Chapter 8: The Blood Bene## Chapter 8: The Blood Beneath the Floorboards
I called Miles soath the Floorboards
I called Miles so many times that my thumb began to hurt.
On the many times that my thumb began to hurt.
On the fourth attempt, he answered.
“Mom?””
“Where are you?””
“I'm in the fourth attempt, he answered.
“Mom?””
“Where are you?””
“I'm in the kitchen. I heard something upstairs, so I came down.””
“Stay where you are. Do not go back into your kitchen. I heard something upstairs, so I came down.””
“Stay where you are. Do not go back into your father's office. Do you understand me?””
“Yes.””
“Is anyone else in the house?””
“I don't know.””
I heard a noise behind him father's office. Do you understand me?””
“Yes.””
“Is anyone else in the house?””
“I don't know.””
I heard a noise behind him.
A door creaking.
Then Miles whispered, “Mom, I think someone's coming downstairs.””
My heart slammed against my ribs.
“Get outside if.
A door creaking.
Then Miles whispered, “Mom, I think someone's coming downstairs.””
My heart slammed against my ribs.
“Get outside if you can do it safely. Go to the neighbors. Call the police.””
“What about you?””
“I'm calling them now. Just get somewhere safe.””
The you can do it safely. Go to the neighbors. Call the police.””
“What about you?””
“I'm calling them now. Just get somewhere safe.””
The line went silent.
I called the officer handling the case, gave him our address, and explained that someone might have broken into the house. He told me not to approach the property line went silent.
I called the officer handling the case, gave him our address, and explained that someone might have broken into the house. He told me not to approach the property and assured me that officers were being dispatched.
I stood beside my car outside Rebecca's house, shaking so badly I could barely hold my keys.
Then Miles called and assured me that officers were being dispatched.
I stood beside my car outside Rebecca's house, shaking so badly I could barely hold my keys.
Then Miles called again.
“I'm outside,” he said breathlessly.
“Mr. Collins let me in. He's here again.
“I'm outside,” he said breathlessly.
“Mr. Collins let me in. He's here with me.””
I nearly collapsed with relief.
“Are you hurt?””
“No.””
“Did you see anyone?””
He hesitated.
“I saw a man leaving Dad with me.””
I nearly collapsed with relief.
“Are you hurt?””
“No.””
“Did you see anyone?””
He hesitated.
“I saw a man leaving Dad's office. He had something in his hand. I think it was a metal box.””
The box from the photograph.
“Did he see you?””
“I think so.””
“What did he look like?””
“Tall. Gray hair's office. He had something in his hand. I think it was a metal box.””
The box from the photograph.
“Did he see you?””
“I think so.””
“What did he look like?””
“Tall. Gray hair. He wore a brown jacket.””
I closed my eyes.
Michael had said someone was searching for the original documents.
Someone knew exactly where to look.
When the. He wore a brown jacket.””
I closed my eyes.
Michael had said someone was searching for the original documents.
Someone knew exactly where to look.
When the officers arrived, they searched the house and secured the office. I reached home shortly afterward, accompanied by an officer, and found Miles sitting on our officers arrived, they searched the house and secured the office. I reached home shortly afterward, accompanied by an officer, and found Miles sitting on our neighbor's sofa with a blanket around his shoulders.
He stood when he saw me.
I wrapped my arms around him.
For several seconds, neither neighbor's sofa with a blanket around his shoulders.
He stood when he saw me.
I wrapped my arms around him.
For several seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then he whispered, “I'm sorry.””
I pulled back enough to look at him.
“For what?””
“For everything of us spoke.
Then he whispered, “I'm sorry.””
I pulled back enough to look at him.
“For what?””
“For everything. Ariana. The other kids.
Dad's secrets. All of it.””
“This isn't the time to solve everything, sweetheart. Right. Ariana.
The other kids. Dad's secrets. All of it.””
“This isn't the time to solve everything, sweetheart. Right now, I'm just glad you're safe.””
He nodded against my shoulder.
But when I entered Daniel's office with the officers, I understood that whatever had begun with a now, I'm just glad you're safe.””
He nodded against my shoulder.
But when I entered Daniel's office with the officers, I understood that whatever had begun with a bullying complaint had become something much larger.
The floorboards beneath Daniel's old desk had been pried up.
The hidden compartment was empty.
A smear of blood crossed the edge of the wood.
On the desk lay bullying complaint had become something much larger.
The floorboards beneath Daniel's old desk had been pried up.
The hidden compartment was empty.
A smear of blood crossed the edge of the wood.
On the desk lay a single page torn from a notebook.
Three words had been written across it in Daniel's handwriting.
**Ask Rebecca why a single page torn from a notebook.
Three words had been written across it in Daniel's handwriting.
*Ask Rebecca why.*
I stared at the page.
The officer beside me asked whether I recognized the handwriting.
“Yes,” I whispered.
“It's my husband's.””
He photographed the note and added it to the evidence collected from the scene.
Then he asked me.**
I stared at the page.
The officer beside me asked whether I recognized the handwriting.
“Yes,” I whispered.
“It's my husband's.””
He photographed the note and added it to the evidence collected from the scene.
Then he asked me to identify anything missing.
I scanned the room.
Daniel's old laptop was still there. His books remained on the shelves. His wedding photograph stood beside the lamp.
But the small brass to identify anything missing.
I scanned the room.
Daniel's old laptop was still there. His books remained on the shelves. His wedding photograph stood beside the lamp.
But the small brass key he used to keep in his desk drawer was gone.
I'd seen it countless times during our marriage.
He'd once told me it opened key he used to keep in his desk drawer was gone.
I'd seen it countless times during our marriage.
He'd once told me it opened a box belonging to his father.
I had never asked what was inside.
Now I wished I had.
I called Rebecca.
She answered immediately a box belonging to his father.
I had never asked what was inside.
Now I wished I had.
I called Rebecca.
She answered immediately.
“Emily? Is Miles okay?””
“Someone broke into my house.””
“Oh, God.””
“They went straight to Daniel's office. They knew about the hidden compartment.””
Rebecca said nothing.
“The.
“Emily? Is Miles okay?””
“Someone broke into my house.””
“Oh, God.””
“They went straight to Daniel's office. They knew about the hidden compartment.””
Rebecca said nothing.
“The note they left was in Daniel's handwriting,” I continued.
“It says I should ask you why.””
I heard her begin to cry.
“Rebecca, what are you hiding?””
“I'm sorry.””
note they left was in Daniel's handwriting,” I continued.
“It says I should ask you why.””
I heard her begin to cry.
“Rebecca, what are you hiding?””
“I'm sorry.””
“Stop saying that and tell me the truth.””
She took a shaky breath.
“Daniel found the original police statement from the night Thomas died. Richard“Stop saying that and tell me the truth.””
She took a shaky breath.
“Daniel found the original police statement from the night Thomas died. Richard had kept it hidden with the property documents.””
“What did it say?””
“That Daniel told the police his father had pushed Thomas.””
The room seemed to go still.
“But had kept it hidden with the property documents.””
“What did it say?””
“That Daniel told the police his father had pushed Thomas.””
The room seemed to go still.
“But you said Daniel was threatened into silence.””
“He was. Richard convinced him to change his statement. He you said Daniel was threatened into silence.””
“He was. Richard convinced him to change his statement. He told Daniel that if he didn't cooperate, he'd be sent away and never see his mother again.””
“Did Daniel ever tell you that?””
“Yes. Years later. He was told Daniel that if he didn't cooperate, he'd be sent away and never see his mother again.””
“Did Daniel ever tell you that?””
“Yes. Years later. He was still having nightmares about it.””
I pressed my fingers against my forehead.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because the statement also revealed something else.””
“What?””
Rebecca's voice dropped.
“Richard didn't just still having nightmares about it.””
I pressed my fingers against my forehead.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because the statement also revealed something else.””
“What?””
Rebecca's voice dropped.
“Richard didn't just hide the truth about Thomas's death. He used Daniel's fear to steal the inheritance that should have gone to Michael.””
I stared hide the truth about Thomas's death. He used Daniel's fear to steal the inheritance that should have gone to Michael.””
I stared at the empty compartment.
“And Daniel spent his final months trying to make it right.””
“Yes.””
“Did he find Michael?””
“Yes. He found at the empty compartment.
“And Daniel spent his final months trying to make it right.””
“Yes.””
“Did he find Michael?””
“Yes. He found him through an attorney. He intended to return the documents and testify about what Richard had done.””
My throat tightened.
“Then why didn't he tell me?””
“Because the first time Daniel tried to him through an attorney. He intended to return the documents and testify about what Richard had done.””
My throat tightened.
“Then why didn't he tell me?””
“Because the first time Daniel tried to explain what had happened, you told him that the past didn't matter as long as he was a good father explain what had happened, you told him that the past didn't matter as long as he was a good father.””
I stopped breathing for a moment.
I remembered that conversation.
Daniel had come home late one evening, looking exhausted. He'd tried to tell me that Richard had done terrible things and that he'd spent years pretending.””
I stopped breathing for a moment.
I remembered that conversation.
Daniel had come home late one evening, looking exhausted. He'd tried to tell me that Richard had done terrible things and that he'd spent years pretending they didn't matter.
I'd been overwhelmed by work and parenting. I'd told him that every family had problems and that he needed to stop letting they didn't matter.
I'd been overwhelmed by work and parenting. I'd told him that every family had problems and that he needed to stop letting his father control his life.
I'd meant to comfort him.
Instead, I'd closed the door he was trying to open.
“I didn't know his father control his life.
I'd meant to comfort him.
Instead, I'd closed the door he was trying to open.
“I didn't know,” I whispered.
“I know,” Rebecca said.
“But Daniel thought you wouldn't understand why he still felt responsible.””
I sat down in his,” I whispered.
“I know,” Rebecca said.
“But Daniel thought you wouldn't understand why he still felt responsible.””
I sat down in his chair.
“Where is the original statement now?””
“I don't know. Daniel said he had made copies. He gave one to Michael and hid the chair.
“Where is the original statement now?””
“I don't know. Daniel said he had made copies. He gave one to Michael and hid the original somewhere safe.””
“And the box?””
Rebecca paused.
“He told me the key would open it. But he said I should never tell anyone where it was unless you original somewhere safe.””
“And the box?””
Rebecca paused.
“He told me the key would open it. But he said I should never tell anyone where it was unless you were ready to hear the whole truth.””
I looked at the empty drawer.
“Someone has the key.””
“Yes.””
“Who?””
“I think I know.””
Before I could ask, my phone vibrated with an were ready to hear the whole truth.””
I looked at the empty drawer.
“Someone has the key.””
“Yes.””
“Who?””
“I think I know.””
Before I could ask, my phone vibrated with an incoming call.
Michael.
I answered immediately.
“Are you safe?””
“Yes,” he said, breathing hard.
“The police found me at the old house. I'm at the station now.””
“Who incoming call.
Michael.
I answered immediately.
“Are you safe?””
“Yes,” he said, breathing hard.
“The police found me at the old house. I'm at the station now.””
“Who was there?””
“I couldn't see his face clearly. He ran before the officers arrived.””
“Did he take anything?””
“My father's documents. The original was there?””
“I couldn't see his face clearly. He ran before the officers arrived.””
“Did he take anything?””
“My father's documents. The original statement. And something else that belonged to Daniel.””
“What?””
Michael was quiet for a moment.
“A letter Richard wrote to my father the week before he died.””
“What did it statement. And something else that belonged to Daniel.””
“What?””
Michael was quiet for a moment.
“A letter Richard wrote to my father the week before he died.””
“What did it say?””
“That if Thomas continued trying to expose him, Richard would make sure neither of us ever saw the truth.””
I closed my eyes.
“Michael, do you know who broke into my say?””
“That if Thomas continued trying to expose him, Richard would make sure neither of us ever saw the truth.””
I closed my eyes.
“Michael, do you know who broke into my house?””
“I have a suspicion. But there's something you need to understand about Daniel.””
“What house?””
“I have a suspicion. But there's something you need to understand about Daniel.””
“What?””
“He wasn't simply trying to return the inheritance. He was trying to prove that Richard had manipulated the evidence after Thomas's death.””
“Can that?””
“He wasn't simply trying to return the inheritance. He was trying to prove that Richard had manipulated the evidence after Thomas's death.””
“Can that still be proven?””
“Possibly. But only if we find the original recording.””
I looked toward Daniel's old desk.
“What recording?””
“The one Richard made the night Thomas died.””
My blood ran still be proven?””
“Possibly. But only if we find the original recording.””
I looked toward Daniel's old desk.
“What recording?””
“The one Richard made the night Thomas died.””
My blood ran cold.
Michael continued.
“Daniel told me he'd seen it years later. He said it showed what really happened on the stairs. But he never told me where he hid it.””
A new message appeared on my phone.
No cold.
Michael continued.
“Daniel told me he'd seen it years later. He said it showed what really happened on the stairs. But he never told me where he hid it.””
A new message appeared on my phone.
No number.
No name.
Just a photograph.
It showed Rebecca standing outside the old Harris house, holding a metal box.
The message number.
No name.
Just a photograph.
It showed Rebecca standing outside the old Harris house, holding a metal box.
The message beneath it read:
*She has the recording. Ask her what she did with it.*
I looked at the woman I'd called family for beneath it read:
*She has the recording. Ask her what she did with it.*
May you like
I looked at the woman I'd called family for fourteen years.
And for the first time, I wondered whether Rebecca had spent her entire life protecting Daniel's secret—or protecting herself.
