Chapter 6: The Person Who Knew Too Much
The words followed Aaliyah through the room like a shadow.
The person who caused it is still close to you.
She looked at Derrick.
Then Grandma Ruth.
Then the letter in her hand.
Every answer created another question.
“Who?””
Derrick didn’t respond.
Aaliyah stepped forward.
“Who caused it?””
Derrick looked away.
That was enough.
She already knew.
Or at least she knew there was one name everyone was afraid to say.
“Was it Vanessa?””
Grandma Ruth’s eyes widened slightly.
Derrick stayed silent.
Aaliyah laughed quietly.
“That’s my answer.””
“No,” Derrick said quickly.
She looked at him.
“No?””
He shook his head.
“It’s more complicated.””
Aaliyah stared.
“Everyone says that when they don’t want to tell the truth.””
Derrick looked broken.
“I made mistakes.””
“Yes.””
“I was weak.””
“Yes.””
“But I never wanted you hurt.””
Aaliyah’s expression softened for one second.
Then hardened again.
“Wanting something doesn’t erase what happened.””
Derrick nodded.
“I know.””
Grandma Ruth picked up the letter.
“We need to let her read it.””
Derrick looked at her.
“Mom…”
“No.””
Grandma Ruth’s voice became firm.
“She deserves to know what her mother wanted her to know.””
Aaliyah sat at the old kitchen table.
The wooden surface was scratched from years of use.
She placed the letter in front of her.
Derrick stood nearby.
Unable to leave.
Unable to stay.
She continued reading.
I don’t know when you will find this, Aaliyah. But if you do, I want you to know your father loved you.
Her vision blurred.
He fought for you.
Aaliyah wiped her tears.
He made a promise that no matter what happened, you would never grow up believing you were unwanted.
She stopped.
The sentence hurt.
Because that was exactly what she had believed.
She read the next line.
But there are people who would rather protect a lie than face what they did.
Aaliyah looked up.
Derrick looked away.
The room became silent.
She continued.
The truth is hidden in the place where your father kept his last promise.
Aaliyah frowned.
“What does that mean?””
Grandma Ruth shook her head.
“I don’t know.””
Derrick suddenly moved.
“Enough.””
Aaliyah looked up.
“What?””
Derrick’s face was pale.
“You have to stop.””
She stood.
“No.””
“Aaliyah.””
“No.””
Her voice broke.
“I finally have something that belongs to me.””
She held the letter.
“You don’t get to take it away too.””
Derrick looked like he wanted to argue.
Instead, he sat down.
And for the first time, Aaliyah saw him not as a father.
But as a man carrying years of regret.
“I should have told you.””
“Yes.””
“I should have protected your mother.””
Aaliyah froze.
“What happened to my mother?””
Derrick closed his eyes.
“She knew the truth.””
Grandma Ruth looked at him.
“Derrick.””
He continued.
“She found out what Vanessa had done.””
The room went silent.
Aaliyah felt her stomach drop.
“What did Vanessa do?””
Derrick looked at the letter.
Then at the medal.
Then at Aaliyah.
“I don’t know everything.””
She stared.
“You don’t know?””
He shook his head.
“But I know your mother was trying to expose something.””
“What?””
Derrick’s voice lowered.
“Something involving Marcus.””
Aaliyah’s hands trembled.
“And then?””
Derrick looked down.
“Then Marcus disappeared.””
The room went quiet.
“And my mother?””
Nobody answered.
That silence was worse.
Aaliyah looked at Grandma Ruth.
“Grandma?””
The older woman’s eyes filled with sadness.
“Your mother spent the last years of her life afraid.””
Aaliyah felt tears fall.
“Afraid of Vanessa?””
Grandma Ruth didn’t answer.
She didn’t need to.
Suddenly, a phone buzzed.
Everyone turned.
Derrick looked at his screen.
His face changed instantly.
Aaliyah noticed.
“Who is it?””
Derrick didn’t answer.
“Dad.””
He slowly turned the phone around.
A message appeared.
One sentence.
*Stop digging before you lose someone else.*
Aaliyah stared.
Grandma Ruth’s hand went to her mouth.
Derrick looked terrified.
Because whoever sent the message knew exactly where they were.
And then another message appeared.
A photo.
Taken moments ago.
Aaliyah looked at the screen.
It was a picture of them inside the house.
Someone had been watching.
Someone close enough to see everything.
May you like
And beneath the photo were four words:
*I warned you, Aaliyah.*
