Chapter 10: The Boy in the Passenger Seat
I couldn't look at Marcus.
The photograph lay between us on Eleanor's kitchen table.
A little boy sat in the passenger seat of a black sedan. His small hands were gripping the dashboard, and his face was turned toward the rearview mirror.
Behind the car, flames illuminated the darkness.
That little boy was Marcus.
He was nine years old.
The same age I had been when my mother died.
"Tell me it's not true," I whispered.
Marcus rubbed both hands over his face.
"Nia, I was a child.""
I looked up.
"Did you follow my mother's car?""
He nodded.
"Yes.""
"Did you know what your father was planning?""
"No. I swear I didn't.""
Vanessa walked toward the table.
"Edward told him they were going to scare Thomas. He said your father had stolen company money and needed to be stopped.""
My father let out a bitter laugh.
"That's what you told the police too, wasn't it?""
Vanessa turned sharply.
"Don't.""
"You were there, Vanessa. You knew exactly what Edward intended.""
"I was trying to protect my son!""
Marcus stepped away from her.
"Stop saying that.""
She stared at him.
"What?""
"You keep saying you did everything for me. You told me Nia's father was a criminal. You told me her mother had destroyed our family. You made me believe they were dangerous people.""
Vanessa's eyes filled.
"Because I wanted you safe.""
Marcus shook his head.
"You wanted me obedient.""
I watched him.
For eighteen months, I had believed Marcus was the person who understood me best.
He knew how I took my coffee. He knew I hated thunderstorms. He knew I still listened to my mother's old voicemail whenever I missed her.
Yet he had known something about the night she died.
And he had never told me.
"How much do you remember?"" I asked.
Marcus looked at me.
"Not everything.""
"Try.""
He pulled out a chair and sat down.
"My father woke me up that night. He said we were going on a drive. Mom was in the front seat.""
Vanessa looked away.
Marcus continued.
"We followed a blue car. I remember my father getting angry because it kept turning onto different roads.""
My father stood motionless.
"Your mother was trying to lose us," he said.
Marcus nodded.
"Eventually, Dad told me to look out the back window. He said someone was going to teach a thief a lesson.""
I felt sick.
"What happened at the bridge?""
Marcus closed his eyes.
"I heard a crash.""
His voice trembled.
"Then Dad stopped the car. He got out and told me to stay inside. I saw another man running toward the blue car.""
My father stepped closer.
"Did you see his face?""
Marcus shook his head.
"No. But I heard him arguing with Dad.""
"What did he say?""
Marcus swallowed.
"He said, 'You told me the woman wouldn't be there.''"
My father grabbed the edge of the table.
Olivia covered her mouth.
Marcus continued.
"Then Dad told him to shut up. He said the plan had changed.""
I felt tears sliding down my face.
"What happened to my mother?""
"I don't know. Dad came back to the car with blood on his shirt. He told me never to talk about what I saw.""
"And you never did?""
Marcus shook his head.
"I was terrified.""
Vanessa suddenly slammed her hand against the table.
"Enough! You don't understand what your father was capable of.""
My father turned toward her.
"Then tell us who the other man was.""
Vanessa went silent.
"Who?"" he repeated.
She looked toward the window.
"I don't know.""
My father stepped closer.
"You were there.""
"I said I don't know!""
Marcus stood.
"Mom, stop protecting him.""
Vanessa's face twisted.
"You have no idea what he will do if he finds out we're talking.""
I stared at her.
"Who are you afraid of?""
Before she could answer, a car engine sounded outside.
James moved toward the window.
His face changed.
"Everyone, get away from the windows.""
My father grabbed my arm.
"What is it?""
"Two vehicles just pulled into the driveway.""
Vanessa went pale.
"Edward.""
A second later, the front door rattled.
Someone tried the handle.
James called the police.
My father reached for the wooden box containing the cassette.
Marcus moved toward me.
"Nia, we need to leave.""
I pulled away.
"Don't touch me.""
He stopped.
Then a man's voice came from outside.
"Vanessa! Open the door!""
Edward Whitmore.
His voice was calm.
Almost pleasant.
"Darling, I know you're in there.""
Vanessa began shaking.
Edward knocked again.
"Let's stop pretending this is a family disagreement.""
My father looked toward the back entrance.
"We're leaving.""
But Vanessa suddenly moved toward the front door.
Marcus caught her wrist.
"Don't.""
She looked at him desperately.
"He's going to hurt us.""
"Then let the police handle it.""
Vanessa began crying.
"You don't understand. He has the original documents.""
My father turned.
"What documents?""
She looked at me.
"The ones proving what happened to your mother.""
The front door shook again.
Edward's voice became colder.
"Vanessa. I know you have the tape.""
Then came another sentence.
One that made my blood turn cold.
"And I know exactly what happened to the little girl in the back seat.""
I stared at my father.
"What does he mean?""
My father looked as though he had been struck.
Vanessa whispered something.
"He knows.""
Marcus stepped between us.
"Mom, what does he know?""
She closed her eyes.
Then she finally said the words I had spent twenty years waiting to hear.
"Your mother wasn't the only person Edward intended to kill that night.""
May you like
She looked directly at me.
"He wanted you dead too.""
