Chapter 11: The Man Behind the Second Voice
I arrived at the family residence just before sunset.
Lily was sitting on the couch with Rebecca, watching a cartoon.
The moment she saw me, she jumped up.
"Daddy!""
I caught her carefully as she ran into my arms.
For several seconds, she didn't let go.
"Are you okay?"" I whispered.
She nodded against my shoulder.
"Did you find Mommy's letter?""
I looked at Rebecca.
She gave me a small nod.
"Yes, sweetheart. I found it.""
"Was she mad at me?""
My throat tightened.
"No. She loved you more than anything.""
Lily looked up.
"Can I read it someday?""
"Of course. When you're ready.""
She hugged me again.
After dinner, Rebecca helped Lily prepare for bed.
I stayed in the living room, reviewing the latest information Daniels had sent.
The investigators had recovered the laptop from Gregory's storage unit.
It contained emails, scanned contracts, and several audio recordings.
One folder was titled:
*PROJECT RESIDENCY.*
I opened the first document.
It was a draft agreement between Vanessa and Gregory.
The stated objective was to establish Vanessa as Lily's primary residential guardian.
A second document discussed the trust.
A third included a proposed payment schedule.
I stared at the numbers.
If Vanessa obtained control of Lily's residential arrangements, she intended to petition the trustees for expanded financial authority.
There were payments scheduled to a company registered under Gregory's name.
I called Daniels.
"Have you seen this?""
"Yes. The financial investigators are reviewing it.""
"What's Project Residency?""
"That's the name Vanessa and Gregory used for the arrangement.""
I scrolled through the files.
"There's a third party listed.""
"Who?""
I read the name aloud.
"Anthony Reed.""
Daniels was silent.
"Do you know him?""
"Yes.""
"Who is he?""
"He's a former private investigator. He worked with Gregory on several cases.""
I stared at the screen.
"Was he the man who visited Lily?""
"We believe so.""
"Where is he?""
"We're trying to locate him.""
I opened another file.
It was an audio recording dated three months earlier.
Daniels told me not to play it alone, so I waited until he joined the call.
He listened through his headset.
Then he nodded.
"Go ahead.""
I pressed play.
Vanessa's voice came through first.
"Daniel will never sign something like this if he knows what it means.""
Gregory answered.
"Then don't tell him what it means.""
Vanessa laughed.
"He's not stupid.""
"No. But he's trusting. There's a difference.""
I felt my jaw tighten.
Vanessa continued.
"What about Lily?""
"She's a child. Children repeat whatever adults tell them.""
"And if she tells the school?""
Gregory's voice became colder.
"Then we make sure the school sees her as unreliable.""
I stopped breathing.
Vanessa asked, "How?""
"We already have documentation showing emotional instability. Keep reinforcing that narrative.""
There was a brief pause.
Then Vanessa said something that made my blood boil.
"She cries whenever I raise my voice.""
Gregory replied, "Then perhaps she should learn not to provoke you.""
I stopped the recording.
Daniels looked at me through the screen.
"That's enough for now.""
I closed the laptop.
For a long time, I couldn't speak.
They had discussed my daughter's fear as if it were a business problem.
They had planned how to make people doubt her.
They had treated her pain as evidence they could manipulate.
Then I remembered the photograph outside Lily's school.
The anonymous messages.
Someone was still watching.
"Daniels, how long until you locate Anthony?""
"We're working on it.""
I stood and paced.
"He's been near my daughter.""
"We know.""
"Then find him.""
"We're coordinating with local investigators.""
My phone vibrated.
A new message from Mark.
I need to tell you something in person. It's about Gregory.
I called him.
He answered immediately.
"Daniel?""
"What do you know?""
"I found another file on Vanessa's old phone.""
"What file?""
"A recording from the night Emily died.""
My heart stopped.
"Why didn't you tell Daniels?""
"I just found it.""
"Send it to him.""
"I can't.""
"Why not?""
Mark's voice dropped.
"Because I think Gregory knows I have it.""
I gripped the phone.
"Where are you?""
"At my apartment.""
"Stay there. Don't go anywhere.""
"I don't think you understand. Someone has been outside my building.""
I looked at Daniels.
"Mark, listen to me. Call the police. Do not confront anyone.""
He whispered something.
Then the line went dead.
I immediately called Daniels.
Within minutes, officers were dispatched to Mark's address.
But when they arrived, the apartment was empty.
The front door was unlocked.
A chair had been overturned.
And Mark's phone was lying on the kitchen counter.
There was blood on the floor.
I drove to the police station with Daniels.
An officer showed us photographs from the apartment.
The blood had been collected for testing.
There was no obvious sign of forced entry.
On the kitchen table was a piece of paper.
It contained one sentence.
*Tell Daniel the truth, or Lily will be next.*
I felt my hands go numb.
Daniels took the paper.
"We're increasing the security around Lily.""
"Where is Mark?""
"We're searching.""
"Do you think Vanessa knows?""
"We don't know yet.""
Then an officer entered the room.
"Sir, we've identified the vehicle seen outside Mr. Ellison's apartment.""
Daniels stood.
"Who owns it?""
The officer placed a photograph on the table.
It was a dark SUV.
The same vehicle from the photograph taken near Emily on the night of the accident.
My heart hammered.
"Is that the same car?""
Daniels examined the image.
"The registration matches a vehicle previously owned by Gregory Hale.""
I stared at the photograph.
"Where was it last seen?""
"Outside a private office building.""
"Whose office?""
The officer hesitated.
Then he answered.
"Vanessa Carter's former workplace.""
I looked at Daniels.
"She knew about the recording.""
He nodded.
"That's possible.""
A few minutes later, my phone rang.
It was Rebecca.
"Daniel, Lily wants to talk to you.""
I answered immediately.
"Put her on.""
A small voice came through.
"Daddy?""
"I'm here, sweetheart.""
"Can I tell you something?""
"Always.""
"Vanessa called me.""
My entire body went cold.
"What?""
"She called the number on the tablet.""
I looked at Rebecca.
"Did she speak to you?""
Lily began crying.
"She said she wanted to say sorry.""
I forced my voice to remain calm.
"What did you tell her?""
"I didn't say anything.""
"That's okay.""
Then Lily whispered:
"She said she knows where Mommy's letters are.""
I closed my eyes.
"Did she tell you where?""
Lily nodded, although she couldn't see me.
"She said they're in the house.""
"Which house?""
"Our old house.""
I stared at Daniels.
May you like
Then Lily said something else.
"She said there's one letter Daddy isn't supposed to read.""
