.
“Daniel wanted you to have this.””
I looked at her.
“Then why didn't he give it to me himself?””
“He was going to. He had arranged to meet Michael the week after the accident. He wanted to tell you everything afterward.””
She slid a letter across the table.
“This was in the. He had arranged to meet Michael the week after the accident. He wanted to tell you everything afterward.””
She slid a letter across the table.
“This was in the box.””
My name was written on the envelope.
I opened it.
Emily,
*There are things I've never told you because I box.””
My name was written on the envelope.
I opened it.
Emily,
There are things I've never told you because I was afraid the truth would change how you saw me.
When I was a boy, I learned that fear could make a person obey. I learned that humiliation could make a person silent. And I learned that if you controlled the story, you was afraid the truth would change how you saw me.
When I was a boy, I learned that fear could make a person obey. I learned that humiliation could make a person silent. And I learned that if you controlled the story, you could make almost anyone believe you were the victim.
I spent years repeating those lessons without realizing it.
When I saw Miles doing the same thing, I understood that I had failed to break the could make almost anyone believe you were the victim.
I spent years repeating those lessons without realizing it.
When I saw Miles doing the same thing, I understood that I had failed to break the cycle as completely as I'd hoped.
Please don't let him use my past as an excuse. Don't let him use my mistakes as permission to make his own.
Teach him that he can be accountable without cycle as completely as I'd hoped.
Please don't let him use my past as an excuse. Don't let him use my mistakes as permission to make his own.
Teach him that he can be accountable without being worthless. Teach him that an apology is not a demand for forgiveness. And teach him that the truth is still worth telling, even when it costs you something.
I love you. I love our being worthless. Teach him that an apology is not a demand for forgiveness. And teach him that the truth is still worth telling, even when it costs you something.
I love you. I love our son.
And I hope you will forgive me for waiting so long to tell you who I really was.
I pressed son.*
And I hope you will forgive me for waiting so long to tell you who I really was.
I pressed the letter against my chest.
For a moment, I could almost hear Daniel in the next room, humming while he made coffee the letter against my chest.
For a moment, I could almost hear Daniel in the next room, humming while he made coffee.
Then my phone rang.
It was Principal Bennett.
“Emily, we need to speak with you about Miles.””
I straightened.
“Is he all right?””
“He's safe. But we've identified the.
Then my phone rang.
It was Principal Bennett.
“Emily, we need to speak with you about Miles.””
I straightened.
“Is he all right?””
“He's safe. But we've identified the student who originally shared the old recordings.””
“Who?””
“Trevor Collins.””
I closed my eyes.
Miles had told us about Trevor.
“The school has student who originally shared the old recordings.””
“Who?””
“Trevor Collins.””
I closed my eyes.
Miles had told us about Trevor.
“The school has reviewed the evidence. Trevor appears to have obtained the recordings through a relative and used them to threaten several students, including Miles. We've also received information suggesting that an adult may have reviewed the evidence.
Trevor appears to have obtained the recordings through a relative and used them to threaten several students, including Miles. We've also received information suggesting that an adult may have encouraged him to target your family.””
“Who?””
“We're still verifying that. The police are involved.””
Rebecca gripped the edge of the table.
I thought about the anonymous messages, the stolen encouraged him to target your family.””
“Who?””
“We're still verifying that. The police are involved.””
Rebecca gripped the edge of the table.
I thought about the anonymous messages, the stolen box, and the person who had been following Michael.
“Principal Bennett, there's something else. We have a recording of Thomas box, and the person who had been following Michael.
“Principal Bennett, there's something else. We have a recording of Thomas's death, and it may contain evidence of a crime.””
His voice became serious.
“Don't share it with anyone else. Please preserve the original and contact the officer handling your case.””
“I will.””
When the call ended, I looked at Rebecca.
“Who else knew Daniel had's death, and it may contain evidence of a crime.””
His voice became serious.
“Don't share it with anyone else. Please preserve the original and contact the officer handling your case.””
“I will.””
When the call ended, I looked at Rebecca.
“Who else knew Daniel had the recording?””
She hesitated.
“Michael. Me. And one other person.””
“Who?””
“Richard's attorney. He helped Daniel locate the original documents.””
I frowned.
“Is he still alive?””
“Yes the recording?””
She hesitated.
“Michael. Me. And one other person.””
“Who?””
“Richard's attorney. He helped Daniel locate the original documents.””
I frowned.
“Is he still alive?””
“Yes. His name is Arthur Collins.””
The same surname as Trevor.
My stomach tightened.
Rebecca reached for her phone.
“Emily, I think we need to find out whether Arthur has a grandson named. His name is Arthur Collins.””
The same surname as Trevor.
My stomach tightened.
Rebecca reached for her phone.
“Emily, I think we need to find out whether Arthur has a grandson named Trevor.””
Before she could search, my phone buzzed.
A message from Miles.
*Mom, Trevor just sent me another Trevor.””
Before she could search, my phone buzzed.
A message from Miles.
Mom, Trevor just sent me another message.
I opened the screenshot.
It contained a photograph of the cassette player on our kitchen table.
Someone had taken the picture through the window.
B message.*
I opened the screenshot.
It contained a photograph of the cassette player on our kitchen table.
Someone had taken the picture through the window.
Beneath it was a message addressed to me.
**Now that you've heard the recording, you have until tomorrow morningeneath it was a message addressed to me.
*Now that you've heard the recording, you have until tomorrow morning to hand over the original. Otherwise, everyone will learn what Daniel did after Thomas fell.*
I stared at the words.
Daniel had been a frightened child when Thomas died to hand over the original. Otherwise, everyone will learn what Daniel did after Thomas fell.**
I stared at the words.
Daniel had been a frightened child when Thomas died.
What could he possibly have done afterward that someone still wanted to use against him?
Then I noticed the final line.
**Ask.
What could he possibly have done afterward that someone still wanted to use against him?
Then I noticed the final line.
*Ask your son what Trevor made him promise.*
I looked toward the stairs.
Miles was standing in the doorway.
His face was white.
“Mom,” he whispered, “there's something I haven't told you about the group your son what Trevor made him promise.**
I looked toward the stairs.
Miles was standing in the doorway.
His face was white.
“Mom,” he whispered, “there's something I haven't told you about the group chat.””
He swallowed hard.
“Trevor didn't just make me bully Ariana.””
He looked at the cassette player.
“He made me promise to help him find the recording.””
And suddenly, I understood.
The bullying had chat.””
He swallowed hard.
“Trevor didn't just make me bully Ariana.””
He looked at the cassette player.
“He made me promise to help him find the recording.””
And suddenly, I understood.
The bullying had never been only about Ariana's clothes.
Someone had used my son's fear to turn him into a weapon against never been only about Ariana's clothes.
Someone had used my son's fear to turn him into a weapon against his own family.
May you like
Tomorrow morning, that person intended to finish what Richard Harris had started. his own family.
Tomorrow morning, that person intended to finish what Richard Harris had started.
