Chapter 8: The Girl Who Saw Everything
The next morning, I didn’t wake up.
I simply opened my eyes.
Sleep had never really come.
Every time I closed them, I saw Lily crying at the dinner table.
I saw Mark standing beside Megan.
I saw the hospital photograph.
And I heard Daniel’s voice.
Emma’s death wasn’t an accident.
I made coffee I didn’t drink.
I packed Lily’s lunch even though she was staying home from school.
She had barely spoken since Thanksgiving night.
That scared me.
A child should never be afraid of making adults angry.
At nine in the morning, my phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
I answered immediately.
“Hello?””
A young woman’s voice spoke.
“Are you Chloe?””
“Yes.””
“My name is Ava.””
I stopped moving.
“Ava?””
“I’m Megan’s daughter.””
My heart started racing.
“Where are you?””
“I can’t tell you yet.””
“Why is everyone hiding?””
Ava was quiet.
Then she said,
“Because hiding is what my family does best.””
I sat down.
“What happened to Emma?””
The silence lasted several seconds.
Then Ava answered.
“I was there.””
My breath caught.
“What?””
“I saw everything.””
I looked toward Lily’s room.
“Tell me.””
Ava’s voice trembled.
“I was fourteen. Emma was six. Megan was supposed to watch her because Grandma was sick.””
I listened.
“She was drinking.””
My hands tightened around my phone.
“I told her to stop. I told her Emma was scared.””
A pause.
“She told me to mind my own business.””
The pain in Ava’s voice was obvious.
“What happened next?””
“I heard a crash.””
My stomach turned.
“I ran downstairs.””
Ava stopped.
“Then what?””
“She was lying there.””
Her voice broke.
“Emma was still alive.””
I covered my mouth.
“And Megan?””
“She wasn’t calling an ambulance.””
I froze.
“What?””
“She was calling Mark.””
The room became completely silent.
“Why?””
“Because she was asking what to do.””
I closed my eyes.
“What did Mark say?””
Ava whispered:
“He told her not to panic.””
My heart pounded.
“That’s all?””
“No.””
She paused.
“He told her they needed to think.””
I stood up.
“They needed to think?””
Ava’s voice cracked.
“They waited.””
My legs felt weak.
“How long?””
“Almost twenty minutes.””
I felt sick.
“Why?””
“Because Megan was afraid she would go to prison.””
“And Mark?””
Ava was silent.
Then:
“He was afraid you would leave him.””
I felt tears burn my eyes.
Not because I loved him.
Because I finally understood.
Everything had been about him.
His reputation.
His comfort.
His family.
Never the children.
Not Lily.
Not Emma.
“Where is Daniel now?”” I asked.
“I don’t know.””
“Then why contact me?””
“Because I found something.””
“What?””
“A file.””
My heart jumped.
“Where?””
“Hidden in my mother’s old house.””
Ava lowered her voice.
“It has documents, messages, and something else.””
“What?””
“A recording.””
I froze.
“Another recording?””
“Yes.””
My hands shook.
“What does it say?””
Ava didn’t answer.
Instead, she said:
“Chloe, before I send it, you need to promise me something.””
“What?””
“Don’t confront Mark until you hear it.””
“Why?””
Because her next words made my blood run cold.
“Because that recording proves Mark wasn’t just covering up Emma’s death.””
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A pause.
“It proves he knew Megan was going to hurt Lily.””
