Chapter 7: The Night Rachel Died
“Marcus, there's something you need to know about the night Rachel died.””
My brother's voice sounded strained.
I stood beside Nia's bed, holding Rachel's letter in one hand and my phone in the other.
For six years, I had believed I knew exactly what happened that night.
Rachel had been driving home from her mother's house when a truck crossed the center line during a storm. The police called it a tragic accident. Daniel had been the first person to arrive at the hospital after me. He had held my shoulders while the doctor explained that there was nothing more they could do.
He had even helped me choose Rachel's funeral flowers.
Now he was telling me there was something I didn't know.
“What happened, Daniel?””
He exhaled.
“Not over the phone.””
“I'm asking you now.””
“Marcus, please. We need to talk in person.””
“Why? Afraid someone might hear?””
He went quiet.
Then he said, “Meet me at the old restaurant on Franklin Street. One hour.””
I ended the call.
Nia was watching me.
“Was that Uncle Daniel?””
I nodded.
“Is he in trouble?””
I looked at her.
“I don't know yet, sweetheart.””
She lowered her eyes.
“Mom wrote his name because she didn't trust him, didn't she?””
I sat beside her.
“I think your mother was trying to protect you.””
Nia touched the photograph in my hand.
“Dad, did Mom know Vanessa was going to hurt us?””
I swallowed.
“Maybe she knew something about Vanessa that I didn't.””
“Then why didn't she tell you?””
It was the question I had been asking myself since opening the blue folder.
I brushed a loose braid away from Nia's face.
“Sometimes people keep secrets because they think they're protecting the people they love. Sometimes they're wrong.””
She nodded slowly.
Before leaving, I called Olivia, the mother who had witnessed Vanessa's treatment of Nia during the birthday party.
I explained that I needed someone I trusted to stay with the girls for a little while.
“Marcus, don't worry,” Olivia said.
“I'll come over.””
When I arrived downstairs, Vanessa was standing in the kitchen, speaking into her phone.
She immediately ended the call.
“Where are you going?””
“To meet Daniel.””
Her face changed.
“Why?””
“Because he called me.””
Vanessa placed her phone on the counter.
“Marcus, don't.””
I studied her.
“You know something.””
“I know Daniel is going to fill your head with lies.””
“Funny. He said the same thing about Evelyn.””
She walked closer.
“Please. Don't let Rachel's family destroy what's left of ours.””
I stared at her.
“Rachel's family?””
“Her lawyer. Her cousin. All those people who never accepted me.””
I picked up my keys.
“Maybe there's a reason.””
Her expression hardened.
“You're going to regret this.””
I left.
Daniel was already seated when I entered the restaurant.
He looked older than I remembered. His hair had turned mostly gray, and there were deep lines around his mouth.
He stood when he saw me.
“Marcus.””
I didn't shake his hand.
“Talk.””
Daniel glanced toward the waitress.
“Can we order something first?””
“No.””
He sighed.
“Fine.””
I sat across from him.
“What happened the night Rachel died?””
He rubbed his palms together.
“Rachel called me that afternoon.””
“Why?””
“She wanted to talk about Vanessa.””
I felt my stomach tighten.
“What did she say?””
“She believed Vanessa was trying to get information about Nia's inheritance. Rachel had discovered that Vanessa was asking questions about the trust.””
I leaned forward.
“When was this?””
“About a month before the accident.””
“And you knew?””
Daniel looked down.
“Yes.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I thought Rachel was overreacting.””
I stared at him.
“Continue.””
Daniel took a deep breath.
“On the night of the accident, Rachel called me again. She said she'd found something in Vanessa's computer. Something connected to an old financial arrangement involving me.””
“What arrangement?””
He looked toward the window.
“Five years before Rachel died, Vanessa approached me about an investment opportunity.””
I said nothing.
“She claimed she had access to a property development deal. I invested some money. Later, I discovered the documents were questionable.””
“How much?””
“Forty thousand dollars.””
I stared at him.
“Forty thousand?””
“I got most of it back.””
“Most?””
Daniel nodded.
“Rachel discovered what happened. She confronted Vanessa. They argued.””
“And you did nothing?””
“I told Rachel I'd handle it.””
I laughed bitterly.
“You told my dying wife you'd handle it?””
Daniel flinched.
“She wasn't dying then, Marcus.””
I stood slightly, then forced myself back into the chair.
“What happened that night?””
Daniel's eyes filled.
“Rachel called me at 8:14 p.m. She said Vanessa had threatened to expose me if I helped Rachel report what she'd found.””
My blood ran cold.
“Expose what?””
“That I'd knowingly signed documents after discovering irregularities.””
“You did?””
Daniel nodded.
“I was afraid of losing my business. Vanessa knew that.””
I stared at him.
“So you protected yourself.””
“I was scared.””
“And Rachel?””
Daniel looked away.
“She said she was going to take the evidence to Evelyn the next morning.””
I felt the room tilt.
“Why didn't she make it?””
Daniel closed his eyes.
“Because she never got there.””
I grabbed the edge of the table.
“Did Vanessa cause the accident?””
Daniel shook his head quickly.
“I don't know. I am not saying that.””
“Then what are you saying?””
“Rachel told me someone had followed her car.””
The restaurant suddenly felt very quiet.
“Who?””
“I don't know.””
“Daniel!””
He leaned forward.
“I swear I don't know. But I received a message from Vanessa that night. She asked whether Rachel had contacted me.””
I stared at him.
“What did you say?””
“I told her Rachel was upset and wanted to meet Evelyn.””
Daniel pulled out his phone.
“I kept the message.””
He showed me the screen.
The date was the night Rachel died.
Vanessa's message read:
Has she told anyone about the documents?
Daniel's reply:
Not yet. I told her to calm down.
Then Vanessa had written:
Make sure she doesn't do anything tonight.
I felt my hands go numb.
“What did that mean?””
Daniel shook his head.
“I don't know.””
I pushed his phone back.
“Did you tell the police?””
“No.””
“Did you tell me?””
“No.””
I stood.
“Six years, Daniel. Six years you've watched me raise Nia believing her mother died in an ordinary accident.””
“I know.””
“You stood at her funeral!””
“I know!””
His voice cracked.
“I was ashamed. I thought if I stayed quiet, it would eventually disappear.””
I looked at him.
“Did you love Rachel?””
Daniel covered his face.
“She was my sister-in-law. I loved her like family.””
“Then why did you betray her?””
He had no answer.
I turned to leave.
“Marcus, wait.””
I stopped.
Daniel reached into his jacket and removed a small USB drive.
“Rachel gave this to me the week before the accident. She told me to keep it safe.””
I stared at it.
“Why are you giving it to me now?””
“Because Vanessa called me yesterday.””
My heart pounded.
“What did she want?””
“She asked whether I still had the original recording.””
I stepped closer.
“What recording?””
Daniel looked directly at me.
“Rachel recorded a conversation between herself and Vanessa. She told me it could prove why Vanessa came into your life.””
He pushed the drive across the table.
“Marcus, listen to it before you confront her.””
I picked it up.
Then Daniel added something that made me stop breathing.
“There's another voice on that recording.””
“Whose?””
He swallowed.
“Yours.””
I drove home with the USB drive on the passenger seat.
I didn't turn on the radio.
I couldn't stop thinking about Rachel's final phone call, Daniel's silence, and Vanessa's message.
When I reached the driveway, I noticed something strange.
The front door was slightly open.
I stepped inside.
The living room lights were on.
Olivia was standing near the staircase, holding her phone.
“Marcus,” she whispered.
“You need to see this.””
“What happened?””
“Nia found something in Vanessa's bedroom.””
She handed me her phone.
On the screen was a photograph of a document.
It was a school enrollment form.
The student's name was Nia Reed.
The proposed start date was Monday.
And the signature at the bottom belonged to me.
I stared at it.
I had never signed that form.
Then Olivia said quietly:
“Marcus, the school called Vanessa this afternoon. They said they were waiting for your final confirmation.””
I looked upstairs.
Nia was standing at the top of the staircase.
May you like
Her face was pale.
“Dad,” she whispered, “Vanessa said you're sending me away.””
